Topics for BSc and MSc Students
Do you want to cooperate with the Forest Ecosystem Research Group?
Are you interested in any of the topics offered below?
Do you have an interesting topic of your own that you would like to work on?
All offered theses are written and discussed in English. Regular supervision takes place in person and online (MS Teams). Some statistical skills and/or interest in statistics/data are needed for the metanalysis; laboratory skills will be taught as required. All MSc thesis topics are designed to potentially yield a dataset which can be exploited for a scientific publication – if interested.
For any questions regarding thesis topics, methodology etc. please contact:
Prof. Dr. Douglas Godbold – douglas.godbold@mendelu.cz. In person or online meetings by arrangement.
Assoc. Prof. Dr. Boris Rewald – boris.rewald@mendelu.cz. In person meetings: Tuesday morning 9-12 or as arranged. Online meetings by arrangement.
Effects of Forest Soil Compaction on Roots Traits / Boris Rewald (DT metareview or BT review)
MSc conduct a quantitative literature review, create a database, calculate the effect strength of soil compaction on specific root traits (e.g., diameter, tissue density, N content) incl. Mycorrhization rates, showcase gaps in data (specific soil types, regions of the world etc. not covered). BSc students can do a qualitative review. Approximate the effects of soil compaction on woody root functioning and potential consequences for ecosystem functioning. Start: Anytime. Cooperation: BOKU, Vienna (2x PhD students - forest/agriculture).
Effects of Harvesting Operation-derived Soil Compaction on the Anatomy and Morphology of Beech Roots /Boris Rewald (DT lab work)
Analyse beech fine root samples - collected in 2023 one season after experimental harvesting operations with different techniques (harvester, harvester with boogie tracks, cable yarding vs. Control). For anatomical analysis, cross sections of root samples need to be cut with a microtome and microscopic images can be analyzed (tissue density, xylem / cell size, cortex to stele ratio etc.). Discuss the effects of harvesting on soil as affecting the “rooting space”. Start: ~ October to November 2023. Cooperation: BOKU, Vienna (PhD student).
Effects of Grafted Shoots on the Fine Root Traits of Pine Rootstocks / Boris Rewald (DT, BT, Field & Lab Work)
Sample fine roots at the UFE Pine Experiment. Analyse Scion/Aboveground effects on Root Traits (Some Rootstock!) (Biomass, Morphology, Mycorrhization, …). Relate root to scion properties (leaf traits, size; ~ summer 2024). BSc students may analyze a subset of traits. Start: Spring 2024 (fieldwork!)
Benefits and Extend of Grafting in Trees / Boris Rewald (DT Metareview or BT review)
Conduct a quantitative literature review, create a database, calculate the effect strength of grafting vs. control on tree growth, resilience to pests and abiotic stress, and ecosystem stability. Showcase where and on which tree species grafting has been performed, discuss grafting as potential future method in forestry (analog to the increasing widespread use in agriculture incl. automation of grafting). Start: ANYTIME.
Atlas / Identification key for woody fine roots / Boris Rewald (DT Field & Lab Work)
Morphological traits / phenotypes of tree fine roots can partially be used to determine the genus/species. Examples are colour and shape of cells and rhizodermis, branching pattern, shape of root tips etc. Create an atlas (stereomicroscope photos + scans) for a guide to root species determination, cover variability in soil types and/or age classes. Create a systematic key to prepare the publication of a field guide / a webpage. Create a database with metadata for all images and a long-term, expandable database concept. Start: ANYTIME (beside soil frost periods).
Tree Diversity, Productivity and Ecosystem Services of Riparian Forests of the Czech Republic and Neighboring Countries / Boris Rewald (BT review)
Conduct a qualitative literature review. Name common riparian tree species mixtures in Central Europe and their dependency on habitat properties such as flooding cycles. Give an overview on the properties of these mixtures (growth rates, bird diversity etc.) as available, identify and discuss gaps in our understanding of BEF (biodiversity – ecosystem function) relations in diverse riparian ecosystems. Start: ANYTIME.
Rooting Depth and Root Growth Velocity in Trees / Boris Rewald (BT review)
Conduct a qualitative literature review. Showcase available knowledge on maximal rooting depth, root biomass depth distribution and root elongation rates, identify gap in knowledge in certain ecosystems. Discuss impacts of missing knowledge in regard to ecosystem services and climate change effects. Start: ANYTIME.
Vertical Spatial Patterns of Particulate Matter Accumulation in Tree Canopies / Douglas Godbold (DT, BT, Field & Lab Work)
Set-up of sampling design. Sampling leaves. Analysis of PM numbers / mass per height class and leaf area at BOKU. Start: Summer 2024 (leaf sampling).
Ectomycorrhizas of oaks / Douglas Godbold (DT, BT review)
Conduct a qualitative literature review on which ectomycorrhizas occur on oak species throughout Europe. Attempt to identify common species and tree species specific ectomycorrhizas. Start: ANYTIME.
Rooting depth in mixed species stands / Douglas Godbold (DT, BT, Field & Lab Work)
The work will be carried out in stands at the University Forest Enterprise to determine how tree diversity affects total rooting depth within stands. Start: October 2023.
Leaf to root ratios in beech regeneration patches / Douglas Godbold (DT, BT, Field & Lab Work)
Beech (Fagus sylvatica) regenerates in patches that over development self-thin. The project will test the hypothesis that independent of stem number the maximum the leaf and fine root area index remain constant. Start: Early Summer 2024.
Nitrogen usage by ectomycorrhizal fungi / Douglas Godbold (DT, BT, Lab Work)
Ectomycorrhizal fungi are known to be able to utilize many types of nitrogen source, such as ammonium, nitrate, and organic nitrogen such as amino acids and proteins. The project will use in-vitro agar cultures of ectomycorrhizal fungi and growth them with different nitrogen sources to investigate differences between species. Start: October/November 2023.
