Johanna Toivonen
PhD
Researcher info
Institution
University of Turku
Department/faculty
Department of Biology
Contact information
jomito@utu.fi
0503710250
Keywords
Andes biodiversity bryophytes climate change cloud forests cloud water interception drought ecohydrology epiphytes forest structure human impact microclimate microrefugia temperature treelines Tropical montane forests water balance water cycle
Research projects
Global observations show that many high-elevation treelines are not advancing in spite of climatic warming. In this project, we aim to gain in-depth insight into the future of Andean treeline forests in a changing climate by predicting their persistence and upslope advance. This will be done by modelling potential microrefugial areas for treeline forests (suitable sites for tree growth in long-term) based on microtopography and current and future climate.
Team
Johanna Toivonen, Maaike Bader, Carlos Gonzales-Inca, Nilton Montoya
Fresh water scarcity due to glacier retreat and decreasing precipitation related to global climate change will be one of the most serious environmental and social challenges in the Andean Amazonian region in this century. Rapidly increasing land use changes make water scarcity even more critical in dry season and, on the other hand, increase flooding and landslide risks in rainy season, because deforested areas have lost their natural water retention and storage capacity. A better understanding of natural water fluxes of forest ecosystems is needed to be able to solve the problems in water cycle.
Team
Johanna Toivonen, Sanna Huttunen, Tinja Pitkämäki, Carlos Gonzales Inca, Lassi Suominen