We investigate the winter ecology and overwintering strategies of plants. Much of the work is focused on the seasonality of plants in a warming winter climate, with special emphasis on the role of snow in northern ecosystems. We have applied a range of methods, such as overwintering experiments under diverse climatic conditions in the field (reciprocal overwintering experiments), snow manipulations, growth chamber experiments, and ecophysiological modelling.

 Our recent topics include:

• photosynthetic activity of plants outside growing season and under snow
• effects of microclimate on arctic-alpine plants
• effects of winter climate on annual plants
• invasive species in a warming winter climate
• winter dormancy and phenology of plants in a warming climate
• interactions between canopy, snow and vegetation

Group leader: Dr. Helena Åström