Swiss Federal Institute for Forest, Snow and Landscape Research

Impacts of droughts on biomass burning emissions, air quality, and public health in the Amazon

Abstract. Wildfires in the Amazon, increasingly influenced by climate variability and anthropogenic activities, pose severe environmental and health challenges. While drought events amplify fire activity and emissions, the cascading effects of droughts and deforestation on air qu...

Decoupling of emigration timing and skill acquisition in a saturated population of golden eagles

Abstract Many animals must gain independence from parental care by acquiring skills necessary for survival. Thus, the rate of skill acquisition can predict when parental care ends and animals emigrate. However, young animals sometimes acquire adult-like skills long before they em...

Potential glacier contributions to the 2024 La Bérarde flood

Abstract. On 20–21 June 2024, an unprecedented flood of the Etançons river caused important damage to the village of La Bérarde (Écrins, France). An analysis of the event showed that the flood was caused by the combination of an intense rain-on-snow event at high altitude and the...

More than just green: the role of vegetation heterogeneity for species richness and multidiversity in urban green spaces

<title>Abstract</title> Urban green spaces (UGS) provide ecological, social, and climatic functions, yet their effectiveness depends not only on area but also on vertical spatial structure. We present a high-resolution urban green space typology (UGST) for four Swiss cities (Base...

Macroevolutionary dynamics of Androsace s.l . (Primulaceae) across the Northern Hemisphere

Abstract Mountain regions of the Northern Hemisphere harbor exceptional biodiversity, yet the processes underlying species diversification and migration among these regions remain poorly understood. This study investigates the macroevolutionary dynamics of Androsace s.l ., a genu...

Hybrid vigor and outbreeding depression after 100 years of replicate introduction of Caucasian beech to European forests

Abstract Hybridization between closely related forest tree species is a major concern for assisted migration decisions. Historical introductions, such as the repeated introduction of Caucasian beech ( Fagus hohenackeriana ) into European beech ( Fagus sylvatica ) forests over 100...