Theoretical Ecosystem Ecology

We are the Theoretical Ecosystem Ecology group at the Max Planck Institute for Biogeochemistry. We study interactions between the environment and multiple biogeochemical cycles, with particular attention to interactions that could lead to abrupt changes in biogeochemical functioning. Our group works on synthesis of models and observations, and produces computational tools in open source software environments.

We study interactions between the environment and multiple biogeochemical cycles, with particular focus to the development of conceptual and mathematical frameworks to study global scale biogeochemistry. Our group works on synthesis of models and observations, and produces computational tools in open source software environments. An active area of work is the analysis of timescales of carbon cycling in ecosystems and the entire terrestrial biosphere, and the use of radiocarbon observations to improve our understanding of these timescales. We are also interested in questions related to the management of biogeochemical cycles at the global scale.