Estonian scientist Ülo Niinemets co-edits influential book on pine ecology

The book examines the global variability of pine physiology and ecology. Pines are the dominant species in many forest ecosystems, ranging from subarctic to tropical regions, and are also the most widely cultivated trees in forest plantations worldwide. In Estonia, Scots pine (Pinus sylvestris) is the most abundant forest tree species.

Professor Niinemets has studied the anatomy of pine needles, shoot structure, and photosynthesis in Estonia, North Carolina, Italy, and Spain, and is one of Estonia’s most influential forest scientists. The book also includes a chapter on the global variation of pine photosynthesis, co-authored by Niinemets and visiting doctoral researcher Ziyan Zhang from China.

According to Niinemets, the book is a comprehensive reference work for anyone interested in pines and pine forests. “It brings together and systematises knowledge on the structure and functioning of pine needles, shoots, and stems, their responses to abiotic and biotic stress factors, and the functioning of pine forests in both current and future climates,” said Niinemets.

Niinemets added that the book is dedicated to Professor Sune Linder, whose pioneering work in pine ecophysiology has influenced several generations of tree ecophysiologists and forest scientists. The co-editors of the book are Professor Daniel M. Johnson (University of Georgia, USA), a specialist in tree physiology and forest ecology, and Professor Jean-Christophe Domec (Bordeaux Sciences Agro, France), an expert in sustainable forestry.