Dr. Gesche Blume Werry

Biography

Gesche Blume-Werry is an ecosystem ecologist specializing in belowground plant ecology, particularly in tundra and peatland ecosystems. Her research focuses on the interplay between plants and the environment, often within Arctic climates. She conducts work on root phenology and root production, utilizing methodologies that measure plant processes during the summer season. Currently, she is involved in various projects, including EcoROOT, which investigates the influence of changing snow cover and large herbivore grazing on root dynamics in boreal ecosystems. Additionally, she collaborates on the EcoClimate Experiment at Oulanka Research Station, which examines the interaction between snow cover and root dynamics in different habitats. Gesche also engages in automating root image analysis through Artificial Intelligence approaches to overcome challenges associated with manual digitization of minirhizotron imagery, a crucial aspect of her research aiming to enhance the understanding of belowground plant activity. In her work, she emphasizes the critical role of deep roots in carbon-climate feedback systems in thawing permafrost soils, highlighting the importance of her research in addressing broader ecological challenges in the Arctic.

Research Interests