Peter Hietz

Dr. Peter Hietz is a Professor at the Institute of Botany, University of Natural Resources and Life Sciences Vienna (BOKU), with 30+ years of research experience in plant ecophysiology and tropical forest ecology. His work bridges tree physiology with ecosystem-level responses to global change, focusing on xylem function, water relations, and functional traits across diverse biomes.

• Current projects: DigitalRainforest (LIDAR analysis), Alpine Trait Plasticity, and Light-Guiding Foils research
• Institutional roles: Former Head of Department (2021-2023), Scientific Committee Deputy for La Gamba Field Station

Research spans plant water relations, wood biology, and epiphyte ecology, with significant contributions to understanding climate change impacts on tropical and alpine ecosystems. His work integrates anatomical, physiological, and ecological approaches to study tree responses to drought, salinity, and forest regeneration dynamics.

Recent publications emphasize trait-based forest ecology, showing how microscale wood anatomy connects to macroscale carbon cycling. Key findings include mechanisms of xylem repair, neighborhood effects on tropical tree growth, and global patterns in wood density drivers.

• Scientific awards: 2005 Förderungspreis der Stiftung '120 Jahre BOKU'
• Supervised 20+ theses on topics ranging from urban green infrastructure to tropical forest regeneration

Community engagement: Active member of scientific committees (2005-present), organizer of international symposia, and recurring participant in conferences across Austria, France, Colombia, and Indonesia. Serves on editorial panels for tropical ecology and plant physiology journals.