Anu Sober

Anu Sober is a Senior Researcher at the University of Tartu's Institute of Ecology and Earth Sciences (Tartu, Estonia), with concurrent affiliations at the Estonian University of Life Sciences (Department of Silviculture), Mountain Top University, and the University of Kuopio. Her work centers on forest ecosystem responses to climate change, particularly elevated atmospheric humidity.

Research Focus: She investigates plant physiology under abiotic stress, specializing in:

• Tree water relations (stomatal conductance, night-time transpiration)
• Carbon and nutrient cycling in boreal forests
• Impacts of ozone and CO₂ on photosynthesis
• Morphological/metabolic adaptations of birch and aspen

Her long-term fieldwork at the FAHM facility has revealed humidity-induced growth retardation mechanisms in northern trees.

Publications: With 57 publications, her recent work analyzes humidity effects on tree hydraulics, carbon budgets, and foliar chemistry. Studies frequently employ species like silver birch (Betula pendula) and hybrid aspen (Populus tremula), highlighting themes of climate acclimation and ecosystem resilience.

Collaborations & Teams: She collaborates internationally (e.g., Finland, USA) on projects like the Aspen FACE experiment. Key co-authors include Arne Sellin, Priit Kupper, and Arvo Tullus. No dedicated lab is mentioned, but FAHM serves as a core research platform.