Effect of climate change on functioning of natural and agricultural ecosystems: an ecotron study

Ecotrons represent enclosed systems in which macrocosms are subjected to controlled environmental conditions, and their responses are closely monitored at a high frequency. This makes them particularly well-suited for investigating the impact of climate change on ecosystem functioning. In this presentation, we demonstrate the utilization of the UHasselt ecotron to examine the effects of climate change on two distinct ecosystems: a natural heathland and an agricultural pear orchard. We delve into the results obtained thus far, covering aspects such as carbon balance, water balance, greenhouse gas emissions, soil water nutrients, plant biomass, phenology, soil microbial communities, and soil fauna. Additionally, we explore the strengths and limitations associated with ecotron-based approaches. The presentation concludes by identifying future challenges in this field.