The Rinnan Lab explores the controls on the exchange of biogenic volatile organic compounds (BVOCs) between ecosystems and the atmosphere. We use state-of-the-science techniques for measurement of BVOC emissions from plants and other photosynthetic organisms; emissions and uptake by microbial communities in soil, water and plant tissues; and BVOC exchange at the ecosystem scale. We conduct experiments in the laboratory and in the field to assess the biological processes related to BVOC production, consumption and transformations.
VOC production and consumption is soil, cryptogams and water
- Characterization and quantification of VOC emissions from soil, litter, mosses, lichens, freshwater and marine waters with laboratory and field measurements
- Separation of VOC production and consumption using e.g. stable isotope labelling approaches
- Identification of the environmental factors controlling the processes
- VOC uptake by micro-organisms, and the role of microbial community composition
- Effects of climate change and biotic stress
- Process modeling
Funding by the Danish National Research Foundation for the Center of Excellence (Center for Volatile Interactions, VOLT, 2023-2029) and the European Research Council consolidator grant Tundra biogenic volatile emissions in the 21st century (TUVOLU) (2018-2024), and H2020 Marie Curie Actions.
Plant-herbivory interactions and volatile defenses
- Using mountain birch forest as a model system, to assess effects of insect herbivory on volatile emissions from mountain birch leaves, stems, forest floor and the entire forest ecosystem
- Experimental studies evaluating relationships between defoliation levels and VOC emissions
- Characterizing seasonal trends in leaf, stem and forest floor emissions
- Eddy covariance measurements to study ecosystem-scale VOC emissions under varying insect herbivory pressure
- Using tower-based remote sensing approaches (RGB and thermal images; spectral indices, such as NDVI, PRI) to assess temporal dynamics of the canopy
- Using drone-based remote sensing approaches to assess spatial dynamics in the forest
Funding by the Danish Council for Independent Research | Natural Sciences.
Arctic ecosystem ecology and ecosystem-atmosphere interactions
- Environmental and plant trait-based controls on BVOC emissions from tundra shrubs
- BVOC emissions from soils and permafrost, coupling to soil respiration and methane fluxes, and the role of microbial community composition
- BVOC uptake by soil microorganisms, coupling to soil respiration and methane oxidation, and the role of microbial community composition
- Bidirectional exchange (emissions and uptake) of BVOCs in tundra ecosystems under climate change and the effects of changing plant community composition
- Insect herbivory effects on birch and willow volatile defenses, and their interactions with climate change
- Ecosystem-scale BVOC fluxes measured by eddy covariance techniques
- Effects of climate change and biotic stress on BVOC emissions at the regional scale, assessed by modeling approaches
Funding from the European Research Council consolidator grant Tundra biogenic volatile emissions in the 21st century (TUVOLU) (2018-2024).
- Jiao Y., Kramshøj M., Davie-Martin C.L., Albers C.N., Rinnan R. (2023) Soil uptake of VOCs exceeds production when VOCs are readily available. Soil Biology & Biochemistry 185: 109153. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.soilbio.2023.109153
- Seco R., Holst T., Davie-Martin C.L., Simin T., Guenther A., Pirk N., Rinne J., Rinnan R. (2022) Strong isoprene emission response to temperature in tundra ecosystems, PNAS 119 (38) e2118014119.
- Rieksta J., Li T., Michelsen A., Rinnan R. (2021) Synergistic effects of insect herbivory and changing climate on plant volatile emissions in the subarctic tundra. Global Change Biology 27: 5030-5042. https://doi.org/10.1111/gcb.15773
- Baggesen N., Li T., Seco R., Holst T., Michelsen A., Rinnan R. (2021) Phenological stage of tundra vegetation controls bidirectional exchange of BVOCs in a climate change experiment on a subarctic heath. Global Change Biology 27: 2928-2944.
- Rinnan R., Iversen L.L., Tang J., Vedel-Petersen I., Schollert M., Schurgers G. (2020) Separating direct and indirect effects of rising temperatures on biogenic volatile emissions in the Arctic. PNAS 117 (51) 32476-32483.
- Tang J., Schurgers G., Rinnan R. (2019) Process understanding of soil BVOC fluxes in natural ecosystems: a review. Reviews of Geophysics, 57: 966-986, https://doi.org/10.1029/2018RG000634
- Li T., Holst T., Michelsen A., Rinnan R. (2019) Amplification of plant volatile defence against insect herbivory in a warming Arctic tundra. Nature Plants 5: 568–574.
- Kramshøj M., Albers C.N., Holst T., Holzinger R., Elberling B., Rinnan R. (2018) Biogenic volatile release from permafrost thaw is determined by the soil microbial sink. Nature Communications 9: 3412.
- Albers, C.N., Kramshøj M., Rinnan R. (2018) Rapid mineralization of biogenic volatile organic compounds in temperate and Arctic soils. Biogeosciences 15: 3591-3601.
- Kramshøj M., Vedel-Petersen I., Schollert M., Rinnan Å., Nymand J., Ro-Poulsen H., Rinnan R. (2016) Large increases in arctic biogenic volatile emissions are a direct effect of warming. Nature Geoscience 9: 349–352.
For complete list of publications, see https://scholar.google.co.uk/citations?user=yGZt9G0AAAAJ&hl=da
PTR-TOF-1000 ultra (Ionicon)
proton-transfer-reaction time-of-flight mass-spectrometer
We conduct experiments with real-time analysis of VOCs in the laboratory and in the field. We have two PTR-TOF-1000 ultra-instruments; one with Selective Reagent Ionization technology. Our instruments are used in incubation studies and climate chamber experiments under controlled conditions and also in field measurements. Our PTR-TOF-MS instruments have been operated in several tundra locations, e.g. in Abisko, Northern Sweden and at Finse Alpine Research Station in Norway, measuring eddy covariance fluxes.
GC-MS (Agilent), TD100-xr (Markes)
gas chromatograph-mass spectrometer coupled with a thermal desorber
We analyze volatiles by trapping the volatiles (~C5-C25) in adsorbent cartridges and Hisorb probes, which are later analyzed by GC-MS after thermal desorption. We currently have two TD-GC-MS systems dedicated for VOC analytics.
Reach-in and custom-built climate chambers
We use climate chambers in experiments assessing effects of environmental factors on plant, soil or water systems. We have eight Aralab FitoClima 1.200 chambers in which we can control the CO2 concentration, humidity, light and temperature. We also have six custom-built climate chambers with Valoya LED lighting and a built-in system for gas flux monitoring that allows for temperature manipulation from below freezing to 30°C.
NIR-spectrometer
Antaris II near infrared reflectance spectrometer, Thermo Scientific
An instrument used mainly for fingerprinting chemical composition of solid samples.
2023
Gases from bacteria and plankton affect the climate – new research center seeks to calculate by how much
https://via.ritzau.dk/pressemeddelelse/gases-from-bacteria-and-plankton-affect-the-climate-new-research-center-seeks-to-calculate-by-how-much?publisherId=13561218&releaseId=13697052
2022
Professor Riikka Rinnan is in final contract negotiations with Danish National Research Foundation
https://www1.bio.ku.dk/english/news/news/professor-riikka-rinnan-has-entered-into-final-contract-negotiations-with-danish-national-research-foundation/
Riikka Rinnan to start new Center of Excellence at the University of Copenhagen
https://www.academia-net.org/news/riikka-rinnan-start-new-center-excellence-university-copenhagen/72177
2021
Innovative ecosystem model shedding light on Arctic climate change
https://cordis.europa.eu/article/id/429021-innovative-ecosystem-model-shedding-light-on-arctic-climate-change
Insects, climate change and plant defences - unravelling the connection
https://cordis.europa.eu/article/id/429102-insects-climate-change-and-plant-defences-unravelling-the-connection
Klimakrøller podcast, "Flygtige forbindelser feat. Riikka Rinnan"
https://podcasts.google.com/feed/aHR0cHM6Ly9tZWRpYS5yc3MuY29tL2tsaW1ha3JvZWxsZXIvZmVlZC54bWw/episode/MjU0MjE5NWItZGI1NC1iNzM4LTdkMzktYzk0NTcwZmQxNmUx
2020
Riikka Rinnan from CENPERM receives one of the Elite Research Prices 2020
https://dg.dk/en/riikka-rinnan-fra-cenperm-modtager-en-af-eliteforsk-priserne-2020/
Riikka Rinnan's talk at the Royal Danish Academy of Sciences and Letters: Climate change in the Arctic – when tundra becomes volatile
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AoMXIHMFozs
Elite Research Price recipient Riikka Rinnan
https://video.ku.dk/eliteforsk-prismodtager-riikka
2019
More fragrant Arctic with stressed plants
https://www1.bio.ku.dk/nyheder/nyheder/more-fragrant-arctic-with-stressed-plants/
Amplification of plant volatile defence against insect herbivory in a warming Arctic tundra
https://herbivory.lbhi.is/2019/06/12/amplification-of-plant-volatile-defence-against-insect-herbivory-in-a-warming-arctic-tundra/
Arktis' blomster er begyndt at dufte. Det er skidt nyt
https://uniavisen.dk/arktis-blomster-er-begyndt-at-dufte-det-er-skidt-nyt/
Stigende temperaturer i Arktis får planter til at udskille langt flere duftstoffer – det er skidt nyt for klimaet og planterne selv
https://dg.dk/stigende-temperaturer-i-arktis-faar-planter-til-at-udskille-langt-flere-duftstoffer-det-er-skidt-nyt-for-klimaet-og-planterne-selv/
2018
DR P1 Kulturen. Permafrosten tør.
New permafrost gas mystery
http://sciencenordic.com/new-permafrost-gas-mystery
Forskere fra Københavns Universitet er stødt på nyt permafrostmysterie
https://videnskab.dk/naturvidenskab/forskere-fra-koebenhavns-universitet-er-stoedt-paa-nyt-permafrostmysterie
A new permafrost gas mystery
https://www1.bio.ku.dk/nyheder/nyheder/a-new-permafrost-gas-mysterium/
Smalltalk i permafrosten
https://www.weekendavisen.dk/2018-36/ideer/smalltalk-i-permafrosten
2016
There's Something in the Air: Release of Volatiles from Arctic Vegetation Increasing
https://www.arcus.org/witness-the-arctic/2016/3/article/26088
Arctic plants help cool the planet
http://sciencenordic.com/arctic-plants-help-cool-planet
Plant gases could slow Arctic climate change
http://www.upi.com/Science_News/2016/04/05/Plant-gases-could-slow-Arctic-climate-change/1421459873299/
Plantestoffer kan modvirke klimaændringerne i Arktis
https://www1.bio.ku.dk/nyheder/nyheder/plantestoffer-kan-modvirke-klimaaendringerne-i-arktis/
Changed eucalyptus scent could threaten koalas
http://www.sbs.com.au/yourlanguage/danish/en/content/changed-eucalyptus-scent-could-threaten-koalas?language=en
Forandret eukalyptus-duft mulig trussel mod koalaen
http://www.sbs.com.au/yourlanguage/danish/da/content/forandret-eukalyptus-duft-mulig-trussel-mod-koalaen?language=da
Muuttuva tundrakasvillisuus on ilmastonmuutoksen kysymysmerkki
http://www.kantti.net/artikkeli/2016/02/muuttuva-tundrakasvillisuus-on-ilmastonmuutoksen-kysymysmerkki
Lämpenevä tundrakasvillisuus muuttaa lähialuettaan
http://www.maaseuduntulevaisuus.fi/ymp%C3%A4rist%C3%B6/l%C3%A4mpenev%C3%A4-tundrakasvillisuus-muuttaa-l%C3%A4hialuettaan-1.138059
2015
Träd kan prata och hjälpa eller stjälpa klimatet
http://www.sydsvenskan.se/sverige/trad-kan-prata-och-hjalpa-eller-stjalpa-klimatet/
2014
Kloni istih rastlin – žive price podnebnih sprememb
http://www.delo.si/druzba/panorama/kloni-istih-rastlin-ndash-zive-price-podnebnih-sprememb.html
2010
Arktiske planter kan påvirke klimaet
http://videnskab.dk/miljo-naturvidenskab/arktiske-planter-kan-pavirke-klimaet
2008
Det lugter langt væk af klimaforandringer
http://jyllands-posten.dk/indland/ECE4263274/Det-lugter-langt-v%C3%A6k-af-klimaforandringer/
The group offers courses at both bachelor and master’s level within general and advanced Terrestrial Ecology.
Bachelor course
Master courses
If you are interested in making a project in biosphere-atmosphere gas exchange, plant ecophysiology or plant-soil interactions, you are welcome to contact Riikka Rinnan! If you have a general idea of the topic, we can develop it into an exciting project. Quite often, we also have ready-made plans that are only waiting for the right person to arrive. There are both laboratory- and field-based, as well as modeling,
Every summer we send field assistants to exciting locations, for example in Greenland or Northern Sweden. Contact Riikka Rinnan for possibilities!
Group members
| Name | Title | Phone | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Amy Samantha Smart | Postdoc | +4535329771 | |
| Annika Engroff | PhD Student | +4535328220 | |
| Ellen Slater | PhD Fellow | +4535331330 | |
| Eve Isobel Galen | PhD Fellow | +4535334676 | |
| Georgii Stoletov | Guest Researcher | +4535324136 | |
| Jing Tang | Assistant Professor - Tenure Track | +4535334606 | |
| Jolanta Rieksta | Postdoc | +4535326922 | |
| Junyu Dong | Guest Researcher | ||
| Kajsa Emilia Roslund | External Postdoc | +4535336940 | |
| Marta Contreras Serrano | PhD Fellow | +4535335327 | |
| Mathilda Bloch Carlsson | PhD Fellow | +4535331273 | |
| Mehrshad Foroughan | Postdoc | +4535336561 | |
| Nasmille Larke-Mejía | Postdoc | +4535330879 | |
| Neel Lindsby | PhD Fellow | +4535324310 | |
| Riikka Rinnan | Professor | +4535330296 | |
| Roger Seco | Guest Researcher | +4535335341 | |
| Sana Mariya James | Research Assistant | ||
| Suman Som | Postdoc | +4535325152 | |
| Tamás Plaszkó | Postdoc | +4535325477 |
PhD and Master Students
| Name | Title |
|---|---|
| Simon Nyboe Laursen | PhD fellow |
| Amanda Ammentorp Pedersen | MSc student |
| Sebastian Bay Granzow | MSc student |
| Toke Due Sjøgren | MSc student |