Oskar Franklin

Oskar Franklin joined IIASA's Forestry Program, now Ecosystems Services and Management (ESM) Program in June 2004, where he developed forest models for the prediction of forest greenhouse gas fluxes in response to management options. Recently, he worked on ecosystem theory and models of boreal forests under global change and the role of mycorrhizal symbiosis for carbon and nutrient cycling. He also led a Greenhouse Gas Initiative (GGI) project that initiated the development of a new generation forest and vegetation model that takes advantage of ecological and evolutionary principles to better constrain predicted consequences of climate change.

Dr. Franklin received his PhD in systems ecology at the Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences in Uppsala in 2003. His work involved optimal plant theory and forest growth responses to nitrogen and carbon dioxide. Prior to becoming involved in ecology, he earned an MSc degree in physics engineering at Uppsala University, and worked at the Swedish Radiation Protection Institute with nuclear power emissions and environmental effects.

Last update: 04 MAR 2015

Hofhansl, F. , Chacon-Madrigal, E., & Franklin, O. (2021). Mechanisms driving plant functional trait variation in a tropical forest. In: Ecology Across Borders 2021, 9-15 December 2021.

Harrison, S.P., Cramer, W., Franklin, O. , Prentice, I.C., Wang, H., Brännström, Å., de Boer, H., Dieckmann, U. , Joshi, J., Keenan, T.F., Lavergne, A., Manzoni, S., Mengoli, G., Morfopoulos, C., Peñuelas, J., Pietsch, S. , Rebel, K.T., Ryu, Y., Smith, N.G., Stocker, B.D., & Wright, I.J. (2021). Eco‐evolutionary optimality as a means to improve vegetation and land‐surface models. New Phytologist 231 (6), 2125-2141. 10.1111/nph.17558.

Henriksson, N., Lim, H., Marshall, J., Franklin, O. , McMurtrie, R.E., Lutter, R., Magh, R., Lundmark, T., & Näsholm, T. (2021). Tree water uptake enhances nitrogen acquisition in a fertilized boreal forest – but not under nitrogen poor conditions. New Phytologist 10.1111/nph.17578. (In Press)

Hofhansl, F. , Chacón-Madrigal, E., Brännström, Å., Dieckmann, U. , & Franklin, O. (2021). Mechanisms driving plant functional trait variation in a tropical forest. Ecology and Evolution 11, 3856- 3870. 10.1002/ece3.7256.

Henriksson, N., Franklin, O. , Tarvainen, L., Marshall, J., Lundberg‐Felten, J., Eilertsen, L., Näsholm, T., & Selosse, M.‐A. (2021). The mycorrhizal tragedy of the commons. Ecology Letters 10.1111/ele.13737.

Fransson, P., Brännström, Å., & Franklin, O. (2021). A tree’s quest for light—Optimal height and diameter growth under a shading canopy. Tree Physiology 41 (1), 1-11. 10.1093/treephys/tpaa110.

Deckmyn, G., Flores, O., Mayer, M., Domene, X., Schnepf, A., Kuka, K., Van Looy, K., Rasse, D.P., Briones, M.J., Barot, S., Berg, M., Vanguelova, E., Ostonen, I., Vereecken, H., Suz, L.M., Frey, B., Frossard, A., Tiunov, A., Frouz, J., Grebenc, T., Öpik, M., Javaux, M., Uvarov, A., Vindušková, O., Henning Krogh, P., Franklin, O. , Jiménez, J., & Curiel Yuste, J. (2020). KEYLINK: towards a more integrative soil representation for inclusion in ecosystem scale models. I. review and model concept. PeerJ 8, e9750. 10.7717/peerj.9750.

Franklin, O. , Krasovskiy, A. , Kraxner, F., Platov, A., Schepaschenko, D. , Leduc, S., & Mattsson, B. (2020). Moose or spruce: A systems analysis model for managing conflicts between moose and forestry in Sweden. bioRxiv 10.1101/2020.08.11.241372. (Submitted)

Franklin, O. , Harrison, S.P., Dewar, R., Farrior, C.E., Brännström, Å., Dieckmann, U. , Pietsch, S. , Falster, S., Cramer, W., Loreau, M., Wang, H., Mäkelä, A., Rebel, K.T., Meron, E., Schymanski, S.J., Rovenskaya, E. , Stocker, B.D., Zaehle, S., Manzoni, S., van Oijen, My, Wright, I.J., Ciais, P., van Bodegom, P.M., Peñuelas, J., Hofhansl, F. , Terrer, C., Soudzilovskaia, N.A., Midgley, G., & Prentice, I.C. (2020). Organizing principles for vegetation dynamics. Nature Plants 6, 444-453. 10.1038/s41477-020-0655-x.

Hofhansl, F. , Huber, W., Weissenhofer, A., Wanek, W., & Franklin, O. (2020). Local-scale and spatially explicit response of tropical forests to climate change. DOI:10.5194/egusphere-egu2020-10396. In: European Geosciences Union (EGU) General Assembly 2020, 4-8 May 2020, Vienna, Austria.

Zhang, H., Prentice, I.C., Terrer, C., Keenan, T., & Franklin, O. (2020). Can elevated CO2 experiments explain the magnitude of the land carbon sink? DOI:10.5194/egusphere-egu2020-11589. In: European Geosciences Union (EGU) General Assembly 2020, 4-8 May 2020, Vienna, Austria.

Hofhansl, F. , Chacón-Madrigal, E., Fuchslueger, L., Jenking, D., Morera-Beita, A., Plutzar, C., Silla, F., Andersen, K.M., Buchs, D., Dullinger, S., Fiedel, K., Franklin, O. , Hietz, P., Huber, W., Quesada, C.A., Rammig, A., Schrodt, F., Vincent, A.G., Weissenhofer, A., & Wanek, W. (2020). Climatic and edaphic controls over tropical forest diversity and vegetation carbon storage. Scientific Reports 10, e5066. 10.1038/s41598-020-61868-5.

Fransson, P., Franklin, O. , Lindroos, O., Nilsson, U., & Brännström, Å. (2019). A simulation-based approach to a near-optimal thinning strategy: allowing harvesting times to be determined for individual trees. Canadian Journal of Forest Research, 320-331. 10.1139/cjfr-2019-0053.

Hofhansl, F. , Chacon-Madrigal, E., Brännström, Å., Dieckmann, U. , & Franklin, O. (2019). Partitioning of plant functional trait variation into phenotypic plasticity and neutral components reveals functional differences among neotropical tree species. In: AGU Fall Meeting, 9-13 December 2019, San Francisco, USA.

Wildemeersch, M. , Franklin, O. , Seidl, R., Rogelj, J. , Moorthy, I., & Thurner, S. (2019). Modelling the multi-scaled nature of pest outbreaks. Ecological Modelling 409, e108745. 10.1016/j.ecolmodel.2019.108745.

Terrer, C., Jackson, R.B., Prentice, I.C., Keenan, T.F., Kaiser, C., Vicca, S., Fisher, J.B., Reich, P. B., Stocker, B.D., Hungate, B.A., Peñuelas, J., McCallum, I. , Soudzilovskaia, N.A., Cernusak, L.A., Talhelm, A.F., Van Sundert, K., Piao, S., Newton, P.C.D., Hovenden, M.J., Blumenthal, D.M., Liu, Y.Y., Müller, C., Winter, K., Field, C.B., Viechtbauer, W., Van Lissa, C.J., Hoosbeek, M.R., Watanabe, M., Koike, T., Leshyk, V.O., Polley, H.W., & Franklin, O. (2019). Nitrogen and phosphorus constrain the CO2 fertilization of global plant biomass. Nature Climate Change 9 (9) 10.1038/s41558-019-0545-2.

Lenzner, B., Leclere, D., Franklin, O. , Seebens, H., Roura-Pascual, N., Obersteiner, M. , Dullinger, S., & Essl, F. (2019). A Framework for Global Twenty-First Century Scenarios and Models of Biological Invasions. BioScience 69 (9), 697-710. 10.1093/biosci/biz070.

Hofhansl, F. , Chacón-Madrigal, E., Brännström, Å., Dieckmann, U. , & Franklin, O. (2019). The role of phenotypic plasticity for plant functional traits in tropical forests. In: European Geosciences Union (EGU) General Assembly 2019, 7–12 April 2019, Vienna, Austria.

Fransson, P., Nilsson, U., Lindroos, O., Franklin, O. , & Brännström, Å. (2019). Model-based investigation on the effects of spatial evenness, and size selection in thinning of Picea abies stands. Scandinavian Journal of Forest Research 34 (3), 189-199. 10.1080/02827581.2019.1577914.

COACCH, (2019). The Economic Cost of Climate Change in Europe: Synthesis Report on COACCH Interim Results. Policy brief by the COACCH project. COACCH: CO-designing the Assessment of Climate CHange costs.

Högberg, P., Näsholm, T., Franklin, O. , & Högberg, M.N. (2017). Tamm Review: On the nature of the nitrogen limitation to plant growth in Fennoscandian boreal forests. Forest Ecology and Management 403, 161-185. 10.1016/j.foreco.2017.04.045.

Palmqvist, K., Franklin, O. , & Näsholm, T. (2017). Symbiosis constraints: Strong mycobiont control limits nutrient response in lichens. Ecology and Evolution 7 (18), 7420-7433. 10.1002/ece3.3257.

Franklin, O. , Han, W., Dieckmann, U. , Cramer, W., Brännström, Å., Pietsch, S. , Rovenskaya, E. , Prentice, I.C., & Brännström, Å. (2017). Using natural selection and optimization for smarter vegetation models - challenges and opportunities. In: European Geosciences Union (EGU) General Assembly 2017, 23–28 April 2017, Vienna, Austria.

Terrer Moreno, C., Vicca, S., Hungate, B.A., Phillips, R.P., Reich, P.B., Franklin, O. , Stocker, B.D., Fisher, J.B., & Prentice, I.C. (2017). Response to Comment on “Mycorrhizal association as a primary control of the CO 2 fertilization effect”. Science 355 (6323), p. 358. 10.1126/science.aai8242.

Franklin, O. , Cambui, C.A., Gruffman, L., Palmroth, S., Oren, R., & Näsholm, T. (2017). The carbon bonus of organic nitrogen enhances nitrogen use efficiency of plants. Plant, Cell & Environment 40 (1), 25-35. 10.1111/pce.12772.

Stocker, B. D., Prentice, I. C., Cornell, S. E., Davies-Barnard, T., Finzi, A. C., Franklin, O. , Janssens, I., Larmola, T., Manzoni, S., Näsholm, T., Raven, J. A., Rebel, K. T., Reed, S., Vicca, S., Wiltshire, A., & Zaehle, S. (2016). Terrestrial nitrogen cycling in Earth system models revisited. New Phytologist 210 (4), 1165-1168. 10.1111/nph.13997.

Evans, S., Dieckmann, U. , Franklin, O. , & Kaiser, C. (2016). Synergistic effects of diffusion and microbial physiology reproduce the Birch effect in a micro-scale model. Soil Biology and Biochemistry 93, 28-37. 10.1016/j.soilbio.2015.10.020.

Franklin, O. (2016). Predicting plants – modeling traits as a function of environment. In: European Geosciences Union (EGU) General Assembly 2016, 17–22 April 2016, Vienna, Austria.

Kaiser, C., Franklin, O. , Richter, A., & Dieckmann, U. (2015). Social dynamics within decomposer communities lead to nitrogen retention and organic matter build-up in soils. Nature Communications 6, no.8960. 10.1038/ncomms9960.

Shanafelt, D.W., Dieckmann, U. , Jonas, M. , Franklin, O. , Loreau, M., & Perrings, C. (2015). Biodiversity, productivity, and the spatial insurance hypothesis revisited. Journal of Theoretical Biology 380, 426-435. 10.1016/j.jtbi.2015.06.017.

Franklin, O. , Palmroth, S., & Nasholm, T. (2014). How eco-evolutionary principles can guide tree breeding and tree biotechnology for enhanced productivity. Tree Physiology 34 (11), 1149-1166. 10.1093/treephys/tpu111.

Nasholm, T., Palmroth, S., Ganeteg, U., Moshelion, M., Hurry, V., & Franklin, O. (2014). Genetics of superior growth traits in trees are being mapped but will the faster-growing risk-taker make it in the wild? Tree Physiology 34 (11), 1141-1148. 10.1093/treephys/tpu112.

Lindh, M., Zhang, L., Falster, D., Franklin, O. , & Brännström, Å. (2014). Plant diversity and drought: The role of deep roots. Ecological Modelling 290, 85-93. 10.1016/j.ecolmodel.2014.05.008.

Jonas, M. , Ometto, J.P., Batistella, M., Franklin, O. , Hall, M., Lapola, D.M., Moran, E.F., Tramberend, S. , Queiroz, B.L., Schaffartzik, A., Shvidenko, A., Nilsson, S., & Nobre, C.A. (2014). Sustaining ecosystem services: Overcoming the dilemma posed by local actions and planetary boundaries. Earth's Future 2 (8), 407-420. 10.1002/2013EF000224.

Franklin, O. , Nasholm, T., Hogberg, P., & Hogberg, M.N. (2014). Forests trapped in nitrogen limitation - An ecological market perspective on ectomycorrhizal symbiosis. New Phytologist 203 (2), 657-666. 10.1111/nph.12840.

Kaiser, C., Franklin, O. , Dieckmann, U. , & Richter, A. (2014). Microbial community dynamics alleviate stoichiometric constraints during litter decay. Ecology Letters 17 (6), 680-690. 10.1111/ele.12269.

Hall, M., Medlyn, B.E., Abramowitz, G., Franklin, O. , Rantfors, M., Linder, S., & Wallin, G. (2013). Which are the most important parameters for modelling carbon assimilation in boreal Norway spruce under elevated CO2 and temperature conditions? Tree Physiology 33 (11), 1156-1176. 10.1093/treephys/tpt014.

McCallum, I. , Franklin, O. , Moltchanova, E., Merbold, L., Schmullius, C., Shvidenko, A., Schepaschenko, D. , & Fritz, S. (2013). Improved light and temperature responses for light-use-efficiency-based GPP models. Biogeosciences 10 (10), 6577-6590. 10.5194/bg-10-6577-2013.

Nasholm, T., Hogberg, P., Franklin, O. , Metcalfe, D., Keel, S.G., Campbell, C., Hurry, V., Linder, S., & Hogberg, M.N. (2013). Are ectomycorrhizal fungi alleviating or aggravating nitrogen limitation of tree growth in boreal forests? New Phytologist 198 (1), 214-221. 10.1111/nph.12139.

Franklin, O. , Johansson, J., Dewar, R.C., Dieckmann, U. , McMurtrie, R.E., Brännström, Å., & Dybzinski, R. (2012). Modeling carbon allocation in trees: A search for principles. Tree Physiology 32 (6), 648-666. 10.1093/treephys/tpr138.

Bodin, P. & Franklin, O. (2012). Efficient modeling of sun/shade canopy radiation dynamics explicitly accounting for scattering. Geoscientific Model Development 5 (2), 535-541. 10.5194/gmd-5-535-2012.

Franklin, O. & Kaiser, C. (2012). Extracellular enzyme production from a rational microbe’s perspective. In: Worlds Within Reach: From Science To Policy - IIASA 40th Anniversary Conference, 24-26 October 2012, Hofburg Congress Center, Vienna and IIASA, Laxenburg, Austria.

Franklin, O. , Moltchanova, E., Kraxner, F., Seidl, R., Bottcher, H., Rokityiansky, D., & Obersteiner, M. (2012). Large-scale forest modeling: Deducing stand density from inventory data. International Journal of Forestry Research 934974 10.1155/2012/934974.

Kaiser, C., Franklin, O. , Richter, A., & Dieckmann, U. (2012). Feedback of belowground processes to global change mediated by microbial community dynamics. In: Worlds Within Reach: From Science To Policy - IIASA 40th Anniversary Conference, 24-26 October 2012, Hofburg Congress Center, Vienna and IIASA, Laxenburg, Austria.

Rovenskaya, E. , Brännström, Å., Franklin, O. , & Dieckmann, U. (2012). Balancing Ecology and Economy in Forestry: A Theoretical Investigation. In: Worlds Within Reach: From Science To Policy - IIASA 40th Anniversary Conference, 24-26 October 2012, Hofburg Congress Center, Vienna and IIASA, Laxenburg, Austria.

Rovenskaya, E. , Brännström, Å., Franklin, O. , & Dieckmann, U. (2012). Improving ecological sustainability in forestry: a theoretical investigation. In: Worlds Within Reach: From Science To Policy - IIASA 40th Anniversary Conference, 24-26 October 2012, Hofburg Congress Center, Vienna and IIASA, Laxenburg, Austria.

Hall, E.K., Maixner, F., Franklin, O. , Daims, H., Richter, A., & Battin, T.J. (2011). Linking microbial and ecosystem ecology using ecological stoichiometry: A synthesis of conceptual and empirical approaches. Ecosystems 14 (2), 261-273. 10.1007/s10021-010-9408-4.

Franklin, O. , Hall, E.K., Kaiser, C., Battin, T.J., & Richter, A. (2011). Optimization of biomass composition explains microbial growth-stoichiometry relationships. The American Naturalist 177 (2), E29-E42. 10.1086/657684.

Leduc, S., Lundgren, J., Franklin, O. , & Dotzauer, E. (2010). Location of a biomass based methanol production plant: A dynamic problem in northern Sweden. Applied Energy 87 (1), 68-75. 10.1016/j.apenergy.2009.02.009.

Franklin, O. , Aoki, K., & Seidl, R. (2009). A generic model of thinning and stand density effects on forest growth, mortality and net increment. Annals of Forest Science 66 (8), 815.-1. 10.1051/forest/2009073.

Dewar, R.C., Franklin, O. , Maekelae, A., McMurtrie, R.E., & Valentine, H.T. (2009). Optimal function explains forest responses to global change. BioScience 59 (2), 127-139. 10.1525/bio.2009.59.2.6.

Franklin, O. , McMurtrie, R.E., Iversen, C.M., Crous, K.Y., Finzi, A.C., Tissue, D.T., Ellsworth, D., Oren, R., & Norby, R.J. (2009). Forest fine-root production and nitrogen use under elevated CO2: Contrasting responses in evergreen and deciduous trees explained by a common principle. Global Change Biology 15 (1), 132-144. 10.1111/j.1365-2486.2008.01710.x.

Franklin, O. (2007). Optimal nitrogen allocation controls tree responses to elevated CO2. New Phytologist 174 (4), 811-822. 10.1111/j.1469-8137.2007.02063.x.

Koca, D., Smith, B., Bergh, J., Nilsson, U., Franklin, O. , Obersteiner, M. , & Sykes, M.T. (2006). Increased accuracy in climate impact studies by incorporating forest management practices within a process-based regional ecosystem modelling framework. Meddelanden från Lunds universitets geografi ska institution. Avhandlingar No.162 162, 77-89.