| The project MykoResi investigates the central importance of mycorrhizal fungi for the future fitness and health of forests in the Wienerwald region. Mycorrhizal fungi form symbiotic relationships with trees and are crucial for their growth, health and stress tolerance. Although it is known that mycorrhizal fungi improve nutrient and water uptake and increase resilience to drought stress, comprehensive studies on their species composition and function in forest ecosystems are lacking. The project closes this knowledge gap through the DNA-based analysis of mycorrhizal fungi and the linking of the data with soil and stand parameters. The research questions are: 1) Which mycorrhizal fungi are associated with higher drought tolerance and better nutrient supply? 2) Can the choice of tree species influence the composition of mycorrhizal fungi? 3) Which management measures maintain and promote mycorrhizal fungal communities? The results also include recommendations for sustainable management of forest resources and the promotion of climate-smart forests. The project is being carried out by the Institute of Forest Ecology at the University of Natural Resources and Life Sciences, Vienna (BOKU). The Österreichischen Bundesforste (ÖBf AG), the City of Vienna – climate, forestry and agriculture, the forest enterprises of Klosterneuburg Abbey and Heiligenkreuz Monastery and the Wienerwald Biosphere Reserve support the project, ensuring the transfer of knowledge into practice. |