@inproceedings{FischerVesteWieheetal., author = {Fischer, Thomas and Veste, Maik and Wiehe, Wolfgang and Lange, Philipp}, title = {Linking microstructural and spectroscopic analysis of biological soil crusts - investigation of organo-mineral interactions}, series = {6th International Symposium on Ecosystem Behaviour BIOGEOMON 2009}, booktitle = {6th International Symposium on Ecosystem Behaviour BIOGEOMON 2009}, editor = {Ukonmaanaho, Liisa and Nieminen, Tiina Maileena and Starr, Michael}, publisher = {Finnish Forest Research Institut}, address = {Vantaa, Finland}, isbn = {978-951-40-2177-0}, pages = {S. 412}, language = {en} } @misc{DuemigVesteHagedornetal., author = {D{\"u}mig, Alexander and Veste, Maik and Hagedorn, Frank and Fischer, Thomas and Lange, Philipp and Spr{\"o}te, Roland and K{\"o}gel-Knabner, Ingrid}, title = {Biological soil crusts on initial soils: organic carbon dynamics and chemistry under temperate climatic conditions}, series = {Biogeosciences Discussion}, volume = {10}, journal = {Biogeosciences Discussion}, number = {1}, issn = {1810-6285}, pages = {851 -- 894}, language = {en} } @misc{DuemigVesteHagedornetal., author = {D{\"u}mig, Alexander and Veste, Maik and Hagedorn, Frank and Fischer, Thomas and Lange, Philipp and Spr{\"o}te, Roland and K{\"o}gel-Knabner, Ingrid}, title = {Organic matter from biological soil crusts induces the initial formation of sandy temperate soils}, series = {Catena}, volume = {122}, journal = {Catena}, doi = {10.1016/j.catena.2014.06.011}, pages = {196 -- 208}, abstract = {Different development stages of algae-dominated and moss-dominated biological soil crusts (BSCs) were sampled on a natural sand dune (b17 years old) and on an experimental sand dune (b8 years old) along a catena, including gradients of vegetation cover, location on the slope, as well as composition and thickness of BSC organisms in northeastern Germany. The accumulation of BSC-derived organic carbon (OC)was determined for bulk materials and fractions less than 63 μm. The OC composition was characterized by solid-state 13C NMR spectroscopy and the carbohydrate-C signature. 14C contents were determined to assess the origin and dynamics of OC. From the radiocarbon contents, two OC pools were differentiated: recent BSC-derived and lignite-derived "old" OC. Downward movement of OC into the underlying substratewas found only undermoss-dominated BSCs at the old sand dune. BSC-derived OC was mainly composed of carbohydrate-C and, to a lesser extent, alkyl C and N-alkyl C, with considerably higher contributions of alkyl C in the young dune, indicating differences in the composition of extracellular polymeric substances produced by the BSCs with age. This is consistent with higher proportions of water-soluble OC of moss-dominated BSCs at the old dune, which is leached in the underlying substrate and initiates soil formation. Because of the channeling effect of mosses, OC depth translocation along with suspended colloidal substances contribute to OC accumulation in substrates.}, language = {en} } @incollection{KoegelKnabnerBensHuettletal., author = {K{\"o}gel-Knabner, Ingrid and Bens, Oliver and H{\"u}ttl, Reinhard F. and Fischer, Thomas and D{\"u}mig, Alexander and Spr{\"o}te, Roland}, title = {Project A3 - Initial stages of humus development}, series = {Structures and processes of the initial ecosystem development phase in an artificial water catchment (Final report CRC/TR 38)}, booktitle = {Structures and processes of the initial ecosystem development phase in an artificial water catchment (Final report CRC/TR 38)}, editor = {H{\"u}ttl, Reinhard F. and K{\"o}gel-Knabner, Ingrid and Schulin, Rainer and Gerwin, Werner}, publisher = {BTU Forschungszentrum Landschaftsentwicklung und Bergbaulandschaften (FZLB)}, address = {Cottbus}, pages = {25 -- 35}, language = {en} } @inproceedings{SproeteFischerVesteetal., author = {Spr{\"o}te, Roland and Fischer, Thomas and Veste, Maik and Wiehe, Wolfgang and Lange, Philipp and H{\"u}ttl, Reinhard F.}, title = {Development of top soil on quaternary inland dunes - How important are microorganisms?}, series = {Gletscher, Wasser, Mensch - quart{\"a}rer Landschaftswandel im peribaltischen Raum, 35. Hauptversammlung der DEUQUA e.V., 12th Annual Conference of the INQUA PeriBaltic Working Group, 13.-17.9.2010., Greifswald}, booktitle = {Gletscher, Wasser, Mensch - quart{\"a}rer Landschaftswandel im peribaltischen Raum, 35. Hauptversammlung der DEUQUA e.V., 12th Annual Conference of the INQUA PeriBaltic Working Group, 13.-17.9.2010., Greifswald}, publisher = {Lehrstuhl Physische Geographie, Inst. f{\"u}r Geographie und Geologie der Univ. Greifswald}, address = {Greifswald}, pages = {163 -- 164}, language = {en} } @misc{FischerVesteBensetal., author = {Fischer, Thomas and Veste, Maik and Bens, Oliver and H{\"u}ttl, Reinhard F.}, title = {Dew formation on the surface of biological soil crusts in central European sand ecosystems}, series = {Biogeosciences discussions}, volume = {9}, journal = {Biogeosciences discussions}, doi = {10.5194/bgd-9-8075-2012}, pages = {8075 -- 8092}, abstract = {Dew formation was investigated in three developmental stages of biological soil crusts (BSC), which were collected along a catena of an inland dune and in the initial substrate. The Penman equation, which was developed for saturated surfaces, was modified for unsaturated surfaces and used for prediction of dewfall rates. The levels of surface saturation required for this approach were predicted using the water retention functions and the thicknesses of the BSCs. During a single event, dewfall increased with crust development from 0.08 kg m-2 for the initial substrate to 0.10, 0.20 and 0.25 kg m-2 for crusts stages 1 to 3, respectively, which was well reflected by the model response. The suggested mechanism of dew formation involves a delay in water saturation in near-surface soil pores and EPS where the crusts were thicker and where the water capacity was high, resulting in elevated vapor flux towards the surface. The results also indicate that the amount of dewfall was too low to observe water flow into deeper soil. Analysis of the soil water retention curves revealed that, despite the sandy mineral matrix, moist crusts with clogged by swollen EPS pores exhibited a clay-like behavior. It is hypothesized that BSCs gain double benefit from suppressing their competitors by runoff generation and from improving their water supply by dew collection. Despite higher amounts of dew, the water availability to the crust community decreases with crust development, which may be compensated by ecophysiological adaptation of crust organisms, and which may further suppress higher vegetation or mosses.}, language = {en} } @misc{ZyakunNiiAnnangFrankeetal., author = {Zyakun, Anatoly and Nii-Annang, Seth and Franke, Gabriele and Fischer, Thomas and Buegger, Franz and Dilly, Oliver}, title = {Microbial Actvity and 13C/12C Ratio as Evidence of N-Hexadecane and N-Hexadecanoic Acid Biodegradation in Agricultural and Forest Soils}, series = {Geomicrobiology Journal}, volume = {28}, journal = {Geomicrobiology Journal}, number = {7}, issn = {1521-0529}, doi = {10.1080/01490451.2010.489922}, pages = {632 -- 647}, abstract = {The dynamics of microbial degradation of exogenous contaminants, n-hexadecane and its primary microbial oxidized metabolite, n-hexadecanoic (palmitic) acid, was studied for topsoils, under agricultural management and beech forest on the basis the changes in O2 uptake, CO2 evolution and its associated microbial and non-microbial carbon isotopic signature, the respiratory quotient (RQ) and the priming effect (PE) of substrates. Soil microbial communities in agricultural soil responded to the n-hexadecane addition more rapidly compared to those of forest soil, with lag-periods of about 23 ± 10 and 68 ± 13 hours, respectively. Insignificant difference in the lag-period duration was detected for agricultural (tlag = 30 ± 13 h) and forest (tlag = 30 ± 14 h) soils treated with n-hexadecanoic (palmitic) acid. These results demonstrate that the soil microbiota differed in metabolic activities for using n-hexadecane as a reductive hydrocarbon and n-hexadecanoic acid as a partly oxidized hydrocarbon. The corresponding δ13C of respired CO2 after the addition of the hydrocarbon contaminants to soils indicates a shift in microbial activity towards the consumption of exogenous substrates with a more complete degradation of n-hexadecane in the agricultural soil, for which some initial contents of hydrocarbons are inherent. It was reflected in the carbon isotope signature of microbial biomass. It is supposed that the observed deviation of RQ from theoretically calculated value under microbial substrate mineralization is determined by difference in the time (Δti) of registration of CO2 production and O2 consumption. Positive priming effect (PE) of n-hexadecane and negative PE of n-hexadecanoic (palmitic) acid were detected in agricultural and forest soils. It is suggested that positive PE of n-hexadecane is conditioned by the induction of microbial enzymes that perform hydroxylation/oxygenation of stable SOM compounds mineralized by soil microbiota to CO2. The microbial metabolism coupled with oxidative decarboxylation of n-hexadecanoic acid is considered as one of the most probable causes of the revealed negative PE value.}, language = {en} } @misc{FischerGypserSubbotinaetal., author = {Fischer, Thomas and Gypser, Stella and Subbotina, Maria and Veste, Maik}, title = {Synergic hydraulic and nutritional feedback mechanisms control surface patchiness of biological soil crusts on tertiary sands at a post-mining site}, series = {Journal of Hydrology and Hydromechanics}, volume = {62}, journal = {Journal of Hydrology and Hydromechanics}, number = {4}, issn = {0042-790X}, doi = {10.2478/johh-2014-0038}, pages = {293 -- 302}, abstract = {In a recultivation area located in Brandenburg, Germany, five types of biocrusts (initial BSC1, developed BSC2 and BSC3, mosses, lichens) and non-crusted mineral substrate were sampled on tertiary sand deposited in 1985- 1986 to investigate hydrologic interactions between crust patches. Crust biomass was lowest in the non-crusted substrate, increased to the initial BSC1 and peaked in the developed BSC2, BSC3, the lichens and the mosses. Water infiltration was highest on the substrate, and decreased to BSC2, BSC1 and BSC3. Non-metric multidimensional scaling revealed that the lichens and BSC3 were associated with water soluble nutrients and with pyrite weathering products, thus representing a high nutrient low hydraulic feedback mode. The mosses and BSC2 represented a low nutrient high hydraulic feedback mode. These feedback mechanisms were considered as synergic, consisting of run-off generating (low hydraulic) and run-on receiving (high hydraulic) BSC patches. Three scenarios for BSC succession were proposed. (1) Initial BSCs sealed the surface until they reached a successional stage (represented by BSC1) from which the development into either of the feedback modes was triggered, (2) initial heterogeneities of the mineral substrate controlled the development of the feedback mode, and (3) complex interactions between lichens and mosses occurred at later stages of system development.}, language = {en} } @incollection{FischerBergmannHuettl, author = {Fischer, Thomas and Bergmann, Charlotte and H{\"u}ttl, Reinhard F.}, title = {Auswirkungen sich zeitlich {\"a}ndernder Schadstoffdepositionen auf Prozesse des Kohlenstoff- und Stickstoffumsatzes im Boden}, series = {Atmosph{\"a}rensanierung und Wald{\"o}kosysteme}, booktitle = {Atmosph{\"a}rensanierung und Wald{\"o}kosysteme}, editor = {H{\"u}ttl, Reinhard F. and Bellmann, Klaus and Seiler, Wolfgang}, publisher = {Eberhard-Blottner-Verlag}, address = {Taunusstein}, isbn = {3-89367-053-X}, pages = {144 -- 160}, language = {de} } @misc{FischerKholiavkoSchaafetal., author = {Fischer, Thomas and Kholiavko, Tatiana and Schaaf, Wolfgang and Veste, Maik}, title = {Soil respiration responses of moss and lichen biocoenoses to moderate and severe rain events after summer drought in a temperate early-successional ecosystem}, series = {Ecohydrology}, volume = {16}, journal = {Ecohydrology}, number = {7}, issn = {1936-0592}, doi = {10.1002/eco.2578}, abstract = {It is commonly accepted that CO2 efflux increases with soil water content in aerated soils and that rewetting after periods of soil drying can result in respiration pulses. It has further been shown that soil pores may become water logged which can impede soil gas exchange. The present study aimed to quantify the carbon response of moss (Polytrichum piliferum) and lichen (Cladonia coniocraea) biocoenoses to different quantities of rain in an artificial catchment, which granted that the starting point of the development of both biocoenoses was the same. To address this aim, we conducted in situ soil moisture and soil respiration measurements, where soil respiration was hypothesised to emerge from a cryptogamic vegetation layer and from mineral soil beneath. We found that higher water-holding capacity of the moss layer and higher accumulation of organic matter in the upper mineral soil under mosses result in higher amounts of water stored near the surface. As a consequence, evaporation of water as well as pulses of CO2 efflux after moderate rain following a period of drought were higher in the moss biocoenosis, where the upper mineral soil was of key importance. In contrast, the lichen biocoenosis facilitated penetration of rainwater into the deep soil. Superimposing rewetting pulses, near-saturation of soil pores with water after severe rain resulted in gas exchange inhibition and diminished soil respiration until subsequent aeration in both biocoenoses}, language = {en} } @misc{GypserHerppichFischeretal., author = {Gypser, Stella and Herppich, Werner B. and Fischer, Thomas and Lange, Philipp and Veste, Maik}, title = {Photosynthetic characteristics and their spatial variance on biological soil crusts covering initial soils of post-mining sites in Lower Lusatia, NE Germany}, series = {Flora}, volume = {Vol. 220}, journal = {Flora}, issn = {0367-2530}, doi = {10.1016/j.flora.2016.02.012}, pages = {103 -- 116}, abstract = {Following surface disturbance, quaternary sands are the basic substrate for soil development in the Lusatian reclamation area. These substrates mostly contain few organic matter and, hence, are nutrient poor. Accumulation of soil carbon is an important factor for ecosystem development, where biological soil crusts initially influence soil processes and promote ecosystem succession. The compositional structures of biological soil crusts at various developmental stages and their photosynthetic properties were investigated on two former open-cast lignite sites, currently under reclamation, an artificial sand dune in Welzow S{\"u}d, and a forest plantation in Schlabendorf S{\"u}d (Brandenburg, Germany). As development of biological soil crusts progressed, their contents of organic carbon and total chlorophyll increased. The ratio of these parameters, however, varied with the relative contribution of lichens and mosses in particular. Also maximum photochemical efficiency, net photosynthesis and respiration increased with crustal development. An additional evaluation of NDVI and chlorophyll fluorescence images showed that especially moss-dominated biocrusts had higher photosynthetic capacity compared to green algae-dominated biocrusts or soil lichens, so the photosynthetic capacity showed to be highly species-specific. The ratio of gross photosynthesis to respiration indicated a higher ecological efficiency of biocrusts dominated by green algae than of lichen-dominated biocrusts. The occurrence of soil lichens reduced net CO2 fixation and increased CO2 release due to the enhanced mycobiontic respiration. During crustal succession, the rise of photosynthesis-related parameters is not necessarily linear as a result of the highly heterogenic distribution of the different crustal organisms between biocrusts of similar developmental stages as well as between those growing at the two study sites. Therefore, the evaluation of relevant ecophysiological parameters highlighted that not all biocrust-forming organisms similarly contribute to the ecophysiological behavior of biological soil crusts. Nevertheless, the occurrence of the biological soil crusts promoted soil formation and accumulation of soil carbon in initial soils.}, language = {en} } @misc{GypserVesteFischeretal., author = {Gypser, Stella and Veste, Maik and Fischer, Thomas and Lange, Philipp}, title = {Infiltration and water retention of biological soil crusts on reclaimed soils of former open-cast lignite mining sites in Brandenburg, north-east Germany}, series = {Journal of hydrology and hydromechanics}, volume = {64}, journal = {Journal of hydrology and hydromechanics}, number = {1}, doi = {10.1515/johh-2016-0009}, pages = {1 -- 11}, abstract = {Investigations were done on two former open-cast lignite mining sites under reclamation, an artificial sand dune in Welzow S{\"u}d, and a forest plantation in Schlabendorf S{\"u}d (Brandenburg, Germany). The aim was to associate the topsoil hydrological characteristics of green algae dominated as well as moss and soil lichen dominated biological soil crusts during crustal succession with their water retention and the repellency index on sandy soils under temperate cli-mate and different reliefs. The investigation of the repellency index showed on the one hand an increase due to the cross-linking of sand parti-cles by green algae which resulted in clogging of pores. On the other hand, the occurrence of moss plants led to a de-crease of the repellency index due to absorption caused by bryophytes. The determination of the water retention curves showed an increase of the water holding capacity, especially in conjunction with the growth of green algae layer. The pore-related van Genuchten parameter indicate a clay-like behaviour of the developed soil crusts. Because of the inho-mogeneous distribution of lichens and mosses as well as the varying thickness of green algae layers, the water retention differed between the study sites and between samples of similar developmental stages. However, similar tendencies of water retention and water repellency related to the soil crust formation were observed. Biological soil crusts should be considered after disturbances in the context of reclamation measures, because the ini-tial development of green algae biocrusts lead to an increasing repellency index, while the occurrence of mosses and a gain in organic matter enhance the water holding capacity. Thus, the succession of biocrusts and their small-scale succes-sion promote the development of soil and ecosystem.}, language = {en} } @misc{GypserVesteFischeretal., author = {Gypser, Stella and Veste, Maik and Fischer, Thomas and Lange, Philipp}, title = {Formation of soil lichen crusts at reclaimed post-mining sites, Lower Lusatia, North-east Germany}, series = {Graphis Scripta}, volume = {27}, journal = {Graphis Scripta}, number = {1-2}, issn = {0901-7593}, pages = {3 -- 14}, abstract = {Biological soil crusts were investigated at reclaimed post-mining sites near Welzow and Schlabendorf in Lower Lusatia (Brandenburg, Germany). Various development stages from initial biological soil crusts built up by green algae, to more developed soil crusts with mosses, as well as moss-soil lichen crusts, were classified. The spatial-temporal dynamics during the development resulted in a moss-lichens cover with discrete patches of pioneer organisms like green algae in between. At the study sites, 13 species of terricolous lichens were identified. The formation of the biological soil crust is important for the accumulation of soil organic matter in the first millimeters of the topsoil of these pioneer ecosystems. A correlation between cryptogamic biomass and soil carbon content were found.}, language = {en} } @misc{FischerVeste, author = {Fischer, Thomas and Veste, Maik}, title = {Carbon cycling of biological soil crusts mirrors ecological maturity along a Central European inland dune catena}, series = {Catena}, volume = {160}, journal = {Catena}, issn = {0341-8162}, doi = {10.1016/j.catena.2017.09.004}, pages = {68 -- 75}, abstract = {Photosynthesis and respiration of biological soil crusts (BSCs) sampled along a mobile inland dune catena were determined to evaluate the applicability of Odum's P/R ratio, determined under controlled conditions, for estimation of ecosystem maturity. The theory is that in the early stages of ecological succession, the total photosynthesis (P) exceeds the rate of community respiration (R), so that the P/R ratio is greater than 1, and that P/R approaches 1 as succession occurs. In the special case of organic pollution, the P/R ratio is typically less than 1. Samples were collected in the deflation zone of the dune near the crest (BSC1, thickness 2-3 mm), at the lee side of grass tussocks at the slope (BSC2, thickness 2-4 mm) and near the base (BSC3, thickness 4-6 mm). Non crusted sand was used as control (BSC0). Photosynthesis, respiration, crust biomass, as well as fossil and allochthonous pedogenic carbon entering the system with mineral substrate were determined. The respiration of the BSC1 was dominated by the degradation of allochthonous organic matter, leading to a diminished P/R ratio. The better developed BSC2 and BSC3 were less influenced by allochthonous organic matter, where BSC maturity increased downslope with biomass increase. No significant relation between the P/R ratio and soil water tension was found. Crust carbon pools increased and flows intensified, but mineralization constants decreased with system maturation. It was concluded that Odum's P/R ratio and accumulation of recalcitrant to biodegradation organic matter are indicative for biocrust maturity.}, language = {en} } @misc{HuettlFischer, author = {H{\"u}ttl, Reinhard F. and Fischer, Thomas}, title = {Carbon sequestration and landscape ecology in Western Europe - editorial}, series = {Ecological Engineering}, volume = {29}, journal = {Ecological Engineering}, number = {4}, issn = {0925-8574}, doi = {10.1016/j.ecoleng.2006.10.001}, pages = {317 -- 318}, language = {en} }