@misc{RaabRaabBonhageetal., author = {Raab, Thomas and Raab, Alexandra and Bonhage, Alexander and Schneider, Anna and Hirsch, Florian and Birkhofer, Klaus and Drohan, Patrick J. and Wilmking, Martin and Kreyling, J{\"u}rgen and Malik, Ireneusz and Wistuba, Małgorzata and Maaten, Ernst van der and Maaten-Theunissen, Marieke van der and Urich, Tim}, title = {Do small landforms have large effects? A review on the legacies of pre-industrial charcoal burning}, series = {Geomorphology}, volume = {413}, journal = {Geomorphology}, issn = {0169-555X}, doi = {10.1016/j.geomorph.2022.108332}, pages = {16}, abstract = {Relict charcoal hearths (RCHs) are small, anthropogenic landforms resulting from past charcoal burning and reaching significant land coverage in pre-industrial mining areas. We review three coupled legacies linked by RCH development: (i) a landscape-scale geomorphic effect, (ii) a unique soil fingerprint, and (iii) an evolving novel ecosystem. The history and technique of charcoal production are described to clarify legacy effects. Applying a recently presented morpho-genetic catalogue is useful for classified mapping of RCH findings. The RCH numbers and calculated RCH densities per study region vary greatly and impose uncertainties due to insufficient methods causing over- or underestimations. Areas with high RCH densities between 50 and 500 RCH/km2 seem reasonable. Machine learning-based remote sensing techniques are promising approaches with which to better assess the full scale of charcoal burning legacies. RCH soil properties feature dark charcoal-rich technogenic substrate layers classified as Auh horizons according to the World Reference Base with significantly increased C contents. These Auh horizons can also exhibit specific physical and chemical properties, such as relatively low bulk density, high porosity, high plant available water content, low thermal conductivity and differences in cation exchange capacity or nutrient status. However, relevant studies are rare, and thus, the effects may differ by study region. Regarding vegetation, there seem to be four main effects: changes in forest structure, species composition, recruitment pattern and productivity. The number of studies on this issue is, however, also very limited. Even fewer studies have examined the soil fauna in RCHs; thus, the reported effects cannot be used to draw general conclusions. Notably, RCH research has made considerable progress in the last five years, especially in the Light Detection and Ranging-based mapping of these small landforms and identification of RCH-specific soil properties, but ecological legacies are not well understood; thus, more interdisciplinary and integrative studies are needed.}, language = {en} } @misc{GerwinRaabHinzetal., author = {Gerwin, Werner and Raab, Thomas and Hinz, Christoph and Letmathe, Peter and Leuchner, Michael and Roß-Nickoll, Martina and R{\"u}de, Thomas and Trachte, Katja and W{\"a}tzold, Frank and Lehmkuhl, Frank}, title = {Perspectives of lignite post‑mining landscapes under changing environmental conditions: what can we learn from a comparison between the Rhenish and Lusatian region in Germany?}, series = {Environmental Sciences Europe}, volume = {35}, journal = {Environmental Sciences Europe}, issn = {2190-4715}, doi = {10.1186/s12302-023-00738-z}, abstract = {Background The decision of the German federal government to cease lignite mining until 2038 or—if possible— already earlier until 2030, will cause manifold transition processes in the remaining lignite mining districts of Germany. The two largest districts are located in geographically opposite regions: The Rhineland in the western part and Lusatia in the east of Germany. As particularly these two mining districts will experience severe changes in their socioeconomic as well environmental conditions, the federal government has adopted comprehensive economic support measures. However, the environmental changes will also cause altered ecosystem functions and services to be provided by the future post-mining landscapes. Results In this paper, the two main lignite-producing regions of Germany are compared with regard to their natural and cultural settings. The economic situation and its history are reflected and differences are outlined. Part of the disparities in the cultural development can be explained by very different natural conditions, especially edaphic factors and climatic situation. Because of dissimilar geological settings, different mining technologies were developed and are in use in the two regions with distinct effects on the resulting post-mining landscapes. Conclusion The long-standing and manifold lignite mining activities have radically restructured the landscapes in Lusatia and the Rhineland. With the ongoing decline of the mining industry and its complete cessation, presumably within the next decade, both regions will alter their faces significantly. These changes offer both challenges but also opportunities with respect to the post-mining landscapes and their ecosystem services they are going to provide. The prerequisites for a positive socioeconomic development and for sustainable land-use concepts that also consider ecological aspects are different for both regions. However, or especially because of these differences, the knowledge exchange and experience transfer between both mining regions are pivotal for the success of this extensive transformation process.}, language = {en} } @misc{LehmkuhlGerwinRaabetal., author = {Lehmkuhl, Frank and Gerwin, Werner and Raab, Thomas and Birkhofer, Klaus and Hinz, Christoph and Letmathe, Peter and Leuchner, Michael and Roß-Nickoll, Martina and R{\"u}de, Thomas R. and Trachte, Katja and W{\"a}tzold, Frank}, title = {Perspectives for the lignite post-mining landscapes of the lignite mining landscapes under changing environmental conditions - what can we learn from a comparison between the Rhenish and the Lusatian regions in Germany? : EGU General Assembly 2024, Vienna, Austria \& Online | 14-19 April 2024}, publisher = {Copernicus GmbH}, doi = {10.5194/egusphere-egu24-2791}, abstract = {The German government's decision to phase out lignite mining by 2038 or earlier, as recently 2030 has been agreed for the Rhineland, will trigger a number of transition processes in Germany's remaining lignite mining areas. The two largest lignite mining areas are located in geographically different regions: Rhineland in the west and Lusatia in the east. As the socio-economic and environmental conditions in these two mining areas are set to change dramatically, the German government has adopted extensive economic support measures. However, the environmental changes will also lead to changes in the ecosystem functions and services provided by the future post-mining landscapes. Gerwin et al. (2023) compare the two main lignite producing regions of Germany in terms of their natural and cultural environments. The economic situation and its history are reflected and differences are outlined. Part of the differences in cultural development can be explained by the natural conditions, especially the edaphic factors and the climatic situation. Because of the specific geological settings, tailored mining technologies were developed and used in the two regions, with different effects on the resulting post-mining landscapes. We conclude that the landscapes of Lusatia and the Rhineland have been radically restructured by the long and varied history of lignite mining. Both regions will change significantly as the mining industry continues to decline and is expected to cease altogether within the next decade. These changes in the post-mining landscapes and the ecosystem services will provide both challenges and opportunities. The preconditions for positive socio-economic development and for sustainable land use concepts that also consider ecological aspects are different for the two regions. The exchange of knowledge and experience between the two mining regions is crucial to the success of this major transformation process, despite, or perhaps because of, these differences. Gerwin, W., Raab, T., Birkhofer, K., Hinz, C., Letmathe, P., Leuchner, M., Ro\&\#223;-Nickoll, M., R\&\#252;de, T., Trachte, K., W\&\#228;tzold, F., Lehmkuhl, F. (2023): Perspectives of lignite post-mining landscapes under changing environmental conditions: what can we learn from a comparison between the Rhenish and Lusatian region in Germany? Environmental Sciences Europe 35:36. https://doi.org/10.1186/s12302-023-00738-z}, language = {en} } @misc{HeinkenBlumroederAdhikarietal., author = {Heinken, Thilo and Blumr{\"o}der, Jeanette S. and Adhikari, Yojana and Balthasar, Cathrina and Binder, Anja and Birkhofer, Klaus and Bischoff, Antje and Brosinsky, Arlena and Bubner, Ben and Clerc, Danica and Djoudi, El Aziz and Dobkowitz, Sophia and Francke, Till and Gerwin, Werner and Hartong, Heinrich and Hess, Carsten and Jarling, Ren{\´e} and Jouy, Florent and Leinen, Loretta and Meißner, Andreas and Raab, Thomas and Repmann, Frank and R{\"o}nnefarth, Susanne and Schaaf, Wolfgang and Schirrmacher, Marina and Schmehl, Marie-Therese and Schmitt, Thomas and Schr{\"o}der, Jens and Sch{\"u}le, Maren and Sturm, Knut and Welle, Torsten and Ibisch, Pierre L.}, title = {PYROPHOB - A post-fire ecosystem research project to inform management for resilient forest development}, series = {Tuexenia}, volume = {44}, journal = {Tuexenia}, issn = {0722-494X}, doi = {10.14471/2024.44.004}, pages = {35}, abstract = {PYROPHOB (fire-resistant) is the name of an interdisciplinary research project that is running for five years from 2020 to 2025. In this project, eight institutions are investigating the ecological effects of wildfires and subsequent forest management strategies in pine forests (plantations) in Brandenburg (NE Germany), with the aim of formulating practical recommendations for managing fire-prone forests and the effective restoration of post-fire forest areas. We provide a brief overview of what is known about the effects of wildfire on abiotic and biotic parameters in temperate pine forests, as well as the effects of silvicultural treatments. To date, we know little about how different components of biodiversity are linked in post-fire forest ecosystems and how management affects their functioning. By describing the project, we illustrate the requirements for the implementation of such an applied research project. We emphasize the importance of the study design for dealing with interdisciplinary questions and for the quantitative synthesis of research results. The project comprises a set of standardised field plots in two wildfire areas covering different post-fire management options. Fifteen study sites were established, including two reference sites in unburned pine stands, each with ten study plots as replicates. In situ nitrogen mineralisation, litter decomposition tests and soil biological activity are used for soil biological characterisation. Microclimate data is measured continuously. Standing and lying dead wood and tree regeneration are recorded as key indicators of the success of forestry treatments. Further methods com-prise terrestrial laser scanning, remote sensing techniques as well as surveys of vegetation and above and below ground biomass. Identification of fruiting body-forming fungi, phytoparasites and ectomycorrhizal fungi is supported by marker gene sequencing. Faunistic indicators comprise predatory soil arthropods (pairs of emergence tents and soil traps), saproxylic beetles (flight traps and funnel traps), moths (automated window traps), mammals (camera traps), and breeding birds (visual and acoustic observation). We discuss the strengths and limitations of the project design. We are able to systematically capture short-term temporal shifts in parameters and trends in post-fire ecosystem development. Research in a real landscape with ongoing environmental changes and interventions pres-ents challenges for experimental design, data analysis and interpretation. The drivers of ecosystem development are rarely completely independent or perfectly balanced, and lack of replication is ine-vitable. The two fires did not occur in the same year and season, resulting in different initial conditions for the colonisation of the burned areas. Finally, a large part of one study area was again affected by a fire in 2022, which destroyed direct comparability with the other sites. Despite these obstacles the project has started to generate valuable results to address management and conservation challenges.}, language = {en} }