@misc{KoelblSteffensWiesmeieretal., author = {K{\"o}lbl, Angelika and Steffens, Markus and Wiesmeier, Martin and Hoffmann, Carsten and Funk, Roger and Kr{\"u}mmelbein, Julia and Reszkowska, Agnieszka and Zhao, Ying and Peth, Stephan and Horn, Rainer and Giese, Marcus and K{\"o}gel-Knabner, Ingrid}, title = {Grazing changes topography-controlled topsoil properties and their interaction on different spatial scales in a semi-arid grassland of Inner Mongolia, P.R. China}, series = {Plant and Soil}, volume = {340}, journal = {Plant and Soil}, number = {1-2}, issn = {1573-5036}, pages = {35 -- 58}, language = {en} } @misc{WannerElmerSommeretal., author = {Wanner, Manfred and Elmer, Michael and Sommer, Michael and Funk, Roger and Puppe, Daniel}, title = {Testate amoebae colonizing a newly exposed land surface are of airborne origin}, series = {Ecological Indicators}, volume = {48}, journal = {Ecological Indicators}, issn = {1470-160x}, doi = {10.1016/j.ecolind.2014.07.037}, pages = {55 -- 62}, abstract = {We hypothesized that at the very beginning of terrestrial ecosystem development, airborne testate amoebae play a pivotal role in facilitating organismic colonization and related soil processes. We, therefore, analyzed size and quantity of airborne testate amoebae and immigration and colonization success of airborne testate amoebae on a new land surface (experimental site "Chicken Creek", artificial post-mining water catchment). Within an altogether 91-day exposure of 70 adhesive traps, 12 species of testate amoebae were identified to be of airborne origin. Phryganella acropodia (51\% of all individuals found, diameter about 35-45 μm) and Centropyxis sphagnicola (23\% of all individuals found, longest axis about 55-68 μm), occurred most frequently in the adhesive traps. We extrapolated an aerial amoeba deposition of 61 individuals d-1 m-2 (living and dead individuals combined). Although it would be necessary to have a longer sequence (some additional years), our analysis of the "target substrate" of aerial immigration (catchment site) may point to a shift from a stochastic (variable) beginning of community assembly to a more deterministic (stable) course. This shift was assigned to an age of seven years of initial soil development. Although experienced specialists are necessary to conduct these time-consuming studies, the presented data suggest that terrestrial amoebae are suitable indicators for initial ecosystem development and utilization.}, language = {en} } @misc{SheppardBohnReckziegelBorrassetal., author = {Sheppard, Jonathan P. and Bohn Reckziegel, Rafael and Borrass, Lars and Chirwa, Paxie W. and Cuaranhua, Claudio J. and Hassler, Sibylle K and Hoffmeister, Svenja and Kestel, Florian and Maier, Rebekka and M{\"a}licke, Mirko and Morhart, Christopher and Ndlovu, Nicholas P. and Veste, Maik and Funk, Roger and Lang, Friedericke and Seifert, Thomas and du Toit, Ben and Kahle, Hans-Peter}, title = {Agroforestry: An Appropriate and Sustainable Response to a Changing Climate in Southern Africa?}, series = {Sustainability}, volume = {12}, journal = {Sustainability}, number = {17}, doi = {10.3390/su12176796}, abstract = {Agroforestry is often discussed as a strategy that can be used both for the adaptation to and the mitigation of climate change effects. The climate of southern Africa is predicted to be severely affected by such changes. With agriculture noted as the continent's largest economic sector, issues such as food security and land degradation are in the forefront. In the light of such concerns we review the current literature to investigate if agroforestry systems (AFS) are a suitable response to the challenges besetting traditional agricultural caused by a changing climate. The benefits bestowed by AFS are multiple, offering ecosystem services, influence over crop production and positive impacts on rural livelihoods through provisioning and income generation. Nevertheless, knowledge gaps remain. We identify outstanding questions requiring further investigation such as the interplay between trees and crops and their combination, with a discussion of potential benefits. Furthermore, we identify deficiencies in the institutional and policy frameworks that underlie the adoption and stimulus of AFS in the southern African region. We uphold the concept that AFS remains an appropriate and sustainable response for an increased resilience against a changing climate in southern Africa for the benefit of livelihoods and multiple environmental values}, language = {en} } @incollection{VesteSheppardAbdulaietal., author = {Veste, Maik and Sheppard, Jonathan P. and Abdulai, Issaka and Ayisi, Kwabena K. and Borrass, Lars and Chirwa, Paxie W. and Funk, Roger}, title = {The Need for Sustainable Agricultural Land-Use Systems: Benefits from Integrated Agroforestry Systems}, series = {Sustainability of Southern African Ecosystems under Global Change}, booktitle = {Sustainability of Southern African Ecosystems under Global Change}, editor = {Maltitz, Graham P. von and Midgley, Guy F. and Veitch, Jennifer and Br{\"u}mmer, Christian and R{\"o}tter, Reimund P. and Viehberg, Finn A. and Veste, Maik}, publisher = {Springer}, address = {Cham}, isbn = {978-3-031-10947-8}, doi = {10.1007/978-3-031-10948-5_21}, pages = {587 -- 623}, abstract = {This chapter introduces the different agroforestry systems (AFSs) as part of the diversification of agricultural landscapes and gives examples of their use in different related crop production systems in southern Africa. The introduction of trees into agriculture has several benefits and can mitigate the effects of climate change. For example nitrogen-fixing trees and shrubs contribute significantly to nutrient recycling and benefit soil conservation, which is particularly important for smallholder farms. In addition, shelterbelts play an important role in reducing wind speeds, and thus, evapotranspiration, and modifying the microclimatic conditions, which is an important factor for the adaptation of cropping systems to climate change. These integrated AFS landscapes provide important ecosystem services for soil protection, food security and for biodiversity. However, deficiencies in the institutional and policy frameworks that underlie the adoption and stimulus of AFS in the southern African region were identified. Furthermore, the following factors must be considered to optimise AFS: (1) selection of tree species that ensure maximum residual soil fertility beyond 3 years, (2) size of land owned by the farmer, (3) integrated nutrition management, where organic resources are combined with synthetic inorganic fertilisers and (4) tree-crop competition in the root zone for water.}, language = {en} }