@misc{GerwinSchaaf, author = {Gerwin, Werner and Schaaf, Wolfgang}, title = {Abiotic and biotic drivers of ecosystem development - results from Chicken Creek Catchment}, series = {EGU General Assembly 2020, Online, 4-8 May 2020}, journal = {EGU General Assembly 2020, Online, 4-8 May 2020}, doi = {10.5194/egusphere-egu2020-7216}, 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} } @inproceedings{HuettlGerwin, author = {H{\"u}ttl, Reinhard F. and Gerwin, Werner}, title = {Investigating point zero: The artificial catchment "Chicken Creek" as an observatory to study critical zone structures and processes of the critical zone in an initial ecosystem}, series = {EGU General Assembly 2010, held in Vienna, Austria, 02 - 07 May 2010}, booktitle = {EGU General Assembly 2010, held in Vienna, Austria, 02 - 07 May 2010}, publisher = {European Geophysical Society}, address = {Katlenburg-Lindau}, language = {en} } @misc{PohlWinklerMikuttaetal., author = {Pohl, Lydia and Winkler, Pauline and Mikutta, Robert and R{\"u}cknagel, Jan and Gerwin, Werner}, title = {Potential of Fe sludge addition to increase the water holding capacity of sandy soil substrates}, series = {Journal of environmental management}, volume = {393}, journal = {Journal of environmental management}, publisher = {Elsevier BV}, address = {Amsterdam}, issn = {0301-4797}, doi = {10.1016/j.jenvman.2025.126870}, pages = {1 -- 11}, abstract = {Iron (Fe) hydroxide sludge is a by-product of open-pit lignite mining that accumulates in large quantities during acid mine drainage (AMD) treatment, where Fe²⁺ is precipitated to mitigate its environmental impact on aquatic ecosystems. Large quantities accrue, and the majority of Fe sludge is currently landfilled, although it may hold potential for beneficial reuse, for example, as a soil amendment. Hence, this study investigated the potential of Fe sludge to improve the water-holding capacity of sandy soils. A pure quartz sand and three sandy soil substrates were mixed with three different amounts of Fe oxide sludge (15, 30, and 60 t ha⁻¹) in pelletized and powdered form. Plant-available water-holding capacity (AWHC) was measured for all treatments, and results were compared to controls without Fe oxide sludge addition. The quartz sand's AWHC increased at all application rates of Fe sludge. In natural sandy soil substrates, Fe sludge increased AWHC at the highest application rate only in the soil material with an initial AWHC of <10 vol\%. The application of powdered Fe sludge was found to be more effective than pelletized sludge. We conclude that Fe oxide sludge applied as powder has the potential to enhance the AWHC of soils with an initial AWHC <10 vol\%, thus improving the quality of sandy substrates in post-mining areas. Yet, application of Fe sludge to improve soil physical properties should always consider their simultaneous impact on soil chemical properties, such as pH buffering, carbon accumulation, and effects on potentially harmful trace elements.}, language = {en} } @misc{SchmehlAdhikariBalthasaretal., author = {Schmehl, Marie-Therese and Adhikari, Yojana and Balthasar, Cathrina and Binder, Anja and Clerc, Danica and Dobkowitz, Sophia and Gerwin, Werner and G{\"u}nther, Kristin and Hartong, Heinrich and Heinken, Thilo and Hess, Carsten and Ibisch, Pierre L. and Jouy, Florent and Leinen, Loretta and Raab, Thomas and Repmann, Frank and R{\"o}nnefarth, Susanne and Rohlfs, Lilly and Schirrmacher, Marina and Schr{\"o}der, Jens and Sch{\"u}le, Maren and Vieth-Hillebrand, Andrea and Francke, Till}, title = {Monitoring abiotic and biotic parameters of forest regrowth under different management regimes on former wildfire sites in northeastern Germany - data from the PYROPHOB project}, series = {Earth system science data}, volume = {17}, journal = {Earth system science data}, number = {11}, publisher = {Copernicus GmbH}, address = {G{\"o}ttingen}, issn = {1866-3516}, doi = {10.5194/essd-17-6295-2025}, pages = {6295 -- 6313}, abstract = {We present the data recorded by eight institutions within the PYROPHOB project, running from 2020 to 2024 at two forest research sites in the south-west of Brandenburg, Germany. The aim of the project was to monitor abiotic and biotic parameters of forest regrowth under different management regimes on former wildfire sites in northeastern Germany. The observations comprised intermittent and continuous measurements or surveys on meteorological parameters (rainfall, temperature, vapour pressure deficit), soil (soil type and texture, soil chemistry and leaching, water content, soil temperature), deadwood, stand structure, vegetation regrowth, abundance of selected fauna (moths, beetles, mammals), UAV-based remote sensing (stand structure, spatial overview), and photo monitoring (succession). Thus, the multitude of collected data allows not only for detailed analyses of these observables separately, but also considering their interaction for a more multidisciplinary view on forest recovery after a wildfire. The data are available under the following DOIs: https://doi.org/10.23728/b2share.08a6a8b56f774a08a984871e7ef1b5a8 (Part 1, Schmehl et al., 2025a), under embargo until 31 March 2026 (Part 2, Schmehl et al., 2025b), https://doi.org/10.23728/b2share.de1661761da5481f938caf460e4f0ca9 (Part 3.1, Schmehl et al., 2025c), and https://doi.org/10.23728/b2share.51bdf4b6dc854873b6ff44fdddbf4c3b (Part 3.2, Schmehl et al., 2025d).}, language = {en} } @misc{SchueleHeinkenAdhikarietal., author = {Sch{\"u}le, Maren and Heinken, Thilo and Adhikari, Yojana and Binder, Anja and Clerc, Danica and Dobkowitz, Sophia and Francke, Till and Gerwin, Werner and Hartong, Heinrich and Jouy, Florent and Raab, Thomas and Repmann, Frank and Rohlfs, Lilly and R{\"o}nnefarth, Susanne and Ibisch, Pierre L.}, title = {Intensive post-fire management drives ecosystem degradation but does not prevent tree regeneration}, series = {Journal of applied ecology}, volume = {63}, journal = {Journal of applied ecology}, number = {1}, publisher = {Wiley}, issn = {0021-8901}, doi = {10.1111/1365-2664.70257}, pages = {1 -- 17}, abstract = {In recent years, wildfires have affected relatively large areas of managed forests in Central Europe. Often, forestry uses intensive post-fire management practices, which can have negative effects on various components of the ecosystem. Fire ecology has been largely neglected in Central Europe and strategies for appropriate management and successful reforestation of burned areas are urgently needed. We have studied the effects of different post-fire forest management treatments (including different levels of salvage logging and soil disturbances such as ploughing or raking) on soil parameters (phosphorus, nitrogen, calcium, potassium, magnesium, pH), microclimate (temperatures, vapour pressure deficit (VPD), heat and drought stress), deadwood, regrowth (biomass of tree regeneration, herb and bryophyte layer) and species richness (plants and saproxylic beetles) 3 years after wildfire in a Central European Scots pine forest (northeast Germany). Intensive forest management led to more unfavourable abiotic conditions, including stronger temperature extremes and elevated VPD. Consequently, vegetation on these sites experienced increased heat and drought stress and reduced nutrient availability. The biomass of the herb and bryophyte layer, as well as the species richness of plants and saproxylic beetles, was lower on completely salvage logged sites. Tree biomass recovered on all sites, including sites with intensive forest management. Tree regeneration in our study area was mainly driven by the recolonization of the pioneer species European aspen (Populus tremula), which can tolerate a wide range of site conditions. Synthesis and applications. We recommend avoiding intensive management on burned sites, such as complete salvage logging or ploughing, as this creates extreme site conditions that could inhibit the regeneration of more sensitive tree species and result in a long-term legacy of degradation. In addition, herb and bryophyte layers, as well as the species richness of vegetation and saproxylic beetles, which are important components of forest ecosystems, are negatively affected by intense forest management.}, language = {en} } @techreport{RepmannGerwinKanzler, author = {Repmann, Frank and Gerwin, Werner and Kanzler, Michael}, title = {Schlussbericht zum Vorhaben "Ermittlung der Bodenqualit{\"a}t zur Bewertung der Ertragspotentiale von Rohstoffpflanzen auf marginalen Standorten (BodenPotential)"}, publisher = {Technische Informationsbibliothek}, address = {Hannover}, doi = {10.34657/25088}, pages = {54}, language = {de} }