TY - CHAP A1 - Zaplata, Markus K. A1 - Maurer, Thomas A1 - Boldt-Burisch, Katja A1 - Schaaf, Wolfgang A1 - Hinz, Christoph T1 - An interactive survey panel regarding the effects of mice (Microtus spec.) on a young ecosystem T2 - European Geosciences Union, General Assembly 2015, Vienna, Austria, 13 April - 17 May 2015 KW - interactive survey panel Y1 - 2015 UR - http://meetingorganizer.copernicus.org/EGU2015/EGU2015-13818.pdf N1 - EGU2015-13818 PB - European Geophysical Society CY - Katlenburg-Lindau ER - TY - CHAP A1 - Schaaf, Wolfgang A1 - Hinz, Christoph A1 - Gerwin, Werner A1 - Zaplata, Markus K. A1 - Hüttl, Reinhard F. T1 - The role of feedback mechanisms in the initial development of the constructed catchment Chicken Creek T2 - European Geosciences Union, General Assembly 2015, Vienna, Austria, 13 April - 17 May 2015 KW - initial development Y1 - 2015 UR - http://meetingorganizer.copernicus.org/EGU2015/EGU2015-8664.pdf N1 - EGU2015-8664 PB - European Geophysical Society CY - Katlenburg-Lindau ER - TY - GEN A1 - Schaaf, Wolfgang A1 - Elmer, Michael A1 - Fischer, Anton A1 - Gerwin, Werner A1 - Nenov, Rossen A1 - Pretzsch, Hans A1 - Seifert, Stefan A1 - Winter, Susanne A1 - Zaplata, Markus K. T1 - Monitoring the formation of structures and patterns during initial development of an artificial catchment T2 - Environmental Monitoring and Assessment N2 - The objective of this paper is to present observations, results from monitoring measurements, and preliminary conclusions about the development of patterns and structures during the first 5 years of development of an artificial catchment starting from point zero. We discuss the high relevance of initial system traits and external events for the system development and draw conclusions for further research. These investigations as part of a Collaborative Research Center, aim to disentangle and understand the feedback mechanisms and interrelationships of processes and their co-development with spatial and temporal structures and patterns by studying an initial, probably less complex ecosystem. Therefore, intensive measurements were carried out in the catchment with regard to the development of surface structures, hydrological patterns, vegetation dynamics, water chemistry, and element budgets. During the first 5 years, considerable changes within the catchment were observed. Both internal and external factors could be identified as driving forces for the formation of structures and patterns in the artificial catchment. Initial structures formed by the construction process and initial substrate characteristics were decisive for the distribution and flow of water. External factors like episodic events triggered erosion and dissection during this initial phase, promoted by the low vegetation cover, and the unconsolidated sandy substrate. The transformation of the initial geosystem into areas with evolving terrestrial or aquatic characteristics and from a very episodic to a more permanent stream network and discharge, together with the observed vegetation dynamics increased site diversity and heterogeneity with respect to water and nutrient availability and transformation processes compared with the more homogenous conditions at point zero. The processes and feedback mechanisms in the initial development of a new landscape may deviate in rates, intensity, and dominance from those known from mature ecosystems. It is therefore crucial to understand these early phases of ecosystem development and to disentangle the increasingly complex interactions between the evolving terrestrial and aquatic, biotic, and abiotic compartments of the system. Long-term monitoring of initial ecosystems may provide important data and parameters on processes and the crucial role of spatial and temporal structures and patterns to solve these problems. Artificially created catchments could be a suitable tool to study these initial developments at the landscape scale under known, designed, and defined boundary conditions. KW - ecosystem development Y1 - 2013 U6 - https://doi.org/10.1007/s10661-012-2998-x SN - 0167-6369 VL - Vol. 185 IS - 7 SP - 5965 EP - 5986 ER - TY - GEN A1 - Schaaf, Wolfgang A1 - Bens, Oliver A1 - Fischer, Anton A1 - Gerke, Horst H. A1 - Gerwin, Werner A1 - Grünewald, Uwe A1 - Holländer, Hartmut M. A1 - Kögel-Knabner, Ingrid A1 - Mutz, Michael A1 - Schloter, Michael A1 - Schulin, Rainer A1 - Veste, Maik A1 - Winter, Susanne A1 - Hüttl, Reinhard F. T1 - Patterns and processes of initial terrestrial-ecosystem development T2 - Journal of Plant Nutrition and Soil Science N2 - Ecosystems are characterized as complex systems with abiotic and biotic processes interacting between the various components that have evolved over long-term periods. Most ecosystem studies so far have been carried out in mature systems. Only limited knowledge exists on the very initial phase of ecosystem development. Concepts on the development of ecosystems are often based on assumptions and extrapolations with respect to structure–process interactions in the initial stage. To characterize the effect of this initial phase on structure and functioning of ecosystems in later stages, it is necessary to disentangle the close interaction of spatial and temporal patterns of ecosystem structural assemblages with processes of ecosystem development. The study of initial, less complex systems could help to better identify and characterize coupled patterns and processes. This paper gives an overview of concepts for the initial development of different ecosystem compartments and identifies open questions and research gaps. The artificial catchment site “Chicken Creek” is introduced as a new research approach to investigate these patterns and processes of initial ecosystem development under defined boundary conditions. This approach allows to integrate the relevant processes with related pattern and structure development over temporal and spatial scales and to derive thresholds and stages in state and functioning of ecosystems at the catchment level. KW - soils KW - pedogenesis KW - vegetation succession KW - microbial succession KW - artificial catchment Y1 - 2011 U6 - https://doi.org/10.1002/jpln.201000158 SN - 1522-2624 VL - 174 IS - 2 SP - 229 EP - 239 ER - TY - CHAP A1 - Gerwin, Werner A1 - Schaaf, Wolfgang A1 - Elmer, Michael A1 - Hinz, Christoph T1 - The constructed catchment Chicken Creek as Critical Zone Observatory under transition T2 - European Geosciences Union, General Assembly 2014, Vienna, Austria, 27 April – 02 May 2014 N2 - The constructed catchment Chicken Creek was established in 2005 as an experimental landscape laboratory for ecosystem research. The 6 ha area with clearly defined horizontal as well as vertical boundary conditions was left for an unrestricted primary succession. All Critical Zone elements are represented at this site, which allows the study of most processes occurring at the interface of bio-, pedo-, geo- and hydrosphere. It provides outstanding opportunities for investigating interactions and feedbacks between different evolving compartments during ecosystem development. The catchment is extensively instrumented since 2005 in order to detect transition stages of the ecosystem. Data recorded with a high spatial and temporal resolution include ydrological, geomorphological, pedological, limnological as well as biological parameters. Y1 - 2014 UR - http://meetingorganizer.copernicus.org/EGU2014/EGU2014-6248.pdf N1 - EGU2014-6248 PB - European Geophysical Society CY - Katlenburg-Lindau ER - TY - CHAP A1 - Hinz, Christoph A1 - Gerwin, Werner A1 - Schaaf, Wolfgang A1 - Elmer, Michael A1 - Flühler, Hannes A1 - Holländer, Hartmut M. A1 - Hüttl, Reinhard F. T1 - State transitions in the artificial catchment Huehnerwasser (Chicken Creek): Ecosystems development 8 years after initialization : abstract T2 - Soil-mediated Drivers of Coupled Biogeochemical and Hydrological Processes across Scales, AGU Chapman Conference Biosphere II, Tucson, Arizona, USA, 21-24 October 2013 Y1 - 2013 UR - http://chapman.agu.org/soil-mediated/files/2013/10/AGU-CC13SD-3.pdf SP - S. 34 ER - TY - GEN A1 - Veste, Maik A1 - Gerwin, Werner A1 - Biemelt, Detlef A1 - Fischer, Annette A1 - Schaaf, Wolfgang ED - Ukonmaanaho, Liisa ED - Nieminen, Tiina Maileena ED - Starr, Michael T1 - Monitoring of ecosystem patterns and processes in an artificial catchment in Lusatia, Germany T2 - 6th International Symposium on Ecosystem Behaviour BIOGEOMON 2009 Y1 - 2009 UR - http://www.metla.fi/julkaisut/workingpapers/2009/mwp128.pdf SN - 978-951-40-2177-0 SP - S. 84 PB - Finnish Forest Research Institute CY - Vantaa, Finland ER - TY - BOOK A1 - Gerwin, Werner A1 - Schaaf, Wolfgang A1 - Biemelt, Detlef A1 - Elmer, Michael A1 - Maurer, Thomas A1 - Schneider, Anna T1 - The artificial catchment Hühnerwasser (Chicken Creek): Construction and initial properties Y1 - 2010 UR - http://opus.kobv.de/btu/volltexte/2011/2072/pdf/Ecol_Dev_Vol_1_2010.pdf PB - FZLB CY - Cottbus ER - TY - CHAP A1 - Biemelt, Detlef A1 - Veste, Maik ED - Schaaf, Wolfgang ED - Bliemelt, Detlef ED - Hüttl, Reinhard F. T1 - Soil water T2 - Initial development of the artificial catchment "Chicken Creek" : monitoring program and survey 2005-2008 Y1 - 2010 UR - http://opus.kobv.de/btu/volltexte/2011/2073/ SP - 57 EP - 70 PB - Univ. of Technology, Research Center Landscape Development and Mining Landscapes CY - Cottbus ER - TY - CHAP A1 - Biemelt, Detlef A1 - Nenov, Rossen ED - Schaaf, Wolfgang ED - Biemelt, Detlef ED - Hüttl, Reinhard F. T1 - Meteorology T2 - Initial development of the artificial catchment "Chicken Creek" : monitoring program and survey 2005-2008 Y1 - 2010 UR - http://opus.kobv.de/btu/volltexte/2011/2073/ SP - 9 EP - 20 PB - Univ. of Technology, Research Center Landscape Development and Mining Landscapes (FZLB) CY - Cottbus ER - TY - GEN A1 - Mazur, Kai A1 - Schoenheinz, Dagmar A1 - Biemelt, Detlef A1 - Schaaf, D. A1 - Grünewald, Uwe T1 - Observation of hydrological processes and structures in the artificial Chicken Creek catchment T2 - Physics and Chemistry of the Earth Y1 - 2011 SN - 1873-5193 VL - 36 IS - 1-4 SP - 74 EP - 86 ER - TY - CHAP A1 - Hüttl, Reinhard F. A1 - Kögel-Knabner, Ingrid A1 - Zeyer, Josef A1 - Munch, Jean Charles A1 - Grünewald, Uwe A1 - Pretzsch, Hans A1 - Schaaf, Wolfgang A1 - Gerwin, Werner A1 - Veste, Maik T1 - Structures and processes of the initial ecosystem development phase in an artificial water catchment T2 - Plant Life in an Extreme and Changing Environment, Book of Abstracts T2 - Pflanzenleben in extremer und sich ändernder Umwelt Y1 - 2008 UR - http://www.desertconsult.de/PDF/initial_ecosystem2008.pdf N1 - Meeting of the Specialist Groups "Desert Ecology" and "Experimental Ecology" of the Society of Ecology (GfÖ)in Cooperation with German Society of Limnology (DGL) Tharandt, Germany, March 31 – April 2, 2008 SP - 89 EP - 90 ER - TY - GEN A1 - Gerwin, Werner A1 - Schaaf, Wolfgang A1 - Biemelt, Detlef A1 - Fischer, Anton A1 - Winter, Susanne A1 - Hüttl, Reinhard F. T1 - The artificial catchment "Chicken Creek" (Lusatia, Germany) - A landscape laboratory for interdisciplinary studies of initial ecosystem development T2 - Ecological Engineering Y1 - 2009 U6 - https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ecoleng.2009.09.003 SN - 0925-8574 VL - 35 IS - 12 SP - 1786 EP - 1796 ER - TY - CHAP A1 - Gerke, Horst H. A1 - Maurer, Thomas A1 - Klauke, A. A1 - Dominik, R. A1 - Dimitrov, M. A1 - Biemelt, Detlef A1 - Badorreck, Annika T1 - Modelling the initial 3D sediment structure of an artificially constructed hydrological catchment T2 - EGU General Assembly 2008, Wien Y1 - 2008 N1 - EGU2008-A-08558 PB - European Geophysical Society CY - Katlenburg-Lindau ER - TY - GEN A1 - Veste, Maik A1 - Biemelt, Detlef A1 - Fischer, Annette A1 - Gerwin, Werner A1 - Schaaf, Wolfgang T1 - The "Point Zero": Monitoring of biogeochemical patterns and processes in an artificial ecosystem (Lusatia, Germany) T2 - EGU General Assembly 2009, Vienna, Austria, 19 – 24 April 2009 Y1 - 2009 N1 - EGU2009-5292 PB - European Geophysical Society CY - Katlenburg-Lindau ER - TY - GEN A1 - Gerwin, Werner A1 - Raab, Thomas A1 - Biemelt, Detlef A1 - Bens, Oliver A1 - Hüttl, Reinhard F. T1 - The artificial water catchment "Chicken Creek" as an observatory for critical zone processes and structures T2 - Hydrology and Earth System Sciences Y1 - 2009 U6 - https://doi.org/10.5194/hessd-6-1769-2009 SN - 1812-2116 VL - 6 IS - 2 SP - 1769 EP - 1795 ER - TY - CHAP A1 - Schaaf, Wolfgang A1 - Gerwin, Werner A1 - Veste, Maik A1 - Biemelt, Detlef T1 - Monitoring of Soil-Plant-Atmosphere patterns and processes in an artificial catchment T2 - EGU General Assembly 2008, Wien Y1 - 2008 N1 - EGU2008-A-01047 PB - European Geophysical Society CY - Katlenburg-Lindau ER - TY - GEN A1 - Caviedes-Voullième, Daniel A1 - Pueyo, Yolanda A1 - Hinz, Christoph T1 - Topography and rainfall variability shaping dryland vegetation self-organisation : insights from a numerical modelling study T2 - Catena : an interdisciplinary journal of soil science, hydrology, geomorphology focusing on geoecology and landscape evolution N2 - The coevolution of hydrological and vegetation dynamics in semi-arid regions often leads to vegetation self-organisation (VSO). While numerous hypotheses on the ecohydrological processes driving VSO have been explored through mathematical models, these have struggled to capture the multiscale complexity emerging from short-term surface runoff over heterogeneous topographies under variable rainfall. This limitation hinders understanding of how natural topography and rainfall variability shape long-term vegetation patterns. Previous studies suggest that intra-storm water redistribution at the hillslope scale – controlled by topography and storm intensity – plays a key role in VSO. However, these factors have rarely been considered together due to methodological constraints in numerical solvers. We argue that accurately representing these processes is essential to investigate their interactions. This study systematically examines the effects of hillslope topography and intra-annual rainfall distributions on vegetation band formation using a physically based model that couples the Zero-Inertia (Diffusive Wave) approximation of the shallow water equations with the HilleRisLambers–Rietkerk vegetation model. Idealised 30-year simulations were conducted at second-scale hydrodynamic resolution across different hillslope forms (plane, convex, concave), slopes, and rainfall regimes along a semi-arid gradient. Results show that both topography and rainfall variability strongly influence band formation through their control on water redistribution and hydrological balance. Steeper slopes enhance runoff over infiltration, reducing water availability and altering band geometry and migration. Concave hillslopes exhibit distinct runoff convergence and redistribution patterns compared to plane or convex slopes. Rainfall intermittency interacts with topography to further affect pattern stability and morphology. While both drivers shape pattern characteristics differently, their joint effects mainly influence band migration without providing a strong stabilising mechanism. These results demonstrate the feasibility of long-term, physically based ecohydrological simulations, paving the way for more comprehensive models including sediment transport and geomorphic feedbacks. KW - Banded vegetation KW - Hillslope shape KW - Vegetation self-organisation KW - Ecohydrology KW - Water-limited ecosystem Y1 - 2026 U6 - https://doi.org/10.1016/j.catena.2026.109791 SN - 0341-8162 VL - 264 SP - 1 EP - 23 PB - Elsevier BV CY - Amsterdam ER -