Soil nutrient supply and biomass production in a mixed forest on a skeleton‐rich soil and an adjacent beech forest

In the natural forest communities of Central Europe, beech (Fagus sylvatica L.) predominates in the tree layer over a wide range of soil conditions. An exception with respect to the dominance of beech are skeleton‐rich soils such as screes where up to 10 broad‐leaved trees co‐exist. In such a Tilia‐Fagus‐Fraxinus‐Acer‐Ulmus forest and an adjacent mono‐specific beech forest we compared (1) soil nutrient pools and net nitrogen mineralization rates, (2) leaf nutrient levels, and (3) leaf litter production and stem increment rates in order to evaluate the relationship between soil conditions and tree species composition. In the mixed forest only a small quantity of fine earth was present (35 g l^—1) which was distributed in patches between basalt stones; whereas a significantly higher (P < 0.05) soil quantity (182 g l^—1) was found in the beech forest. In the soil patches of the mixed forest C and N concentrations and also concentrations of exchangeable nutrients (K, Ca, Mg) were significantly higher than in the beech forest. Net N mineralization rates on soil dry weight basis in the mixed forest exceeded those in the beech forest by a factor of 2.6. Due to differences in fine earth and stone contents, the volume related soil K pool and the N mineralization rate were lower in the mixed forest (52 kg N ha^—1 yr^—1, 0—10 cm depth) than in the beech forest (105 kg N ha^—1 yr^—1). The leaf N and K concentrations of the beech trees did not differ significantly between the stands, which suggests that plant nutrition was not impaired. In the mixed forest leaf litter fall (11 %) and the increment rate of stem basal area (52 %) were lower than in the beech forest. Thus, compared with the adjacent beech forest, the mixed forest stand was characterized by a low volume of patchy distributed nutrient‐rich soil, a lower volume related K pool and N mineralization rate, and low rates of stem increment. Together with other factors such as water availability these patterns may contribute to an explanation of the diverse tree species composition on Central European screes.     

Mobile and readily available C and N fractions and their relationship to microbial biomass and selected enzyme activities in a sandy soil under different management systems

Within different land‐use systems such as agriculture, forestry, and fallow, the different morphology and physiology of the plants, together with their specific management, lead to a system‐typical set of ecological conditions in the soil. The response of total, mobile, and easily available C and N fractions, microbial biomass, and enzyme activities involved in C and N cycling to different soil management was investigated in a sandy soil at a field study at Riesa, Northeastern Germany. The management systems included agricultural management (AM), succession fallow (SF), and forest management (FM). Samples of the mineral soil (0—5, 5—10, and 10—30 cm) were taken in spring 1999 and analyzed for their contents on organic C, total N, NH₄⁺‐N and NO₃^—‐N, KCl‐extractable organic C and N fractions (Corg_(KCl) and Norg_(KCl)), microbial biomass C and N, and activities of β‐glucosidase and L‐asparaginase. With the exception of Norg_(KCl), all investigated C and N pools showed a clear relationship to the land‐use system that was most pronounced in the 0—5 cm profile increment. SF resulted in greater contents of readily available C (Corg_(KCl)), NH₄⁺‐N, microbial biomass C and N, and enzyme activities in the uppermost 5 cm of the soil compared to all other systems studied. These differences were significant at P ≤ 0.05 to P ≤ 0.001. Comparably high C_mic:C_org ratios of 2.4 to 3.9 % in the SF plot imply a faster C and N turnover than in AM and FM plots. Forest management led to 1.5‐ to 2‐fold larger organic C contents compared to SF and AM plots, respectively. High organic C contents were coupled with low microbial biomass C (78 μg g^—1) and N contents (10.7 μg g^—1), extremely low C_mic : C_org ratios (0.2—0.6 %) and low β‐glucosidase (81 μg PN g^—1 h^—1) and L‐asparaginase (7.3 μg NH₄‐N g^—1 2 h^—1) activities. These results indicate a severe inhibition of mineralization processes in soils under locust stands. Under agricultural management, chemical and biological parameters expressed medium values with exception for NO₃^—‐N contents which were significantly higher than in SF and FM plots (P ≤ 0.005) and increased with increasing soil depth. Nevertheless, the depth gradient found for all studied parameters was most pronounced in soils under SF. Microbial biomass C and N were correlated to β‐glucosidase and L‐asparaginase activity (r ≥ 0.63; P ≤ 0.001). Furthermore, microbial biomass and enzyme activities were related to the amounts of readily mineralizable organic C (i.e. Corg_(KCl)) with r ≥ 0.41 (P ≤ 0.01), suggesting that (1) KCl‐extractable organic C compounds from field‐fresh prepared soils represent an important C source for soil microbial populations, and (2) that microbial biomass is an important source for enzymes in soil. The Norg_(KCl) pool is not necessarily related to the size of microbial biomass C and N and enzyme activities in soil.<?show $6#>     

A data-driven fuzzy approach to simulate the critical shear stress of mixed cohesive/non-cohesive sediments

Purpose

The critical shear stress of cohesive and mixed cohesive/non-cohesive sediments is affected by multiple interacting physical, chemical and biological parameters. There are various mathematical approaches in the scientific literature for computing critical shear stress. However, processes that influence sediment stability are still not fully understood, and available formulas differ considerably. These discrepancies in the literature arise from random system behaviour (natural variability of the sediments), different definitions of the critical shear stress, different measurement techniques and different model frameworks (scope of the parameters, undisturbed versus artificial sediment samples). While analytical approaches fail to address the involved uncertainties, fuzzy logic-based models integrate uncertainty and imprecision.

Materials and methods

With this in mind, a data-driven neuro-fuzzy model (ANFIS) was used to determine the critical shear stress based on sediment characteristics such as wet bulk density and grain size distribution. In order to select model predictors systematically, an automated stepwise regression algorithm was applied. The database for this analysis consisted of 447 measurements of the critical shear stress originating from 64 undisturbed sediment samples.

Results and discussion

The study identified clay content as the primarily controlling variable for erosion resistance. Depending on the characteristics of the sampling location, the bulk density was also selected as a model predictor. In comparison to analytical models that are available in the scientific literature, the fuzzy model achieved higher correlation coefficients between measured and predicted data.

Conclusions

The neuro-fuzzy-model includes uncertainties of input variables and their interactions directly. Thus, it provides a reliable method for the prediction of erosion thresholds of cohesive/non-cohesive mixtures. It was also shown that this approach requires fewer measured variables as well as fewer assumptions than the models it was compared to.

     

Microbial indicators for soil quality

The living soil is instrumental to key life support functions (LSF) that safeguard life on Earth. The soil microbiome has a main role as a driver of these LSF. Current global developments, like anthropogenic threats to soil (e.g., via intensive agriculture) and climate change, pose a burden on soil functioning. Therefore, it is important to dispose of robust indicators that report on the nature of deleterious changes and thus soil quality. There has been a long debate on the best selection of biological indicators (bioindicators) that report on soil quality. Such indicators should ideally describe organisms with key functions in the system, or with key regulatory/connecting roles (so-called keystone species). However, in the light of the huge functional redundancy in most soil microbiomes, finding specific keystone markers is not a trivial task. The current rapid development of molecular (DNA-based) methods that facilitate deciphering microbiomes with respect to key functions will enable the development of improved criteria by which molecular information can be tuned to yield molecular markers of soil LSF. This review critically examines the current state-of-the-art in molecular marker development and recommends avenues to come to improved future marker systems.     

Bioassay-directed Fractionation of Organic Extracts of Marine Surface Sediments from the North and Baltic Sea - Part II: Results of the biotest battery and development of a biotest index (8 pp)

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Part I: Determination and identification of organic pollutants Part II: Results of the biotest battery and development of a biotest index

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Preamble. This series of two papers presents the results of an interdisciplinary research project (ISIS) dealing with bioassay-directed fractionation of marine sediment extracts. Part I presents the extraction and fractionation procedure as well as the results of chemical analysis, including non-target analysis of sediments. Part II describes the results of the biotest battery in relation to chemicals possibly causing parts of the observed effects. A biotest index is used to compare the toxicities of the samples.

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AUTHORS / AFFILIATIONS Ninja Reineke (3), Werner Wosniok (4), Dirk Danischewski (1), Heinrich Hühnerfuss (3), Angelika Kinder (5), Arne Sierts-Herrmann (5), Norbert Theobald (2), Hans-Heinrich Vahl (6), Michael Vobach (1), Johannes Westendorf (6) and Hans Steinhart (5).

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(1) Federal Research Centre for Fisheries, Institute for Fishery Ecology, Palmaille 9, 22767 Hamburg, Germany (2) Federal Maritime and Hydrographic Agency, Bernhard-Nochtstr. 78, 20359 Hamburg, Germany (3) University of Hamburg, Institute for Organic Chemistry, Martin-Luther-King-Platz 6, 20146 Hamburg, Germany (4) University of Bremen, Institute of Statistics, Bibliothekstr. 1, 28334 Bremen, Germany (5) University of Hamburg, Institute for Food Chemistry, Grindelallee 117, 20146 Hamburg, Germany (6) University of Hamburg, University Hospital Hamburg-Eppendorf, Department for Toxicology, Vogt-Kölln-Str. 30, 22527 Hamburg, Germany (7) Eurofins Wiertz-Eggert-Jörissen, Stenzelring 14b, 21107 Hamburg, Germany

Goal, Scope and Background

The ecological relevance of contaminants in mixtures is difficult to assess, because of possible interactions and due to lacking toxicity data for many substances present in environmental samples. Marine sediment extracts, which contain a mixture of environmental contaminants in low concentrations, were the object of this study. The extracts were investigated with a set of different biotests in order to identify the compound or the substance class responsible for the toxicity. For this goal, a combination of biotests, biotest-directed fractionation and chemical analysis has been applied. Further on, a strategy for the development of a biotest index to describe the toxicity of the fractions without a prior ranking of the test results is proposed. This article (Part II) focuses on the biological results of the approach.

Methods

The toxicological potential of organic extracts of sediments from the North Sea and the Baltic Sea was analyzed in a bioassay-directed fractionation procedure with a set of biotests: luciferase reporter gene assays on hormone receptor and Ah receptor, arabinose resistance test, fish embryo test (Danio rerio), comet assay, acetylcholinesterase inhibition test, heat-shock protein 70 induction, oxidative stress and luminescence inhibition test (Vibrio fischeri). The test results provided the basis for the calculation of a biotest index by factor analysis to compare the toxicity of the samples and fractions.

Results and Discussion

Results of 11 biotests on different fractionation levels of the samples were described and discussed with regard to the occurrence of contaminants and their toxic potentials. Polychlorinated biphenyls, polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons, quinones, brominated indoles and brominated phenols were in the focus of interest. A biotest index was constructed to compare the toxic responses in the samples and to group the biotest results.

Conclusion

The procedure presented in this study is well suited for bioassay-directed fractionation of marine sediment extracts. However, in relatively low contaminated samples, high enrichment factors and sufficient fractionation is necessary to allow identification of low concentrations of contaminants which is required to link effects and possible causes. In the present case, the relation between substances and effects was difficult to uncover due to relatively low concentrations of pollutants compared to the biogenic matrix and to the remaining complexity of the fractions. The results, with respect to the brominated phenols and indoles in the samples, highlight the successful use of bioassay directed fractionation in the case of high concentrations and high toxicity.

Recommendation and Outlook

In general, it has been shown that a marine risk assessment requires focusing on the input of diffuse sources and taking into account the fact of mixture toxicity. Effects resulting from biogenic substances will make the assessment of the influence of anthropogenic substances even more difficult.     

Considering sink strength to model crop production under elevated atmospheric CO2

Climatic changes and elevated atmospheric CO₂ concentrations will affect crop growth and production in the near future. Rising CO₂ concentration is a novel environmental aspect that should be considered when projections for future agricultural productivity are made. In addition to a reducing effect on stomatal conductance and crop transpiration, elevated CO₂ concentration can stimulate crop production. The magnitude of this stimulatory effect (‘CO₂ fertilization’) is subject of discussion. In this study, different calculation procedures of the generic crop model AquaCrop based on a foregoing theoretical framework and a meta-analysis of field responses, respectively, were evaluated against experimental data of free air CO₂ enrichment (FACE) environments. A flexible response of the water productivity parameter of the model to CO₂ concentration was introduced as the best option to consider crop sink strength and responsiveness to CO₂. By varying the response factor, differences in crop sink capacity and trends in breeding and management, which alter crop responsiveness, can be addressed. Projections of maize (Zea mays L.) and potato (Solanum tuberosum L.) production reflecting the differences in responsiveness were simulated for future time horizons when elevated CO₂ concentrations and climatic changes are expected. Variation in future yield potential associated with sink strength could be as high as 27% of the total production. Thus, taking into account crop sink strength and variation in responsiveness is equally relevant to considering climatic changes and elevated CO₂ concentration when assessing future crop production. Indicative values representing the crop responsiveness to elevated CO₂ concentration were proposed for all crops currently available in the database of AquaCrop as a first step in reducing part of the uncertainty involved in modeling future agricultural production.     

Restoration of woodpasture on former agricultural land: The importance of safe sites and time gaps before grazing for tree seedlings

Woodpastures (open, grazed woodlands with a mosaic of grassland, shrub and tree patches) are of high biological and cultural value and have become a threatened ecosystem in Europe. Spontaneous tree regeneration in the presence of large herbivores, is an essential process for management and restoration of this structurally diverse habitat. We examined the suitability of five vegetation types (grasslands, ruderal vegetations, tall sedges, rush tussocks and bramble thickets), grazed by large herbivores, for tree regeneration. We hypothesized that bramble thickets and tall herb communities operate as safe sites for palatable tree species through the mechanism of associational resistance. We set up a field experiment with tree seedlings in grazed and ungrazed conditions and recorded mortality and growth of seedlings of two palatable tree species (Quercus robur and Fraxinus excelsior) during three growing seasons. In the same experiment, we studied the effect of a two year’s initial time gap before grazing.Bramble thickets were suitable safe sites for survival and growth of seedlings of both species. Tall sedges, soft rush tussocks and ruderal vegetations with unpalatable or spiny species provided temporal protection, allowing seedlings to survive. Tree regeneration in livestock grazed grassland was highly constrained. Rabbits may undo the nursing effects of bramble thickets. The first year’s survival is of major importance for the establishment of trees. Subsequent grazing affects growth rather than survival. A two year’s initial time gap before grazing, had positive effects on survival, but did not enhance outgrowth of unprotected trees.     

Identification of fatty acid esters of pectenotoxin-2 seco acid in blue mussels (Mytilus edulis) from Ireland

Pectenotoxins from marine dinoflagellates of the genus Dinophysis are rapidly hydrolyzed by many shellfish to give pectenotoxin-2 seco acid, which isomerizes to 7-epi-pectenotoxin-2 seco acid. Three series of fatty acid esters of pectenotoxin-2 seco acid (PTX-2 seco acid) and 7-epi-PTX-2 seco acid were detected by LC-MS analysis of extracts from blue mussels (Mytilus edulis) from Ireland. The locations of the fatty acid ester linkages were identified by a combination of LC-MSn in positive- and negative-ion modes, LC-MS analysis of the products from reaction of the esters with sodium periodate, and NMR analysis of purified samples of the two most abundant ester derivatives. The 37-O-acyl esters of PTX-2 seco acid were the most abundant, followed by the corresponding 11-O-acyl esters, accompanied by low levels of the 33-O-acyl esters. The most abundant fatty acid esters in the fractionated sample were, in order, the 16:0, 22:6, 14:0, 16:1, 18:4, and 20:5 fatty acids, although a wide array of other PTX-2 seco acid fatty acid esters were also present at low levels.     

Optimized LC/MS/MS analysis of morphine and codeine in poppy seed and evaluation of their fate during food processing as a basis for risk analysis

The opiate alkaloids present in poppy seed intended for use in food recently have raised major concerns. An efficient method for routine analysis of morphine and codeine using liquid chromatography in combination with tandem mass spectrometry on a triple quadrupole instrument (LC/MS/MS) was therefore developed. The optimal sample preparation was found to be cold extraction of 10 g of unground poppy seed with 30 mL of methanol containing 0.1% acetic acid for 60 min shaken at 250 rpm. The fate of morphine during food processing was also studied. All experiments led to a significant reduction of morphine and codeine. For poppy cake only 16-50% of the morphine was recovered, and in poppy buns at the highest temperature (220 degrees C) only 3% of the original morphine content was found. Ground poppy seed showed significantly lower recoveries than untreated seed. Morphine elimination during food processing has to be taken into account in the current discussion about its maximum limits in poppy seed.     

Effects of an arbuscular mycorrhizal fungus and two plant-parasitic nematodes on<Emphasis Type="Italic"> Musa</Emphasis> genotypes differing in root morphology

In this study, the effect of an arbuscular mycorrhizal fungus (AMF) and two migratory endoparasitic nematodes on Musa plant growth, including the root system, were examined. In addition, the AMF-nematode interaction was studied. Seven Musa genotypes with different root systems were selected. Based on their relative mycorrhizal dependency, two genotypes (Calcutta 4 and Obino l'Ewai) were selected for AMF-nematode interaction studies. The experiments were performed under greenhouse conditions. Mycorrhization with Glomus mosseae resulted in a significantly better plant growth even in the presence of nematodes. The effect of AMF on the root system was genotype-dependent and seemed to be related to the relative mycorrhizal dependency of the genotype. The nematodes also affected the root system, decreasing branching. Nematode population densities were significantly reduced in the presence of AMF, except for Pratylenchus coffeae in Obino l'Ewai. In the root system, it appeared that the decreased branching caused by the nematodes was counterbalanced by the increased branching caused by the AMF.