Linking biodiversity and land use to soil functions

Picture: The photograph shows a round tall metal tray on a laboratory bench containing twenty-one cylindrical small glass or plastic containers with white screw caps. The containers are filled with soil samples. Next to the containers in the tray is a slip of paper with the word "unground" handwritten on it.

Background

Soils contribute to the functioning of ecosystems with a variety of important services. Soils are the habitat for plants. In addition, they are the habitat for a large number of soil organisms. They also play an important role in carbon and nutrient cycling and are an important humus store. Soil properties can therefore influence species diversity, and conversely, species composition influences soil biogeochemical processes. The response of biodiversity and ecosystem functioning to intensification of forest and grassland management will therefore depend on the interaction between abiotic soil properties, soil organisms, and aboveground organisms. The core soil project provides crucial information on the abiotic soil environment and observes whether soil functions change as a result of land management. We pay particular attention to soil organic matter formation, storage, and turnover, as these play a central role in soil fertility and climate change mitigation.

Goals

Basic characterization and monitoring of soils in the biodiversity exploratories and their abiotic soil properties
Determination of soil functions related to carbon and nutrient cycling
Determination of litterfall and litter quality in forests

Research questions

The core project soil supports answering of the following overarching research questions:

How important are abiotic soil conditions for shaping above- and belowground biodiversity?
What is the impact of management intensification for ecosystem services like nutrient cycling and soil carbon sequestration?
Are there potential interactions between management effects, on ecosystem services and other global change drivers?
What are the mechanisms and feedbacks regulating ecosystem service provision and what is the role of above- and belowground organism and their diversity therein?

Service

All core projects provide important basic information on land use, diversity and ecosystem processes (long-term monitoring). This information is made available to the contributing-projects for research into more detailed questions.

Service for other research projects of the Biodiversity Exploratories:

The core soil project collects information on soil properties and soil-related ecosystem functions at all 300 experimental plots (EPs) of the Biodiversity Exploratories.
In each project phase of the Biodiversity Exploratories project (i.e., every 3 years), we organize a large coordinated soil sampling in which all soil-related projects of the Exploratories participate. All groups subsequently work with the same homogenized soil samples. Since 2011, the upper horizon of mineral soil (0-10 cm) has been sampled at all 300 EPs and the organic layer of all 150 forested EPs. Since 2020, soils in the newly established multi-site experiments in forests and grasslands (FOX, REX, LUX) have also been sampled. In 2023 for the first time the subsoil (10-20, 20-30, 30-50, 50-70, 70-100 cm) of all 150 medium intensive plots will be sampled.Maintainance of the central soil archive with air-dried samples of mineral soil and organic layer (collected in 2006, 2008, 2011, 2014, 2017, 2021) and leaf litter litter (since 2015).
Contribution to synthesis activities in the Biodiversity Exploratories. The core project-soil provides not only important data to characterize the study area and important soil functions related to carbon and nutrient cycling but also contributed to the synthesis with soil science expertise.

Experimental plots (EPs)

Monitoring of soil properties based on samples taken as part of coordinated soil sampling (pH, bulk density, stone content, water content, root content, clay content, organic carbon, inorganic carbon, total nitrogen, total sulfur, organic carbon, nitrogen and sulphur stock in soil).
Monitoring of aboveground litterfall on all forest plots by collecting litter from the litter traps three times per year; determination of litterfall of branches, twigs, fruits and leaves; CNS analyses of leaf litter
Determination of extracellular enzymes involved in the cycling of C, N, S and P in all 150 forest plots (beta-glucosidase, N-acetyl-beta-D-glucosaminidase, sulfatase, phosphatase)
Determination of microbial CO2 fixation in all 150 forest plots

Pilot study on arable land

The long-term strategy of the Biodiversity Exploratories is to extend the management intensity gradient to agricultural sites. In the upcoming phase, concepts for how to include the various kinds of agricultural management (e.g. different tillage regimes, different crop rotations etc.) in the overall framework of the BE will be developed. Therefore, 10 pilot sites will be established in each region on which first soil analyses are conducted to help with the final design and site selection.

Service of past phases

Soil inventory on all 3000 grid plots (2006-2008)
Enzyme activities in the entire soil profiles (2008)
Determination of soil respiration (laboratory incubations) (2011)
Isotope signal (14C/13C) of respired CO2 (2011)
13C content of soil organic matter (2011)
Determination of soil texture (2011)
Decomposition of root litter (2011)
Decomposition of 13C labelled root litter (2011)
Root chemistry (2011)
Water holding capacity (2011)
14C content of roots (2011)
14C content of soil organic matter (2011, 2014, 2017)
Soil organic matter mineralization (laboratory incubations) (2014)
Soil priming (2014)
Microbial biomass (2014, 2021)
Accumulation of carbon on soil minerals Installation of mineral bags (2015)
Cation exchange capacity (2017)
Nutrient leaching (2017)
Determination of soil respiration in the field (field measurements) (2017)
Litter decomposition experiment with tea-bags (2021)

Publications

Forest Structure and Fine Root Biomass Influence Soil CO2 Efflux in Temperate Forests under Drought

Waldstruktur und Feinwurzelbiomasse beeinflussen den CO2-Ausstoß des Bodens Ausstoß in gemäßigten Wäldern unter Trockenheit

Apostolakis A., Schöning I., Michalzik B., Ammer C., Schall P., Hänsel F., Nauss T., Trumbore S., Schrumpf M. (2023): Forest Structure and Fine Root Biomass Influence Soil CO2 Efflux in Temperate Forests under Drought. Forests 14 (2), 411. doi: 10.3390/f14020411

Radiocarbon constraints reveal time scales of soil carbon persistence

Radiokohlenstoffbeschränkungen offenbaren Zeitskalen für die Persistenz von Kohlenstoff im Boden

Beem-Miller J. (2023): Radiocarbon constraints reveal time scales of soil carbon persistence. Dissertation, Leibniz Universität Hannover. doi: 10.15488/15420

Direct and plant community mediated effects of management intensity on annual nutrient leaching risk in temperate grasslands

Apostolakis A., Schöning I., Klaus V. H., Michalzik B., Bischoff W.- A., Boeddinghaus R. S., Bolliger R., Fischer M., Hölzel N., Kandeler E., Kleinebecker T., Manning P., Marhan S., Neyret M., Oelmann Y., Prati D., Kleunen M., Schwarz A., Schurig E., Schrumpf M. (2022): Direct and plant community mediated effects of management intensity on annual nutrient leaching risk in temperate grasslands. Nutrient Cycling in Agroecosystems, 123, 83–104. doi: 10.1007/s10705-022-10209-1

Dark CO2 fixation in temperate beech and pine forest soils

Akinyede R., Taubert M., Schrumpf M., Trumbore S., Küsel K., (2022): Dark CO2 fixation in temperate beech and pine forest soils. Soil Biology and Biochemistry 165, 108526. doi: 10.1016/j.soilbio.2021.108526

Drivers of soil respiration across a management intensity gradient in temperate grasslands under drought

Apostolakis A., Schöning I., Michalzik B., Klaus V. H., Boeddinghaus R. S., Kandeler E., Marhan S., Bolliger R., Fischer M., Prati D., Hänsel F., Nauss T., Hölzel N., Kleinebecker T., Schrumpf M. (2022): Drivers of soil respiration across a management intensity gradient in temperate grasslands under drought. Nutrient Cycling in Agroecosystems 124, 101–116. doi: 10.1007/s10705-022-10224-2

Land use effects on carbon and nutrient fluxes in soils

Apostolakis A. (2022): Land use effects on carbon and nutrient fluxes in soils. Dissertation, University Jena

The dark side of primary production in temperate forest soils

Akinyede R. (2022): The dark side of primary production in temperate forest soils. Dissertation, University Jena

The ubiquitous soil verrucomicrobial clade “Candidatus Udaeobacter” shows preferences for acidic pH

Willms I. M., Bolz S. H., Yuan J., Krafft L., Schneider D., Schöning I., Schrumpf M., Nacke H. (2021): The ubiquitous soil verrucomicrobial clade “Candidatus Udaeobacter” shows preferences for acidic pH. Environmental Microbiology Reports 13 (6), 878-883. doi: 10.1111/1758-2229.13006

Effect of forest gaps on soil enzymatic activity and tea bag decomposition index in the Hainich-Dün Biodiversity Exploratory

Einfluss von Waldlücken auf die enzymatische Aktivität des Bodens und den Tea Bag Zersetzungsindex im Biodiversitätsexploratorium Hainich-Dün

Enyedi B. (2021): Effect of forest gaps on soil enzymatic activity and tea bag decomposition index in the Hainich-Dün Biodiversity Exploratory. Master thesis, University of Jena

Enzymaktivitäten in den Waldböden der Biodiversitäts-Exploratorien der Schwäbischen Alb und deren Reaktion auf Lochhiebe und Totholzanreicherung

Haugeneder L. (2021): Enzymaktivitäten in den Waldböden der Biodiversitäts-Exploratorien der Schwäbischen Alb und deren Reaktion auf Lochhiebe und Totholzanreicherung. Bachelor thesis, University Jena

Globally Abundant “Candidatus Udaeobacter” Benefits from Release of Antibiotics in Soil and Potentially Performs Trace Gas Scavenging

Die weltweit verbreiteten Bodenbakterien der Gruppe Candidatus Udaeobacter profitieren von der Freisetzung von Antibiotika

Willms I. M., Rudolph A. Y., Göschel I., Bolz S. H., Schneider D., Penone C., Poehlein A., Schöning I., Nacke H. (2020): Globally Abundant “Candidatus Udaeobacter” Benefits from Release of Antibiotics in Soil and Potentially Performs Trace Gas Scavenging. mSphere 5: e00186-20. doi: 10.1128/mSphere.00186-20

Distribution of Medically Relevant Antibiotic Resistance Genes and Mobile Genetic Elements in Soils of Temperate Forests and Grasslands Varying in Land Use

Verbreitung von medizinisch relevanten Antibiotikaresistenzgenen und mobilen genetischen Elementen in Wald- und Grünlandböden

Willms I. M., Yuan J., Penone C., Goldmann K., Vogt J., Wubet T., Schöning I., Schrumpf M., Buscot F., Nacke H. (2020): Distribution of Medically Relevant Antibiotic Resistance Genes and Mobile Genetic Elements in Soils of Temperate Forests and Grasslands Varying in Land Use. Genes 11 (2), 150. doi: 10.3390/genes11020150

Soil organic matter mineralization as driven by nutrient stoichiometry in soils under differently managed forest stands

Gan H. Y., Schöning I., Schall P., Ammer C., Schrumpf M. (2020): Soil organic matter mineralization as driven by nutrient stoichiometry in soils under differently managed forest stands. Frontiers in Forests and Global Change 3:99. doi: 10.3389/ffgc.2020.00099

Priming effect induced by different root exudate components in temperate forest soils

Protti Sánchez F. (2020): Priming effect induced by different root exudate components in temperate forest soils. Master thesis, University of Bayreuth

The Effects of Land Use and Management on Belowground Carbon and Nutrient Interactions

Gan H. Y. (2019): The Effects of Land Use and Management on Belowground Carbon and Nutrient Interactions. Dissertation, University Jena.

Unravelling the age of fine roots of temperate and boreal forests

Solly E., Brunner I., Helmisaari H.-S., Herzog C., Leppälammi-Kujansuu J., Schöning I., Schrumpf M., Schweingruber F., Trumbore S., Hagedorn F. (2018): Unravelling the age of fine roots of temperate and boreal forests. Nature Communications 9:3006. doi: 10.1038/S41467-018-05460-6

Carbon-nitrogen-interaction in the rhizosphere after addition of glukose and ammoniumnitrate

Kohlenstoff-Stickstoff-Interaktion in der Rhizosphäre nach Zugabe von Glukose und Ammoniumnitrat

Knolle F. (2017): Kohlenstoff-Stickstoff-Interaktion in der Rhizosphäre nach Zugabe von Glukose und Ammoniumnitrat. Bachelor Thesis thesis, Max-Planck Institute for Biogeochemistry Jena

Einfluss von Landnutzung und Standorteigen-schaften auf den oberirdischen Streueintrag

Berg J. (2016): Einfluss von Landnutzung und Standorteigen-schaften auf den oberirdischen Streueintrag. Bachelor thesis, University Jena

Einflüsse unterschiedlicher Bewirtschaftung auf Kohlenstoffkonzentrationen und Kohlenstoffvorräte in Waldböden der Biodiversitäts-Exploratorien Schorfheide-Chorin, Hainich-Dün und Schwäbische Alb

Zilensek F. L. (2016): Einflüsse unterschiedlicher Bewirtschaftung auf Kohlenstoffkonzentrationen und Kohlenstoffvorräte in Waldböden der Biodiversitäts-Exploratorien Schorfheide-Chorin, Hainich-Dün und Schwäbische Alb. Bachelor thesis, University Jena

No depth-dependence of fine root litter decomposition in temperate beech forest soils

Abbau von Wurzelstreu im Boden hängt in Buchenwäldern nicht von der Bodentiefe ab

Solly E., Schöning I., Herold N., Trumbore S., Schrumpf M. (2015): No depth-dependence of fine root litter decomposition in temperate beech forest soils. Plant and Soil 393 (1), 273-282. doi: 10.1007/s11104-015-2492-7

Soil property and management effects on grassland microbial communities across a latitudinal gradient in Germany

Einfluss von Standorteigenschaften und Grünlandbewirtschaftung auf mikrobielle Gemeinschaften in Böden

Herold N., Schöning I., Gutknecht J., Alt F., Boch S., Müller J., Oelmann Y., Socher S. A., Wilke W., Wubet T., Schrumpf M. (2014): Soil property and management effects on grassland microbial communities across a latitudinal gradient in Germany. Applied Soil Ecology 73, 41-50. doi: 10.1016/j.apsoil.2013.07.009

The importance of rock fragment density for the calculation of soil bulk density and soil organic carbon stock

Die Bedeutung der Gesteindichte für die Berechnung von Boden-Lagerungsdichten und Boden-Kohlenstoffvorräten

Mehler K., Schöning I., Berli M. (2014): The importance of rock fragment density for the calculation of soil bulk density and soil organic carbon stock. Soil Science Society of America Journal 78 (4), 1186-1191. doi: 10.2136/sssaj2013.11.0480

Factors controlling decomposition rates of fine root litter in temperate forests and grasslands

Der Abbau von Feinwurzeln im Boden

Solly E., Schöning I., Boch S., Kandeler E., Marhan S., Michalzik B. Müller J., Zscheischler J., Trumbore S. E., Schrumpf M. (2014): Factors controlling decomposition rates of fine root litter in temperate forests and grasslands. Plant and Soil 382 (1-2), 203-218. doi: 10.1007/s11104-014-2151-4.

Controls on soil carbon storage and turnover in German landscapes

Kohlenstoffspeicherung und Verweilzeiten von Kohlenstoff in Wald- und Grünlandböden

Herold N., Schöning I., Michalzik B., Trumbore S. E., Schrumpf M. (2014): Controls on soil carbon storage and turnover in German landscapes. Biogeochemistry 119 (1-3), 435-451. doi: 10.1007/s10533-014-9978-x

Vertical gradients of potential enzyme activities in soil profiles of European beech, Norway spruce and Scots pine dominated forest sites

Enzymaktivitäten in Waldböden werden vorwiegend durch Bodeneigenschaften bestimmt

Herold N., Schöning I., Berner D., Haslwimmer H., Kandeler E., Michalzik B., Schrumpf M. (2014): Vertical gradients of potential enzyme activities in soil profiles of European beech, Norway spruce and Scots pine dominated forest sites. Pedobiologia 57 (3), 181–189. doi: 10.1016/j.pedobi.2014.03.003

Variability of soil organic carbon stocks in managed forests on the national and regional scale

Grüneberg E. (2014): Variability of soil organic carbon stocks in managed forests on the national and regional scale. Dissertation, University Freiburg

The role of fine root litter for organic matter storage in soils

Solly E. (2014): The role of fine root litter for organic matter storage in soils. University Jena, Dissertation

Mean age of carbon in fine roots from temperate forests and grasslands with different management

Mittleres Kohlenstoffalter in Feinwurzeln von gemäßigten Wäldern und Grünländern mit unterschiedlicher Bewirtschaftung

Solly E., Schöning I., Boch S., Müller J., Socher S. A., Trumbore S. E., Schrumpf M. (2013): Mean age of carbon in fine roots from temperate forests and grasslands with different management. Biogeosciences 10, 4833-4843. doi: 10.5194/bg-10-4833-2013

Organic layer and clay content control organic carbon stocks in density fractions of differently managed German beech forests

Die Mächtigkeit der organischen Auflage und der Tongehalt bestimmen die Menge des in unterschiedlich bewirtschafteten Buchenwäldern gespeicherten Bodenkohlenstoffs

Grüneberg E., Schöning I. , Hessenmöller D., Schulze E.-D., Weisser W. W. (2013): Organic layer and clay content control organic carbon stocks in density fractions of differently managed German beech forests. Forest Ecology and Management 303, 1-10. doi: 10.1016/j.foreco.2013.03.014

Fine root productivity and C dynamics in temperate grasslands and forests with different land uses

Stolze K. (2013): Fine root productivity and C dynamics in temperate grasslands and forests with different land uses. Bachelor thesis, University Jena

Characterizing microbial activity in coniferous and deciduous forest soils

Schäfer F. (2013): Characterizing microbial activity in coniferous and deciduous forest soils. Bachelor thesis, University Jena

Land management and soil property effects on soil microbial communities and carbon storage in temperate forest and grassland systems

Herold N. (2013): Land management and soil property effects on soil microbial communities and carbon storage in temperate forest and grassland systems. Dissertation, University Jena

Causes of variation in mineral soil C content and turnover in differently managed beech dominated forests

Verweilzeit von Kohlenstoff in Böden unterschiedlich bewirtschafteter Buchenwälder

Schöning I., Grüneberg E., Sierra C.A., Hessenmöller D., Schrumpf M., Weisser W.W., Schulze E.-D.(2013): Causes of variation in mineral soil C content and turnover in differently managed beech dominated forests. Plant and Soil 370 (1-2), 625-639. doi: 10.1007/s11104-013-1654-8

Regional organic carbon stock variability: A comparison between depth increments and soil horizons

Regionale Variabilität der organischen Kohlenstoffvorräte: Ein Vergleich zwischen Tiefenstufen und Bodenhorizonten

Grüneberg E., Schöning I., Kalko E.K.V., Weisser W. W. (2010): Regional organic carbon stock variability: A comparison between depth increments and soil horizons. Geoderma 155 (3-4), 426-433. doi: 10.1016/j.geoderma.2010.01.002

Untersuchung lokaler Variationen von Kohlenstoffvorräten zur Beurteilung des potentiellen Einflusses von ausgelegtem Totholz

Baldeweg H. (2010): Untersuchung lokaler Variationen von Kohlenstoffvorräten zur Beurteilung des potentiellen Einflusses von ausgelegtem Totholz. Thesis, University Jena

Vergleich der Kohlenstoffvorräte der organischen Auflage und des Oberbodens von Buchen- und Edellaubholzwäldern im Naturraum Hainich-Dün-Hainleite

Türk M.-L. (2009): Vergleich der Kohlenstoffvorräte der organischen Auflage und des Oberbodens von Buchen- und Edellaubholzwäldern im Naturraum Hainich-Dün-Hainleite. Thesis, University Jena

Bodenkohlenstoffvorräte in verschiedenen Waldbewirtschaftungsintensitäten im Hainich

Mehler K. (2008): Bodenkohlenstoffvorräte in verschiedenen Waldbewirtschaftungsintensitäten im Hainich. Thesis, Max-Planck-Institute for Biogeochemistry Jena

The so-called core projects of the BE emerged from the site selection project and the establishment of the exploratories (2006-2008). Since 2008, they have been providing the infrastructure and collecting important basic information on land use, diversity and ecosystem processes (long-term monitoring) for all projects. In addition, they coordinate project-wide activities such as various large-scale experiments.