Arbeitsgruppe Physische Geographie – Ökohydrologie

Arbeitsgruppe Physische Geographie – Ökohydrologie

Kontakt

Research


Teaching

Abschlussarbeiten in folgenden Bereichen

  • Feedback Mechanismen

  • Mikrobielle CO2 Fixierung

  • Nitrifikationshemmung als Invasionsstrategie

  • Kohlenstoffallokation zu Wurzelexsudaten

  • Klimaklassifikation

Aktuelle Lehrveranstaltungen
Aktuelle und abgeschlossene Abschlussarbeiten

News

Zertifikat Gender Studies

Ringvorlesung Zertifikat Gender Studies SoSe 2024

01.07.2024: Diversität in der geoökologischen Forschung (18- 20 Uhr; M 201)


Projects

Globally, soil stores more carbon than vegetation and the atmosphere combined, making its role as a carbon sink crucial in the climate system. Carbon in the soil originates from both above-ground litter and below-ground roots, with the latter expected to contribute more significantly to soil carbon stabilization and storage potential. As a result, the rhizosphere, where plants and soil interact, is increasingly recognized as playing a critical role in the carbon cycle.
During drought conditions, the assimilation of carbon decreases, potentially reducing the carbon sink function of forest ecosystems. However, recent research reveals that soils respond differently than trees to drought, adding complexity to predicting carbon stability and storage processes in forest ecosystems. Limited study techniques hinder accurate predictions, and most studies fail to account for shorter-term dynamics in non-adapted systems, potentially underestimating ecosystem threats posed by intermittent drought periods.
In this context, the Kroof (Kranzberg Forest Roof Project) experiment stands as a globally unique field study, enabling the investigation of drought and rewetting effects on two major European tree species, beech and spruce. Employing novel sampling and analysis techniques, we aim to test the significance of carbon allocation processes under climate change.


The impact of matter input from terrestrial sources on aquatic systems is well known. The reverse process has received less attention. In SystemLink, a DFG-funded research training group located at RPTU Landau, we investigate bottom-up and top-down interactions in terrestrial ecosystems, which propagate from aquatic environments as a result of their exposure to anthropogenic stress.




Publications

Brunn, M., Billings, S. A., Birke, J., Nielsen, M. W., Kilian Salas, S., Brockmüller, S., Oelmann, Y. (in press): On the importance of diversity in ecological research. Opinion – Plants, People, Planet. https://doi.org/10.1002/ppp3.10553

Chari, N. R., Tumber-Dávila, S. J., Phillips, R. P., Bauerle, T. L., Brunn, M., Hafner, B. D., Klein, T., Obersteiner, S., Reay, M. K., Ullah, S., Taylor, B. N. (2024): Estimating the global root exudate carbon flux. Biogeochemistry. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10533-024-01161-z

Bölscher, T., Vogel, C., Olagoke, F. K., Meurer, K. H. E., Herrmann, A. M., Colombi, T., Brunn, M., Domeignoz-Horta, L. A. (2024): Beyond growth: The significance of non-growth anabolism for microbial carbon-use efficiency in the light of soil carbon stabilisation. Soil Biology and Biochemistry, 109400. doi:https://doi.org/10.1016/j.soilbio.2024.109400

Brunn M., Krüger J, Lang F. (2023) Experimental drought increased the belowground sink strength towards higher topsoil organic carbon stocks in a temperate mature forest. Geoderma 431

Hikino, K., Danzberger, J., Riedel, V.P., Hesse, B.D., Hafner, B.D., Gebhardt, T., Rehschuh, R., Ruehr, N.K., Brunn, M., Bauerle, T.L., Landhäusser, S.M., Lehmann, M.M., Rötzer, T., Pretzsch, H., Buegger, F., Weikl, F., Pritsch, K., Grams, T.E.E. (2022) Dynamics of initial carbon allocation after drought release in mature Norway spruce - Increased belowground allocation of current photoassimilates covers only half of the carbon used for fine-root growth. Global Change Biology 28 (23): 6889-6905

Jungkunst, H.F., Göpel, J., Horvath, T., Ott, S., Brunn, M. (2022) Global soil organic carbon-climate interactions: Why scales matter. WIREs Climate Change 13 (4): e780

Brunn, M., Hafner, B.D., Zwetlsloot, M.J., Weikl, F., Pritsch, K., Hikino, K., Ruehr, N.K., Sayer, E.J., Bauerle, T.L. (2022): Carbon allocation to root exudates is maintained in mature temperate tree species under drought. New Phytologist 235 (3)

All publications