Das Projekt "Impact of long-term exposure to elevated pCO2 on activity and populations of free living N2 fixing organisms in a temperate grassland system" wird/wurde ausgeführt durch: Universität Hohenheim, Institut für Tropische Agrarwissenschaften (Hans-Ruthenberg-Institut), Fachgebiet Pflanzenbau in den Tropen und Subtropen (490e).The project aims at achieving a better understanding of the processes that drive or limit the response of grassland systems in a world of increasing atmospheric pCO2. We will test the hypothesis that the previously shown increase in below-ground allocation of C under elevated pCO2 provides the necessary energy excess and will stimulate free-living N2 fixers in a low N grassland environment. The project thus aims at assessing the occurrence and importance of free-living N2 fixers under elevated pCO2 and identify the associated microbial communities involved in order to better understand ecosystems response and sustainability of grassland systems. This project had the last opportunity to obtain soil samples from a grassland ecosystem adapted to long-term (10 year) elevated atmospheric pCO2 as the Swiss FACE experiment. The project aims to identify the relevant components of free-living diazotrophs of the microbial community using 15N stable isotope - DNA probing.
Das Projekt "Zur Verfassungsmäßigkeit des Brennstoffemissionshandelsgesetzes (BEHG): Rechtsgutachten" wird/wurde gefördert durch: Umweltbundesamt. Es wird/wurde ausgeführt durch: lindenpartners Partnerschaft von Rechtsanwältinnen und Rechtsanwälten mit beschränkter Berufshaftung Birkholz Varadinek Asmus.Das Rechtsgutachten untersucht die Verfassungsmäßigkeit des Brennstoffemissionshandels-gesetzes (BEHG) und dessen Vereinbarkeit mit dem Unionsrecht. Zur Ermittlung des verfassungsrechtlichen Maßstabs muss zunächst bestimmt werden, ob es sich bei den Entgelten, die für den Erwerb der Emissionszertifikate zu zahlen sind und dem Bund zufließen, um Steuern oder nicht-steuerliche Abgaben handelt. Das Gutachten kommt zu dem Ergebnis, dass es sich um nicht-steuerlichen Abgaben handelt, da die Emissionszertifikate eine staatliche Gegenleistung darstellen. Auf dieser Grundlage wird geprüft, ob die verfassungsrechtlichen Anforderungen an eine nicht-steuerliche Abgabe erfüllt sind. Es wird insbesondere untersucht, ob ein besonderer sachlicher Rechtfertigungsgrund vorliegt, der eine Verletzung des Grundsatzes der Belastungsgleichheit vermeidet. Dazu werden auf Grundlage der Rechtsprechung des BVerfG die verfassungsrechtlichen Anforderungen an einen besonderen sachlichen Rechtfertigungsgrund herausgearbeitet und analysiert, ob das BEHG â€Ì gerade in der Einführungsphase mit der Veräußerung zu einem staatlich festgelegten Preis â€Ì diesen Anforderungen genügt. Besonderes Augenmerk wird auf die Frage gelegt, ob auch bei einer Veräußerung zu Festpreisen ein staatliches Bewirtschaftungssystem i.S.d. Rechtsprechung des BVerfG angenommen werden kann. Dabei werden auch nationale und supranationale Regelungen außerhalb des BEHG berücksichtigt. Das Rechtsgutachten kommt zu dem Ergebnis, dass die Einführung der Entgelte für die Emissionszertifikate durch einen besonderen sachlichen Grund gerechtfertigt ist. Darüber hinaus untersucht das Gutachten die Vereinbarkeit der Regelungen mit dem Eigentumsschutz (Art. 14 Abs. 1 GG) und der Berufsfreiheit (Art. 12 Abs. 1 GG) sowie mit dem einschlägigen Primär- und Sekundärrecht der EU. Im Ergebnis bestehen auch insoweit keine rechtlichen Bedenken.
Das Projekt "Untersuchungen zur anaeroben Deammonifikation im Hauptstrom von Kläranlagen (ANAMMOSTROM)" wird/wurde gefördert durch: Landesamt für Natur, Umwelt und Verbraucherschutz Nordrhein-Westfalen. Es wird/wurde ausgeführt durch: Universität Duisburg-Essen, Campus Essen, Abteilung Bauwissenschaft, Fachgebiet für Siedlungswasser- und Abfallwirtschaft.Die anaerobe Deammonifikation, bezeichnet den mikrobiellen Umsatz von Nitrit und Ammonium zu N2, Wasser und Energie. Sauerstoff stört die Reaktion. Nitrit entsteht im Rahmen der Nitritation aus der Oxidation mit Sauerstoff. Der gesamte Prozess wird im Folgenden der Einfachheit halber als ANAMMOX abgekürzt. Aufgrund der großen Vorteile wie Energieeinsparung und Reduktion des Überschussschlammes ist der Prozess theoretisch auch für den Hauptstrom von Kläranlagen sinnvoll. Die Bedingungen im Hauptstrom unterscheiden sich aber wesentlich von denen im Nebenstrom und zwar in den folgenden Punkten: Temperatur, C/N-Verhältnis und Stickstoff- sowie Sauerstoffkonzentration. Das C/N-Verhältnis ist sicherlich eines der zentralen Themen, die untersucht werden müssen. Der Grund dafür liegt an der wesentlich höheren Konkurrenzfähigkeit der heterotrophen Bakterien (HB), die die autotrophen Organismen im Belebtschlamm verdrängen können. Ein Teilziel des Projektes liegt deshalb in der C-Elimination vor der Belebung. Ziel ist die möglichst weitgehende Entkopplung der Kohlenstoff- von der Stickstoffbehandlung sein. Dies kann z. B. durch Sedimentation (größere Vorklärung) geschehen. Die Sedimentation kann weiterhin z. B. durch die Zugabe von Eisen- oder Aluminiumsalzen etc. verstärkt werden. Weiterhin können auch Siebe im Zulauf deutlich zur Verringerung des Kohlenstoffs in der Belebung beitragen. Eine weitere Option sind bioelektrische Systeme (BES), mit denen der Kohlenstoff an der Anode unter Abgabe von elektrischem Strom oxidiert wird. Die Bioelektrischen Systeme (BES) können sowohl zur Oxidation von Kohlenstoff im Zulauf als auch zur Oxidation des Ammoniums zu Nitrit verwendet werden. Im Rahmen des Projektes sollen die oben angeschnittenen Probleme halb- und großtechnisch untersucht werden. Das Ziel der Untersuchungen sind Auslegungsparameter für den Einsatz von ANAMMOX im Hauptstrom kommunaler Kläranlagen. Die halbtechnischen Untersuchungen werden in den Laboren der Siedlungswasserwirtschaft an der Universität Duisburg-Essen durchgeführt. Die großtechnischen Untersuchungen werden an der Versuchskläranlage der Emschergenossenschaft (EGLV) in Dinslaken durchgeführt. Die Untersuchungen des BES werden in Kooperation mit der Fakultät für Chemie - Biofilm Centre, Universität Duisburg-Essen (Prof. Meckenstock) durchgeführt. Die Bearbeitung der Fragestellung lässt sich grob in drei Bereiche teilen: i. Reduzierung des zulaufenden Kohlenstoffs., ii. Etablierung der ANAMMOX-Biozönose und iii. Untersuchungen zur Temperaturstabilität. Zur Etablierung des Biofilms sollen zwei Optionen untersucht werden: a) Biofilm auf einer Feststoffoberfläche mit dem IFAS Prinzip (Integrated Fixed Film Activated Sludge) b) granulärer Biofilm. Für die Reduzierung des zulaufenden Kohlenstoffs sind insgesamt zwei Ansätze geplant: a) Fällung/Flockung in der Vorklärung und b) Siebung. Die qualitative Kontrolle der Bakterien erfolgt mit der Fluoreszenz in situ Hybridisierung (FISH). Text gekürzt
Das Projekt "Stochastic treatment of cloud related processes in nonhydrostatic weather prediction models" wird/wurde gefördert durch: Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft. Es wird/wurde ausgeführt durch: Rheinische Friedrich-Wilhelms-Universität Bonn, Meteorologisches Institut.Cloud processes have a strong influence on the energy and moisture budget of the atmosphere. Since in numerical weather prediction (NWP) models cloud related processes usually are of subgrid scale, they have to be parameterized in a set of parameterization schemes describing e.g. grid scale clouds and precipitation, subgrid scale cumulus convection and atmospheric radiative transfer. The aim of the proposed research project is to develop a new stochastic physics approach (SPA) for the treatment of cloud related processes in nonhydrostatic NWP models. The stochastic approach shall represent unresolved subgrid scale variability and model parameter uncertainties. For this purpose, selected fixed model parameters will be replaced by appropriate stochastic processes.The application of the SPA shall increase the forecast skill of the hosting NWP model. In an ensemble prediction system (EPS) the ensemble spread shall grow to more realistic values and thus help to overcome the current problem of too small spread (underdispersion) when only considering uncertainties in the initial or boundary conditions. The algorithms of the stochastic approach and the EPS will be developed for use in any nonhydrostatic NWP model that includes prognostic microphysics/precipitation, a radiation scheme with fractional cloud cover and an arbitrary mass flux convection scheme.
Das Projekt "ARchaeological RObot systems for the World's Seas (ARROWS)" wird/wurde gefördert durch: Kommission der Europäischen Gemeinschaften Brüssel. Es wird/wurde ausgeführt durch: University of Firenze.ARROWS proposes to adapt and develop low cost autonomous underwater vehicle technologies to significantly reduce the cost of archaeological operations, covering the full extent of archaeological campaign. Benefiting from the significant investments already made for military security and offshore oil and gas applications, the project aims to demonstrate an illustrative portfolio of mapping, diagnosis and excavation tasks. ARROWS approach is to identify the archaeologists requirements in all phases of the campaign, identify problems and propose technological solutions with the technological readiness levels that predict their maturation for exploitation within 3-5 years. The individual technologies are then developed during the course of the project using agile development method comprising rapid cycles of testing and comparison against the end user requirements. To ensure the wide exploitability of the results the requirements are defined and the solutions are tested in two historically significant but environmentally very different contexts, in The Mediterranean Sea and in The Baltic Sea. Both immediate, low risk and long term, high risk developments will be pursued. In particular: - Fast a low cost horizontal surveys of large areas using customised AUVs with multimodal sensing. - Fast and low cost semi-automated data analysing tools for site and object relocation - High quality maps from better image reconstruction methods and better localization abilities of AUVs. - Shipwreck penetration and internal mapping using small low cost vehicles localising using fixed pingers. - Soft excavation tool for diagnosis and excavation of fragile objects. - Mixed reality environments for virtual exploration of archaeological sites. - Monitoring of changes via back-to-the-site missions. The ARROWS consortium comprises expertise from underwater archaeology, underwater engineering, robotics, image processing and recognition from academia and industry.
Das Projekt "Effects of biochar amendment on plant growth, microbial communities and biochar decomposition in agricultural soils" wird/wurde gefördert durch: Schweizerischer Nationalfonds zur Förderung der Wissenschaftlichen Forschung. Es wird/wurde ausgeführt durch: Forschungsinstitut für biologischen Landbau Deutschland e.V..Biochar has a great potential to ameliorate arable soils, especially those that are low in organic matter due to intensive use or erosion. Biochar is carbonised organic material with high porosity that brings about changes in physical, chemical and biological soil functions. Biochar amended soils show a higher water and cation exchange capacity with reduced leaching and enhanced availability of plant nutrients. The microbial biomass in biochar amended soils is enhanced and more diverse. Biochar is stabilised organic material, which is likely to remain for hundreds of years in the soil. Photosynthetically fixed atmospheric CO2 stabilised in biochar may thus act as a direct carbon sink and help to mitigate climate change. As feedstock and production conditions produce different biochar qualities predictions of effects in soil need to consider biochar and soil properties case by case. To date biochar has been approved to ameliorate highly weathered tropical soils with positive effects on crop growth and yield. Distinct microbial groups were reported to be enhanced in soils but if this depends on the particular soil or biochar or a combination of both is an open question, especially in temperate climates. Likewise, it is not known if microorganisms colonising biochar surfaces are responsible for its mineralization or if they just use the new niches provided. The aim of the proposed project is to investigate the influence of two biochar types on soil-plant systems by determining i) soil nutrient availability, plant growth and nutrient uptake, ii) structure and function of soil microbial communities, iv) the decomposition and fate of biochar in soils. We will use two loessial soils from the well-known DOK-trial with different soil organic matter content. Other soils from the region will be selected to provide a wider range of soil quality, in particular pH. The biochars will be produced by pyrolysis and hydrothermal carbonization (HTC) from the C4-plant Miscanthus gigantea. Pyrolysis derived material has bigger pore sizes due to the evaporating gasses and is commonly alkaline, whereas the HTC derived biochar has a finer pore size, a much higher oxygen content and more acidic functional groups.
Das Projekt "Effectiveness of low emission zones: Large scale analysis of changes in environmental NO2, NO and NOx concentrations in 17 German cities" wird/wurde gefördert durch: Europäische Forschungsvereinigung für Umwelt und Gesundheit im Transportsektor EUGT e.V.. Es wird/wurde ausgeführt durch: Evonik Industries AG.Background: Low Emission Zones (LEZs) are areas or roads where the most polluting vehicles are restricted from entering. The effectiveness of LEZs to lower ambient exposures is under debate. This study focused on LEZs that restricted cars of Euro 1 standard without appropriate retrofitting systems from entering and estimated LEZ effects on NO2, NO, and NOx (=NO2+NO) concentrations. Methods: Continuous half-hour and diffuse sampler 4-week average NO2, NO, and NOx concentrations measured inside and outside LEZs in 17 German cities of 6 federal states (2005-2009) were analysed as matched quadruplets (two pairs of simultaneously measured index values inside LEZ and reference values outside LEZ, one pair measured before and one after introducing LEZs with time differences that equal multiples of 364 days) by multiple linear and log-linear fixed-effects regression modelling (covariables: e.g., wind velocity, amount of precipitation, height of inversion base, school holidays, truck-free periods). Additionally, the continuous half-hour data was collapsed into 4-week averages and pooled with the diffuse sampler data to perform joint analysis. Results: More than 3,000,000 quadruplets of continuous measurements (half-hour averages) were identified at 38 index and 45 reference stations. Pooling with diffuse sampler data from 15 index and 10 reference stations lead to more than 4,000 quadruplets for joint analyses of 4-week averages. Mean LEZ effects on NO2, NO, and NOx concentrations (reductions) were estimated to be at most - 2 microgram/m3 (or - 4 percent). The 4-week averages of NO2 concentrations at index stations after LEZ introduction were 55 microgram/m3 (median and mean values) or 82 microgram/m3 (95th percentile). Conclusion: This is the first study investigating comprehensively the effectiveness of LEZs to reduce NO2, NO, and NOx concentrations controlling for most relevant potential confounders. Our analyses indicate that there is a significant, but rather small reduction of NO2, NO, and NOx concentrations associated with LEZs. Key words: air quality, low emission zone, NO2, NO and NOx, air pollution
Das Projekt "The oxalate-carbonate pathway: measuring biological interactions and dynamics in a natural C sink ecosystem" wird/wurde gefördert durch: Schweizerischer Nationalfonds zur Förderung der Wissenschaftlichen Forschung. Es wird/wurde ausgeführt durch: Universite de Neuchatel, Faculte des Sciences, Institut de Botanique, Laboratoire de Microbiologie.The formation of calcite in otherwise carbonate-free acidic soils through the biological degradation of oxalate is a mechanism termed oxalate-carbonate pathway, which occurs during interaction between biological and geological systems. In this pathway, atmospheric CO2 is fixed by the photosynthetic activity of plants, part of which is destined to the production of oxalate to control the intracellular Ca2+ concentrations. An additional source of calcium oxalate is fungi, which are able to produce this organic acid to cope with elevated concentrations of metals. The decay of plant material results in a source of calcium oxalate for other trophic levels. In spite of its abundance as a substrate, oxalate is a very stable organic anion that can be metabolized only by a group of bacteria that use it as a carbon and energy source. These bacteria close the biological cycle by degrading calcium oxalate, releasing Ca2+ and changing the local soil pH. If the conditions are adequate, the geological part of the pathway begins because this biological process will indirectly lead to the precipitation of secondary calcium carbonate (calcite) under unexpected geological settings. The activity of the oxalate-carbonate pathway has now been demonstrated in several places around the world. Furthermore, it can constitute an important, although underestimated, soil mineral carbon sink. This is because due to the initial acidic soil conditions and the absence of geological carbonate in the basement, it is unexpected to find C in the form of calcite. By its global scale and its stability through a long period of time, this terrestrial C sink is of a crucial interest as the sustainability of other C sequestering processes (e.g. sinking of CO2 in the ocean) is under question. The study of the oxalate-carbonate pathway constitutes a multidisciplinary research that brings together competences in biology (botany, physiology, microbiology) and geology (geochemistry, mineralogy, soil science). Thus, from its inception, this research has been carried out by a multidisciplinary team and by combining two crucial aspects: field expeditions and laboratory work using several tropical soils as models. Our most recent results show that biological interactions between bacteria and fungi, that have been underestimated, are essential for reproducing the pathway in vitro. Also, we have observed that Ca budget/availability has a direct impact on pedogenic carbonate accumulations. By pursuing these two objectives, we expect to contribute essential information within two of the current 'black boxes' of the system, which will allow the establishment of a model of the dynamics of carbon accumulation associated with the oxalate-carbonate pathway. This may have an enormous impact due to the potential importance of this ecosystem (or equivalent ecosystems) in tackling the increasing atmospheric CO2 concentrations and their direct effect over global climate.
Das Projekt "Nitrogen elimination pathways and associated isotope effects in Swiss eutrophic Lake Lugano" wird/wurde gefördert durch: Schweizerischer Nationalfonds zur Förderung der Wissenschaftlichen Forschung. Es wird/wurde ausgeführt durch: Eidgenössische Technische Hochschule Zürich, Institut für Integrative Biologie.Nitrogen isotope ratios can provide important constraints on natural N cycles. In order to use natural abundance stable isotope ratios of dissolved inorganic N species as a means to trace fluxes and transformations of N in aquatic systems, however, it is imperative to understand the isotope effects associated with these specific N transformations. This will also provide information on the transformations themselves. Yet, the possible impact of N2 production processes other than denitrification on global and regional N-isotope budgets has been ignored thus far. Lake Lugano is an excellent model biosystem for an anthropogenically impacted lake. Previous studies have revealed that this lake represents an important sink for fixed N. In addition, they indicate the presence of suboxic consumption of ammonium and, thus, suggest that 'non-traditional' N2 production processes (e.g., anammox) are active in anaerobic portions of the lake. This project addresses the following main research questions: What are the different metabolic pathways of suboxic N2 production in the Lake Lugano water column and in sediments? What are the associated N-isotope effects? What are the respective transformation rates and fluxes? Which microorganisms are responsible for observed N transformations? Combining hydrochemical, microbiological (phylogenetic/molecular genetic analyses, measurements of enzyme activities), with organic-geochemical (anammox lipid analysis) and isotopic techniques (natural abundance of nitrate, ammonium, nitrous oxide isotope ratios, as well as 15N tracer experiments), the project attempts to gain complementary information on specific N transformations and mechanisms of N2 loss in the Lake Lugano water column and sediments, on the microorganisms involved in these transformations, their relevance for the Lake Lugano nitrogen
Das Projekt "Will a warmer climate decouple soil respiration (Rs) from net primary production (NPP) in temperate forests?" wird/wurde gefördert durch: Bundesamt für Umwelt. Es wird/wurde ausgeführt durch: Universität Basel, Botanisches Institut, Abteilung Pflanzenökologie.Atmospheric CO2 enrichment and climatic warming as well as N deposition affect input and output of carbon and nitrogen in soils. This experiment will assess quasi steady state signals of these fluxes and pools by using experiments by nature , i.e. established gradients of temperature and N input, the major drivers of NPP and the soil C balance. We will test the hypothesis that soil respiration (R) is driven by net primary production rather than temperature (T) per se. We will further test the hypothesis that enhanced nitrogen input (here naturally simulated by stands composed of nitrogen-fixing trees) will facilitate greater carbon sequestration. By selecting topography-driven IPCC T-gradients across identical bedrock chemistry and macroclimate and high vs. low N input (Alnus vs. control) we will thus complement data obtained by other projects which employ shorter-term manipulative tests. The work will be conducted in the Swiss midlands and the Central Alps, in part using existing infrastructure at Furka pass (ALPFOR). Our project accounts for the growing international concern about oversimplistic projections derived from idealized (first principle based) laboratory type response functions to large-scale projections (Körner et al. 2007). Our project leans on theory which had been developed earlier by Raich and Nadelhoffer (1989). However, since the majority of experimental approaches adopt manipulative experiments (for soil warming experiments see the review by Rustad et al. 2001), which will also be adopted within the Swiss COST 639 consortium, we see an urgent need of complementing these studies by works using natural thermal and N-gradients. A lot of reasoning in terms of ecosystem carbon budgets relies on carbon pools. While these are significant and measured in a series of national and international attempts, they are rarely combined with actual flux measurements or vice versa. Our survey will aggregate process rates (litter production, root production, thickness growth of trees, soil CO2-evaluation) and climate, as well as soil data. Our project contributes primarily to the working group 1 agenda of this COST action.
| Origin | Count |
|---|---|
| Bund | 26 |
| Type | Count |
|---|---|
| Förderprogramm | 26 |
| License | Count |
|---|---|
| offen | 26 |
| Language | Count |
|---|---|
| Deutsch | 4 |
| Englisch | 24 |
| Resource type | Count |
|---|---|
| Keine | 17 |
| Webseite | 9 |
| Topic | Count |
|---|---|
| Boden | 21 |
| Lebewesen & Lebensräume | 25 |
| Luft | 20 |
| Mensch & Umwelt | 26 |
| Wasser | 21 |
| Weitere | 26 |