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Bottom water data of sediment incubation experiments under anoxic conditions

Enhanced mineral dissolution in the benthic environment is currently discussed as a potential technique for ocean alkalinity enhancement (OAE) to reduce atmospheric carbon dioxide (CO2) levels. This study explores how biogeochemical processes affect the dissolution of alkaline minerals in surface sediments during laboratory incubation experiments. These involved introducing dunite and calcite to organic-rich sediments from the Baltic Sea under controlled conditions in an anoxic to hypoxic environment. The sediment cores were incubated with Baltic Sea bottom water. Eight sediment cores were positioned vertically in a rack. Since the sediment surface was slightly oxidized by the bottom water (∼125 μmol l−1 upon recovery), the cores were left plugged on the top for 13 days to settle after recovery until the sediment surface was anoxic. To achieve chemical conditions that are expected in the natural system, 500l of retrieved sea water were degassed via bubbling with pure dinitrogen gas in batches of 100 l. Afterwards, between 50 and 60 l were transferred into an evacuated gas tight bag. After the transfer, pH and total alkalinity (TA) were measured to determine the dissolved inorganic carbon (DIC) of the water. Afterwards the DIC was increased via adding pure CO2 until a CO2 partial pressure (pCO2 ) of ∼2,300–∼3,300 μatm was established mimicking conditions prevailing in Boknis Eck during summer. Stirring heads were installed on the cores. To prevent the development of oxic conditions, it was ensured that as little gas phase as possible was left in the cores. Elimination of pelagic autotrophs, heterotrophs, and suspended particles was achieved by flushing the cores with modified bottom water for 2 days with a flow rate of 1.5 mml min−1. Afterwards, a continuous throughflow of 700 μl min−1 from the reservoir of modified bottom water was applied, leading to a residence time of ∼2.1 days inside the cores. For the experimental incubations, six cores received additions of alkaline materials, three with calcite (Cal1 - Cal3) and three cores with dunite (Dun1 - Dun3), leading to three replicates per treatment. Two control cores remained untreated (C1, C2). The amount of added substrate was based on the rain rate of particulate organic carbon observed in Boknis Eck (0.5 mmol cm−2 a−). The incubation lasted for 25 days. The volume of water in each core was determined at the end of the experiment via measuring the height of the water column after removing the stirring heads. Bottom water samples were taken from the outflow of each core over a time period of several hours. Thus, samples represent the average outflow over the respective time period. Sampling intervals increased from daily during the first two weeks to every three to four days and weekly towards the end of the experiment. All samples were filtered through a 0.2 µm cellulose membrane filter and refrigerated in 25 ml ZinsserTM scintillation vials. Samples for TA were analyzed directly after sampling by titration of 1 ml of bottom water with 0.02N HCl. Titration was ended when a stable purple color appeared. During titration, the sample was degassed by continuous bubbling with nitrogen to remove any generated CO2 and H2S. The acid was standardized using an IAPSO seawater standard. Acidified sub-samples (30 μl suprapure HNO3- + 3 ml sample) were prepared for analyses of major and trace elements (Si, Na, K, Li, B, Mg, Ca, Sr, Mn, Ni and Fe) by inductively coupled plasma optical emission spectroscopy (ICP-OES, Varian 720-ES).

Benthic biogeochemistry data from RV HEINCKE cruise HE582 to the German Bight, North Sea in late summer 2021

This dataset contains data from the RV Heincke cruise HE582 to the German Bight of the North Sea in late summer 2021. The aim of the research was to investigate the source of sedimentary glycan concentrations in subtidal sandy sediments. Glycans represent a substantial fraction of extracellular polymeric substances and may affect flow dynamics in marine sandy sediments. The origin and concentration of glycans in sands remain understudied until today. To gain insights into oxygen supply and glycan concentrations in sandy sediment, we conducted in situ measurements and sampled sediment via a van Veen grab for ex situ investigations. Oxygen penetration depths were determined by a benthic lander, which was deployed for ca. 24h at each station. Chlorophyll a concentrations as an indicator for potentially photosynthetically active sedimentary biomass were derived via extraction with 90% acetone against Sigma Aldrich standards. Glycan concentrations served as indicator for extracellular polymeric substances and were quantified against a glucose standard curve via a phenol sulfuric acid assay after prior sequential glycan extraction (MilliQ, EDTA, NaOH). The final glycan concentrations are referred to per volume of porespace, and therefore given in mmol/l porewater. To investigate if benthic primary producers could be responsible for the extracted sedimentary glycan concentrations, we conducted stable isotope incubations.

Biogeochemical Processes in Tropical Soils

In recent years science has taken an increased interest in mineralization processes in tropical soils in particular under minimal tillage operations. Plant litter quality and management strongly affect mineralization-nitrification processes in soil and hence the fate of nitrogen in ecosystems and the environment. Plant secondary metabolites like lignin and polyphenols are poorly degradable and interact with proteins (protein binding capacity) and hence protect them from microbial attack. Nitrification, a microbiological process, directly and indirectly influences the efficiency of recovery of N in the vegetation as well as the loss of N (through denitrification and leaching) causing environmental pollution to water bodies and contributes to global warming (e.g. the greenhouse gas N2O is emitted as a by-product of nitrification and denitrification). Nitrifiers comprise a relatively narrow species diversity (at least as known to date) and are generally thought to be sensitive to low soil pH and stress. Despite these properties nitrification occurs in acid tropical soils with high levels of aluminium and manganese. Thus the main objective of the project will be the identification of micro-organisms and mechanisms responsible for mineralization-nitrification processes in acid tropical soils and the influence of long-term litter input of different chemical qualities and minimal tillage options. The project will include the use of stable isotopes (15N, 13C), mass spectrometry, gas chromatography (CO2, N2O), biochemical methods (PLFA) and molecular biology (16s rRNA., PCR, DGGE)

Pore water data of sediment incubation experiments under anoxic conditions

Enhanced mineral dissolution in the benthic environment is currently discussed as a potential technique for ocean alkalinity enhancement (OAE) to reduce atmospheric carbon dioxide (CO2) levels. This study explores how biogeochemical processes affect the dissolution of alkaline minerals in surface sediments during laboratory incubation experiments. These involved introducing dunite and calcite to organic-rich sediments from the Baltic Sea under controlled conditions in an anoxic to hypoxic environment. The sediment cores were incubated with Baltic Sea bottom water. Eight sediment cores were positioned vertically in a rack. Since the sediment surface was slightly oxidized by the bottom water (∼125 μmol l−1 upon recovery), the cores were left plugged on the top for 13 days to settle after recovery until the sediment surface was anoxic. To achieve chemical conditions that are expected in the natural system, 500l of retrieved sea water were degassed via bubbling with pure dinitrogen gas in batches of 100 l. Afterwards, between 50 and 60 l were transferred into an evacuated gas tight bag. After the transfer, pH and total alkalinity (TA) were measured to determine the dissolved inorganic carbon (DIC) of the water. Afterwards the DIC was increased via adding pure CO2 until a CO2 partial pressure (pCO2 ) of ∼2,300–∼3,300 μatm was established mimicking conditions prevailing in Boknis Eck during summer. Stirring heads were installed on the cores. To prevent the development of oxic conditions, it was ensured that as little gas phase as possible was left in the cores. Elimination of pelagic autotrophs, heterotrophs, and suspended particles was achieved by flushing the cores with modified bottom water for 2 days with a flow rate of 1.5 mml min−1. Afterwards, a continuous throughflow of 700 μl min−1 from the reservoir of modified bottom water was applied, leading to a residence time of ∼2.1 days inside the cores. For the experimental incubations, six cores received additions of alkaline materials, three with calcite (Cal1 - Cal3) and three cores with dunite (Dun1 - Dun3), leading to three replicates per treatment. Two control cores remained untreated (C1, C2). The amount of added substrate was based on the rain rate of particulate organic carbon observed in Boknis Eck (0.5 mmol cm−2 a−). The incubation lasted for 25 days. The volume of water in each core was determined at the end of the experiment via measuring the height of the water column after removing the stirring heads. At the end of the experiments, the bottom water was removed via suction and the cores were sliced for pore water analysis. The pore waters were recovered by centrifuging each respective sediment layer in 50 ml falcon tubes at 3000 rpm for 10 minutes. Afterwards, the supernatant water was transferred to polyethylene (PE) vials in an Ar-filled glove bag to minimize contact with oxygen. All samples were filtered through a 0.2 µm cellulose membrane filter and refrigerated in 25 ml ZinsserTM scintillation vials. TA samples (1 ml) were titrated with 0.02N HCl. For H2S, an aliquot of pore water was diluted. A 5 ml aliquot was frozen directly after the sampling procedure for later nutrient analysis. Nutrient measurements were performed either via manual photometric measurement (NH4) or using a Seal – AnalyticalTM QuAAtro autoanalyzer (PO43-). Samples for TA were analyzed directly after sampling by titration of 1 ml of bottom/pore water with 0.02N HCl. Titration was ended when a stable purple color appeared. During titration, the sample was degassed by continuous bubbling with nitrogen to remove any generated CO2 and H2S. The acid was standardized using an IAPSO seawater standard. Acidified sub-samples (30 μl suprapure HNO3- + 3 ml sample) were prepared for analyses of major and trace elements (Si, Na, K, Li, B, Mg, Ca, Sr, Mn, Ni and Fe) by inductively coupled plasma optical emission spectroscopy (ICP-OES, Varian 720-ES). For H2S, an aliquot of pore water was diluted with appropriate amounts of oxygen-free artificial seawater and the H2S was fixed by immediate addition of zinc acetate gelatin solution

Absolute abundances of methane- and sulfate-cycling microorganisms, pore water gas concentrations and stable carbon isotopes (Table 1)

Soil cores for microbial, dissolved gas concentrations and isotopic analysis were taken using a Russian type peat corer (De Vleeschouwer et al. 2010) before and after rewetting. Each time, we took duplicates at stations 1-8 for this rather labor-intensive process and divided the core into four depth sections: surface, 5–20, 20–40 and 40–50 cm. Subsamples for dissolved gases and stable carbon isotope analyses were taken with tip-cut syringes with a distinct volume of 3 ml (Omnifix, Braun, Bad Arolsen, Germany) and immediately placed into NaCl-saturated vials (20 ml, Agilent Technologies, 5182-0837, Santa Clara, USA) leaving no headspace and closed gas-tight using rubber stoppers and metal crimpers (both: diameter 20 mm, Glasgerätebau Ochs, Bovenden, Germany).

Pond/ditch benthic invertebrate data on d15N/d13C (northeast-Germany, 2020)

Benthic invertebrate samples were taken directly in the field via hand-netting in four ditches and three ponds (defined as water bodies with a maximum extent of one hectare) in October and November 2020. Sampling was carried out in Brandenburg in Germany in the region Havellaendisches Luch. The landscape is characterized by an intensively maintained ditch system that was created for industrial agricultural production during 1980s. Additionally, the landscape is characterized by a large number of small standing water bodies (kettle holes, ponds), which were formed during the last glacial period. A detailed description of the area can be found in Trau & Lorenz, 2024. Invertebrate samples were analysed for the stable isotopes of carbon and nitrogen. The data set includes data from 35 families. The whole animal was used for the analysis of stable isotopes of carbon and nitrogen. Analyses were performed on a Thermo Delta V isotope ratio mass spectrometer (IRMS) interfaced to a NC2500 elemental analyser by the Cornell University Stable Isotope Laboratory (https://cobsil.cornell.edu/). The dataset was used to evaluate isotopic niches of functional feeding groups (collector/gatherer, collector/filterer, grazer/scraper, shredder, predator and omnivore) in the two water body types (pond and ditch), in order to evaluate effects of agriculture (nutrient concentrations and pesticide residues) on the isotopic niches (Trau et al. 2025, under review).

Global distribution of deltaD values in C-bonded hydrogen of soil organic matter

Stable isotope ratios of various elements including H ((D), C, N, and S have been related to origin and turnover of soil organic matter (OM), because incomplete (bio)chemical reactions fractionate stable isotopes. On a global scale, the (D values in precipitation are related to the number of rain events that water vapor undergoes on its way to the poles, across mountains or towards inland because of evaporation/condensation-related isotope fractionation. As plants rely on local water sources that reflect the global distribution of (D values in precipitation for biosynthesis, C-bonded H in soil OM might show a geographically ordered distribution of (D values on a global scale. However, C-bonded (D values in soil OM might locally be modified by organic matter turnover. Our objectives are to 1) establish a method for the analysis of (D values of C-bonded H in soil, 2) determine the relationship between (D values in precipitation and in C-bonded H of soil OM on a global scale, 3) quantify the effect of decomposition on C-bonded (D values in soil OM with laboratory incubations and by assessing the vertical distribution of (D values in C-bonded H of soil OM in different climates (litter to subsoil). The proposed project adds a novel quantitative tool in Physical Geography to improve our understanding of C sequestration and turnover at the global scale.

Tripelelement-Stabilisotopensignaturen zur Untersuchung des atmosphärischen Chlormethanbudgets

Die stratosphärische Ozonschicht absorbiert die UV-C und UV-B Sonnenstrahlung und schützt damit Pflanzen, Tiere und Menschen vor Strahlenschäden. Durch anthropogen emittierte Fluorchlorkohlenwasserstoffe (FCKWs) wird die Ozonschicht abgebaut. Da FCKWs seit dem Montrealer Protokoll stark zurückgegangen sind, werden halogenierte Verbindungen wie Chlormethan (CH3Cl), die aus natürlichen Quellen freigesetzt werden, für den Abbau der Ozonschicht in der Stratosphäre zunehmend relevant. CH3Cl ist das am häufigsten vorkommende chlorhaltige Spurengas in der Erdatmosphäre, das für etwa 17% der durch Chlor katalysierten Ozonzerstörung in der Stratosphäre verantwortlich ist. Daher wird CH3Cl vornehmlich die zukünftigen Gehalte an stratosphärischem Chlor bestimmen. Die aktuellen Schätzungen des globalen CH3Cl-Budgets und die Verteilung der Quellen und Senken sind sehr unsicher. Ein besseres Verständnis des atmosphärischen CH3Cl-Budgets ist daher das Hauptziel dieses Projektes.Die Analyse stabiler Isotopenverhältnisse von Wasserstoff (H), Kohlenstoff (C) und Chlor (Cl) hat sich zu einem wichtigen Werkzeug zur Untersuchung des atmosphärischen CH3Cl-Budgets entwickelt. Das zugrundeliegende Konzept besteht darin, dass das atmosphärische Isotopenverhältnis einer Verbindung wie CH3Cl gleich der Summe der Isotopenflüsse aus allen Quellen angesehen werden kann, korrigiert um den gewichteten durchschnittlichen kinetischen Isotopeneffekt aller Abbauprozesse. Dadurch ist es möglich, die Bedeutung wichtiger Quellen und Senken mit bekannten Isotopensignaturen zu entschlüsseln. Eine Grundvoraussetzung für detaillierte Hochrechnungen des globalen Budgets ist die Bestimmung der durchschnittlichen Isotopenverhältnisse von H, C und Cl des troposphärischen CH3Cl. Aufgrund der relativ geringen Konzentration von atmosphärischem CH3Cl von ~550 ppbv stellt dies eine große messtechnische Herausforderung dar. Daher liegt der Schwerpunkt dieses Antrags auf der erfolgreichen Entwicklung von Dreifachelement-Isotopenmethoden zur genauen Messung von atmosphärischem CH3Cl.Im ersten Schritt wird ein Probenahmesystem für große Luftmengen konstruiert und für die Messungen der stabilen Isotopenverhältnisse von CH3Cl optimiert. Das Probenahmegerät wird zunächst im Labor getestet und dann zum Sammeln von Luftproben an drei verschiedenen Orten eingesetzt: an der Universität Heidelberg, am Hohenpeißenberg und im Schneefernerhaus. Die Probenahmen werden über einen Zeitraum von einem Jahr durchgeführt, um möglichst auch saisonale Schwankungen zu erfassen. Die Isotopenverhältnisse der Proben werden mit modernsten massenspektrometrischen Methoden im Labor gemessen. Die Ergebnisse aller Standorte und Zeitpunkte werden in der Gesamtheit evaluiert, um die durchschnittlichen stabilen H-, C und Cl-Isotopenwerte einschließlich ihrer saisonalen Schwankungen darzustellen. Abschließend werden die Daten hinsichtlich ihrer Anwendbarkeit für komplexe numerische Modelle kritisch diskutiert.

Felsenpinguine als Zeiger für Ökosystemwandel im subantarktischen Südpolarmeer

In marinen Lebensräumen können Seevögel als wertvolle Indikatoren für Nahrungsressourcen und die Produktivität des marinen Ökosystems dienen. Studien zeigen deutliche Veränderungen in marinen Ökosystemen, und eine Art, die auf solche Veränderungen empfindlich reagiert, ist der Südliche Felsenpinguin Eudyptes chrysocome (IUCN-Kategorie gefährdet). Analysen neuerer und historischer Daten deuten darauf hin, dass Felsenschreibepinguine in einem sich erwärmenden Ozean schlechter überleben und sich vermehren und dass der Klimawandel sie in mehreren Phasen der Brut- und Nicht-Brutsaison beeinflussen kann. Mehr als ein Drittel der Gesamtpopulation dieser Art brütet auf den Falklandinseln, wo die Populationen besonders stark zurückgehen, und unsere früheren Studien (2006-2011) hier haben auf reduzierte Überlebenswahrscheinlichkeiten unter zunehmend warmen Meerestemperaturen und leichtere Eier unter wärmeren Umweltbedingungen hingewiesen. Die zugrunde liegenden Ursachen für diese Veränderungen sind jedoch noch wenig bekannt. Das vorliegende Projekt knüpft an frühere Studien an, aber wir werden neu verfügbare Technologien anwenden, nämlich viel kleinere GPS-Beschleunigungs-Datenlogger, um die noch unbekannten Phasen der Brutzeit und die für die Futtersuche verwendete Energie zu untersuchen, und Analysemethoden aus dem Machine Learning („künstliche Intelligenz“) und der Energielandschaften-Modellierung. Komponentenspezifische stabile Isotopenanalysen und Metabarcodierung von Kotproben werden zudem eingesetzt, um die Ernährung während der verschiedenen Phasen des Brutzyklus zu untersuchen. Wir werden auch Zeitrafferkameras einsetzen und über "Penguin watch" - ein Toolkit zur Extraktion großflächiger Daten aus Kamerabildern und zur Einbeziehung der Öffentlichkeit - bürgernahe Wissenschaft betreiben. Insgesamt wollen wir verstehen, warum Südliche Felsenpinguine eine besonders empfindliche Art bei sich erwärmenden Meeresbedingungen sind.

The effect of elevated atmospheric CO2 concentration on gross nitrogen dynamics, plant N-uptake and microbial community dynamics in a permanent grassland

To predict ecosystem reactions to elevated atmospheric CO2 (eCO2) it is essential to understandthe interactions between plant carbon input, microbial community composition and activity and associated nutrient dynamics. Long-term observations (greater than 13 years) within the Giessen Free Air Carbon dioxide Enrichment (Giessen FACE) study on permanent grassland showed next to an enhanced biomass production an unexpected strong positive feedback effect on ecosystem respiration and nitrous oxide (N2O) production. The overall goal of this study is to understand the long-term effects of eCO2 and carbon input on microbial community composition and activity as well as the associated nitrogen dynamics, N2O production and plant N uptake in the Giessen FACE study on permanent grassland. A combination of 13CO2 pulse labelling with 15N tracing of 15NH4+ and 15NO3- will be carried out in situ. Different fractions of soil organic matter (recalcitrant, labile SOM) and the various mineral N pools in the soil (NH4+, NO3-, NO2-), gross N transformation rates, pool size dependent N2O and N2 emissions as well as N species dependent plant N uptake rates and the origin of the CO2 respiration will be quantified. Microbial analyses will include exploring changes in the composition of microbial communities involved in the turnover of NH4+, NO3-, N2O and N2, i.e. ammonia oxidizing, denitrifying, and microbial communities involved in dissimilatory nitrate reduction to ammonia (DNRA). Stable Isotope Probing (SIP) and mRNA based analyses will be employed to comparably evaluate the long-term effects of eCO2 on the structure and abundance of these communities, while transcripts of these genes will be used to target the fractions of the communities which actively contribute to N transformations.

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