Dynamics of material cycles in forest ecosystems at different space and time scales
BITÖK-A13
From 01/1998 to 12/2000Principal Investigator: Egbert Matzner
Staff: Christine Alewell
Grant: 0339476 C Grundlagen zur nachhaltigen Entwicklung von Ökosystemen bei veränderter Umwelt
The characterization of ecosystem functioning with element fluxes and concentrations is an important aim in ecosystem research. One aim of this study is the organization and evaluation of the element flux measurements on the monitoring sites within the Lehstenbach catchment (Fichtelgebirge, Northeastern Bavaria, Germany). The element flux measurements are important tools to characterize ecosystems, calculate element budgets, provide the data for model simulations as well as process oriented projects at BITÖK. Measurements include element fluxes with bulk deposition, throughfall, soil solution and surface waters. Part of this project is to determine the influence of sampling frequency (14 days and daily) on time series of throughfall, soil solution and runoff chemistry. Our hypothesis was that in decreasing the sampling frequency to 1 day measurements we gain (i) a more precise recording of ecologically relevant concentration amplitudes, (ii) a better understanding of element turnover and regulating processes, (iii) a description of element fluxes and concentrations on different time scales and (iv) a minimization of the error connected to element flux calculations. First results indicated that an evaluation of the daily measurements yielded in similar correlations of water fluxes and concentrations of SO42-, NO3-, Cl-, electrical conductivity and pH as was already known from the time series with 14 days sampling frequency. Furthermore, concentration amplitudes are very comparable in both data sets. However, comparing flux calculations over a 7 month measurement period (17.03. - 26.10.1998) yielded in significant differences. Element output with runoff from the catchment Lehstenbach resulted in a significant overestimation of H+ and a significant underestimation of Cl- fluxes when calculated with the time series from 14 day sampling frequency compared to daily measurements. However, a statistical evaluation of the time series with the daily sampling frequency indicated that the maximum temporal heterogeneity was not yet reached. Thus, final evaluations or conclusion are not possible yet.
List of publications of this Project
| Alewell, C: Acid inputs into the soils from acid rain in Rengel Z.: Handbook of Soil Acidity, Marcel Dekker Inc.,New York, 83-115 (2003) -- Details |
| Alewell, C; Novák, M: Spotting zones of dissimilatory sulfate reduction in a forested catchment; The |
| Mitchell, MJ; Mayer, B; Bailey, SW; Hornbeck, J; Alewell, C; Dricsoll, CT; Likens, GE: Use of stable isotopes for evaluating sulfur sources and losses at the Hubbard Brook Experimental Forest, Water, Air and Soil Pollution, 130, 75-86 (2001) -- Details |
| Alewell, C: Predicting reversibility of acidification: The European sulfur story., Water, Air and Soil Pollution, 130, 1271-1276 (2001) |
| Prechtel, A; Alewell, C; Michalzik, B; Matzner, E: Different effect of drying on the fluxes of dissolved organic carbon and nitrogen from a Norway spruce forest floor, Journal of Plant Nutr. Soil Sci., (2000) 163, 517-521 (2000) -- Details |
| Manderscheid, B; Schweisser, T; Lischeid, G; Alewell, C; Matzner, E: Sulfate pools in the weathered substrata of a forested catchment, Soil Sci. Soc. Amer. J., 64, 1078-1082 (2000), doi:10.2136/sssaj2000.6431078x -- Details |
| Manderscheid, B; Jungnickel, C; Alewell, C: Spatial variability of sulfate isotherms in forest soils at different scales and its implications for the modeling of soil sulfate fluxes, Soil Science, 165, 848-857 (2000) -- Details |
| Groscheová, H; Novák, M; Alewell, C: Changes in the d34S ratio of pore-water sulfate in incubated sphagnum peat, Wetlands, 20/1, 62-69 (2000) -- Details |
| Lischeid, G; Moritz, K; Bittersohl, J; Alewell, C; Matzner, E: Sinks of anthropogenic nitrogen and sulphate in the Lehstenbach catchment (Fichtelgebirge): lessons learned concerning reversibility., Silva Gabreta, 4, 41-50 (2000) -- Details |
| Alewell, C; Manderscheid, B; Bittersohl, J; Meesenburg, H: Is acidification still an ecological threat?, Nature, 407, 856-857 (2000) -- Details |
| Alewell, C; Mitchell, M; Likens, GE; Krouse, RH: Assessing the origin of sulfate deposition at the Hubbard Brook Experimental Forest, J. Environmental Quality, 29, 759-767 (2000) -- Details |
| Alewell, C; Manderscheid, B; Gerstberger, P; Matzner, E: Effects of reduced atmospheric deposition on soil solution chemistry and elemental contents of spruce needles in NE - Bavaria, Germany, Journal of Plant Nutr. Soil Sci., (2000) 163, 509-516 (2000) -- Details |
| Alewell, C; Gehre, M: Patterns of stable S isotopes in a forested catchment as indicators for biological S turnover, Biogeochemistry, 47, 319-333 (1999) -- Details |
| Alewell, C; Mitchell, M; Likens, GE; Krouse, RH: Sources of stream sulfate at the Hubbard Brook Experimental forest: Long-term analysis using stable isotopes, Biogeochemistry, 44, 281-299 (1999) -- Details |