@inproceedings{ZaplataVestePohleetal., author = {Zaplata, Markus Klemens and Veste, Maik and Pohle, Ina and Sch{\"u}mberg, Sabine and Abreu Schonert, Iballa and Hinz, Christoph}, title = {Experimental investigation of the early interaction between cyanobacterial soil crusts and vascular plants}, series = {European Geosciences Union, General Assembly 2016, Vienna, Austria}, booktitle = {European Geosciences Union, General Assembly 2016, Vienna, Austria}, publisher = {European Geophysical Society}, address = {Katlenburg-Lindau}, abstract = {While there are hints that biological soil crusts (BSCs) can constitute physical barriers for the emergence of vascular plants, a conceptual approach for the quantitative evaluation of these effects is still missing. Here we present an experimental design to test the emergence of seedlings in situ with (i) capping natural intact, (ii) destroyed and (iii) removed BSC. The selected field site is directly adjacent to the constructed H{\"u}hnerwasser catchment (Lusatia, Germany). This site exists since the end of 2008 and consists of loamy sand. Serving as proxy for seedling thrust, we inserted pre-germinated seeds of three confamiliar plant species with different seed masses (members of the Fabaceae family: Lotus corniculatus L., Ornithopus sativus Brot., and Glycine max (L.) Merr.). In each treatment as well as in the control group planting depths were 10 mm. We took care that experimental plots had identical crust thickness, slightly less than 4 mm, serving as proxy for mechanical resistance. A plot became established as follows: Firstly, the pristine crusted surface was vertically cut. To the windward side the BSC remained intact (i: "with BSC" stripe). To the downwind side soil material was temporarily excavated for laterally inserting the seeds beneath the surface of the first stripe. Then at the thereby disturbed second stripe pulverised BSC material became filled as a top layer (ii: "BSC mix" stripe). From the next stripe the BSC was removed (iii : "no BSC" stripe). Thus each plot had each experimental group in spatial contiguity (within 50 cm * 50 cm). The overall 50 plots were distributed across an area of 40 m * 12 m. When individuals of a species either emerged at all stripes, "XXX", or at no stripe of a plot, "- - -", there was no reason to suppose any effect of a crust. The "-XX" emergence pattern (depicting the appearance of seedlings in both stripes possessing manipulated surfaces) points towards hindrance more clearly than "-X-" or "- - X". Altogether eight possible combinations exist. Combinatorial analysis turned out that seedling emergence had been notably impeded for light-weighted seeds but little for heavy seeds. Repeated recordings enable to account for adaptable emergence of seedlings according to varying crust conditions - in spatial as well as temporal terms. The proposed experimental procedure hence is highly recommended as a viable instrument to further investigate filter and facilitation processes between BSCs and vascular plants.}, language = {en} } @misc{ZaplataFischerWinteretal., author = {Zaplata, Markus Klemens and Fischer, A. and Winter, S. and Schaaf, Wolfgang and Veste, Maik}, title = {Development of an initial ecosystem - II. Vegetation dynamics and soil pattern in an artificial water catchment in Lusatia, NE Germany}, series = {Gf{\"O} 2009: Dimensions of ecology - From global change to molecular ecology}, journal = {Gf{\"O} 2009: Dimensions of ecology - From global change to molecular ecology}, editor = {Holzheu, Stefan and Thies, B.}, publisher = {Bayreuther Zentrum f{\"u}r {\"O}kologie und Umweltforschung (BayCEER) Selbstverlag}, address = {Bayreuth}, pages = {S. 124}, language = {en} } @misc{XiaoWangFanetal., author = {Xiao, Bo and Wang, Huifang and Fan, Jun and Fischer, Thomas and Veste, Maik}, title = {Biological soil crusts decrease soil temperature in summer and increase soil temperature in winter in semiarid environment}, series = {Ecological Engineering}, volume = {58}, journal = {Ecological Engineering}, issn = {0925-8574}, doi = {10.1016/j.ecoleng.2013.06.009}, pages = {52 -- 56}, abstract = {In hot and wet conditions in summer, the biological soil crusts (BSCs) decreased soil temperature by up to 11.8 °C, 7.5 °C, 5.4 °C, and 3.2 °C at surface, 5 cm, 15 cm, and 30 cm, respectively; while in cold and dry conditions in winter the BSCs increased soil temperature by up to 1.2 °C, 1.2 °C, and 1.1 °C at 5 cm, 15 cm, and 30 cm, respectively. The daily mean soil temperatures of the BSCs in a whole year were averagely increased by 0.57 ± 0.04 °C, 0.31 ± 0.04 °C, and 0.22 ± 0.04 °C at 5 cm, 15 cm, and 30 cm, respectively. The effects of the BSCs on soil temperature were positively correlated with air temperature and soil moisture, and decreased with soil depth from surface to deep soil. We concluded that BSCs relieved the extreme hot and cold soil micro-environments in desert ecosystem to some extent. Therefore their effects on soil temperature are positive for improving water and nutrient availability and biological community structure, thus decreasing susceptibility to desertification. These results would be helpful for understanding the ecological and hydrological functions of BSCs in semiarid environment.}, language = {en} } @misc{XiaoVeste, author = {Xiao, Bo and Veste, Maik}, title = {Moss-dominated biocrusts increase soil microbial abundance and community diversity and improve soil fertility in semi-arid climates on the Loess Plateau of China}, series = {Applied Soil Ecology}, volume = {117-118}, journal = {Applied Soil Ecology}, doi = {10.1016/j.apsoil.2017.05.005}, pages = {165 -- 177}, abstract = {Various ecological functions of biocrusts are mostly determined by their bacterial and fungal abundance and community diversity, which has not yet been fully investigated. To provide more insights into this issue, we collected samples of moss biocrusts, fixed sand, and mobile sand from a watershed with semi-arid climate on the Loess Plateau of China. The relative abundances and community diversities of soil bacteria and fungi of the samples were determined using high-throughput DNA sequencing. Finally, we analyzed the characteristics of bacterial and fungal community of the moss biocrusts and their relationships to the content of soil nutrients. Our results showed that the moss biocrusts had 1048 bacterial OTUs (operational taxonomic units) and 58 fungal OTUs, and their Shannon diversity indexes were 5.56 and 1.65, respectively. The bacterial community of the moss biocrusts was dominated by Acidobacteria (24.3\%), Proteobacteria (23.8\%), Chloroflexi (15.8\%), and Actinobacteria (14.5\%), and their fungal community was dominated by Ascomycota (68.0\%) and Basidiomycota (23.8\%). The moss biocrusts had far more bacterial OTUs (≥56.9\%) but similar number of fungal OTUs as compared with the uncrusted soil, and their Sorenson's similarity coefficients of bacterial and fungal communities were less than 0.768 and 0.596, respectively. Moreover, the contents of soil nutrients (C, N, P) were significantly correlated with the OTU numbers of bacteria and the relative abundances of bacteria and fungi. Our results indicated that moss biocrusts harbor a large number and high diversity of bacteria and fungi, and these diversified bacteria and fungi play important roles in ecosystem functioning through improving soil fertility.}, language = {en} } @misc{XiaoHuVesteetal., author = {Xiao, Bo and Hu, Kelin and Veste, Maik and Kidron, Giora J.}, title = {Natural recovery rates of moss biocrusts after severe disturbance in a semiarid climate of the Chinese Loess Plateau}, series = {Geoderma}, volume = {337}, journal = {Geoderma}, issn = {0016-7061}, doi = {10.1016/j.geoderma.2018.09.054}, pages = {402 -- 412}, abstract = {Biocrusts are vulnerable to large scale disturbances including trampling activities, and their recovery rates are highly variable with estimates fluctuating by more than one order of magnitude, from<5 years (very fast) to>250 years (very slow). Also, the development of microbial abundance and community diversity of biocrusts after disturbances is poorly understood. In a semiarid climate of the Chinese Loess Plateau, we conducted a recovery experiment on well-developed moss biocrusts after a severe disturbance, during which the entire upper 3 cm of the surface was removed. In the following nine years, the general characteristics and microbial community of the recovering and undisturbed biocrusts as well as a substrate with no crust (bare sand) were periodically determined. Through linear or logistic extrapolation of the observed recovery rates, the recovery time of the biocrusts after disturbance was estimated by both biocrust characteristics and microbial community. Recovery time yielded the following estimates: a) coverage within 3 years, b) thickness within 8 years, c) biomass within 9-13 years, and d) cultivable microbial density within 11-13 years. More importantly, the recovery time of the disturbed moss-biocrusts estimated by the number of bacteria and fungi was ~10 and 20 years, respectively, and that estimated by the bacterial and fungal community diversity was 12-14 and 12-16 years, respectively. In conclusion, moss biocrusts would take 15-20 years to achieve full recovery, which was shorter than many previously published estimates that regarded biocrusts and especially moss-dominated biocrusts to have a long recovery time of hundreds of years. However, it should be also kept in mind that very fast recovery (< 5 years) of biocrusts was less reliable because such estimations are mostly based on visual cover only rather than on the multi-variables of the recovering biocrusts.}, language = {en} } @misc{WachendorfSchlozKueppersetal., author = {Wachendorf, Magnus and Schloz, Mona and K{\"u}ppers, Manfred and G{\"u}ney, Aylin and Veste, Maik}, title = {Wintertime photosynthesis and spring recovery of Ilex Aquifolium L.}, series = {iForest Biogeosciences and Forestry}, volume = {12}, journal = {iForest Biogeosciences and Forestry}, number = {4}, issn = {1971-7458}, doi = {10.3832/ifor2983-012}, pages = {389 -- 396}, abstract = {Former studies using the chlorophyll fluorescence technique on evergreen Ilex aquifolium L. showed that its photosynthetic potential for electron transport in winter recovers quickly when exposed to more favorable conditions. Since little is known, however, about its photosynthetic carbon gain in winter, we investigated its leaf gas exchange over an entire winter and spring period. Measurements were made rotationally in the field and in the laboratory to also investigate if I. aquifolium profits from warmer phases during winter in terms of net carbon gain. From the end of autumn until the end of spring, three different climate-driven phases of photosynthetic responses could be distinguished: first, an acclimation phase which lasted until February and was characterized by a gradually decreasing light-saturated gross photosynthesis (Amax(gross)), decreasing apparent quantum yield of CO₂-assimilation (ɸi) and a decreasing ability of these parameters to recover overnight inside the laboratory. At the same time, maximal quantum yield of PSII (Fv/Fm) could fully regenerate. In this phase, single warmer days had a positive effect on carbon assimilation. Second, a phase of relatively constant but low photosynthesis which was virtually unaffected by temperature, lasting for almost two months occurred. Here, Amax(gross) and ɸi had lost their ability to recover from winter conditions in the field, while Fv/Fm was much less affected. I. aquifolium was still able to conduct positive light-saturated net photosynthesis at a leaf temperature of -0.5°C, but during this time it could not profit from milder temperatures in terms of carbon gain. Third, a phase of increasing photosynthesis (spring recovery) occurred, starting in March when the 5-day average temperature was above 5°C and radiation in the field increased, and where all parameters slowly recovered from winter depressions. Our findings show that I. aquifolium is photosynthetically active over the whole winter, even at temperatures around 0°C. In terms of carbon gain, however, I. aquifolium does not profit from warmer phases during winter, despite the fast recovery seen in chlorophyll fluorescence measurements.}, language = {en} } @misc{VesteTodtBreckle, author = {Veste, Maik and Todt, Henning and Breckle, Siegmar-W.}, title = {Influence of halophytic hosts on their parasites - the case of Plicosepalus acaciae}, series = {AOB Plants}, volume = {7}, journal = {AOB Plants}, issn = {2041-2851}, doi = {10.1093/aobpla/plu084}, pages = {plu084}, abstract = {Halophytes develop various morphological and physiological traits that enable them to grow successfully on saline substrates. Parasitic plants on halophytic hosts may also encounter salt stress. We investigated the mistletoe Plicosepalus acaciae (syn: Loranthus acacia; Loranthaceae), which occurs on 5 halophytic and at least 10 non-halophytic hosts in the Southern Arava Valley (Israel). Plicosepalus acaciae is a common parasite north of Eilat to the Dead Sea area and in the Jordan Valley. Morphological and physiological responses of P. acaciae to salinity were investigated by comparison of plants on halophytic with those on non-halophytic hosts. Ion patterns of different host-parasite associations were determined as was the development of leaf succulence at different growth stages. The leaf water content of P. acaciae increased and leaves developed succulence when growing on halophytic hosts, especially on Tamarix species, where leaf water content was three times higher than that on non-halophytic hosts and the leaf volume increased four to five times. The reason for increased succulence was a higher ion concentration of, and osmotic adjustment with, Na+ and Cl2. Plicosepalus acaciae showed a high morphological and ecophysiological plasticity, enabling it to cope with salt stress, and can be classified as a facultative eu-halophyte, which increases its halo-succulence according to the host. Host-parasite associations are a model systemfor the investigation of halophytes under different salt stress conditions.}, language = {en} } @incollection{VesteSheppardAbdulaietal., author = {Veste, Maik and Sheppard, Jonathan P. and Abdulai, Issaka and Ayisi, Kwabena K. and Borrass, Lars and Chirwa, Paxie W. and Funk, Roger}, title = {The Need for Sustainable Agricultural Land-Use Systems: Benefits from Integrated Agroforestry Systems}, series = {Sustainability of Southern African Ecosystems under Global Change}, booktitle = {Sustainability of Southern African Ecosystems under Global Change}, editor = {Maltitz, Graham P. von and Midgley, Guy F. and Veitch, Jennifer and Br{\"u}mmer, Christian and R{\"o}tter, Reimund P. and Viehberg, Finn A. and Veste, Maik}, publisher = {Springer}, address = {Cham}, isbn = {978-3-031-10947-8}, doi = {10.1007/978-3-031-10948-5_21}, pages = {587 -- 623}, abstract = {This chapter introduces the different agroforestry systems (AFSs) as part of the diversification of agricultural landscapes and gives examples of their use in different related crop production systems in southern Africa. The introduction of trees into agriculture has several benefits and can mitigate the effects of climate change. For example nitrogen-fixing trees and shrubs contribute significantly to nutrient recycling and benefit soil conservation, which is particularly important for smallholder farms. In addition, shelterbelts play an important role in reducing wind speeds, and thus, evapotranspiration, and modifying the microclimatic conditions, which is an important factor for the adaptation of cropping systems to climate change. These integrated AFS landscapes provide important ecosystem services for soil protection, food security and for biodiversity. However, deficiencies in the institutional and policy frameworks that underlie the adoption and stimulus of AFS in the southern African region were identified. Furthermore, the following factors must be considered to optimise AFS: (1) selection of tree species that ensure maximum residual soil fertility beyond 3 years, (2) size of land owned by the farmer, (3) integrated nutrition management, where organic resources are combined with synthetic inorganic fertilisers and (4) tree-crop competition in the root zone for water.}, language = {en} } @incollection{VesteSchillemBoehm, author = {Veste, Maik and Schillem, Steffi and B{\"o}hm, Christian}, title = {Baumarten f{\"u}r die Agrarholzproduktion}, series = {Agrarholz - Schnellwachsende B{\"a}ume in der Landwirtschaft : Biologie - {\"O}kologie - Management}, booktitle = {Agrarholz - Schnellwachsende B{\"a}ume in der Landwirtschaft : Biologie - {\"O}kologie - Management}, editor = {Veste, Maik and B{\"o}hm, Christian}, publisher = {Springer Spektrum}, address = {Berlin [u.a.]}, isbn = {978-3-662-49930-6}, doi = {10.1007/978-3-662-49931-3_4}, pages = {81 -- 118}, language = {de} } @incollection{VestePflugmacherHartmannetal., author = {Veste, Maik and Pflugmacher, Candy and Hartmann, Holger and Schlepphorst, Rainer and Murach, Dieter}, title = {{\"O}kophysiologie der Agrargeh{\"o}lze - vom Blatt zum Bestand}, series = {Agrarholz - Schnellwachsende B{\"a}ume in der Landwirtschaft : Biologie - {\"O}kologie - Management}, booktitle = {Agrarholz - Schnellwachsende B{\"a}ume in der Landwirtschaft : Biologie - {\"O}kologie - Management}, editor = {Veste, Maik and B{\"o}hm, Christian}, publisher = {Springer Spektrum}, address = {Berlin [u.a.]}, isbn = {978-3-662-49930-6}, doi = {10.1007/978-3-662-49931-3_7}, pages = {169 -- 227}, language = {de} }