@inproceedings{SchaafPohleMaureretal., author = {Schaaf, Wolfgang and Pohle, Ina and Maurer, Thomas and Gerwin, Werner and Hinz, Christoph and Badorreck, Annika}, title = {Water balance dynamics of the constructed Chicken Creek catchment as influenced by 12 years of ecological development}, series = {European Geosciences Union, General Assembly 2018, Vienna, Austria}, booktitle = {European Geosciences Union, General Assembly 2018, Vienna, Austria}, publisher = {European Geophysical Society}, address = {Katlenburg-Lindau}, abstract = {Experimental catchments with well-known boundaries and characteristics may contribute valuable data to hydrological, critical zone and landscape evolution research. One of the most well-established and largest constructed catchments is the Chicken Creek catchment (6 ha area including a 0.4 ha pond, Brandenburg, Germany) representing an initial ecosystem undergoing a highly dynamic ecological development starting from clearly defined starting conditions. The water balance dynamics of the catchment was calculated using a simple mass balance approach to reveal the impact of ecological development during 12 years. Water storage in the catchment was calculated from a 3D-model of groundwater volumes, soil moisture measurements and water level recordings of the pond. The catchment water balance equation was resolved for evapotranspiration, the only part that was not measured directly. Due to the known boundary conditions and the inner structure of the catchment, we were able to quantify the different storage compartments and their role in hydrologic response. Our results indicate that for small catchments with a highly dynamic ecological development like the Chicken Creek, the knowledge about saturated and unsaturated storage volumes enables a good estimate and closure of the water balance using a rather simple approach, at least in annual resolution. We found a significant relationship between vegetation cover in the catchment and calculated ET. Time series of meteorological, hydrological, soil and vegetation data over 12 years enabled us to characterize the transient development of the catchment and to evaluate the effect of different feedback mechanisms on catchment hydrology. The dataset from the Chicken Creek catchment indicate at least three phases in ecosystem development, where initial abiotic feedbacks (e.g. erosion) were followed by more and more biotic controls (e.g. biological soil crusts, vegetation succession and growth). Data from Chicken Creek in high spatial and temporal resolution provide a valuable database underlining the high importance of abiotic/biotic feedback effects that change the hydrologic functioning and response of the catchment more than the water balance itself revealed and thus have to be included in catchment models.}, language = {en} } @incollection{SchaafHinzGerwinetal., author = {Schaaf, Wolfgang and Hinz, Christoph and Gerwin, Werner and Zaplata, Markus Klemens and H{\"u}ttl, Reinhard F.}, title = {Ecosystem Development in the Constructed Catchment "Chicken Creek"}, series = {Hydrology of Artificial and Controlled Experiments}, booktitle = {Hydrology of Artificial and Controlled Experiments}, editor = {Liu, Jiu-Fu and Gu, Wei-Zu}, publisher = {Intech Open}, address = {London}, isbn = {978-1-78923-559-3}, pages = {75 -- 93}, abstract = {Landscapes and ecosystems are complex systems with many feedback mechanisms acting between the various abiotic and biotic components. The knowledge about these interacting processes is mainly derived from mature ecosystems. The initial development of ecosystem complexity may involve state transitions following catastrophic shifts, disturbances, or transgression of thresholds. We propose a conceptual framework of feedback processes in early states of ecosystem development affected by spatiotemporal environmental drivers. To test this concept, we used 10-year time series of hydrological, biological, geomorphological, and soil data from the constructed catchment Chicken Creek." The 6ha site was left to unrestricted development since 2005 and was intensively monitored. The data showed a very rapid development of the site with an increasing complexity and heterogeneity. In the first years, stochastic signals like the initial substrate conditions and external drivers like extreme weather events were the most important factors resulting in abiotic/abiotic feedback mechanisms shaping the morphology of the site and creating site diversity. Initial abiotic feedback mechanisms between water and substrate were soon followed by abiotic/biotic feedbacks between biological soil crusts, invading vegetation, geomorphology, and hydrology resulting in state transitions of catchment functioning.}, language = {en} } @inproceedings{GerwinSchaafHinzetal., author = {Gerwin, Werner and Schaaf, Wolfgang and Hinz, Christoph and H{\"u}ttl, Reinhard F.}, title = {Monitoring of Ecosystem Development at the Constructed Catchment Chicken Creek}, series = {TERENO International Conference 2014, From Observation to Prediction in Terrestrial Systems, 29 September to 2 October 2014, Book of Abstracts}, booktitle = {TERENO International Conference 2014, From Observation to Prediction in Terrestrial Systems, 29 September to 2 October 2014, Book of Abstracts}, pages = {P2-12}, abstract = {The constructed catchment Chicken Creek was established in 2005 as an experimental landscape laboratory for ecosystem research. The 6 ha area with clearly defined horizontal as well as vertical boundary conditions was left for an unrestricted primary succession. The developing ecosystem offers the opportunity to study most processes occurring at the interface of bio-, pedo-, geo- and hydrosphere. Particularly interactions and feedbacks between different evolving compartments as well as the establishment of ecosystem functions and services can be investigated during the ongoing ecosystem development. The catchment is extensively instrumented since 2005 in order to detect transition stages of the ecosystem. Comprehensive data recorded with a high spatial and temporal resolution include hydrological, geomorphological, pedological, limnological as well as biological parameters. This site offers the unique situation of an early stage ecosystem with highly dynamic system properties. The first years of development were characterized by a fast formation of geomorphological structures due to massive erosion processes at the initially non-vegetated surface. Hydrological processes led to the establishment of a local groundwater body within 5 years. In the following years the influence of biological structures like vegetation patterns gained an increasing importance. Feedbacks between developing vegetation and e.g. hydrological features became more and more dominant. As a result, different phases of ecosystem development could be distinguished until now. This observatory offers manifold possibilities to identify and disentangle complex interactions between ecosystem compartments in situ under natural conditions. The originally low complexity of the system is growing with time facilitating the identification of influences of newly developing structures on ecosystem functions. Thus, it is possible to study effects of small-scale processes on the whole system at the landscape scale. In addition, the highly dynamic initial system properties allow the observation of multifaceted changes of ecosystem properties and functions within short periods of time.}, language = {en} } @inproceedings{ElmerSchaafGerwinetal., author = {Elmer, Michael and Schaaf, Wolfgang and Gerwin, Werner and Hinz, Christoph}, title = {The constructed catchment 'Chicken Creek' - a landscape observatory to analyze processes and feedback mechanisms during initial ecosystem development}, series = {European Geosciences Union, General Assembly 2014, Vienna, Austria, 27 April - 02 May 2014}, booktitle = {European Geosciences Union, General Assembly 2014, Vienna, Austria, 27 April - 02 May 2014}, publisher = {European Geophysical Society}, address = {Katlenburg-Lindau}, abstract = {We investigated the initial development of the landscape observatory 'Chicken Creek', Germany, an artificial catchment with well known boundary conditions and inner structures (Gerwin et al., 2011). Over a period of nine years, we observed considerable changes within the site (Elmer et al., 2013). Both internal and external factors could be identified as driving forces for the formation of structures and patterns in the catchment. Over time, secondary structures and patterns evolved and became more and more important. Invading biota and vegetation succession initialized feedback mechanisms resulting in pattern and habitat formation as well as in increased differentiation, heterogeneity and complexity that are typical characteristics of ecosystems (Schaaf et al., 2013). The processes and feedback mechanisms in the initial development of a new landscape may deviate in rates, intensity, and dominance from those known from mature ecosystems. It is therefore crucial to understand these early phases of ecosystem development and to disentangle the increasingly complex interactions between the evolving terrestrial and aquatic, biotic, and abiotic compartments of the system.}, language = {en} } @inproceedings{HinzSchaafGerwin, author = {Hinz, Christoph and Schaaf, Wolfgang and Gerwin, Werner}, title = {Competing feedbacks drive state transitions during initial catchment evolution: Examples from post-mining landscape and ecosystems evolution}, series = {European Geosciences Union, General Assembly 2014, Vienna, Austria, 27 April - 02 May 2014}, booktitle = {European Geosciences Union, General Assembly 2014, Vienna, Austria, 27 April - 02 May 2014}, publisher = {European Geophysical Society}, address = {Katlenburg-Lindau}, abstract = {Within the context of severely disturbed landscapes with little or no ecological memory, such as post-mining landscapes, we propose a simple framework that explains the catchment evolution as a result of competing feedbacks influenced by the initial conditions and the atmospheric drivers such as rainfall intermittency and intensity. The first stage of the evolution is dominated by abiotic feedbacks triggered by rainfall and subsequent fluid flow causing particle mobilisation on the surface and in the subsurface leading to flow concentration or in some instances to densification of surface and subsurface substrates. Subsequently, abiotic-biotic feedbacks start to compete in the sense that biological activity generally stabilizes substrate by preventing particle mobilisation and hence contribute to converting the substrate to a habitat. We suggest that these competing feedbacks may generate alternative stable states in particular under semi-arid and arid climatic conditions, while in temperate often energy limited environments biological process "outcompete" abiotic processes leading to a stable state, in particular from the water balance point of view for comparable geomorphic situations.}, language = {en} } @inproceedings{GerwinSchaafElmeretal., author = {Gerwin, Werner and Schaaf, Wolfgang and Elmer, Michael and Hinz, Christoph}, title = {The constructed catchment Chicken Creek as Critical Zone Observatory under transition}, series = {European Geosciences Union, General Assembly 2014, Vienna, Austria, 27 April - 02 May 2014}, booktitle = {European Geosciences Union, General Assembly 2014, Vienna, Austria, 27 April - 02 May 2014}, publisher = {European Geophysical Society}, address = {Katlenburg-Lindau}, abstract = {The constructed catchment Chicken Creek was established in 2005 as an experimental landscape laboratory for ecosystem research. The 6 ha area with clearly defined horizontal as well as vertical boundary conditions was left for an unrestricted primary succession. All Critical Zone elements are represented at this site, which allows the study of most processes occurring at the interface of bio-, pedo-, geo- and hydrosphere. It provides outstanding opportunities for investigating interactions and feedbacks between different evolving compartments during ecosystem development. The catchment is extensively instrumented since 2005 in order to detect transition stages of the ecosystem. Data recorded with a high spatial and temporal resolution include ydrological, geomorphological, pedological, limnological as well as biological parameters.}, language = {en} } @book{GerwinSchaafBiemeltetal., author = {Gerwin, Werner and Schaaf, Wolfgang and Biemelt, Detlef and Elmer, Michael and Maurer, Thomas and Schneider, Anna}, title = {The artificial catchment H{\"u}hnerwasser (Chicken Creek): Construction and initial properties}, publisher = {FZLB}, address = {Cottbus}, pages = {56}, language = {en} } @incollection{BiemeltNenov, author = {Biemelt, Detlef and Nenov, Rossen}, title = {Meteorology}, series = {Initial development of the artificial catchment "Chicken Creek" : monitoring program and survey 2005-2008}, booktitle = {Initial development of the artificial catchment "Chicken Creek" : monitoring program and survey 2005-2008}, editor = {Schaaf, Wolfgang and Biemelt, Detlef and H{\"u}ttl, Reinhard F.}, publisher = {Univ. of Technology, Research Center Landscape Development and Mining Landscapes (FZLB)}, address = {Cottbus}, pages = {9 -- 20}, language = {en} } @inproceedings{GerkeMaurerKlaukeetal., author = {Gerke, Horst H. and Maurer, Thomas and Klauke, A. and Dominik, R. and Dimitrov, M. and Biemelt, Detlef and Badorreck, Annika}, title = {Modelling the initial 3D sediment structure of an artificially constructed hydrological catchment}, series = {EGU General Assembly 2008, Wien}, booktitle = {EGU General Assembly 2008, Wien}, publisher = {European Geophysical Society}, address = {Katlenburg-Lindau}, language = {en} } @inproceedings{ZaplataMaurerBoldtBurischetal., author = {Zaplata, Markus Klemens and Maurer, Thomas and Boldt-Burisch, Katja and Schaaf, Wolfgang and Hinz, Christoph}, title = {An interactive survey panel regarding the effects of mice (Microtus spec.) on a young ecosystem}, series = {European Geosciences Union, General Assembly 2015, Vienna, Austria, 13 April - 17 May 2015}, booktitle = {European Geosciences Union, General Assembly 2015, Vienna, Austria, 13 April - 17 May 2015}, publisher = {European Geophysical Society}, address = {Katlenburg-Lindau}, language = {en} }