structure > project group B > scientific project B4Scientific Project B4 - Formation and importance of functional redundancy for microbial nitrogene transformation during initial states of ecosystem developmentNitrogen is an important factor for the functionality and development of
biotic communities in terrestrial ecosystems. Especially in young ecosystems
nitrogen is a limiting factor. Thus optimal nitrogen turnover, including an
efficient mineralization of organic nitrogen compounds and low
denitrification rates are important for a sustainable development of
vegetation. Furthermore dinitrogen fixation plays an important role for the
additional nitrogen input into the soil. The aim of this subproject is to
detect and quantify nitrogen cycle relevant processes on gene, transcript
and enzyme levels and to compare it with the respective in situ activities.
The main focus is to study the influence of special environmental parameters
(e.g. pH, temperature, soil humidity), pioneer plant species and plant
communities. The data should be used to deduce the formation and relevance
of functional genetic redundancy in the regulation of nitrogen transforming
processes in developing ecosystems. The subproject is strongly linked to the
subprojects B1 and B3, in
order to detect nitrogen and carbon fluxes in the rhizosphere and litter
layer of herbaceous plants. The work is directly related to the central
hypothesis 1 and 3. The collected data provide the basis for the planned
structure and process model (TP C5). |
