TY - JOUR A1 - Engel, Anja A1 - Piontek, Judith A1 - Grossart, Hans-Peter A1 - Riebesell, Ulf A1 - Schulz, Kai Georg A1 - Sperling, Martin T1 - Impact of CO2 enrichment on organic matter dynamics during nutrient induced coastal phytoplankton blooms JF - Journal of plankton research N2 - A mesocosm experiment was conducted to investigate the impact of rising fCO(2) on the build-up and decline of organic matter during coastal phytoplankton blooms. Five mesocosms (similar to 38 mA(3) each) were deployed in the Baltic Sea during spring (2009) and enriched with CO2 to yield a gradient of 355-862 A mu atm. Mesocosms were nutrient fertilized initially to induce phytoplankton bloom development. Changes in particulate and dissolved organic matter concentrations, including dissolved high-molecular weight (> 1 kDa) combined carbohydrates, dissolved free and combined amino acids as well as transparent exopolymer particles (TEP), were monitored over 21 days together with bacterial abundance, and hydrolytic extracellular enzyme activities. Overall, organic matter followed well-known bloom dynamics in all CO2 treatments alike. At high fCO(2,) higher Delta POC:Delta PON during bloom rise, and higher TEP concentrations during bloom peak, suggested preferential accumulation of carbon-rich components. TEP concentration at bloom peak was significantly related to subsequent sedimentation of particulate organic matter. Bacterial abundance increased during the bloom and was highest at high fCO(2). We conclude that increasing fCO(2) supports production and exudation of carbon-rich components, enhancing particle aggregation and settling, but also providing substrate and attachment sites for bacteria. More labile organic carbon and higher bacterial abundance can increase rates of oxygen consumption and may intensify the already high risk of oxygen depletion in coastal seas in the future. KW - mesocosm KW - ocean acidification KW - phytoplankton KW - organic matter KW - TEP Y1 - 2014 U6 - https://doi.org/10.1093/plankt/fbt125 SN - 0142-7873 SN - 1464-3774 VL - 36 IS - 3 SP - 641 EP - 657 PB - Oxford Univ. Press CY - Oxford ER - TY - THES A1 - Fabian, Jenny T1 - Effects of algae on microbial carbon cycling in freshwaters BT - with focus on the utilization of leaf carbon by heterotrophic bacteria and fungi N2 - Microbial processing of organic matter (OM) in the freshwater biosphere is a key component of global biogeochemical cycles. Freshwaters receive and process valuable amounts of leaf OM from their terrestrial landscape. These terrestrial subsidies provide an essential source of energy and nutrients to the aquatic environment as a function of heterotrophic processing by fungi and bacteria. Particularly in freshwaters with low in-situ primary production from algae (microalgae, cyanobacteria), microbial turnover of leaf OM significantly contributes to the productivity and functioning of freshwater ecosystems and not least their contribution to global carbon cycling. Based on differences in their chemical composition, it is believed that leaf OM is less bioavailable to microbial heterotrophs than OM photosynthetically produced by algae. Especially particulate leaf OM, consisting predominantly of structurally complex and aromatic polymers, is assumed highly resistant to enzymatic breakdown by microbial heterotrophs. However, recent research has demonstrated that OM produced by algae promotes the heterotrophic breakdown of leaf OM in aquatic ecosystems, with profound consequences for the metabolism of leaf carbon (C) within microbial food webs. In my thesis, I aimed at investigating the underlying mechanisms of this so called priming effect of algal OM on the use of leaf C in natural microbial communities, focusing on fungi and bacteria. The works of my thesis underline that algal OM provides highly bioavailable compounds to the microbial community that are quickly assimilated by bacteria (Paper II). The substrate composition of OM pools determines the proportion of fungi and bacteria within the microbial community (Paper I). Thereby, the fraction of algae OM in the aquatic OM pool stimulates the activity and hence contribution of bacterial communities to leaf C turnover by providing an essential energy and nutrient source for the assimilation of the structural complex leaf OM substrate. On the contrary, the assimilation of algal OM remains limited for fungal communities as a function of nutrient competition between fungi and bacteria (Paper I, II). In addition, results provide evidence that environmental conditions determine the strength of interactions between microalgae and heterotrophic bacteria during leaf OM decomposition (Paper I, III). However, the stimulatory effect of algal photoautotrophic activities on leaf C turnover remained significant even under highly dynamic environmental conditions, highlighting their functional role for ecosystem processes (Paper III). The results of my thesis provide insights into the mechanisms by which algae affect the microbial turnover of leaf C in freshwaters. This in turn contributes to a better understanding of the function of algae in freshwater biogeochemical cycles, especially with regard to their interaction with the heterotrophic community. N2 - Die mikrobielle Verarbeitung von organischer Biomasse in Süßwasser nimmt eine fundamentale Rolle in den globalen biogeochemischen Nährstoffkreisläufen ein. Ein Großteil der organischen Biomasse gelangt aus der terrestrischen Umgebung, insbesondere aus dem Blattlaubeintrag, in die Gewässer und stellt eine wesentliche Energie- und Nährstoffquelle für die aquatische Umwelt dar. In die aquatischen Nahrungsnetze gelangt das terrestrische Material vorwiegend durch mikrobielle Umsatzprozesse, an denen vor allem heterotrophe Bakterien und Pilze beteiligt sind. Der mikrobielle Umsatz von Blattlaub kann die biogeochemischen Prozesse aquatischer Ökosysteme signifikant beeinflussen und nicht zuletzt deren Beitrag zum globalen Kohlenstoffkreislauf. Das gilt insbesondere für Gewässer, in denen die in-situ Produktion organischer Biomasse durch aquatische Algen sehr gering ist. Aufgrund ihrer unterschiedlichen chemischen Zusammensetzung wird angenommen, dass Blattbiomasse für die mikrobielle Gemeinschaft schlechter abbaubar und damit weniger bioverfügbar ist als photosynthetisch produziert Biomasse durch Algen. Das gilt insbesondere für das partikuläre Blattmaterial, welches vorwiegend aus strukturell komplexen und aromatischen Polymeren besteht. Neue Forschungsergebnisse haben jedoch gezeigt, dass Algen den enzymatischen Abbau von Blattmaterial stimulieren (Priming Effekt), und den Umsatz von Blattkohlenstoff innerhalb des mikrobiellen Nahrungsnetzes signifikant beeinflussen. In meiner Doktorarbeit habe ich die zugrundeliegenden Mechanismen dieses Priming Effekts von Algenbiomasse auf die mikrobiellen Umsatzprozesse von Blattkohlenstoff innerhalb natürlicher mikrobieller Gemeinschaften untersucht. Der Fokus lag dabei vor allem auf aquatische Pilz- und Bakteriengemeinschaften. Die von mir erbrachten Arbeiten verifizieren, dass Algenbiomasse für die mikrobielle Gemeinschaft teilweise hoch verfügbar ist (Studie II). Meine Arbeiten unterstreichen jedoch, dass Algenbiomasse vor allem von Bakterien assimiliert wird und deren Beitrag zum mikrobiellen Blattumsatz stimuliert. Die Bakteriengemeinschaft erhält über das Algenmaterial vermutlich essentielle Energie- und Nährstoffquellen, die ihnen die Assimilation des strukturell komplexen Blattkohlenstoffs erleichtert. Im Gegensatz dazu scheint die Pilzgemeinschaft das Algenmaterial nicht direkt nutzen zu können, vermutlich bedingt durch deren schwache Konkurrenz mit Bakterien um das Algensubstrat (Studie I, II). Darüber hinaus liefern die Ergebnisse einer weiteren Studie Hinweise darauf, dass Umweltbedingungen die Stärke der Wechselwirkungen zwischen Algen und heterotrophen Bakterien während der Zersetzung der Blattbiomasse bestimmen (Studie I, III). Die stimulierende Wirkung der photoautotrophen Algenaktivität auf den Blattkohlenstoff Umsatz blieb jedoch selbst unter hochdynamischen Umweltbedingungen signifikant, was ihre funktionelle Rolle für Ökosystemprozesse unterstreicht (Studie III). Die Ergebnisse aus den Arbeiten meiner Promotion geben Einblicke in die Mechanismen des mikrobiellen aquatischen Blattabbaus und welche funktionelle Rolle Algen hierbei haben. Das trägt zu einem besseren Verständnis der Funktion von Algen in den biogeochemischen Kreisläufen der Süßgewässer bei, insbesondere mit Hinblick auf die Interaktion der heterotrophen Gemeinschaft mit Algenbiomasse. KW - stable isotope tracer KW - organic matter KW - microbial carbon turnover KW - microbial interactions KW - stabile Isotope Tracer KW - organisches Material KW - mikrobieller Kohlenstoffkreislauf KW - mikrobielle Interaktionen Y1 - 2018 U6 - http://nbn-resolving.de/urn/resolver.pl?urn:nbn:de:kobv:517-opus4-422225 ER - TY - JOUR A1 - Glombitza, Clemens A1 - Stockhecke, Mona A1 - Schubert, Carsten J. A1 - Vetter, Alexandra A1 - Kallmeyer, Jens T1 - Sulfate reduction controlled by organic matter availability in deep sediment cores from the saline, alkaline Lake Van (Eastern Anatolia,Turkey) JF - Frontiers in microbiology N2 - As part of the International Continental Drilling Program deep lake drilling project Paleo Van, we investigated sulfate reduction (SR) in deep sediment cores of the saline, alkaline (salinity 21.4%0, alkalinity 155 m mEq-1, pH 9.81) Lake Van, Turkey. The cores were retrieved in the Northern Basin (NB) and at Ahlat Ridge (AR) and reached a maximum depth of 220 m. Additionally, 65-75 cm long gravity cores were taken at both sites. SR rates (SRR) were low (<22 nmol cm-3 day-1) compared to lakes with higher salinity and alkalinity, indicating that salinity and alkalinity are not limiting SR in Lake Van. Both sites differ significantly in rates and depth distribution of SR. In NB, SRR are up to 10 times higher than at AR. SR could be detected down to 19 mblf (meters below lake floor) at NB and down to 13 mblf at AR. Although SRR were lower at AR than at NB, organic matter (OM) concentrations were higher. In contrast, dissolved OM in the pore water at AR contained more macromolecular OM and less low molecular weight OM.VVe thus suggest, that OM content alone cannot be used to infer microbial activity at Lake Van but that quality of OM has an important impact as well. These differences suggest that biogeochemical processes in lacustrine sediments are reacting very sensitively to small variations in geological, physical, or chemical parameters over relatively short distances. KW - saline lake KW - alkaline lake KW - sulfate reduction KW - deep biosphere KW - organic matter Y1 - 2013 U6 - https://doi.org/10.3389/fmicb.2013.00209 SN - 1664-302X VL - 4 IS - 28 PB - Frontiers Research Foundation CY - Lausanne ER - TY - THES A1 - Jongejans, Loeka Laura T1 - Organic matter stored in ice-rich permafrost T1 - Ablagerung von organischem Kohlenstoff in eisreichem Permafrost BT - future permafrost thaw and greenhouse gas release BT - zukünftige Permafrosttauen und Treibhausgasemissionen N2 - The Arctic is changing rapidly and permafrost is thawing. Especially ice-rich permafrost, such as the late Pleistocene Yedoma, is vulnerable to rapid and deep thaw processes such as surface subsidence after the melting of ground ice. Due to permafrost thaw, the permafrost carbon pool is becoming increasingly accessible to microbes, leading to increased greenhouse gas emissions, which enhances the climate warming. The assessment of the molecular structure and biodegradability of permafrost organic matter (OM) is highly needed. My research revolves around the question “how does permafrost thaw affect its OM storage?” More specifically, I assessed (1) how molecular biomarkers can be applied to characterize permafrost OM, (2) greenhouse gas production rates from thawing permafrost, and (3) the quality of OM of frozen and (previously) thawed sediments. I studied deep (max. 55 m) Yedoma and thawed Yedoma permafrost sediments from Yakutia (Sakha Republic). I analyzed sediment cores taken below thermokarst lakes on the Bykovsky Peninsula (southeast of the Lena Delta) and in the Yukechi Alas (Central Yakutia), and headwall samples from the permafrost cliff Sobo-Sise (Lena Delta) and the retrogressive thaw slump Batagay (Yana Uplands). I measured biomarker concentrations of all sediment samples. Furthermore, I carried out incubation experiments to quantify greenhouse gas production in thawing permafrost. I showed that the biomarker proxies are useful to assess the source of the OM and to distinguish between OM derived from terrestrial higher plants, aquatic plants and microbial activity. In addition, I showed that some proxies help to assess the degree of degradation of permafrost OM, especially when combined with sedimentological data in a multi-proxy approach. The OM of Yedoma is generally better preserved than that of thawed Yedoma sediments. The greenhouse gas production was highest in the permafrost sediments that thawed for the first time, meaning that the frozen Yedoma sediments contained most labile OM. Furthermore, I showed that the methanogenic communities had established in the recently thawed sediments, but not yet in the still-frozen sediments. My research provided the first molecular biomarker distributions and organic carbon turnover data as well as insights in the state and processes in deep frozen and thawed Yedoma sediments. These findings show the relevance of studying OM in deep permafrost sediments. N2 - Die Arktis ist eine der sich am schnellsten verändernden Regionen der Erde, was zum tauen des dortigen Permafrosts führt. Eisreicher Permafrost, wie der spätpleistozäne Yedoma, ist besonders anfällig für schnelle und tiefe Auftauprozesse infolge von Absenkungen der Oberfläche nach dem Schmelzen des Grundeises. Durch das Auftauen des Permafrosts wird der im Permafrost gespeicherte Kohlenstoff für Mikroben zunehmend zugänglich, was zu erhöhten Treibhausgasemissionen führt und die Klimaerwärmung verstärkt. Die Untersuchung der molekularen Struktur und der biologischen Abbaubarkeit von organischem Material (OM) im Permafrost ist dringend erforderlich. In meiner Forschung geht es um die zentrale Frage inwieweit das Auftauen des Permafrost die Speicherfähigkeit von OM beeinflusst. Insbesondere untersuchte ich (1) wie molekulare Biomarker bei der Charakterisierung von Permafrost-OM verwendet werden können, (2) Treibhausgasproduktionsraten in auftauendem Permafrost und (3) die Qualität von OM in gefrorenen und (vorher) aufgetauten Sedimenten. Dazu habe ich tiefe (bis zu 55 m) Yedoma und aufgetaute Yedoma Permafrostsedimente aus Jakutien (Republik Sacha) untersucht. Es wurden Sedimentkerne unter Thermokarstseen auf der Bykovsky-Halbinsel (südöstlich des Lenadeltas) und im Yukechi-Alas (Zentraljakutien) entnommen, und deren Biomarkerkonzentrationen gemessen. Desweiteren wurden Bodenproben von der Permafrostklippe Sobo-Sise (Lenadelta) und der Taurutschung Batagai (Jana-Hochland) genommen und untersucht. Darüber hinaus habe ich Inkubationsexperimente durchgeführt, um die Treibhausgasproduktion in auftauenden Permafrost zu quantifizieren. Ich habe gezeigt, dass Biomarker-Proxies nützlich sind, um die Quelle des OM zu ermitteln und zwischen OM aus Landpflanzen, Wasserpflanzen und mikrobieller Aktivität zu unterscheiden. Außerdem sind einige Proxies hilfreich, den Abbaugrad von Permafrost-OM zu beurteilen. Dies trifft insbesondere in Kombination mit sedimentologischen Daten in einem Multi-Proxy-Ansatz. Ich zeigte dass der OM von Yedoma im Allgemeinen besser erhalten ist als der von aufgetauten Yedoma-Sedimenten. Die Treibhausgasproduktion in den erstmalig auftauenden Permafrostsedimenten war am höchsten. Dies bedeutet, dass die gefrorenen Yedoma-Sedimente das meiste labile OM enthielten. Außerdem zeigte ich, dass sich die methanproduzierenden Gemeinschaften in den frisch aufgetauten Sedimenten etabliert hatten, jedoch nicht in den noch gefrorenen Sedimenten. Meiner Forschung hat die ersten molekularen Biomarkerverteilungen und Kohlenstoffumsatzdaten geliefert und Einsichten in den Zustand und Prozesse von gefrorenen und aufgetauten Yedoma-Sedimenten geschaffen. Diese Ergebnisse demonstrieren die Relevanz der Untersuchung von OM in tiefen Permafrostsedimenten. N2 - Het Noordpoolgebied verandert snel en permafrost ontdooit. Met name ijsrijke permafrost, zoals Yedoma uit het laat Pleistoceen, is gevoelig voor snelle en diepe dooiprocessen als gevolg van bodemdaling na het smelten van bodemijs. Door het ontdooien van permafrost wordt het permafrostkoolstofreservoir beter toegankelijk voor microben, wat tot verhoogde broeikasgasemissies leidt en de klimaatopwarming versterkt. Het is van groot belang om de moleculaire structuur en de biologische afbreekbaarheid van organisch materiaal (OM) in permafrost vast te leggen. Mijn onderzoek draait om de vraag "hoe beinvloedt permafrostdooi de OM-opslag?" Specifiek heb ik onderzocht (1) hoe moleculaire biomarkers kunnen worden gebruikt om permafrost-OM te karakteriseren, (2) wat broeikasgasproductiesnelheden in ontdooiende permafrost zijn en (3) wat de kwaliteit is van het OM in bevroren en (eerder) ontdooide sedimenten. Ik heb diepe (max. 55 m) Yedoma en ontdooide Yedoma permafrostsedimenten uit Jakoetië (republiek Sacha) onderzocht. Sedimentkernen zijn genomen onder thermokarstmeren op het Bykovsky schiereiland (ten zuidoosten van de Lenadelta) en in de Yukechi Alas (centraal Jakoetië). Ook zijn bodemmonsters genomen van de permafrostklif Sobo-Sise (Lenadelta) en de zogenaamde thaw slump Batagai (Jana-hoogvlakte). In alle monsters heb ik de biomarkerconcentraties gemeten. Ook heb ik incubatie-experimenten uitgevoerd om de broeikasgasproductie in ontdooiende permafrost te kwantificeren. Mijn onderzoek wijst uit dat de biomarkerproxies nuttig zijn bij het vaststellen van de bron van het OM en om onderscheid te kunnen maken tussen OM van landplanten, waterplanten en OM afkomstig van microbiële activiteit. Daarnaast heb ik aangetoond dat sommige proxies nuttig zijn om de mate van degradatie van het OM vast te stellen, vooral in combinatie met sedimentologische data in een multi-proxy-benadering. Het blijkt dat het OM in Yedoma over het algemeen beter bewaard gebleven is dan het OM in ontdooide Yedoma-sedimenten. De broeikasgasproductie bleek het hoogst in de voor het eerst ontdooide permafrostsedimenten, wat betekent dat de bevroren Yedoma-sedimenten het meeste labiele OM bevatten. Bovendien heb ik aangetoond dat de methaan-producerende gemeenschappen zich wel in de recentelijk ontdooide sedimenten hebben gevestigd, maar nog niet in de nog bevroren sedimenten. Mijn onderzoek heeft de eerste moleculaire biomarker- en koolstofomzetdata en inzichten opgeleverd in de toestand en processen van diepe, bevroren en ontdooide Yedoma-sedimenten. Deze resultaten tonen de relevantie van het bestuderen van OM in diepe permafrostsedimenten. KW - permafrost sediments KW - organic matter KW - molecular biomarkers KW - anaerobic incubation experiments KW - Russian Arctic KW - Permafrostsedimente KW - organisches Material KW - molekulare Biomarker KW - anaerobe Inkubationensexperimente KW - russische Arktis Y1 - 2022 U6 - http://nbn-resolving.de/urn/resolver.pl?urn:nbn:de:kobv:517-opus4-564911 ER - TY - JOUR A1 - Musolff, Andreas A1 - Selle, Benny A1 - Buttner, Olaf A1 - Opitz, Michael A1 - Tittel, Jörg T1 - Unexpected release of phosphate and organic carbon to streams linked to declining nitrogen depositions JF - Global change biology N2 - Reductions in emissions have successfully led to a regional decline in atmospheric nitrogen depositions over the past 20 years. By analyzing long-term data from 110 mountainous streams draining into German drinking water reservoirs, nitrate concentrations indeed declined in the majority of catchments. Furthermore, our meta-analysis indicates that the declining nitrate levels are linked to the release of dissolved iron to streams likely due to a reductive dissolution of iron(III) minerals in riparian wetland soils. This dissolution process mobilized adsorbed compounds, such as phosphate, dissolved organic carbon and arsenic, resulting in concentration increases in the streams and higher inputs to receiving drinking water reservoirs. Reductive mobilization was most significant in catchments with stream nitrate concentrations < 6 mg L-1. Here, nitrate, as a competing electron acceptor, was too low in concentration to inhibit microbial iron(III) reduction. Consequently, observed trends were strongest in forested catchments, where nitrate concentrations were unaffected by agricultural and urban sources and which were therefore sensitive to reductions of atmospheric nitrogen depositions. We conclude that there is strong evidence that the decline in nitrogen deposition toward pre-industrial conditions lowers the redox buffer in riparian soils, destabilizing formerly fixed problematic compounds, and results in serious implications for water quality. KW - atmospheric deposition KW - carbon cycle KW - nitrogen biogeochemistry KW - organic matter KW - riparian zone KW - streamwater chemistry Y1 - 2017 U6 - https://doi.org/10.1111/gcb.13498 SN - 1354-1013 SN - 1365-2486 VL - 23 SP - 1891 EP - 1901 PB - Wiley CY - Hoboken ER - TY - JOUR A1 - Zhang Chengjun, A1 - Fan Rong, A1 - Li Jun, A1 - Mischke, Steffen A1 - Dembele, Blaise A1 - Hu Xiaolan, T1 - Carbon and oxygen isotopic compositions - how lacustrine environmental factors respond in northwestern and northeastern China JF - Acta geologica Sinica : english edition N2 - Surface lake sediments, 28 from Hoh Xil, 24 from northeastern China, 99 from Lake Bosten, 31 from Ulungur and 26 from Heihai were collected to determine C-13 and O-18 values. Considering the impact factors, conductivity, alkalinity, pH, TOC, C/N and carbonate-content in the sediments, Cl, P, S, and metal element ratios of Mg/Ca, Sr/Ca, Fe/Mn of bulk sediments as environmental variables enable evaluation of their influences on C-13 and O-18 using principal component analysis (PCA) method. The closure and residence time of lakes can influence the correlation between C-13 and O-18. Lake water will change from fresh to brackish with increasing reduction and eutrophication effects. Mg/Ca in the bulk sediment indicates the characteristic of residence time, Sr/Ca and Fe/Mn infer the salinity of lakes. Carbonate formation processes and types can influence the C-13-O-18 correlation. O-18 will be heavier from Mg-calcite and aragonite formed in a high-salinity water body than calcite formed in freshwater conditions. When carbonate content is less than 30%, there is no relationship with either C-13 or O-18, and also none between C-13 and O-18. More than 30%, carbonate content, however, co-varies highly to C-13 and O-18, and there is also a high correlation between C-13 and O-18. Vegetation conditions and primary productivity of lakes can influence the characteristics of C-13 and O-18, and their co-variance. Total organic matter content (TOC) in the sediments is higher with more terrestrial and submerged plants infilling. In northeastern and northwestern China, when organic matter in the lake sediments comes from endogenous floating organisms and algae, the C-13 value is high. C-13 is in the range of -4%o to 0 parts per thousand when organic matter comes mainly from floating organisms (C/N<6); in the range of -4 parts per thousand to 8 parts per thousand when organic matter comes from diatoms (C/N=6 to 8); and -8 parts per thousand to -4 parts per thousand when organic matter comes from aquatic and terrestrial plants (C/N>8). KW - Limnology KW - isotopic analysis KW - carbonates KW - organic matter KW - PCA KW - Tibet KW - Xinjiang KW - Northeastern China Y1 - 2013 U6 - https://doi.org/10.1111/1755-6724.12133 SN - 1000-9515 SN - 1755-6724 VL - 87 IS - 5 SP - 1344 EP - 1354 PB - Wiley-Blackwell CY - Hoboken ER - TY - GEN A1 - Zibulski, Romy A1 - Wesener, Felix A1 - Wilkes, Heinz A1 - Plessen, Birgit A1 - Pestryakova, Luidmila Agafyevna A1 - Herzschuh, Ulrike T1 - C / N ratio, stable isotope (δ 13 C, δ 15 N), and n-alkane patterns of brown mosses along hydrological gradients of low-centred polygons of the Siberian Arctic T2 - Postprints der Universität Potsdam : Mathematisch-Naturwissenschaftliche Reihe N2 - Mosses are a major component of the arctic vegetation, particularly in wetlands. We present C / N atomic ratio, delta C-13 and delta N-15 data of 400 brown-moss samples belonging to 10 species that were collected along hydrological gradients within polygonal mires located on the southern Taymyr Peninsula and the Lena River delta in northern Siberia. Additionally, n-alkane patterns of six of these species (16 samples) were investigated. The aim of the study is to see whether the inter-and intraspecific differences in C / N, isotopic compositions and n-alkanes are indicative of habitat, particularly with respect to water level. Overall, we find high variability in all investigated parameters for two different moisture-related groups of moss species. The C / N ratios range between 11 and 53 (median: 32) and show large variations at the intraspecific level. However, species preferring a dry habitat (xero-mesophilic mosses) show higher C / N ratios than those preferring a wet habitat (meso-hygrophilic mosses). The delta C-13 values range between 37.0 and 22.5% (median D 27.8 %). The delta N-15 values range between 6.6 and C 1.7%(median D 2.2 %). We find differences in delta C-13 and delta N-15 compositions between both habitat types. For some species of the meso-hygrophilic group, we suggest that a relationship between the individ-ual habitat water level and isotopic composition can be inferred as a function of microbial symbiosis. The n-alkane distribution also shows differences primarily between xeromesophilic and meso-hygrophilic mosses, i. e. having a dominance of n-alkanes with long (n-C29, n-C31 /and intermediate (n-C25 /chain lengths, respectively. Overall, our results reveal that C / N ratios, isotopic signals and n-alkanes of studied brown-moss taxa from polygonal wetlands are characteristic of their habitat. T3 - Zweitveröffentlichungen der Universität Potsdam : Mathematisch-Naturwissenschaftliche Reihe - 672 KW - atmospheric nitrogen deposition KW - Lena River delta KW - free amino-acids KW - ombrotrophic peat KW - carbon isotopes KW - aquatic macrophytes KW - methane oxidation KW - organic matter KW - soil-nitrogen KW - plants Y1 - 2019 U6 - http://nbn-resolving.de/urn/resolver.pl?urn:nbn:de:kobv:517-opus4-417104 SN - 1866-8372 IS - 672 ER -