#Forest & Deadwood #BELongDead #2023 – 2026 #2020 – 2023 #2017 – 2020 #2014 – 2017 #2011 – 2014 #2008 – 2011 #Species biodiversity #Functional diversity #Enzymes #Microbial community #Species communities #Fungi #Deadwood

BELongDead (Contributing project)

Long-term Monitoring of Deadwood (BELongDead)

Research without DFG funding

The longterm experiment was established by Prof. E.-D. Schulze (emeritus, MPI Biogeochemistry in Jena) in the second phase and is coordinated by Prof. Dr. Wolfgang Weisser (Technical University of Munich, Chair for Terrestrial ecology) since the third phase.
BELongDead is not a funded project but an experiment that allows scientists from various fields of interest to investigate ecological degradation processes of dead wood.

Figure: The photo shows a row of deadwood logs in a shady summer forest.

Hypotheses

What is the meaning of deadwood in ecosystem processes?
What is the influence of the surrounding habitat?
How is the settlement of species and the decomposition of deadwood?
How does decomposition affect the carbon cycle and microorganisms on the soil surface?

Experimental setup

2008 the following tree species were put into each forest VIP in the three regions of the Biodiversity Exploratories in three replicates (in total 1,140 deadwood logs):
Beech, oak, maple (sycamore maple, mountain maple and field maple in mixture), lime tree, cottonwood tree, hornbeam, ash, birch and cherry (one log per VIP), as well as pine, larch, Douglas fir, and spruce.

Each deadwood log has a center diameter of 30cm and a length of 4m.

At the beginning of the experiment, a soil sample was taken next to each log, dried and stored, and a log slice was cut and stored.

Current studies concerning dead wood

Project name	Supervisor, Institution	Content
Arthropods since 2011	Blüthgen (Technische Universität Darmstadt) Weisser (Technical University Munich)	Population density and diversity saproxylic arthropods, monitoring saproxylic insects
BEL-FFD-HZG since 2014	Hofrichter, Kellner (TU Dresden, International Gratuate School Zittau) Buscot (Helmholtz Centre For Environmental Research Halle) Bässler (Bavarian Forest National Park) Hoppe (Julius-Kühn-Institute)	Influence of surrounding ecosystem to wood decomposition, procedure of substrate succession, Influence of microorganisms to wood decomposition and ecosystem processes, diversity of fungi and bacteria in deadwood and the expression of genes relevant to wood degradation

Previous studies on BELongDead stems

Project name	Supervisor, Institution	Content
Arthropoden I (2009-2014)	Weisser, Gossner (Technical University Munich)	Population density and diversity saproxylic arthropods, infestation by Trypodendron and Xyleborus, monitoring saproxylic insects
Arthropoden II (2009-2014)	Linsenmair (emeritus MPI BGC Jena Steffan-Dewenter (University Würzburg)	Investigation of saproxylic arthropods in canopy and ground dead wood
Arthropods (2014-2017)	Weisser (Technical University Munich)	Population density and diversity saproxylic arthropods, monitoring saproxylic insects
Arthropods (2017-2020)	Weisser (Technical University Munich)	Population density and diversity saproxylic arthropods, monitoring saproxylic insects
Arthropods (2020-2023)	Blüthgen (Technische Universität Darmstadt) Weisser (Technical University Munich)	Population density and diversity saproxylic arthropods, monitoring saproxylic insects
BELongDead (2009)	Schulze (Emeritus, Max Planck Institute of biogeochemistry) Weisser (Technical University Munich)	Initial measurements at the beginning of the project (eg diameter, trunk cover)
BEL-FFD-HZG (2014 – 2017)	Hofrichter, Kellner (TU Dresden, International Gratuate School Zittau) Krüger, Hoppe (Helmholtz Centre For Environmental Research Halle) Bässler (Bavarian Forest National Park)	Diversity of fungi and bacteria in deadwood and expression of genes relevant for wood-degrading
BEL-FFD-HZG II (2017 – 2020)	Hofrichter, Kellner, Leonhardt (TU Dresden, International Gratuate School Zittau) Hoppe, Moll (Helmholtz Centre For Environmental Research Halle) Bässler (Bavarian Forest National Park)	Diversity of fungi and bacteria in deadwood and expression of genes relevant for wood-degrading
BELongDead – Stoffflüsse (2009 – 2014)	Matzner (University Bayreuth)	Measurement of stem flow and release of DOC and DON
FRASS (2011 – 2014)	Maraun (University Göttingen)	Reproductive behavior of oribatid mite species on bark along a land use gradient
Funwood (2009 – 2011)	Bauhus, Kahl (University Freiburg) Buscot, Krüger (Helmholtz Centre For Environmental Research Halle) Hofrichter (International Gratuate School Zittau)Otto (University Leipzig)	Effects of the intensity of forest management on the diversity of wood-decaying fungi and dead wood decomposition, fungus monitoring
Funwood II (2011 – 2014)	Bauhus, Kahl (University Freiburg) Krüger, Hoppe (Helmholtz Centre For Environmental Research Halle) Otto (University Leipzig) Hofrichter, Kellner (TU Dresden, International Gratuate School Zittau)	Effects of the intensity of forest management on the diversity of wood-decaying fungi and dead wood decomposition, fungus monitoring
Funwood III (2014 – 2017)	Bauhus, Kahl (University Freiburg) Krüger, Hoppe (Helmholtz Centre For Environmental Research Halle) Otto (University Leipzig) Hofrichter, Kellner (TU Dresden, International Gratuate School Zittau)	Effects of management intensity of Forests, tree species and fungal diversity to deadwood and their ecosystem processes
Funwood IV (2017-2020)	Jehmlich (Helmholtz-Centre for Environmental Research Leipzig) Noll (Coburg University of Applied Sciences and Arts)	Functional diversity in decomposer communities, influence of fluctuating temperatures on decomposer communities, influence of forest management intensity and tree species to decomposer communities and decomposition rates
Woodsoil (2017-2020)	Borken (University Bayreuth) Persoh (University Bochum)	Nutrient translocation towards fungi communities in soil, functional diversity of saprotrophic fungi, microbial biomass and activity

Publications

Regional variation in deadwood decay of 13 tree species: effects of climate, soil and forest structure

Edelmann P., Weisser W. W., Ambarli D., Bässler C., Buscot F., Hofrichter M., Hoppe B., Kellner H., Moll J., Minnich C., Persoh D., Seibold S., Seilwinder C., Schulze E.-D., Wöllauer S., Borken W. (2023): Regional variation in deadwood decay of 13 tree species: effects of climate, soil and forest structure. Forest Ecology and Management 541, 121094. doi: 10.1016/j.foreco.2023.121094

Drivers of community assembly change during succession in wood-decomposing beetle communities

Einflussfaktoren der Artenzusammensetzung von Totholzkäfergemeinschaften ändern sich während der Sukzession

Seibold S., Weisser W. W., Ambarlı D., Gossner M. M., Mori A., Cadotte M. W., Hagge J., Bässler C., Thorn S. (2023): Drivers of community assembly change during succession in wood-decomposing beetle communities. Journal of Animal Ecology 92 (5), 965-978. doi: 10.1111/1365-2656.13843

Emission of CO2 and CH4 From 13 Deadwood Tree Species Is Linked to Tree Species Identity and Management Intensity in Forest and Grassland Habitats

CO2- und CH4-Emissionen von 13 Totholzbaumarten werden durch die Baumartenidentität und der Bewirtschaftungsintensität in Wald- und Grünlandhabitaten beeinflusst.

Kipping L., Gossner M. M., Koschorreck M., Muszynski S., Maurer F., Weisser W. W., Jehmlich N., Noll M. (2022): Emission of CO2 and CH4 From 13 Deadwood Tree Species Is Linked to Tree Species Identity and Management Intensity in Forest and Grassland Habitats. Global Biogeochemical Cycles 36 (5), e2021GB007143. doi: 10.1029/2021GB007143

Forest management affects saproxylic beetles through tree species composition and canopy cover

Forstbewirtschaftung beeinflusst totholzabhängige Käfer durch Baumartenzusammensetzung und Beschirmungsgrad

Edelmann P., Ambarlı D., Gossner M. M., Schall P., Ammer C., Wende B., Schulze E.-D., Weisser W. W., Seibold S. (2022): Forest management affects saproxylic beetles through tree species composition and canopy cover. Forest Ecology and Management 524, 120532. doi: 10.1016/j.foreco.2022.120532

Disentangling the importance of space and host tree for the beta-diversity of beetles, fungi, and bacteria: Lessons from a large dead-wood experiment

Entflechtung der Bedeutung von Raum und Wirtsbaum für die Beta-Diversität von Käfern, Pilzen und Bakterien: Lehren aus einem großen Totholzexperiment

Rieker D., Krah F.-S., Gossner M. M., Uhl B., Ambarli D., Baber K., Buscot F., Hofrichter M., Hoppe B., Kahl T., Kellner H., Moll J., Purahong W., Seibold S., Weisser W. W., Bässler C. (2022): Disentangling the importance of space and host tree for the beta-diversity of beetles, fungi, and bacteria: Lessons from a large dead-wood experiment. Conservation Biology 268, 109521. doi: 10.1016/j.biocon.2022.109521

Cross-kingdom interactions and functional patterns of active microbiota matter in governing deadwood decay

Purahong W., Tanunchai B., Muszynski S., Maurer F., Wahdan S. F. M., Malter J., Buscot F., Noll M. (2022): Cross-kingdom interactions and functional patterns of active microbiota matter in governing deadwood decay. Proceedings of the Royal Society B 289: 20220130. doi: 10.1098/rspb.2022.0130

Changes in Chemical and Microbial Soil Parameters Following 8 Years of Deadwood Decay: An Experiment with Logs of 13 Tree Species in 30 Forests

Minnich C., Persoh D., Poll C., Borken W. (2021): Changes in Chemical and Microbial Soil Parameters Following 8 Years of Deadwood Decay: An Experiment with Logs of 13 Tree Species in 30 Forests. Ecosystems 24, 955–967. doi: 10.1007/s10021-020-00562-z

Fungal and Bacterial Diversity Patterns of Two Diversity Levels Retrieved From a Late Decaying Fagus sylvatica Under Two Temperature Regimes

Muszynski S., Maurer F., Henjes S., Horn M. A., Noll M. (2021): Fungal and Bacterial Diversity Patterns of Two Diversity Levels Retrieved From a Late Decaying Fagus sylvatica Under Two Temperature Regimes. Frontiers in Microbiology 11:548793. doi: 10.3389/fmicb.2020.548793

Amplicon Sequencing-Based Bipartite Network Analysis Confirms a High Degree of Specialization and Modularity for Fungi and Prokaryotes in Deadwood

Moll J., Heintz-Buschart A., Bässler C., Hofrichter M., Kellner H., Buscot F., Hoppe B. (2021): Amplicon Sequencing-Based Bipartite Network Analysis Confirms a High Degree of Specialization and Modularity for Fungi and Prokaryotes in Deadwood. mSphere 6 (1): e00856-20. doi: 10.1128/mSphere.00856-20.

Molecular fungal community and its decomposition activity in sapwood and heartwood of 13 temperate European tree species

Molekulare pilzliche Gemeinschaftsstruktur und deren Aktivitäten im Totholzabbau von Splint- und Kernholz 13 temperater Baumarten

Leonhardt S., Hoppe B., Stengel E., Noll L., Moll J., Bässler C., Dahl A., Buscot F., Hofrichter M., Kellner H. (2019): Molecular fungal community and its decomposition activity in sapwood and heartwood of 13 temperate European tree species. PLoS ONE 14 (2): e0212120. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0212120

Increasing N deposition impacts neither diversity nor functions of deadwood-inhabiting fungal communities, but adaptation and functional redundancy warrants ecosystem function

Purahong W., Wubet T., Kahl T., Anstadt T., Hoppe B., Lentendu G., Baber K., Rose T., Kellner H., Hofrichter M., Bauhus J., Krüger D., Buscot F. (2018): Increasing N deposition impacts neither diversity nor functions of deadwood-inhabiting fungal communities, but adaptation and functional redundancy warrants ecosystem function. Environmental Microbiology 20 (5), 1693-1710. doi: 10.1111/1462-2920.14081

Molecular evidence strongly supports deadwood-inhabiting fungi exhibiting unexpected tree species preferences in temperate forests

Purahong W., Wubet T., Krüger D., Buscot F. (2018): Molecular evidence strongly supports deadwood-inhabiting fungi exhibiting unexpected tree species preferences in temperate forests. The ISME Journal 12, 289–295. doi: 10.1038/ismej.2017.177

Determinants of deadwood-inhabiting fungal communities in temperate forest: molecular evidence from a large scale deadwood decomposition experiment

Purahong W., Wubet T., Lentendu G., Hoppe B., Jariyavidyanont K., Arnstadt T., Baber K., Otto P., Kellner H., Hofrichter M., Bauhus J., Weisser W. W., Krüger D., Schulze E.-D., Kahl T., Buscot F. (2018): Determinants of deadwood-inhabiting fungal communities in temperate forest: molecular evidence from a large scale deadwood decomposition experiment. Frontiers in Microbiology 9:2120. doi: 10.3389/fmicb.2018.02120

Wood decay rates of 13 temperate tree species in relation to wood properties, enzyme activities and organismic diversities

Kahl T., Arnstadt T., Baber K., Bässler K., Bauhus J., Borken W., Buscot F., Floren A., Heibl C., Hessenmöller D., Hofrichter M., Hoppe B., Kellner H., Krüger D., Linsenmair K. E., Matzner E., Otto P., Purahong W., Seilwinder C., Schulze E.-D., Wende B., Weisser W. W., Gossner M. M. (2017): Wood decay rates of 13 temperate tree species in relation to wood properties, enzyme activities and organismic diversities. Forest Ecology and Management 391, 86-95. doi: 10.1016/j.foreco.2017.02.012

Patterns of laccase and peroxidases in coarse woody debris of Fagus sylvatica, Picea abies and Pinus sylvestrisand their relation to different wood parameters

Untersuchung von pilzlichen Laccasen und Peroxidasen in Buchen-, Fichten- und Kieferntotholz sowie deren Beziehungen zu Holzvariablen

Arnstadt T., Hoppe B., Kahl T., Kellner H., Krüger D., Bässler C., Bauhus J., Hofrichter M. (2016): Patterns of laccase and peroxidases in coarse woody debris of Fagus sylvatica, Picea abies and Pinus sylvestrisand their relation to different wood parameters. European Journal of Forest Research 135 (1), 109-124. doi: 10.1007/s10342-015-0920-0

Fungal biomass and extracellular enzyme activities in coarse woody debris of 13 tree species in the early phase of decomposition

Pilzbiomasse und extrazelluläre Enzymaktivität im Totholz von 13 Baumarten in der frühen Zersetzungsphase

Noll L., Leonhardt S., Arnstadt T., Hoppe B., Poll C., Matzner E., Hofrichter M., Kellner H. (2016): Fungal biomass and extracellular enzyme activities in coarse woody debris of 13 tree species in the early phase of decomposition. Forest Ecology and Management 378, 181-192. doi: 10.1016/j.foreco.2016.07.035

Deadwood enrichment in European forests – Which tree species should be used to promote saproxylic beetle diversity?

Gossner M. M., Wende B., Levick S., Schall P., Floren A., Linsenmair K. E., Steffan-Dewenter I., Schulze E.-D., Weisser W. W. (2016): Deadwood enrichment in European forests – Which tree species should be used to promote saproxylic beetle diversity? Biological Conservation 201, 92–102. doi: 10.1016/j.biocon.2016.06.032

Disentangling the effects of forest-stand type and dead-wood origin of the early successional stage on the diversity of wood-inhabiting fungi

Baber K., Otto P., Kahl T., Gossner M. M., Wirth C., Gminder A., Bässler C. (2016): Disentangling the effects of forest-stand type and dead-wood origin of the early successional stage on the diversity of wood-inhabiting fungi. Forest Ecology and Management. 377, 161-169. doi: 10.1016/j.foreco.2016.07.011

Kohlenstoff- und Stickstoffdynamik in Totholz: Bedeutung der Flüsse mit der gelösten Phase und der pilzlichen N-Translokation aus dem Boden

Noll L. (2015): Kohlenstoff- und Stickstoffdynamik in Totholz: Bedeutung der Flüsse mit der gelösten Phase und der pilzlichen N-Translokation aus dem Boden. Master thesis, University Bayreuth

Tree species effects on the release of dissolved organic carbon and nitrogen from decomposing logs

Bantle A. K. (2015): Tree species effects on the release of dissolved organic carbon and nitrogen from decomposing logs. Dissertation, University Bayreuth

Quantity and quality of dissolved organic carbon released from coarse woody debris of different tree species in the early phase of decomposition

Totholz als Quelle für gelöste organische Substanzen

Bantle A., Borken W., Ellerbrock R. H., Schulze E. D., Weisser W. W., Matzner E. (2014): Quantity and quality of dissolved organic carbon released from coarse woody debris of different tree species in the early phase of decomposition. Forest Ecology and Management 329, 287–294. doi: 10.1016/j.foreco.2014.06.035

Dissolved nitrogen release from coarse woody debris of different tree species in the early phase of decomposition

Totholz als Quelle für gelösten Stickstoff

Bantle A., Borken W., Matzner E. (2014): Dissolved nitrogen release from coarse woody debris of different tree species in the early phase of decomposition. Forest Ecology and Management 334, 277–283. doi: 10.1016/j.foreco.2014.09.015

Scientific assistants

Project manager

Prof. Dr. Wolfgang Weisser

Technische Universität München (TUM)

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Employee

Claudia Seilwinder

Technische Universität München (TUM)

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