Culturing foraminifera under controlled pCO₂ conditions shows that incorporation of certain elements (Zn, Ba) into foraminiferal shells is impacted by the inorganic carbonate system. Modeling the chemical speciation of these elements suggests that incorporation is determined by the availability of free ions. Furthermore, analyzing and comparing trends in element incorporation in hyaline and porcelaneous species may provide constrains on the differences between their calcification strategies.

We study the link between the boreal tree-cover fraction distribution and eight globally observed environmental factors. We find that they exert a strong control over the tree-cover distribution, generally uniquely determining its state. Furthermore, we show the location of areas with potentially alternative tree-cover states under the same environmental conditions. These areas represent transition zones with reduced resilience, where the forest can shift between different vegetation states.

Ocean acidification (OA) in the near future is affecting several marine organisms negatively. To increase our understanding of the effects we studied embryos and larvae of the great scallop. They were exposed to an increasing level of OA, from natural seawater to levels expected in 50–100 years from now. Larvae were negatively affected already after 2 days, and fed larva seemed as sensitive as unfed larvae after 7 days. Adaption and acclimatization may counteract future OA effects on scallops.

This study focuses on how the June 2013 Elbe River flood affected the southern German Bight. The largest summer flood within the last 140 years, it generated a substantial plume of nutrient-rich, buoyant waters from the Elbe estuary onto the coast. During the calm 2013 summer, the flood was followed by prolonged (2-month) water column stratification, chlorophyll blooms in surface, and uncharacteristically low oxygen in bottom waters. With climate change, these events are becoming more frequent.

Lakes contribute 6–16 % of methane to Earth's atmosphere. We focus on methane concentrations in Greenland lakes under open-water and ice-covered conditions. Significant warming in 2012 leads to greater methane concentrations in the lakes than in 2013. Methane concentrations under ice-covered conditions were greater than under open-water conditions. Results of this study suggest that interannual variation in ground-level air temperatures may be the primary driver of changes in methane dynamics.

Organic matter stored in permafrost will start decomposing due to climate warming. To better understand its composition in ice-rich Yedoma, we analyzed ancient sedimentary DNA, pollen and non-pollen palynomorphs throughout an 18.9 m long permafrost core. The combination of both proxies allow an interpretation both of regional floristic changes and of the local environmental conditions at the time of deposition.

Savannas are extensive yet sensitive to variability in precipitation. We examined the relationship between climate phenomena and historical rainfall variability across Australian savannas using 16 climate indicies. Seasonal variation was most correlated with the Australian Monsoon Index, whereas interannual variability was related to a greater number of phenomena. Rainfall variability and the underlying climate processes driving variability are important.

Using a combined analytical approach (fatty acid and isotopic markers), we found that the different settings of the creeks flowing into Gazi Bay influenced the mangrove export to the adjacent seagrasses and coral reef. Given the major influence that organic matter exchange between habitats has on organic matter availability and consumption by fauna, the small-scale variability in mangrove export may have far-reaching consequences for local food webs and for the functioning of the whole ecosystem.

The hyporheic zone, the subsurface region of streams, is a key compartment for in-stream nutrient retention. Knowledge on actual hyporheic processing rates is still limited due to methodological restrictions which are mainly related to the high local and temporal variability of subsurface flow patterns and nutrient transformation processes. We present a new device which allows quantitative assessment of hyporheic nutrient fluxes and demonstrate its advantages in an exemplary field testing.

Anthropogenic impacts in the deep sea are regarded as high disturbers of the deep-sea bottom. This study focus in trying to understand the impact of disturbance in the ecosystem and how important functions, such as hydrodynamics and surface primary productivity, affect benthic organisms. Our results showed that high sediment variability due to hydrodynamics, and consequently disturbance, combined with high resource availability are probably the main factors promoting deep-sea species coexistence

Higher levels of CO₂ and phosphate increased the relative growth rate, nitrate uptake rate, soluble carbohydrates, and soluble protein in a golden tide alga (Sargassum muticum), but the combination of these two levels did not promote growth further. Our results indicate that ocean acidification and eutrophication may not boost golden tide events synergistically, although each one has a promoting effect.

Recently, long filamentous bacteria have been reported to conduct electrons over centimetre distances in marine sediments. These so-called cable bacteria have an electricity-based metabolism, effectively turning the seafloor into a natural battery. In this study we demonstrate a global occurrence of these cable bacteria in marine sediments, spanning a large range of climate zones (off Greenland, the USA, Australia, the Netherlands) and a large range of coastal habitats.

Temperature, moisture, and oxygen are interacting variables that control the rates of soil organic matter decomposition. With a well-replicated experiment, the authors show that decomposition rates in a boreal forest soil are not limited at high temperatures in the presence of enough water and oxygen. Similarly, at high humidity, oxygen is the main limiting factor for decomposition. The authors conclude that interactions among the three variables are the main determinants of decomposition rates.

The consumption of the greenhouse gas nitrous oxide (N₂O) by its reduction to dinitrogen via microbial denitrification in soil is poorly quantified. This precludes improvements in nitrogen (N) efficiency in agricultural ecosystems and mitigation of N losses to the environment including N₂O fluxes. We present a laboratory evaluation for the determination of N₂O reduction based on stable isotope values of soil-emitted N₂O as a new approach to determine N₂O reduction in the field studies.

Plant–soil feedback (PSF) is an important mechanism to explain plant performance in natural and agricultural systems but is hard to quantify in field experiments. We used unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV)-based optical sensors to test whether PSF effects on plant traits can be quantified remotely. We show that PSF effects in the field occur and alter several important plant traits that can be sensed remotely and quantified in a non-destructive way at high resolution using UAV-based optical sensors.