Degradation mechanisms and consequences for SOC stocks for the world's largest alpine pastoral ecosystem on the Tibetan Plateau

Approximately 1.5 million km² of the Tibetan Plateau are covered with grasslands. Thereof one third is occupied by the world’s largest pastoral alpine ecosystem (Kobresia pastures). Paleo-records indicate the grazing-induced origin of this ecosystem since more than 8000 years or at least since yak domestication since 4000 years. Long-term moderate grazing by yak and sheep increased belowground C allocation of Kobresia pygmaea, caused the development of dense root-mats and finally lead to an accumulation of soil organic carbon (SOC) and nutrients such as nitrogen (N) and phosphorus (P) in the topsoil. These pastures, however, are increasingly affected by large-scale degradation caused by overgrazing of these highly sensitive ecosystems. Loss of the topsoil threatens several ecosystem functions: i.e. SOC and nutrient storage, biodiversity, provision of grazing-ground and supply of clean water for large parts of SE-Asia. Here, we present a conceptual model and results of degradation processes combining anthropogenic and natural amplifications. To evaluate losses of SOC and nutrients we synthesize field observations and surveys in the highlands and validates this with own analyses in the Kobresia core area. We show that drought- and frost-induced polygonal cracking opens the root-mats, already weakened by overgrazing. This initiates a dying of the Kobresia turf, extends the surface cracks, triggers soil erosion and promotes SOC mineralization and leaching losses. Soil erosion caused further high losses of SOC and nutrients from the topsoil (i.e. 0-10 cm: ~5.1 kg C m-2), whereas SOC loss beneath the surface cracks was primary caused by both, decreasing C-input and SOC mineralization (mineralization-derived SOC loss: ~2.5 kg C m-2). The root biomass decreased with intensity of pasture degradation and lower C input constrains the ecosystem recovery. A negative δ13C shift of SOC reflected intensive decomposition and corresponded to a relative enrichment of 13C depleted lignin components. In sum, degradation triggered high SOC loss (up to 70% of intact soil in 0-30 cm: ~7.6 kg C m-2) from this ecosystem with profound consequences for carbon sequestration, atmospheric CO2, water quality and ecosystem stability

Microbial substrate stoichiometry governs nutrient effects on nitrogen cycling in grassland soils

Human activities have increased nitrogen (N) and phosphorus (P) inputs in terrestrial ecosystems and altered carbon (C) availability, shifting the stoichiometry of microbial substrates in soils, such as the C:N:P ratios of the dissolved organic matter pool. These stoichiometric deviations between microbial biomass and its substrate may control microbial processes of N cycling. We studied the effects of this stoichiometric mismatch using a full factorial N and P addition experiment replicated in six grassland ecosystems in South Africa, the USA, and the UK. We found that N and P addition changed the dissolved organic matter C:N ratio, but not the C:N ratio of the soil microbial biomass. Compared to P addition, N addition decreased microbial N acquisition via non-symbiotic N2 fixation by -55% and increased microbial N release via net N mineralization by +134%. A possible explanation is that the dissolved elements, e.g., dissolved organic C (DOC) and dissolved total N (DN), serve as the main microbial substrate and its C:N ratio defines whether N is scarce or abundant with respect to microbial demands. If N is available in excess relative to microbial demands, net N mineralization increases. In contrast, when N is scarce, immobilization outweighs release decreasing net N mineralization. However, the activity of leucine aminopeptidases, which decompose peptides, was not affected by nutrient additions. Further, C rather than P availability may control the rates of non-symbiotic N2 fixation in the six studied grassland sites. In conclusion, globally increasing nutrient inputs change processes of microbial N acquisition and release in grassland ecosystems and these changes are largely driven by shifts in substrate stoichiometry.This is a manuscript of an article published as Schleuss, P. M., M. Widdig, L. A. Biederman, E. T. Borer, M. J. Crawley, K. P. Kirkman, E. W. Seabloom, P. D. Wragg, and M. Spohn. "Microbial substrate stoichiometry governs nutrient effects on nitrogen cycling in grassland soils." Soil Biology and Biochemistry (2021): 108168. doi:10.1016/j.soilbio.2021.108168.</p

Microbial substrate stoichiometry governs nutrient effects on nitrogen cycling in grassland soils

Human activities have increased nitrogen (N) and phosphorus (P) inputs in terrestrial ecosystems and altered carbon (C) availability, shifting the stoichiometry of microbial substrates in soils, such as the C:N:P ratios of the dissolved organic matter pool. These stoichiometric deviations between microbial biomass and its substrate may control microbial processes of N cycling. We studied the effects of this stoichiometric mismatch using a full factorial N and P addition experiment replicated in six grassland ecosystems in South Africa, the USA, and the UK. We found that N and P addition changed the dissolved organic matter C:N ratio, but not the C:N ratio of the soil microbial biomass. Compared to P addition, N addition decreased microbial N acquisition via non-symbiotic N2 fixation by -55% and increased microbial N release via net N mineralization by +134%. A possible explanation is that the dissolved elements, e.g., dissolved organic C (DOC) and dissolved total N (DN), serve as the main microbial substrate and its C:N ratio defines whether N is scarce or abundant with respect to microbial demands. If N is available in excess relative to microbial demands, net N mineralization increases. In contrast, when N is scarce, immobilization outweighs release decreasing net N mineralization. However, the activity of leucine aminopeptidases, which decompose peptides, was not affected by nutrient additions. Further, C rather than P availability may control the rates of non-symbiotic N2 fixation in the six studied grassland sites. In conclusion, globally increasing nutrient inputs change processes of microbial N acquisition and release in grassland ecosystems and these changes are largely driven by shifts in substrate stoichiometry

Evaluation of novel large cut-off ultrafiltration membranes for adenovirus serotype 5 (Ad5) concentration.

The purification of virus particles and viral vectors for vaccine and gene therapy applications is gaining increasing importance in order to deliver a fast, efficient, and reliable production process. Ultrafiltration (UF) is a widely employed unit operation in bioprocessing and its use is present in several steps of the downstream purification train of biopharmaceuticals. However, to date few studies have thoroughly investigated the performance of several membrane materials and cut-offs for virus concentration/diafiltration. The present study aimed at developing a novel class of UF cassettes for virus concentration/diafiltration. A detailed study was conducted to evaluate the effects of (i) membrane materials, namely polyethersulfone (PES), regenerated cellulose (RC), and highly cross-linked RC (xRC), (ii) nominal cut-off, and (iii) UF device geometry at different production scales. The results indicate that the xRC cassettes with a cut-off of approximately 500 kDa are able to achieve a 10-fold concentration factor with 100% recovery of particles with a process time twice as fast as that of a commercially available hollow fiber. DNA and host cell protein clearances, as well as hydraulic permeability and fouling behavior, were also assessed

Set-up of the filtration unit employed in the experiments.

<p>The bulk was fed using a Tandem 1082 Pump and the retentate recirculated to the feed tank. the pressure was monitored by in-line transducers at the inlet, retentate outlet, and permeate outlet. was kept constant at 1–1.2 bar by a flow restriction valve. TRIS saline buffer at pH 8 was used as diafiltration buffer.</p

Characterization of xRC, RC and PES ultrafiltration devices.

<p>Characterization of xRC, RC and PES ultrafiltration devices.</p

Trade-off between throughput, indicated as liter of feed processed in the unit of time (h), given a defined membrane area (m²), and infective particle recovery yield.

<p>The values referrer at 10 times concentration factor. The orange area on the right top corner depicts the best membranes. RC and xRC membranes showed the highest throughput coupled with high recovery yield. (For interpretation of the references to colour in this figure legend, the reader is referred to the web version of this article)</p

Recovery of infectious particles (IP) and processing time for 10-fold concentration for the different pilot production and R&D UF devices.

<p>Recovery of infectious particles (IP) and processing time for 10-fold concentration for the different pilot production and R&D UF devices.</p

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