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| Titel |
Epiphytic cryptogams as a source of bioaerosols and trace gases |
| VerfasserIn |
Nina Ruckteschler, Isabella Hrabe de Angelis, Charles E. Zartman, Alessandro Araùjo, Ulrich Pöschl, Antonio O. Manzi, Meinrat O. Andreae, Christopher Pöhlker, Bettina Weber |
| Konferenz |
EGU General Assembly 2016
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| Medientyp |
Artikel
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| Sprache |
en
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| Digitales Dokument |
PDF |
| Erschienen |
In: GRA - Volume 18 (2016) |
| Datensatznummer |
250131742
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| Publikation (Nr.) |
 EGU/EGU2016-12180.pdf |
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| Zusammenfassung |
| Cryptogamic covers comprise (cyano-)bacteria, algae, lichens, bryophytes, fungi, and archaea
in varying proportions. These organisms do not form flowers, but reproduce by spores or cell
cleavage with these reproductive units being dispersed via the atmosphere. As so-called
poikilohydric organisms they are unable to regulate their water content, and their
physiological activity pattern mainly follows the external water conditions. We hypothesize,
that both spore dispersal and the release of trace gases are governed by the moisture patterns
of these organisms and thus they could have a greater impact on the atmosphere than
previously thought.
In order to test this hypothesis, we initiated experiments at the study site Amazonian Tall
Tower Observatory (ATTO) in September 2014. We installed microclimate sensors in
epiphytic cryptogams at four different heights of a tree to monitor the activity patterns of
these organisms. Self-developed moisture probes are used to analyze the water status of the
organisms accompanied by light and temperature sensors. The continuously logged data
are linked to ongoing measurements of trace gases and particulate bioaerosols to
analyze these for the relevance of cryptogams. Here, we are particularly interested
in diurnal cycles of coarse mode particles and the atmospheric abundance of fine
potassium-rich particles from a currently unknown biogenic source. Based upon the results of
this field study we also investigate the bioaerosol and trace gas release patterns of
cryptogamic covers under controlled conditions. With this combined approach
of field and laboratory experiments we aim to disclose the role of cryptogamic
covers in bioaerosol and trace gas release patterns in the Amazonian rainforest. |
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