CINCA - Climate change Impacts on Nutrient and Carbon Allocation in soils of maritime Antarctica

• Applicant: Professor Dr. Carsten Werner Müller
• Subject Area: Oceanography
• Term: since 2025
• Project identifier: Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (DFG) - Project number 562109889

High-latitude regions, such as the Antarctic Peninsula, are experiencing temperature increases that surpass the global average. The complexity of abiotic-biotic interactions in these ecosystems suggests that these changes may occur more rapidly than previously anticipated. However, the impact of rapid climate change on the tightly coupled allocation of carbon (C) and nutrients (N, P) between vegetation, microorganisms, and soils in Antarctica remains poorly understood. The rapidly shifting climate in the Antarctic Peninsula is directly affecting terrestrial ecosystems and essential biogeochemical cycles, such as C, N and P cycling. Warming may have divergent effects on plant-soil systems: in wetter areas, increased greening and expanded moss communities are expected, while drier regions may experience the decay of mosses. Given these dynamics, it is crucial to gain a more comprehensive understanding of biogeochemical soil functioning, specifically the cycling of C, N, and P, in relation to changing soil and permafrost properties and vegetation patterns in this region. The primary objective of this project is to investigate how geomorphological features, which shape soil physical properties, influence the regulation of C, N, and P cycling at the interface between vegetation, microorganisms, and soils. Processes at the land surface of Antarctica are largely driven by geological and hydrological factors. Therefore, the project will employ a multidisciplinary approach, combining geomorphological and soil microclimate measurements (e.g., temperature, moisture, heat transport) with microclimatic and remote sensing data to map vegetation distribution on a field scale. Using this data, we will sample distinct soil patches that represent the key ecosystems in the region. Our experimental approach spans multiple levels of complexity, from field studies to laboratory experiments. Field-scale data on vegetation-driven soil biogeochemistry will inform controlled laboratory experiments aimed at understanding how soil structure and hydrological conditions influence the cycling of C, N, and P between vegetation, microorganisms, and soil minerals. These processes will then be analyzed for their resilience to climate change, particularly in terms of shifts in water availability and rising temperatures.

• DFG Programme: Infrastructure Priority Programmes
• Subproject of: SPP 1158: Infrastructure area - Antarctic Research with Comparative Investigations in Arctic Sea Ice Areas
• International Connection: Czech Republic, Denmark
• Cooperation Partners: Dr. Filip Hrbacek; Dr. Nelly Raymond