Carbon balancing of BSCs under application of a newly developed remote sensing monitoring technique

• Antragstellerin: Privatdozentin Dr. Bettina Weber
• Fachliche Zuordnung: Ökologie und Biodiversität der Pflanzen und Ökosysteme
• Förderung: Förderung von 2008 bis 2012
• Projektkennung: Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (DFG) - Projektnummer 76510930

Biological soil crusts (BSCs), which are formed by a close association between soil particles and cyanobacteria, green algae, lichens, bryophytes and microfungi in different proportions occur worldwide in arid and semiarid regions. Despite their profound functions improving soil fertility and stability, influencing seed germination and soil hydrology, their worldwide distribution patterns are not known up to now and their proportion within the local, continental and global carbon balances is not being considered. In a recent case study we developed a remote sensing methodology, that allows to classify BSCs with high precision on the basis of high resolution hyperspectral imagery. This classification method for BSCs will be used as a basis to obtain a universal methodology which can be applied on a variety of sensors, scales and in different environments. A characteristic area in the Succulent Karoo, South Africa, will be classified utilizing hyperspectral satellite data (CHRIS Proba). By doing this we expect to set the prerequisites to map and monitor distribution patterns of BSCs on a continental/worldwide basis.In a second step, the carbon balance of BSCs will be assessed within the classified area in the Succulent Karoo. On the basis of gas exchange and long-term microclimate measurements, the annual carbon balance of the different types of BSCs will be modelled.In a third step, the classification and carbon balance of BSCs within the investigated area will be combined to obtain the first spatially related sound carbon balance for complex BSCs of a larger region.

• DFG-Verfahren: Sachbeihilfen