Promovierende

Karina Furie

E-Mail: furiekar(at)b-tu.de

Betreuer:

Prof. Dr. Peter Schierack

Titel der Dissertation:

The diversity of the rhizosphere microbiome of apple trees (Malus domestica) in the Brandenburg region

Beschreibung:

My project is a part of the “Integrated analysis of Multifunctional Fruit production landscapes to promote ecosystem services and sustainable land-use under climate change” MultiFruit cluster.

The MULTIFRUIT cluster aims to examine selected aspects of multifunctional landscapes under climate change. The production of agricultural products (apples) is combined with the provision of ecosystem services and the preservation of biological diversity.

My project looks at the diversity and composition of microorganisms in apple tree microbiomes. I will be focusing on the root area of the tree, the rhizosphere, but will also examine the phyllosphere (the above ground areas of the tree), including the leaf and bark. Of particular interest to me is the fungal component of the microbiomes, especially AMF (Arbuscular Mycorrhizal Fungi) and EMF (Ectomycorrhizal Fungi). I will be using a culture-independent approach in order to analyse and compare the microbiomes of apple trees from both organic and commercial orchards in the Brandenburg/Saxony/Ahalt areas.

Kurz-Vita:

I am originally from Manchester, England. I spend my early life working in kitchens and trained as a chef before going on to study for my BSc in Zoology at The University of Aberystwyth (Wales, UK). During the course of my studies, I developed an interest in botany and went on to study for my MSc in Botany and Mycology at The Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew (London, England).  My masters thesis looked at the diversity of fungi in the deep sea environment and I was fortunate enough to conduct my research in both Denmark with the University of Southern Denmark (SDU) and in Sweden with the Natural History Museum of Stockholm. In between my BSc and MSc I also trained as a high school science teacher and after I completed my MSc I relocated to Sweden where I worked as a teacher for several years. I maintained a keen interest in botany and mycology particularly in relation to sustainable agriculture and biodiversity. I relocated to Dresden, Germany in late 2020 and began my PhD studies in 2021. After completion I hope to continue in the field (no pun intended) and work with local growers to improve soil health, maintain biodiversity and promote sustainable agricultural practices under a changing climate.

Mark Grimm

E-Mail: Mark.Grimm(at)b-tu.de

Betreuer/innen:

Prof. Dr. Thomas Raab

Titel der Dissertation:

Determining the toxicological impact of conventional versus organic practices on the health of apple orchards in eastern Germany

Beschreibung:

The aim of this research is to sample 16 different apple orchards sites throughout the Brandenburg and Saxony region of eastern Germany in an effort to better understand the toxicological impact of conventional versus organic growing practices. The various constituents of the apple trees; leaf, bark, fruit, and soil, sampled will undergo rigorous laboratory analysis. The techniques being utilized include: MP-AES analysis for determining full elemental concentrations, Liquid Chromatography Mass Spectrometry for organic analysis, standard pH analysis on soil samples, as well as  analyzing Chlorophyll A concentrations in all sampled leaf material. The collected data will be tested for statistical significance. At the conclusion of the project a recommendation for future development and remediation techniques is to be presented in the dissertation.

Kurz-Vita:

Mark Grimm was born in Buffalo, New York. In 2016, he finished his Bachelor of Plant and Soil Science at the University of Delaware. He has spent time working in the Biotech industry having  previously had contracts at both Fraunhofer CMB and Dupont. He completed his Masters in Environmental Resource Management at the BTU Cottbus-Senftenberg with the thesis titled “Feasibility of Brassica juncea as a hyperaccumulator in the Phytomining of Cu and Zn”. As of July 2021, he is a PhD student at the Chair of Geopedology and Landscape Development.

Henrique Andre Manhique

E-Mail: manhihen@b-tu.de

Betreuer:

Prof. Dr. Frank Wätzold

Titel der Dissertation:

Cost benefit analysis of ground cover management techniques, using fruit orchards in the Western Cape province, South Africa, as a case study.

Beschreibung:

Agricultural production in South Africa is characterised by immense challenges deriving from water scarcity, loss of biodiversity and ecosystems functioning. As part of the cluster, this research assess the economic performance of different ground cover management practices in conventionally managed fruit orchards in Western Cape Province, South Africa. Ground cover management helps to protect the topsoil from erosion and drought, supress weeds (thus, reducing the competition for nutrients between weeds and crops), and add structural diversity to agricultural production systems.

Although ground cover management is (potentially) ecologically advantageous, its adoption will hang upon economic considerations. Farmers will adopt ground cover management practices if they are more profitable than other commonly used practices (e.g. herbicides). For this reason, this research conducts a comprehensive analysis of costs and benefits (revenue generation) accrued to farmers from the application of different ground cover management practices and compare them to the application of herbicides in fruit orchards. In addition to private (farmers’ perspective) cost-benefit-analysis, the research carries out a societal cost-benefit-analysis in order to assess the total costs and benefits accrued to society at large. Societal benefits from ground cover management practices might include improved biodiversity conservation and enhanced ecosystem service provision. The cost-benefit-analysis also take into consideration aspects, such as landscape composition (orchards with or without adjacent natural habitats, proximity of remnant natural patches) and climatic conditions (e.g. precipitation, low vs high altitude); these aspects might account for the differences in performance of ground cover management practices, and thus the resultant costs and benefits.

Kurz-Vita:

Henrique Manhique has obtained his Master of Science degree in Environmental and Resource Management from the Brandenburg University of technology Cottbus-Senftenberg (BTU-CS) with the thesis “Area-wide or field-by-field? A cost-effectiveness analysis of pest management strategies for a systems approach in South Africa”. While pursuing his Master degree at BTU-CS, he also worked as research student at the chair of environmental economics. Since April 2020, he is a PhD student at chair of environmental economics under Prof. Dr. rer. pol. Frank Wätzold.

Benjamin Schnerch

E-Mail: Benjamin.Schnerch(at)b-tu.de

Betreuer:

Prof. Dr. Klaus Birkhofer

Titel der Dissertation:

Ground cover management in South African fruit production systems and related consequences for biological control services

Beschreibung:

The aim of this research is to understand how different approaches of ground cover management simultaneously affect the provision of ecosystem services (pest control), disservices (pest infestation) and biodiversity (arthropods) in South African fruit orchards. The ground cover management aims to reduce competition for nutrients and water between weeds and fruit trees. Under increasingly frequent and extended drought spells in the future, choices of ground cover management practices will even more impact the composition of weed communities in orchards, which affects natural enemy and pest populations and cascades up to alter tree performance and fruit quality. Therefore, the project investigates ground cover management practices (no mulch vs. mulch vs. living mulch) with and without applications of herbicides in conventionally managed fruit tree orchards taking into account adjacent natural ecosystems on three components of biological control, namely levels of pest infestations, natural densities and pest control services under different climatic conditions.

Kurz-Vita:

Benjamin Schnerch was born in Halle/Saale, Germany. In 2014, he finished his Bachelor of Sciences in Land Use and Water Management at BTU Cottbus-Senftenberg with the thesis “Grasshoppers on carcasses in Lieberoser Heide”. He completed his Master of Science in Land Use and Water Management in 2019, also at BTU Cottbus-Senftenberg with the thesis title “Comparison of the spider fauna in restored and natural forests in the Brong Ahafo Region, Ghana”. Since April 2020, he is a PhD student at the Chair of Ecology.