Northern Black Forest Research Articles

Navigating the Challenges of Commodity Traps and Platform Economies: An Assessment in the Context of the Northern Black Forest Region and Future Directions

Navigating the Challenges of Commodity Traps and Platform Economies: An Assessment in the Context of the Northern Black Forest Region and Future Directions

Spider assemblages (Arachnida: Araneae) in burned and intact mountain heathlands in the Northern Black Forest

Spider assemblages (Arachnida: Araneae) in burned and intact mountain heathlands in the Northern Black Forest

First assessment of changes in dust sources in the black forest during the Holocene: case study at Wildseemoor

A 600 cm peat sequence was extracted from the ombrotrophic peat bog Wildseemoor in the northern Black Forest, covering the last ca. 10,000 years thus allowing for identification of potential changes in dust input during the Holocene. Such information is critical to the understanding of past environmental change at the local to supra-regional scale and helps with interpreting, in particular, fire history and its links to both climate change and anthropogenic impacts. Dust composition change was investigated using X-ray fluorescence core scanning (XRF-CS) to establish bulk chemical composition of lithogenic input to the peatland, using element signatures, and in particular the ratios of Ca/Ti and Ti/Zr. Two main different sources of dust could be differentiated, a local and a distal (long-distance) dust source, which show variations through time. Distal dust input is elevated during the early Holocene (ca. 8,800 - 8,300 cal BP), as well as around 5,000 cal BP, 3,000 cal BP, 2,300 cal BP and the last ca. 200 years. Distal dust might originate from remobilized loess deposits in the Upper Rhine Graben or, periodically, more distant sources such as the Sahara or the Massif Central. Local dust input roughly correlates to peaks in charcoal influx after ca. 3,850 cal BP, potentially recording phases of increased anthropogenic influence in the surroundings of Wildseemoor. Additional research in nearby bogs (from the Black Forest and the Vosges), as well as more precise geochemical fingerprinting of the different dust sources, is needed to explore the regional extent and significance of Holocene environmental changes recorded at Wildseemoor.

Variation in reproductive success in a fragmented Meadow Pipit population: a role for vegetation succession?

Most farmland birds experience strong declines across Europe. These declines are typically associated with agricultural intensification but research on alternative local causes remains scarce. We investigated variation in reproductive success as a potential driver for the observed population declines in a fragmented population of the Meadow Pipit Anthus pratensis, a representative inhabitant of extensively managed mountain grasslands across Europe. Intense nest surveys in the entire Meadow Pipit metapopulation of the Northern Black Forest (SW Germany) between 2020 and 2022 provided information on reproductive success for 53 females distributed across nine habitat patches along an 18 km ridge of the Northern Black Forest. Hatching dates delayed by approx. 5.0 days per 100 m altitude and were almost 10 days later in a year with cold and rainy spring weather. Mean reproductive success per female and year (3.45 fledglings) was low compared to literature values (approx. 4.5) and may thus drive ongoing population declines. Mayfield nest survival estimates (approx. 51% across the nesting period) were comparably high, with most nest failures linked with predation or adverse weather. Low reproductive success further associated with comparably small clutch sizes and low fractions of second broods in habitat patches characterized by homogeneously dense swards. We suggest that restoration through extensive permanent cattle grazing coupled with succession control may be a key factor to increase population productivity.

Mulching time of forest meadows influences insect diversity

Abstract The diversity in meadows is affected by numerous aspects, such as the amount and type of fertilisation and the timing and frequency of cutting. The effects of mowing on the diversity of plants and insects have been studied in detail. However, the effect of mulching (vegetation is cut, shredded, and left in place, instead of being removed) on insects in small forest meadows has received limited scrutiny to date. In this study, we examined how different mulching times influenced insect diversity of forest meadows. We sampled insect larvae and observed flower‐visiting insects at 24 sites in the Northern Black Forest in south‐west Germany. We applied four treatments with six replicates each: (i) mulching in June, (ii) mulching in September, (iii) mulching in June and September, and (iv) no mulching as a control. The overall larval community was dominated by Symphyta (45%, Hymenoptera) and Lepidoptera (44%). The flower‐visiting insect community was dominated by Syrphidae (80%, Diptera). The insect larvae were negatively influenced by all mulching treatments. The abundance and species richness of flower visitors was reduced by mulching in June only and by mulching in both June and September. Summary: Given that meadow management is required for conserving grassland diversity our results indicate that for insect larvae other mulching methods, than those we tested, such as mulching with an arthropod‐friendly mulching machine, strip‐mulching, or delayed mulching may help this crucial stage of insect development. For insect flower visitors mulching in September is beneficial.

Neubau des Pumpspeicherwerks Forbach

AbstractThe Rudolf‐Fettweis hydropower plant, owned and operated by EnBW Energie Baden‐Württemberg AG, is situated in the Murg valley in the Northern Black Forest. The construction of a new underground Lower Basin is planned to upgrade the existing hydropower station. The in‐situ rock mass consists of Forbach Granite with local weakness zones, as encountered in the boreholes. Considering the extent of the project area, a 3D geological prediction model was used to allow a better interpretation of the spatial relationships of weakness zones in the rock mass and to optimize the orientation of the underground caverns. Adverse effects for the public were counteracted at a very early stage, so that the project received a high level of public acceptance. The present paper describes the current state of the project.

Plant macrofossils as indicators of vegetation and climate change in the Northern Black Forest of Germany during the last millennium - with focus on the Little Ice Age

Plant macrofossils as indicators of vegetation and climate change in the Northern Black Forest of Germany during the last millennium - with focus on the Little Ice Age

Triple Helix Twins: Operationalizing the Sustainability Agenda in the Northern Black Forest National Park in Germany

Abstract The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) gives policy recommendations based on scientific research and agreed climate targets. We outline the concepts and requirements for implementing the sustainability goals. The Triple Helix Twin model is tested as method to analyze the governance of environmental policy formation and implementation. The model is applied to the controversial case of creating the large-scale natural area Northern Park Black Forest in Germany in the period of 2011 to 2014. The protected zone was set up employing criteria of the International Union for Conservation of Nature, IUCN (Category II National Parks). The findings indicate that the creation of protected areas need the participation of stakeholders to address so-called wicked problems that arise between diverse social needs and science based expert knowledge. Findings contribute to the operationalization of the Triple Helix Twins (THT) model for analysing policy impact and transformational governance. We recommend to employ the Triple Helix Twins for future comparative research of the transition from high level concept to local realization.

Addressing Goal Conflicts: New Policy Mixes for Commercial Land Use Management

Commercial land use management that focuses on a future-oriented urban and regional development must address multiple goals. Effective policy mixes need to simultaneously (1) improve city-regional and inter-municipal cooperation, (2) reduce land take, and (3) assure the long-term economic development of a region. Using the Northern Black Forest in Germany as a case study, we brought together planning and land use research with public policy analysis. We applied cross-impact balances (CIB) to build and analyze a participatory policy-interaction model. Together with a group of 12 experts, we selected effective individual measures to reach each of the three goals and analyzed their interactions. We then assessed the current policy mix and designed alternative policy mixes. The results demonstrate that current approaches to commercial land use management present internal contradictions and generate only little synergies. Implementing innovative measures on a stand-alone basis runs the risk of not being sufficiently effective. In particular, the current practice of competing for municipal marketing and planning of commercial sites has inhibiting effects. We identified alternative policy mixes that achieve all three goals, avoid trade-offs, and generate significant synergy effects. Our results point towards a more coherent and sustainable city-regional (commercial) land-use governance.

Refining fire history in the Upper Rhine Graben region - Challenges and opportunities highlighted from a case study at Wildseemoor (northern Black Forest, Germany)

A 600 cm peat succession covering the last ca. 10,000 years from Wildseemoor, a perilacustrine ombrotrophic peat bog in the northern Black Forest, offers the opportunity to study Holocene environmental evolution and fire history in the Upper Rhine region. More particularly it is used here for a pilot study 1) dealing with the influence of potential peat growth disturbance on charcoal influx interpretation, and 2) proposing a new approach to disentangle regional from local influences on charcoal influx, based on the internal variability of charcoal particle size variations. The latter suggests a fluctuating local to regional main source of charcoal influx to Wildseemoor. Two plausible age-depth models were established based on seven identified radiocarbon-dated macrofossils, showing either reduced depositional rates or breaks in deposition during the early- to mid-Holocene and (less extensively) the Middle Ages, that are not visible to the naked eye in the sediment sequence. The Holocene Climatic Optimum, a time interval of particular interest with its climate conditions analogue to future projections, falls directly into an extensive period of reduced accretion or depositional hiatus. This severely impacts the interpretation of the charcoal record for that period but highlights potential impacts of climate variations on peat growth. Regardless which age-depth model is used, phases of high charcoal influx were identified after ca. 5,000 cal BP and can most likely be linked to anthropogenic pressure on the region. The findings of this study may be used in future Holocene fire dynamics reconstructions, as they stress the necessity for high-resolution age control, but also the opportunity to exploit periods of disturbed/halting peat growth as a proxy to detect past periods of climate change. Using the internal variability of charcoal particle size to estimate local versus regional charcoal transport tendency showed promising results and may help push forward charcoal record interpretations in the future.

Approaching a regional innovation ecosystem in the Northern Black Forest for a future-orientated economy and society

Global crises, technological advancement and social upheaval are igniting a transformation that is ushering in a decade of renewal. Seen from a regional perspective, these changes harbor both opportunities and risks for their players. To meet future challenges collectively, the interaction of regional players from science, economy, society, administration, and the natural environment is indispensable. This paper describes a practice-oriented, scientifically based approach for the establishment and further development of a regional innovation ecosystem for a future-oriented economy and society in the Northern Black Forest. The findings should gradually be transferred into practice and serve as a blueprint for other regions.

Modeling soil erosion after mechanized logging operations on steep terrain in the Northern Black Forest, Germany

Climate change makes it necessary to re-evaluate the erosion potential of forest infrastructure. We used the Forest Service WEPP interfaces (FS WEPP) to compare soil erosion potentials of two competing logging practices in steep terrain in the Northern Black Forest, Germany: (1) Felling with harvesters and logging with forwarders in slope line with optional traction supporting winches. (2) Felling by chainsaw, logging with a cable winch, and further transport of logs via forest dirt roads. After forest harvest we measured erosion, runoff, and DOC concentration in runoff from 50 m sections of two machine tracks, two cable tracks, and a dirt road for 2 years. The erosion measurements were used to validate FS WEPP management options and a regionally adjusted CLIGEN input file. With these parameterizations we compared the erosion potential of the two practices on subcatchment scale by modeling return periods and total sediment export with FS WEPP. Model results show that logging operations with heavy machinery in slope line are less prone to soil erosion than logging operations including winch logging and additional dirt roads. The former produces less sediment in its worst-case configuration than the latter in its most moderate configuration by a factor of two. Model results also show that erosion prevention benefits from long periods of 10 years between two harvests.

The influence of camera trap flash type on the behavioural reactions and trapping rates of red deer and roe deer

AbstractCamera traps have become an important tool in wildlife monitoring. However, an issue in interpreting their data in statistical analyses of population densities, demography or behaviour is that the probability of detecting the target animals and their behaviours may vary depending on environmental and methodological factors. A specific problem is the type of flash used in the camera trap, as animals may react differently to different flash types and change their avoidance or habituation behaviour accordingly over time. Here, we provide the first systematic test of the impact of flash type in studies of red deer (Cervus elaphus) and roe deer (Capreolus capreolus), based on an analysis of behavioural responses to white, standard infrared and black flashes during 900 camera trap deployments in the Bavarian Forest National Park and the Northern Black Forest. The results revealed that both deer species were more likely to react to standard infrared than to black flash, but trigger delays prevented comparisons to white flash. Red deer reacted more frequently to camera traps than did roe deer, and responses were more common in the Northern Black Forest than in the Bavarian Forest National Park, where hunting is severely restricted. Contrary to our expectations, camera trapping rates of free‐ranging deer did not significantly decline over time for any flash type or species. Despite the lack of evidence for avoidance behaviour, we recommend the use of black flash for behavioural studies of deer populations to minimize the risk of introducing a source of disturbance whereas infrared and white flash are equally suitable for determinations of demographic parameters.

Mal analog – mal digital: Die Geo­Entdeckersets des Naturparks Schwarzwald Mitte/Nord

Mal analog – mal digital: Die Geo­Entdeckersets des Naturparks Schwarzwald Mitte/Nord

Design Junctions in Real-World Laboratories: Analyzing Experiences Gained from the Project Knowledge Dialogue Northern Black Forest

Real-world laboratories (RwLs) stand for a new format of transformative research. Drawing on the concept of “design junctions”, we shed light on what is going on inside an RwL. Based on the example of the RwL Knowledge Dialogue Northern Black Forest, we focus on both the negotiation processes over the normative and methodological requirements of RwL research formats as well as the common practices of day-to-day research work.Real-world laboratories (RwLs) promise to advance, and at the same time study, transitions to sustainability in a specific socio-spatial context. That brings challenges for researchers working in RwLs. In this Design Report, we reflect on the experiences researchers have gained in the RwL Knowledge Dialogue Northern Black Forest, Germany. We propose the concept of “design junctions” as deliberate intervention points in the procedural setup of RwLs that are, however, still contingent on the normative and methodological expectations of this special type of research. We present five design junctions tied to the questions of how to position an RwL in a politicized environment, deploy an interdisciplinary research team, develop the research program in a participatory way, incentivize transdisciplinarity, and engage with stakeholders and citizens.

Adjustment of a weather generator to represent actual rain erosivity in the northern Black Forest – Germany

To estimate the impact of highly erosive precipitation on existing and planned forest infrastructure we deem the Forest Service WEPP Interfaces, based on the Water Erosion Prediction Project (WEPP), feasible.As a first step towards testing WEPP and especially the implemented weather generator CLIGEN for conditions in Germany we evaluated the application of CLIGEN to calculate rain erosivities from generated time series. CLIGEN parameters were taken from time series of up to 17years with 10-minute resolution from three sites in the Northern Black Forest, southwestern Germany. We assessed a rain kinetic energy function for this region from field measurements with a laser disdrometer to compare CLIGEN performance using the local function to using common kinetic energy functions.We showed that running CLIGEN with unaltered input parameters is not suitable to model climatic conditions and erosivity indices in the Northern Black Forest. R-factors from unaltered model runs deviated extremely from observed R-factors, resulting in just one third of observed values. Model performance and parameter uncertainties do not benefit much from the use of a site specific kinetic energy function. Differences in model errors and sensitivities compared to a well-established kinetic energy function remain negligible. However, model output was improved by empirical calibration of input data. Virtual best parameter sets for best model results could be identified.To reproduce observed rain erosivities the input parameters of CLIGEN have to be manipulated to model a precipitation regime where daily precipitation amounts and maximum precipitation intensities are higher at a lower number of rainy days.We also identified the input parameters to which the model is most sensitive to when manipulated, i.e. precipitation amount and frequency, and maximum peak precipitation. These parameters are especially important when implementing future climate change scenarios.

Validating modelled data on major and trace element deposition in southern Germany using Sphagnum moss

Sphagnum mosses were collected from four ombrotrophic bogs in two regions of southern Germany: Upper Bavaria (Oberbayern, OB) and the Northern Black Forest (Nordschwarzwald, NBF). Surfaces of Sphagnum carpets were marked with plastic mesh and, one year later, plant matter was harvested and productivity determined. Major and trace element concentrations (Ag, Al, As, Ba, Bi, Cd, Co, Cr, Cu, Fe, Mn, Mo, Pb, Rb, Sb, Sc, Sr, Th, Ti, Tl, U, V, Zn) were determined in acid digests using sector field ICP-MS. Up to 12 samples (40 × 40 cm) were collected per site, and 6–10 sites investigated per bog. Variation in element accumulation rates within a bog is mostly the result of the annual production rate of the Sphagnum mosses which masks not only the impact of site effects, such as microtopography and the presence of dwarf trees, but also local and regional conditions, including land use in the surrounding area, topography, etc. The difference in productivity between peat bogs results in distinctly higher element accumulation rates at the NBF bogs compared to those from OB for all studied elements. The comparison with the European Monitoring and Evaluation Program (EMEP; wet-only and total deposition) and Modelling of Air Pollutants and Ecosystem Impact (MAPESI; total deposition) data shows that accumulation rates obtained using Sphagnum are in the same range of published values for direct measurements of atmospheric deposition of As, Cd, Cu, Co, Pb, and V in both regions. The accordance is very dependent on how atmospheric deposition rates were obtained, as different models to calculate the deposition rates may yield different fluxes even for the same region. In future studies of atmospheric deposition of trace metals, both Sphagnum moss and deposition collectors have to be used on the same peat bog and results compared. Antimony, however, shows considerable discrepancy, because it is either under-estimated by Sphagnum moss or over-estimated by both atmospheric deposition models. Atmospheric deposition data obtained from sampling in open fields is unlikely to always perfectly match data obtained using living Sphagnum moss from bogs. In fact, plant uptake and biochemical utilization by living moss may affect accumulation rates of those elements that are essential for plant nutrition (macro and micronutrients), which is clearly seen in the data presented here for Mn, Fe and Zn. Furthermore, Sphagnum moss is a unique receptor, with its characteristic roughness and chemical complexity. These two aspects, combined with conditions found on the bog surface (variations in microtopography, shrubs, trees, wetness, snow cover, etc.), result in a unique type of interception and retention. Despite all these factors, the comparison with modelled data shows that Sphagnum moss is a good indicator of atmospheric deposition at least in a semi-quantitative manner and certainly reflects inputs to terrestrial ecosystems.

Evidence for rare crop weeds of the Caucalidion group in Southwestern Germany since the Bronze Age: palaeoecological implications

The crop weed communities of dry calcareous soils are today very rare and endangered. In the first half of the 20th century this group was already in an advanced stage of disappearance, caused by the intensification of agriculture since the 19th century. Therefore, botanists only found these plants in a few regions with calcareous soils, obviously reflecting the geological conditions. But many archaeobotanical finds are in places where this species was never observed as a living plant and edaphic conditions seem to exclude it. In the western Lake Constance region floristic observations are lacking. Of Orlaya grandiflora, there is now proof from several pollen diagrams that this species did occur regularly and with high frequency in this region from the Late Bronze Age to the 19th century ad. Several other species of the Caucalidion are also reflected in the pollen record, but are less frequent, reflecting the ecological conditions triggered by agriculture; due to soil erosion, topsoils were thin, especially on slopes, with low water capacity, and low yields. The weeds with spiny fruits were distributed over long distances by migrating domestic animals. Pollen grains in high-resolution pollen profiles from the northern Black Forest and Allgäu, where these plants were not to be expected and were never observed, indicate a ubiquitous distribution of the Caucalidion between Late Bronze Age and early Modern Ages in Central Europe and adjacent regions, reflecting the tenuous situation of long-term extensive ard agriculture in hilly landscapes. More and better pollen diagrams and macrofossil studies would bring better evidence.

Erratum: Zielewska-Büttner, K.; Adler, P.; Ehmann, M.; Braunisch, V. Automated Detection of Forest Gaps in Spruce Dominated Stands Using Canopy Height Models Derived from Stereo Aerial Imagery. Remote Sens. 2016, 8, 175

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Major and trace elements in Sphagnum moss from four southern German bogs, and comparison with available moss monitoring data

In this paper, we present concentrations of an array of major and trace elements (Ag, Al, As, Ba, Bi, Cd, Co, Cr, Cu, Fe, Mn, Mo, Rb, Sb, Sc, Sr, Th, Tl, U, V, Zn) in living Sphagnum mosses from four southern German bogs and compare them with moss monitoring data of the respective regions. To do this, Sphagnum mosses were collected in Upper Bavaria (Oberbayern, OB) and the Northern Black Forest (Nordschwarzwald, NBF). Surfaces of Sphagnum carpets were marked with plastic mesh and, one year later, the annual moss production was harvested. Up to 12 samples (40cm×40cm) were collected per site, and 6–10 sites investigated per bog. The concentrations of these elements were then determined in acid digests using sector field ICP-MS. Variations within a given sampling site were in the range of 2 to 3-fold for all major and trace element concentrations except for Mn (12-fold) and Tl (38-fold). For most of the elements, concentrations between bogs of a given region were significantly different and atmospheric deposition of particles seems to be considerably affected by local circumstances such as tree canopy interception and microtopography. Comparing trace element concentrations measured in Sphagnum mosses for 2007 with published moss monitoring data for 2005 resulted in a very good agreement for most elements. Clearly, Sphagnum mosses from bogs are useful biomonitors for estimating atmospheric contamination by metals. This supports the use of Sphagnum in atmospheric deposition monitoring especially in cases where Sphagnum is abundant (e.g., boreal forests). In regions with neither bogs nor forests, living Sphagnum moss bags could be used to the same effect.