1. Summary of the current status of the work of TUM-BO Andreas Gattinger, Matthias Weiss, Michael Schloter GSF-Research Center for Environment and Health Technical University of Munich Institute of Soil Ecology D- 85764 Neuherberg

2. 1. Adaptation of protocols for lipid biomarker analyses to peat (bog) samples 2. Adaptation of protocols for DNA analyses to peat (bog) samples 3. Growing of keystone plant species in the greenhouse for plant litter labelling 4. Installation of the new analytical device GC/MS-C-IRMS for compound specific isotope analysis Summary of the current status of the work of TUM-BO

3. 1. Adaptation of protocols for lipid biomarker analyses to peat (bog) samples

4. Determination of microbial communites Problem: less than 5% of the estimated total soil microflora can be cultivated Solution: cultivation-independent approaches enable the characterization of microbial communiteis in situ: 0 1 2 3 4 7 5 6 8 9 10 11 12 13 1415 PLEL derived hydrocarbons genotypic approach: (example archaeal 16S rDNA, separation with SSCP ) phenotypic approach: (side chain analysis of polar membrane lipids)

5. methanogens The biosphere of soil (mod. Version, M. Schmid, GSF) Archaeal kingdoms (Reiche): - Euryarchaeota - Crenarchaeota - (Korarchaeota) - (Nanoarchaeota)

6. Archaea etherlinked isoprenoids (PLEL): - saturated short chain: i20:0 - saturated long chain: i40:0 - cyclic long chain: i40:0-cy - unsaturated short chain: i20:1 Side chain analysis of polar membrane lipids of Bacteria Eucarya and Archaea in soil Bacteria & Eucarya esterlinked fatty acids (PLFA): - saturated (SATFA) - monounsaturated (MUFA) - polyunsaturated (PUFA) - hydroxysubstituted (PLOH) Bacteria & Eucarya non-esterlinked fatty acids (NEL-PLFA): - hydroxysubstituted (UNOH) - unsubstituted fatty acids (UNSFA)

7. Extended phospholipid analysis x Bodenökologie

8. Microbial biomarker composition in a Scottish “test” peat core

9. Lipid biomarker ratios in a Scottish “test” peat core

10. MOB and archaeal biomarker in a Scottish “test” peat core

11. 2. Adaptation of protocols for DNA analyses to peat (bog) samples together with Rebekka Artz, Steve Chapman/MLURI

12. 3. Growing of keystone plant species in the greenhouse for plant litter labelling

13. Plants were taken by A. Siegenthaler et al. at the French/Suisse site: 4 plant species: 2 mosses (Sphagnum, Polytrichum), 2 grasses (Eriophorum vaginatum, Eriophorum angustifolium) were grown at the GSF greenhouse for estimating growth conditions and biomass production climatic conditions:

26. 4. Installation of the new analytical device GC/MS-C- IRMS for compound specific isotope analysis

27. Simultaneous identification and quantification of PLFA/PLEL from environmental samples and their corresponding 12 C/ 13 C ratios by GC/MS-C-IRMS MS (DSQ) IRMS (DeltaPlus Advantage ) 20% of the analyte 80% of the analyte

28. delta 13 C values in PLFA/PLEL from test core samples varied between -26 and -32 % 0 (natural abundance): due to dilution effects with the peat soil and 1-2% measurement inaccuracy, an enrichment with 13 C in the plant litter of at least 70 % 0 PDB is needed: Which quality of CO 2 gas for plant labelling?