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Productive biofilms are gaining growing interest in research due to their potential of producing valuable compounds and bioactive substances such as antibiotics. This is supported by recent developments in biofilm photobioreactors that established the controlled phototrophic cultivation of algae and cyanobacteria. Cultivation of biofilms can be challenging due to the need of surfaces for biofilm adhesion. The total production of biomass, and thus production of e.g. bioactive substances, within the bioreactor volume highly depends on the available cultivation surface. To achieve an enlargement of surface area for biofilm photobioreactors, biocarriers can be implemented in the cultivation. Thereby, material properties and design of the biocarriers are important for initial biofilm formation and growth of cyanobacteria. In this study, special biocarriers were designed and additively manufactured to investigate different polymeric materials and surface designs regarding biofilm adhesion of the terrestrial cyanobacterium Nostoc flagelliforme (CCAP 1453/33). Properties of 3D-printed materials were characterized by determination of wettability, surface roughness, and density. To evaluate the influence of wettability on biofilm formation, material properties were specifically modified by gas-phase fluorination and biofilm formation was analyzed on biocarriers with basic and optimized geometry in shaking flask cultivation. We found that different polymeric materials revealed no significant differences in wettability and with identical surface design no significant effect on biomass adhesion was observed. However, materials treated with fluorination as well as optimized biocarrier design showed improved wettability and an increase in biomass adhesion per biocarrier surface.

In analogy to higher plants, eukaryotic microalgae are thought to be incapable of utilizing green light for growth, due to the “green gap” in the absorbance profiles of their photosynthetic pigments. This study demonstrates, that the marine chlorophyte Picochlorum sp. is able to grow efficiently under green light emitting diode (LED) illumination. Picochlorum sp. growth and pigment profiles under blue, red, green and white LED illumination (light intensity: 50–200 μmol m−2 s−1) in bottom-lightened shake flask cultures were evaluated. Green light-treated cultures showed a prolonged initial growth lag phase of one to 2 days, which was subsequently compensated to obtain comparable biomass yields to red and white light controls (approx. 0.8 gDW L−1). Interestingly, growth and final biomass yields of the green light-treated sample were higher than under blue light with equivalent illumination energies. Further, pigment analysis indicated, that during green light illumination, Picochlorum sp. formed unknown pigments (X1-X4). Pigment concentrations increased with illumination intensity and were most abundant during the exponential growth phase. Mass spectrometry and nuclear magnetic resonance data indicated, that pigments X1-X2 and X3-X4 are derivatives of chlorophyll b and a, which harbor C=C bonds in the phytol side chain similar to geranylgeranylated chlorophylls. Thus, for the first time, the natural accumulation of large pools (approx. 12 mg gDW−1) of chlorophyll intermediates with incomplete hydrogenation of their phytyl chains is demonstrated for algae under monochromatic green light (Peak λ 510 nm, full width at half maximum 91 nm). The ability to utilize green light offers competitive advantages for enhancing biomass production, particularly under conditions of dense cultures, long light pathways and high light intensity. Green light acclimation for an eukaryotic microalgae in conjunction with the formation of new aberrant geranylgeranylated chlorophylls and high efficiency of growth rates are novel for eukaryotic microalgae. Illumination with green light could enhance productivity in industrial processes and trigger the formation of new metabolites–thus, underlying mechanisms require further investigation.

The last decades of research led to a change in understanding of lichens that are now seen as self-sustaining micro-ecosystems, harboring diverse microbial organisms in tight but yet not fully understood relationships. Among the diverse interdependencies, the relationship between the myco- and photobiont is the most crucial, determining the shape, and ecophysiological properties of the symbiotic consortium. Roughly 10% of lichens associate with cyanobacteria as their primary photobiont, termed cyanolichens. Up to now, the diversity of cyanobionts of bipartite lichens resolved by modern phylogenetic approaches is restricted to the filamentous and heterocytous genera of the order Nostocales. Unicellular photobionts were placed in the orders Chroococcales, Pleurocapsales, and Chroococcidiopsidales. However, especially the phylogeny and taxonomy of the Chroococcidiopsidales genera remained rather unclear. Here we present new data on the identity and phylogeny of photobionts from cyanolichens of the genera Gonohymenia, Lichinella, Peccania, and Peltula from a broad geographical range. A polyphasic approach was used, combining morphological and cultivation-depending characteristics (microscopy, staining techniques, life cycle observation, baeocyte motility, and nitrogen fixation test) with phylogenetic analyses of the 16S rRNA and 16S–23S ITS gene region. We found an unexpectedly high cyanobiont diversity in the cyanobacterial lichens of the order Lichinales, including two new genera and seven new species, all of which were not previously perceived as lichen symbionts. As a result, we describe the novel unicellular Chroococcidiopsidales genera Pseudocyanosarcina gen. nov. with the species Pseudocyanosarcina phycocyania sp. nov. (from Peltula clavata, Australia) and Compactococcus gen. nov. with the species Compactococcus sarcinoides sp. nov. (from Gonohymenia sp., Australia) and the new Chroococcidiopsidales species Aliterella compacta sp. nov. (from Peltula clavata, Australia), Aliterella gigantea sp. nov. (from Peltula capensis; South Africa), Sinocapsa ellipsoidea sp. nov. (from Peccania cerebriformis, Austria), as well as the two new Nostocales species Komarekiella gloeocapsoidea sp. nov. (from Gonohymenia sp., Czechia) and Komarekiella globosa sp. nov. (from Lichinella cribellifera, Canary Islands, Spain). Our study highlights the role of cyanolichens acting as a key in untangling cyanobacterial taxonomy and diversity. With this study, we hope to stimulate further research on photobionts, especially of rare cyanolichens.

Phototrophic biofilms, in particular terrestrial cyanobacteria, offer a variety of biotechnologically interesting products such as natural dyes, antibiotics or dietary supplements. However, phototrophic biofilms are difficult to cultivate in submerged bioreactors. A new generation of biofilm photobioreactors imitates the natural habitat resulting in higher productivity. In this work, an aerosol-based photobioreactor is presented that was characterized for the cultivation of phototrophic biofilms. Experiments and simulation of aerosol distribution showed a uniform aerosol supply to biofilms. Compared to previous prototypes, the growth of the terrestrial cyanobacterium Nostoc sp. could be almost tripled. Different surfaces for biofilm growth were investigated regarding hydrophobicity, contact angle, light- and temperature distribution. Further, the results were successfully simulated. Finally, the growth of Nostoc sp. was investigated on different surfaces and the biofilm thickness was measured noninvasively using optical coherence tomography. It could be shown that the cultivation surface had no influence on biomass production, but did affect biofilm thickness.

The Atacama Desert is the driest non-polar desert on Earth, presenting precarious conditions for biological activity. In the arid coastal belt, life is restricted to areas with fog events that cause almost daily wet-dry cycles. In such an area, we discovered a hitherto unknown and unique ground covering biocoenosis dominated by lichens, fungi and algae attached to grit-sized quartz- and granitoid stones (grit crust). In contrast to previously known CGC from arid environments to which frequent cyclic wetting events are lethal, here every fog event is answered by photosynthetic activity of the soil community and thus considered as the desert’s breath. Photosynthesis of the new CGC-type is activated by the lowest amount of water known for such a community worldwide thus enabling the unique biocoenosis to fulfill a variety of ecosystem services such as protection against soil erosion and contributions to accumulation of soil carbon and nitrogen and soil formation through bio-weathering. Using state-of-the-art remote sensing technology, we estimate the total cover of the grit crust and show that the newly discovered organisms cover large areas along the coastal belt of the Atacama Desert.

Since 1965 a cyanobacterial strain termed ‘Fischerella ambigua 108b’ was the object of several studies investigating its potential as a resource for new bioactive compounds in several European institutes. Over decades these investigations uncovered several unique small molecules and their respective biosynthetic pathways, including the polychlorinated triphenyls of the ambigol family and the tjipanazoles. However, the true taxonomic character of the producing strain remained concealed until now. Applying a polyphasic approach considering the phylogenetic position based on the 16S rRNA and the protein coding gene rbcLX, secondary structures and morphological features, we present the strain ‘Fischerella ambigua 108b’ as Symphyonema bifilamentata sp. nov. 97.28. Although there is the type species (holotype) S. sinense C.-C. Jao 1944 there is no authentic living strain or material for genetic analyses for the genus Symphyonema available. Thus we suggest and provide an epitypification of S. bifilamentata sp. nov. 97.28 as a valid reference for the genus Symphyonema. Its affiliation to the family Symphyonemataceae sheds not only new light on this rare taxon but also on the classes of bioactive metabolites of these heterocytous and true-branching cyanobacteria which we report here. We show conclusively that the literature on the isolation of bioactive products from this organism provides further support for a clear distinction between the secondary metabolism of Symphyonema bifilamentata sp. nov. 97.28 compared to related and other taxa, pointing to the assignment of this organism into a separate genus.

Cyanobacteria offer great potential for the production of biotechnological products for pharmaceutical applications. However, these organisms can only be cultivated efficiently using photobioreactors (PBR). Under submerged conditions though, terrestrial cyanobacteria mostly grow in a suboptimal way, which makes this cultivation-technique uneconomic and thus terrestrial cyanobacteria unattractive. Therefore, a novel emersed photobioreactor (ePBR) has been developed, which can provide the natural conditions for these organisms. Proof of concept as well as first efficiency tests are conducted using the terrestrial cyanobacteria Trichocoleus sociatus as a model organism. The initial maximum growth rate of T. sociatus (0.014 ± 0.001 h−1) in submerged systems could be increased by 35%. Furthermore, it is now possible to control desiccation-correlated product formation and related metabolic processes. This is shown for the production of extracellular polymeric substances (EPS). In this case the yield of 0.068 ± 0.006 g of EPS/g DW could be increased by more than seven times.

Biodiversity forms the basis for a large pool of potential products and productive organisms offered by terrestrial cyanobacteria. They are stuck together by EPS (extracellular polymeric substances) that can obtain antiviral, antibacterial or anti-inflammatory substances. Most stress conditions, e.g. drought, induce the production of protective EPS or biotechnological-products for pharmaceutical application. However, the growth of a phototrophic biofilm is limited under submerged conditions. Therefore, a semi-continuous process to produce EPS by cyanobacteria was developed in an aerosol-based ePBR (emerse photobioreactor) that imitates the natural habitat of terrestrial cyanobacteria. The process consists of a growth-phase (biomass production), followed by a dry-phase (EPS-production) and a consecutive extraction. The EPS-productivities of Trichocoleus sociatus (ranging from 0.03 to 0.04 g L −1 d −1 ) were 32 times higher than described in topic-related literature. In comparison to submerge cultivations in shaking flasks, the EPS-productivities were sevenfold higher. To ensure that the extraction solvent has no influence on cell viability, a cell-vitality-test was performed. However, no statistically significant difference between the amount of living and dead cells before and after the extraction was detected. A bioactivity assay was then performed to identify antimicrobial activity within EPS extracts from emerse and submerge cultivations. The EPS revealed an antibacterial effect against gram-negative bacteria ( E. coli ) which was two times higher than EPS from a submerged cultivation.

In the emerging field of algal biotechnology, optimization of algal production, engineering challenges, and scale-up of photobioreactors are urgent demands. Emphasis is placed on reducing cultivation limitations regarding, e.g., mass transfer, thermostability, photoinhibition, as well as expenses for energy and resource investments. Until now, almost all cultivation techniques are processed under submerged conditions with aquatic microalgae. The biotechnological implementation of terrestrial microalgae, however, exhibits several physiological and technological advantages for an efficient production in biofilm photobioreactors. Their outstanding performance and considerable advantages for biotechnology may reduce several of the current limitations and provide new principles in bioengineering. Can they outcompete the capacity of commercial algal strain due to their thermostability, light utilization, or desiccation tolerance? How terrestrial microalgae could highly contribute to technological and economic improvement of microalgal biotechnology is discussed reviewing their species diversity, physiology, valuable products, bioengineering processes, biofilm photobioreactors, and some visions of potential developments. Moreover, the overview may allow choosing interesting organisms for further studies.

Terrestrial cyanobacteria are rarely used for biotechnological processes, although they show great potential in terms of value-added substances. Cyanobacteria from arid habitats are of particular interest because they tolerate higher temperatures and feature a different product spectrum compared with their aquatic counterparts. In addition, terrestrial cyanobacteria may represent an interesting source of pharmaceutical products. To investigate the future use of these organisms in biotechnological processes, the growth rates of Trichocoleus sociatus (formerly Microcoleus sociatus) and Nostoc muscorum were examined using three different cultivation systems: shaking flasks, bubble columns, and stirred tank reactors. Parameters including pH, temperature, CO2 level, and power dissipation were investigated quantitatively in the three systems for their impact on growth rate. The highest growth rate of the terrestrial cyanobacteria could be achieved in a stirred tank reactor under enriched CO2 concentration. In this system, the growth rate was 1.15 day-1 ± 0.08 (2 % vol.) for T. sociatus and 0.72 day-1 ± 0.22 (5 % vol.) for N. muscorum, based on dry weight. Furthermore, a basic mathematical model was created as an add-on to predict growth rates of terrestrial cyanobacteria based on their dependency on temperature, pH, and substrate concentration, in general. This model was used to estimate growth of N. muscorum in stirred tank reactor experiments with an accuracy of 98.8 % and with 75 % accuracy for T. sociatus.

Recent studies have described a new tropical lowland forest type in the Guianas, the tropical lowland cloud forest. It is characterized by an enriched epiphytic species diversity particularly for bryophytes compared to common lowland rainforest, and is facilitated by frequent early morning fog events in valley locations. While the increase in epiphytic species diversity in lowland cloud forests has been documented, uncertainties remain as to (1) how this small scale variation in water supply is shaping the functional diversity of epiphytic components in lowland forests, and (2) whether information on functional group composition of epiphytes might aid in discerning these cloud forests from the common lowland rainforest. We compare the distribution of functional groups of epiphytes across height zones in lowland cloud forest and lowland rain forest of French Guiana in terms of biomass, cover as well as the composition of bryophyte life-forms. Both forests differed in functional composition of epiphytes in the canopy, in particular in the mid and outer canopy, with the cloud forest having a higher biomass and cover of bryophytes and vascular epiphytes as well as a richer bryophyte life-form composition. Bryophyte life-forms characteristic for cloud forests such as tail, weft and pendants were almost lacking in the canopies of common rain forest whereas they were frequent in lowland cloud forests. We suggest that ground-based evaluation of bryophyte life-form composition is a straightforward approach for identifying lowland cloud forest areas for conservation, which represent biodiversity hotspots in tropical lowland forests.

Global change puts an increasing pressure on tropical forests and their inherent diversity by the risk of longer droughts and drier microclimatic conditions within the forest. How organisms will respond is uncertain, especially for organisms highly depending on their microclimatic environment such as bryophytes. An adequate tolerance to desiccation is important to face these changes, however, little is known for tropical bryophytes. We investigated for the first time the desiccation tolerance of epiphytic bryophytes from contrasting microsites at the tropical lowland forest in French Guiana. Using chlorophyll-fluorescence (Fv/Fm) as an indicator of recovery, we tested: (1) desiccation tolerance for short (3 d) and long (9 d) desiccation events; (2) different desiccation intensities; and (3) recovery by rehydration with water vapor. Species from the canopy were well adapted to desiccation events. Thirteen of 18 species maintained more than 75 percent of their photosynthetic capacity after recovery at the strongest desiccation treatment of 9 d at 43 percent relative humidity (RH). In contrast, species from the understory were sensitive and withstood desiccation only at humid conditions of 75 percent RH and higher. The photosystem of the studied bryophytes was reactivated efficiently in equilibration with water vapor only—a yet neglected phenomenon in bryology. A novel introduced desiccation tolerance index allows global comparison of desiccation tolerances and highlights the sensitivity of understory species. Our results suggest that decreasing humidity caused by climate change and forest degradation could be a concerning threat for understory species.

Summary •Additional water supplied by dew formation is an important resource for microbes, plants and animals in precipitation-limited habitats, but has received little attention in tropical forests until now. •We evaluated the micro-environmental conditions of tree stem surfaces and their epiphytic organisms in a neotropical forest, and present evidence for a novel mechanism of diurnal dew formation on these surfaces until midday that has physiological implications for corticolous epiphytes such as lichens. •In the understorey of a lowland forest in French Guiana, heat storage of stems during the day and delayed radiative loss during the night decreased stem surface temperatures by 6°C in comparison to the dew-point temperature of ambient air. This measured phenomenon induced modelled totals of diurnal dew formation between 0.29 and 0.69 mm d−1 on the surface of the bark and the lichens until early afternoon. •Crustose lichens substantially benefit from this dew formation, because it prolongs photosynthetic activity. This previously unrecognized mechanism of midday dew formation contributes to the water supply of most corticolous organisms, and may be a general feature in forest habitats world-wide.

In tropical lowland forests, corticolous crustose green algal lichens are abundant and highly diverse. This may be related to adaptation to prevailing microenvironmental conditions including, for example, high precipitation and low light intensities. In the understory of a tropical lowland rain forest in French Guiana, we studied the morphology of crustose green algal lichens and measured gas exchange and chlorophyll a fluorescence. We found that (i) periods of thallus suprasaturation with water were reduced by the presence of water-repelling surface structures of mycobiont hyphae at the thallus surface and the medulla; (ii) photosynthesis was adapted to the low light intensities present in the understory; and (iii) photosynthesis was rapidly activated in fluctuating light. The combination of these three mechanisms enables corticolous lichens to implement specific morphological and physiological strategies, which may favour growth in the limiting understory habitat of tropical lowland rain forests.

Coenogonium linkii Ehrenb. is a very common filamentous lichen, growing on stems, hanging roots, and lianas in the understory of neotropical lowland rain forests. We investigated several thalli of this species from locations in Panama and French Guiana. All thalli were inhabited by various species of terrestrial diatoms, which were found between the thallus filaments on extracellular material of the mycobiont. We identified 18 species of diatoms belonging to nine genera: Diadesmis, Eunotia, Hantzschia, Luticola, Melosira, Nitzschia, Orthoseira, Pinnularia, and Stauroneis. The potential benefits both diatoms and lichens could derive from symbiosis in relation to water, irradiance, and nitrogen availability are discussed.

The production of valuable compounds in industrial biotechnology is commonly done by cultivation of suspended cells or use of (immobilized) enzymes rather than using microorganisms in an immobilized state. Within the field of wastewater as well as odor treatment the application of immobilized cells is a proven technique. The cells are entrapped in a matrix of extracellular polymeric compounds produced by themselves. The surface-associated agglomerate of encapsulated cells is termed biofilm. In comparison to common immobilization techniques, toxic effects of compounds used for cell entrapment may be neglected. Although the economic impact of biofilm processes used for the production of valuable compounds is negligible, many prospective approaches were examined in the laboratory and on a pilot scale. This review gives an overview of biofilm reactors applied to the production of valuable compounds. Moreover, the characteristics of the utilized materials are discussed with respect to support of surface-attached microbial growth.

In the frame of current discussions on the value of forest canopies, a short introduction and recent advances of nonvascular epiphyte (NVE) research are presented here regarding a novel canopy access facility to study mechanisms and functions of carbon and water exchange as well as impacts of climate and land-use change on NVE.

Stable isotope analysis is a powerful tool for assessing plant carbon and water relations and their impact on biogeochemical processes at different scales. Our process-based understanding of stable isotope signals, as well as technological developments, has progressed significantly, opening new frontiers in ecological and interdisciplinary research. This has promoted the broad utilisation of carbon, oxygen and hydrogen isotope applications to gain insight into plant carbon and water cycling and their interaction with the atmosphere and pedosphere. Here, we highlight specific areas of recent progress and new research challenges in plant carbon and water relations, using selected examples covering scales from the leaf to the regional scale. Further, we discuss strengths and limitations of recent technological developments and approaches and highlight new opportunities arising from unprecedented temporal and spatial resolution of stable isotope measurements.

Stable isotope analysis is a powerful tool for tracing biogeochemical processes in the carbon and water cycles. One particularly powerful approach is to employ multiple isotopes where the simultaneous assessment of the D/H,18O/16O and/or 13C/12C in different compounds provide a unique means to investigate the coupling of water and carbon fluxes at various temporal and spatial scales. Here, we present a research update on recent advances in our process-based understanding of the utilization of carbon, oxygen and hydrogen isotopes to lend insight into carbon and water cycling. We highlight recent technological developments and approaches, their strengths and methodological precautions with examples covering scales from minutes to centuries and from the leaf to the globe.

Poikilohydric desiccation tolerance enables lichens and bryophytes to survive long periods of water limitation and to recover quickly by rehydration. The evolutionary success of this strategy is reflected by the fact that cryptogams inhabit almost all terrestrial habitats from the tropics to cold and hot deserts. As ecosystem components, lichens and bryophytes may considerably impact the surrounding environment through frequent desiccation–rewetting cycles. What are the differences in mechanism and functioning to successfully compete with vascular plants in many micro-sites and habitats? This chapter reviews key issues of cryptogamic desiccation tolerance with particular emphasis on the following aspects: (1) Comparison of mechanisms and processes of water exchange. (2) Function and impacts of micro-scale fluxes to illustrate the effects of desiccation–rewetting cycles on the environment. (3) Global patterns of lichens and bryophytes as an indication for their ecological relevance.

Microclimatic edge effects and morpho-physiological characteristics are shaping lichen functional group distribution. Thus, lichen functional groups may be used as indicator for forest disturbance, Background and aims Forest edges created by fragmentation strongly affect the abiotic and biotic environment. A rarely studied consequence is the resulting impact on non-vascular plants such as poikilohydric lichens, known to be highly sensitive to changes in the microenvironment. We evaluated the impact of forest edge and forest interior on the distribution of two groups of crustose lichens characterized by the presence or absence of a cortex and sought explanations of the outcome in terms of photosynthetic response and water relations. Methodology Microclimate, distribution patterns and physiology of cortical and non-cortical lichens were compared at the edge and in the interior of an Atlantic rainforest fragment in Alagoas, Brazil. Ecophysiological aspects of photosynthesis and water relations were studied using chlorophyll a fluorescence analysis, and hydration and rehydration characteristics. Principal results Cortical and non-cortical functional groups showed a clear preference for interior and edge habitats, respectively. The cortical lichens retained liquid water more efficiently and tolerated low light. This explains their predominance in the forest interior, where total area cover on host tree trunks reached ca. 40 % (versus ca. 5 % for non-cortical lichens). Although non-cortical lichens exchanged water vapour efficiently, they required high light intensities. Consequently, they were able to exploit well-lit edge conditions where they achieved an area cover of ca. 19 % (versus ca. 7 % for cortical lichens). We provide some of the first data for lichens giving the relative quantity of incident light absorbed by the photosystem (absorptivity). The cortical group achieved higher absorptivity and quantum efficiencies, but at the expense of physiological plasticity; non-cortical lichens showed much decreased values of Fv/Fm and electron transport rates in the forest interior. Conclusions Morphological and physiological features largely determine the ecophysiological interaction of lichen functional groups with their abiotic environment and, as a consequence, determine their habitat preference across forest habitats. In view of the distinctiveness of their distribution patterns and ecophysiological strategies, the occurrence of cortical versus non-cortical lichens can be a useful indicator of undisturbed forest interiors in tropical forest fragments.

International audience; The stable isotopic composition of water is routinely used as a tracer to study water exchange processes in vascular plants and ecosystems. To date, no study has focussed on isotope processes in non-vascular, poikilohydric organisms such as lichens and bryophytes. To understand basic isotope exchange processes of non-vascular plants, thallus water isotopic composition was studied in various green-algal lichens exposed to desiccation. The study indicates that lichens equilibrate with the isotopic composition of surrounding water vapour. A model was developed as a proof of concept that accounts for the specific water relations of these poikilohydric organisms. The approach incorporates first their variable thallus water potential and second a compartmentation of the thallus water into two isotopically distinct but connected water pools. Moreover, the results represent first steps towards the development of poikilohydric organisms as a recorder of ambient vapour isotopic composition.

The study presents first data on the delta(18)O performance of poikilohydrous lichen ground cover, and its potential impact on the isotopic composition of water fluxes arising from subjacent soil layers. As a model organism, the globally distributed lichen Cladina arbuscula was studied under laboratory conditions as well as in the field. During a desiccation experiment, delta(18)O of the lichen's thallus water and of its respired CO(2) became enriched by approximately 7 per thousand and followed a similar enrichment pattern to that expected from homoiohydrous, vascular plants. However, the observed degree of enrichment was lower in comparison to vascular plants due to (i) the lichen's inherent lower evaporative resistances; and (ii) a stronger effect of the more depleted surrounding water vapour. In lichens growing in their natural habitat, this specific pattern may show substantial variations depending on prevailing microclimatic conditions. Within a field study, thallus water delta(18)O of lichens principally proved to become more depleted when close to equilibration with the surroundings. It thereby strongly depended on the absorption of surrounding water vapour. Moreover, the results indicate that lichen mats substantially reduce evaporation rates arising from subjacent soil layers, and may alter the isotopic signal of vapour diffusing away from these layers into more depleted values.

Publisher Summary During the past 10 years, the application of stable isotope techniques has provided the scientific community with new insights into understanding physiological and ecological processes. Many of these studies have focused on higher plants whose discrimination processes during photosynthetic and water exchange is now well understood. In contrast, only a few number of publications focus on algae, cyanobacteria, and lichens, and several uncertainties still exist despite the global distribution of these photoautotrophic organisms in aquatic and terrestrial ecosystems. Due to their direct dependency on environmental conditions, lichens' stable isotope compositions reflect changes of carbon and water as an integral over a long period and on a microenvironmental scale. Their poikilohydric nature enables them to settle under environmental conditions where higher plants are unable to survive and also to assimilate extraordinary substrates such as vapor or carbon microresources, which are not commonly utilized by higher plants. This chapter introduces how lichens' δ13C can be used as tracers for carbon acquisition, environmental change of CO2 sources, and global change, while δ18O of thallus water and respired CO2 operates as a tracer for varying water sources to serve as an environmental integrator and recorder for soil–atmosphere exchange processes.

V1.01 Innovativer Photobioreaktor zur Kultivierung von terrestrischen Cyanobakterien S. Kuhne (E-Mail: s.kuhne@mv.uni-kl.de), Dr.-Ing. K. Muffler, Dr. rer. nat. M. Lakatos, Prof. Dr. R. Ulber TU Kaiserslautern, Lehrgebiet fur Bioverfahrenstechnik, Gottlieb-Daimler-Strase 44, D-67663 Kaiserslautern, Germany TU Kaiserslautern, Lehrgebiet fur Experimentelle Okologie, Erwin-Schrodinger-Strase 13, D-67663 Kaiserslautern, Germany DOI: 10.1002/cite.201250126

Inselbergs are isolated rock outcrops displaying high heterogeneity in both soil formation and microclimatic condition with high variation in plant biodiversity. Vegetation patterns on inselbergs in the humid tropics range from rocks covered with dense biofilms predominated by cyanobacteria to high forest on deep soils. Along a similar transect, we investigated N supply to the vegetation using element and isotopic analyses of soil and biofilm samples from an inselberg in French Guiana. An increase in N content related to total dry weight (N%) in soils from the inselberg peak to surrounding habitats was related to changes in stable isotope composition (d 15 N). At the inselberg peak cyanobacterial biofilms on bare rocks and soils within small vegetation islands had similar d 15 N values of � 1.9% and � 1.3% while d 15 N of soils progressively increased towards the primary rainforest up to 6%. From the peak towards the base of the inselberg, the density of higher plants and soil depth increased. Hence, soil N cycling and N losses to the environment resulted in a progressive increase of soil d 15 N. The distribution of N%, d 15 N and d 13 C values suggest that the main N supply for soils at and nearby the inselberg is derived from cyanobacterial N2 fixation through leaching processes.

Terrestrial cyanobacteria have seldom been used for biotechnological processes, even though they offer great potential for new pharmaceutical products or other value-added substances. Particularly cyanobacteria of xeric habitats are of biotechnological interest, because they tolerate high temperatures, are desiccation-tolerant and feature low water consumption. In addition, the cyanobacteria collected in deserts are able to produce more photoprotective agents than their counterparts from other habitats, because of their genetical preadaptation. In this study, carotenoid and chlorophyll content of two representative terrestrial cyanobacteria strains, i.e. Nostoc muscorum and Leptolyngbya spec. sampled in Columbia (USA) and Soebatsfontein (RSA), were studied after exposure of the strains to different light conditions and cultivation temperatures. A temperature raise from 17°C to 30°C led to an increase of 46% in chlorophyll a content as well as an increase of 39% in carotenoid content of Nostoc muscorum. An irradiation raise from 19 μmol m-2s-1 to 125 μmol m-2s-1 resulted in an increase of a 10 to 20 times higher chlorophyll content. Additional results from light-curves support the potential future use of terrestrial cyanobacteria within low energy biotechnological processes using a novel type of photobioreactor to reduce the downstream process costs and nutrients needed during the cultivation. Results indicate that especially light intensity optimization currently holds unused potential.