Open Wounds in Thin Skin: Soil Processes after Natural Disturbances
Klaus Katzensteiner, Key note
Soils are an integral part of terrestrial ecosystems and soil biota play an important role for ecosystem functioning. Natural disturbances affect soils in different ways: Soil mixing due to forest windthrow or soil erosion at different scales creates regeneration niches. Fire may cause the loss of plant cover and organic soil layers. Pests alter the input of organic matter to the soil. In the presentation, results of case studies on post-disturbance soil processes in the Northern Calcareous Alps are presented (Soil-plant-atmosphere interactions and feedback after windthrow and forest fire).