Speaker
Description
Primary Biological Aerosol Particles (PBAPs) are airborne materials of biological origin, comprising viable and non-viable entities such as bacteria, archaea, fungi, viruses, spores, pollen, subcellular fragments, and plant/animal detritus (Després et al., 2012). Emitted directly from the biosphere into the atmosphere, PBAPs can undergo short- or long-range atmospheric transport. Their dispersal is influenced by atmospheric turbulence, meteorological conditions, and landscape structure (Fröhlich-Nowoisky et al., 2016; Duan et al., 2023). The mix of local emissions and long-range transport complicates source attribution and accurate assessments of ecological and climatic impacts.
PBAPs are increasingly recognized for their diverse roles in atmospheric processes, including ice nucleation and cloud condensation, and their broader environmental significance. They function as vectors of allergens, toxins, and pathogens, affecting human, animal, and plant health, as well as agricultural productivity and ecosystem stability.
To better understand PBAPs’ origins and distribution, an integrative biodiversity study was conducted in the spring and autumn seasons using air and soil litter samples across spatially defined tree sites at the Leipzig Canopy Crane facility (Leipzig Auwald). High-throughput sequencing enabled taxonomic profiling of airborne microbes and their possible terrestrial sources.
Findings reveal strong environmental filtering, with only a selective subset of soil microbes appearing in the air. Compositional differences between soil and airborne communities among dominant and rare taxa suggest selective atmospheric pressures on microbial dispersal. While soil serves as a rich microbial reservoir, airborne PBAPs likely originate from multiple sources, including soil, phyllosphere, and nearby ecosystems. Phylogenetic clustering among soil samples and seasonal convergence in airborne communities highlight the greater influence of temporal rather than spatial drivers in structuring atmospheric microbial assemblages.
| Status Group | Doctoral Researcher |
|---|---|
| Poster Presentation Option | Yes, I’m willing to present as a poster. |
