The cup plant (Silphium perfoliatum) offers an ecologically advantageous alternative to silage maize for bioenergy production. This is the conclusion of a multi-year comparative study conducted by res...

Microplastics (MPs) are ubiquitous in the environment, but their vertical movement in undisturbed soils is poorly understood. This study investigates MP distribution and transport in one 110 cm soil profile from a Rhine River floodplain, Germany. Nine soil samples were analyzed for MP content, grain size distribution, bulk density, porosity, and organic carbon content. MPs (10 $$\upmu$$ μ m to 5 mm) were characterized by size, shape, and polymer type using ATR-FTIR and $$\upmu$$ μ FTIR. Biological activity was assessed through earthworm species identification and abundance, and sediment deposition was dated using optically stimulated luminescence (OSL). To our knowledge, this is one of the first studies to integrate detailed field observations with dating results to draw conclusions about the vertical displacement of microplastics. MPs were detected at all depths, with 81.3%–96.6% being 10–150 $$\upmu$$ μ m in size, predominantly fragments and spheres. Concentrations peaked at 790,497 particles $$kg^{-1}$$ k g - 1 dry soil between 38 and 45 cm, where root- and earthworm-formed macropores facilitated transport. Below this depth, reduced porosity limited movement, favoring smaller MPs. OSL dating indicated sedimentation before the 1950s/60s below 20 cm, suggesting vertical transport of MPs. Therefore, we would advise to be careful using small MPs as stratigraphic markers for the Anthropocene. Although analysing just one soil profile, this study highlights the role of biological activity and soil structure in MP translocation and emphasizes the need to account for small MPs in floodplain studies to avoid underestimating their environmental presence. Graphical Abstract

Im Herbst gibt es jede Menge frisches Gemüse – man muss nur wissen, was gerade Saison hat. So klappt’s mit dem klimafreundlichen ...

Universität Bayreuth

Abstract. Assessing the export of dissolved organic carbon (DOC) from terrestrial systems into inland waters reliably is of vital importance to understand the global carbon cycle in detail. In this co...

On Friday, 3 October 2025, the University of Bayreuth will open its doors to curious minds of all ages as part of the nationwide “Mouse Door Opener Day.” This year’s theme is “Playtime”, inviting visi...