Andre Velescu

Dipl. Geogr. Andre Velescu

  • Karlsruher Institut für Technologie (KIT)
    Institut für Geographie und Geoökologie
    Reinhard-Baumeister-Platz 1
    76131 Karlsruhe
    Germany 

Andre Velescu

Biogeochemistry, Element cycling, Soil chemistry, Soil physics, Ecosystem research, Soil and water analysis

Topics

  • Element cycles and nutrient input in a tropical montane forest in the Andes of South Ecuador
  • Nutrient manipulation experiments in tropical ecosystem research
  • Tracer experiments with 15N isotopes to study the fate and transformation of Nitrogen in temperate and tropical ecosystems
  • Monitoring of environmental field parameters using automatic data collection

Curriculum Vitae

Since 2015 Researcher and head of the laboratory at the Institute of Geography and Geoecology of the Karlsruhe Institute of Technology, Geomorphology and Soil Science Group.
Since 2011 PhD position at the Institute of Geography of the University of Bern, Soil Science Group. Title of the Dissertation: „Response of element cycles to increased nutrient input in a tropical montane rain forest in South Ecuador“.
2009-2010 Research assistant at the Institute of Geography of the Eberhard Karls University of Tübingen, Chair of Physical Geography.
2002-2009 Study of Geography, Geology and Geochemistry at the Eberhard Karls University of Tübingen. Title of the Diploma thesis: “Heterogeneity of soil factors in the humid-tropical mountainous landscape of the Río Huehuetán catchment (Chiapas, Mexico)”.

Projects

Since 2018 Nutrient supply as driver of biomass production and associated ecosystem water fluxes along a land-use and climate gradient (DFG, WI 1601/26-1). The project is part of the DFG Research Unit 2730 - Environmental changes in biodiversity hotspot ecosystems of South Ecuador: response and feedback effects (RESPECT). www.tropicalmountainforest.org
2014-2017 Nutrient cycles and their response to climate change in a tropical montane rain forest in the Andes of South Ecuador. Project of the Research Platform DFG PAK 823-825: Platform for Biodiversity, Ecosystem Monitoring and Research in South Ecuador. www.tropicalmountainforest.org
2011-2013 Response of element cycles in a tropical mountain rain forest to environmental and land-use change. Project of the Research Unit DFG FOR 816: Biodiversity and Sustainable Management of a Megadiverse Mountain Ecosystem in South Ecuador. www.tropicalmountainforest.org
2011-2013 Effects of plant diversity on the soil nutrient cycle. Project of the Swiss National Science Foundation (SNF) within the framework of the DFG Research Unit FOR 1451: Exploring mechanisms underlying the relationship between biodiversity and ecosystem functioning. www.jena-experiment.de
2007-2009 Investigation of water resources in the catchment of the Río Huehuetán, Chiapas, Mexico. Research project of the Mexican Water Commission (CONAGUA), México D.F., Mexico.

Presentations

Oral presentations

Velescu, A., Valarezo, C., Wilcke, W. (2023): Response of element fluxes and budgets to nutrient additions in a tropical montane forest in South Ecuador. Annual Conference of the Society for Tropical Ecology, 19.-23. June 2023, České Budějovice.

Fabian, T., Velescu, A., Espinosa, C.I., Wilcke, W. (2023): Vertical distribution of δ13C values in soils to predict N mineralization rates along an elevational gradient in South Ecuador. Annual Conference of the Society for Tropical Ecology, 19.-23. June 2023, České Budějovice.

Velescu, A., Valarezo, C., Wilcke, W. (2022): Response of element fluxes to nutrient additions in a tropical montane forest in South Ecuador. Conference of the German Society of Soil Science, 5.-8. September 2022, Trier.

Fabian, T., Velescu, A., Espinosa, C.I., Wilcke, W. (2022): Vertical distribution of δ13C values in soils to predict N mineralization rates under forest and pasture along an elevational gradient in South Ecuador. Conference of the German Society of Soil Science, 5.-8. September 2022, Trier.

Velescu, A., Leimer, S., Valarezo, C., Wilcke, W. (2019): Total organic carbon concentrations in ecosystem solutions of a remote tropical montane forest respond to global environmental change. Conference of the German Society of Soil Science and of the Swiss Soil Science Society, 25.-28. August 2019, Bern.

Fabian, T., Velescu, A., Nellessen, T., Wilcke, W. (2019): Sodium limitation of soil fauna affects decomposition processes in a tropical montane forest in South Ecuador. Conference of the German Society of Soil Science and of the Swiss Soil Science Society, 25.-28. August 2019, Bern.

Velescu, A., Bigalke, M., Boy, J., Valarezo, C., Wilcke, W. (2018): Biological vs. abiotic control of base metal budgets in a tropical montane forest in South Ecuador. Annual Conference of the Society for Tropical Ecology, 26.-30. March 2018, Paris.

Fabian, T., Velescu, A., Wilcke, W. (2018): Sodium retention in the canopy of a tropical montane forest in South Ecuador. Annual Conference of the Society for Tropical Ecology, 26.-30. March 2018, Paris.

Velescu, A., Leimer, S., Willimann, E., Trachte, K., Peters, T., Rollenbeck, R., Bendix, J., Wilcke, W. (2016): Response of element budgets of a tropical montane forest to climate change and nitrogen deposition. Annual Conference of the Society for Tropical Ecology, 23.-26. April 2016, Göttingen.

Leimer, S., Velescu, A., Peña Herrera, J.M., Emck, P., Peters, T., Rollenbeck, R., Trachte, K., Bendix, J., Wilcke, W. (2015): Biogeochemical and biological responses of a tropical montane ecosystem in Ecuador to environmental change. Conference of the German Society of Soil Science, 5.-10. September 2015, München.

Bandowe, B.A.M., Meusel, H., Leimer, S., Velescu, A., Strecker, T., Oelmann, Y., Eisenhauer, N., Scheu, S., Hoffmann, T., Wilcke, W. (2015): The effect of plant diversity on polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) and their derivatives in soils: Results from the Jena Experiment. Conference of the German Society of Soil Science, 5.-10. September 2015, München.

Velescu, A., Homeier, J., Wilcke, W. (2015): Response of dissolved organic matter in ecosystem solutions to moderate N, P and N+P additions to a tropical montane forest in southern Ecuador. Annual Conference of the Society for Tropical Ecology, 7.-10. April 2015, Zürich.

Velescu, A., Homeier, J., Wilcke, W. (2014): Low-level N, P and N+P amendments to a tropical montane forest in Ecuador: Response of C and N cycles during the first five years. Annual Conference of the Society for Tropical Ecology, 24.-28. February 2014, Freising.

Camenzind, T., Donnellan Barraclough, A.M., Gensing, A., Hempel, S., Hertel, D., Homeier, J., Velescu, A., Rillig, M.C. (2013): Arbuscular mycorrhizal abundance and community structure observed in a tropical montane forest in response to nutrient additions. Annual Conference of the Society for Ecology, 9.-13. September 2013, Potsdam.

Velescu, A., Valarezo, C., Wilcke, W. (2012): Biogeochemical responses to increasing N deposition in a tropical mountain forest in southern Ecuador. Annual Conference of the Society for Tropical Ecology, 20.-24. February 2012, Erlangen.

Poster

Velescu, A., Fabian, T., Espinosa, C.I., Wilcke, W. (2024): The changing nitrogen cycle in a tropical montane forest in South Ecuador. Status Symposium of the DFG-Research Unit 2730, 21.-22. March 2024, Loja, Ecuador.

Fabian, T., Velescu, A., Espinosa, C.I., Wilcke, W. (2024): Nutrient uptake of three tree species in a tropical dry forest in Ecuador assessed via the xylem sap. Status Symposium of the DFG-Research Unit 2730, 21.-22. March 2024, Loja, Ecuador.

Velescu, A., Fabian, T., Espinosa, C.I., Wilcke, W. (2023): Stable N isotope ratios in the litterfall and organic layer of a tropical montane forest in South Ecuador. Conference of the German Society of Soil Science, 4.-8. September 2023, Halle.

Fabian, T., Velescu, A., Espinosa, C.I., Wilcke, W. (2023): Vertical distribution of δ13C values in soils to predict N mineralization in differently humid forests in Ecuador. Conference of the German Society of Soil Science, 4.-8. September 2023, Halle.

Fabian, T., Velescu, A., Nellessen, T., Wilcke, W. (2019): Sodium limitation of soil fauna affects decomposition processes in a tropical montane forest in South Ecuador. Status Symposium of the DFG Research Unit 2730, 7.-8. October 2019, Loja.

Fabian, T., Velescu, A., Camenzind, T., Wilcke, W., Rillig, M.C. (2017): Sodium in a tropical montane forest in South Ecuador: demand of phyllosphere microorganisms and effects on decomposition. Conference of the German Society of Soil Science, 3.-6. September 2017, Göttingen.

Velescu, A., Fabian, T., Wilcke, W. (2016): Nutrient availability drives dissolved organic matter cycling in a tropical montane forest of Ecuador. Annual Conference of the Society for Tropical Ecology, 23.-26. April 2016, Göttingen.

Fabian, T., Velescu, A., Camenzind, T., Wilcke, W., Rillig, M.C. (2016): Sodium shortage increases Na retention in the phyllosphere and affects decomposition processes in a tropical montane forest in South Ecuador. Annual Conference of the Society for Tropical Ecology, 23.-26. April 2016, Göttingen.

Leimer, S., Velescu, A., Valarezo, C., Wilcke, W. (2015): 17 years of biogeochemical data from a remote tropical montane forest in Ecuador: Tracing changes in the N cycle under environmental change. General Assembly of the European Geoscience Union, 12-17. April 2015, Wien.

Velescu, A., Camenzind, T., Herpich, L., Wilcke, W., Rillig, M.C. (2015): Do fungi need salt licks? Sodium shortage in tropical forests affects decomposition processes. Annual Conference of the Society for Tropical Ecology, 7.-10. April 2015, Zürich.

Camenzind, T., Hempel, S.,  Hertel, D., Homeier, J., Horn, S., Olsson, P.A., Velescu, A., Wilcke, W., Rillig, M.C. (2014): Nitrogen and phosphorus additions impact arbuscular mycorrhizal abundance and molecular diversity in a tropical montane forest in southern Ecuador. New Phytologist Symposium, 14.-16. Mai 2014, Zürich.

Velescu, A., Oelmann, Y., Wilcke, W. (2011): Ein 15N-Tracer-Experiment zur Aufklärung des  Zusammenhangs zwischen Pflanzendiversität und Stickstoffumsatzraten in einem experimentellen Grünlandökosystem. Conference of the German Society of Soil Science, 3.-9. September 2011. Berlin and Potsdam.

Publications

Referenced journal articles

2024
Alvarez, P.; Velescu, A.; Pierick, K.; Homeier, J.; Wilcke, W. (2024). Sources and Sinks of N in Ecosystem Solutions Along the Water Path Through a Tropical Montane Forest in Ecuador Assessed With δ N Values of Total Dissolved Nitrogen. Journal of Geophysical Research: Biogeosciences, 129 (10), e2024JG008043. doi:10.1029/2024JG008043 Full textFull text of the publication as PDF document
Barczyk, M. K.; Acosta-Rojas, D. C.; Iván Espinosa, C.; Homeier, J.; Tinoco, B. A.; Velescu, A.; Wilcke, W.; Schleuning, M.; Neuschulz, E. L. (2024). Environmental conditions differently shape leaf, seed and seedling trait composition between and within elevations of tropical montane forests. Oikos, 2024 (11), Art-Nr.: 10421. doi:10.1111/oik.10421 Full textFull text of the publication as PDF document
Pierick, K.; Leuschner, C.; Link, R. M.; Báez, S.; Velescu, A.; Wilcke, W.; Homeier, J. (2024). Above‐ and belowground strategies of tropical montane tree species are coordinated and driven by small‐scale nitrogen availability. Functional Ecology, 38 (6), 1364–1377. doi:10.1111/1365-2435.14554 Full textFull text of the publication as PDF document
2023
Acosta-Rojas, D. C.; Barczyk, M. K.; Espinosa, C. I.; Farwig, N.; Homeier, J.; Tiede, Y.; Tinoco, B. A.; Velescu, A.; Wilcke, W.; Neuschulz, E. L.; Schleuning, M. (2023). Abiotic factors similarly shape the distribution of fruit, seed and leaf traits in tropical fleshy-fruited tree communities. Acta Oecologica, 121, Art.-nr.: 103953. doi:10.1016/j.actao.2023.103953
Alvarez, P.; Velescu, A.; Pierick, K.; Homeier, J.; Wilcke, W. (2023). Carbon Stable Isotope Ratio of Dissolved Organic Matter as a Tool To Identify Its Sources and Transformations in a Tropical Montane Forest in Ecuador. Environmental Science & Technology, 57 (40), 14983–14993. doi:10.1021/acs.est.3c01623
Sentek, V.; Velescu, A.; Wilcke, W.; Henke, C.; Peters, N.; Welp, G.; Amelung, W. (2023). Nitrogen release from different polymer‐coated urea fertilizers in soil is affected by soil properties. Soil Use and Management, 39 (4), 1477–1490. doi:10.1111/sum.12905 Full textFull text of the publication as PDF document
2021
Dantas de Paula, M.; Forrest, M.; Langan, L.; Bendix, J.; Homeier, J.; Velescu, A.; Wilcke, W.; Hickler, T. (2021). Nutrient cycling drives plant community trait assembly and ecosystem functioning in a tropical mountain biodiversity hotspot. The new phytologist, 232 (2), 551–566. doi:10.1111/nph.17600 Full textFull text of the publication as PDF document
Velescu, A.; Homeier, J.; Bendix, J.; Valarezo, C.; Wilcke, W. (2021). Response of water-bound fluxes of potassium, calcium, magnesium and sodium to nutrient additions in an Ecuadorian tropical montane forest. Forest Ecology and Management, 501, Art.-Nr.: 119661. doi:10.1016/j.foreco.2021.119661
2020
Knoke, T.; Paul, C.; Rammig, A.; Gosling, E.; Hildebrandt, P.; Härtl, F.; Peters, T.; Richter, M.; Diertl, K.-H.; Castro, L. M.; Calvas, B.; Ochoa, S.; Valle-Carrión, L. A.; Hamer, U.; Tischer, A.; Potthast, K.; Windhorst, D.; Homeier, J.; Wilcke, W.; Velescu, A.; Gerique, A.; Pohle, P.; Adams, J.; Breuer, L.; Mosandl, R.; Beck, E.; Weber, M.; Stimm, B.; Silva, B.; Verburg, P. H.; Bendix, J. (2020). Accounting for multiple ecosystem services in a simulation of land‐use decisions: Does it reduce tropical deforestation?. Global change biology, 26 (4), 2403–2420. doi:10.1111/gcb.15003 Full textFull text of the publication as PDF document
Lama, S.; Velescu, A.; Leimer, S.; Weigelt, A.; Chen, H.; Eisenhauer, N.; Scheu, S.; Oelmann, Y.; Wilcke, W. (2020). Plant diversity influenced gross nitrogen mineralization, microbial ammonium consumption and gross inorganic N immobilization in a grassland experiment. Oecologia, 193 (3), 731–748. doi:10.1007/s00442-020-04717-6 Full textFull text of the publication as PDF document
Wilcke, W.; Velescu, A.; Leimer, S.; Blotevogel, S.; Alvarez, P.; Valarezo, C. (2020). Total organic carbon concentrations in ecosystem solutions of a remote tropical montane forest respond to global environmental change. Global change biology, 26 (12), 6989–7005. doi:10.1111/gcb.15351 Full textFull text of the publication as PDF document
2019
Bandowe, B. A. M.; Leimer, S.; Meusel, H.; Velescu, A.; Dassen, S.; Eisenhauer, N.; Hoffmann, T.; Oelmann, Y.; Wilcke, W. (2019). Plant diversity enhances the natural attenuation of polycyclic aromatic compounds (PAHs and oxygenated PAHs) in grassland soils. Soil biology & biochemistry, 129, 60–70. doi:10.1016/j.soilbio.2018.10.017
Wilcke, W.; Velescu, A.; Leimer, S.; Bigalke, M.; Boy, J.; Valarezo, C. (2019). Temporal Trends of Phosphorus Cycling in a Tropical Montane Forest in Ecuador During 14 Years. Journal of geophysical research / Biogeosciences, 124 (5), 1370–1386. doi:10.1029/2018JG004942
2017
Wilcke, W.; Velescu, A.; Leimer, S.; Bigalke, M.; Boy, J.; Valarezo, C. (2017). Biological versus geochemical control and environmental change drivers of the base metal budgets of a tropical montane forest in Ecuador during 15 years. Biogeochemistry, 136 (2), 167–189. doi:10.1007/s10533-017-0386-x
2014
Camenzind, T.; Hempel, S.; Homeier, J.; Horn, S.; Velescu, A.; Wilcke, W.; Rillig, M. C. (2014). Nitrogen and phosphorus additions impact arbuscular mycorrhizal abundance and molecular diversity in a tropical montane forest. Global Change Biology, 20 (12), 3646–3659. doi:10.1111/gcb.12618
2010
Velescu, A.; Meßmer, T.; Scholten, T.; Kühn, P. (2010). Removal of short-range order minerals prior to grain size analysis of volcanic ash soils. Journal of plant nutrition and soil science, 173 (6), 799–804. doi:10.1002/jpln.201000111
Non-referenced journal articles

2023
Fabian, T.; Velescu, A.; Espinosa, C. I.; Wilcke, W. (2023). Nitrogen supply in the soils of the tropical montane dry forest in the Laipuna Reserve. Tabebuia Bulletin - DFG Research Unit 2730, 10, 10–11. doi:10.5678/9xpj-5b08
2019
Fabian, T.; Velescu, A.; Wilcke, W. (2019). Soil development on heterogeneous parent material under tropical montane forest in South Ecuador. Tabebuia Bulletin - DFG Research Unit 2730, 6, 8. doi:10.5678/lcrs/for2730.cit.1736
2015
Fabian, T.; Velescu, A.; Wilcke, W. (2015). Canopy Organisms Retain Sodium in the Tropical Montane Forest. Tabebuia Bulletin - DFG Research PAK 823-825, 4, 14–15. doi:10.5678/lcrs/pak823-825.cit.1412
Velescu, A.; Wilcke, W. (2015). Increased nitrogen and phosphorus availability stimulates the mineralization of dissolved organic matter in the tropical montane forest of South Ecuador. Tabebuia Bulletin - DFG Research PAK 823-825, 3, 12–13. doi:10.5678/lcrs/pak823-825.cit.1399
2012
Velescu, A.; Valarezo, C.; Wilcke, W. (2012). Response of the forest to elevated nitrogen deposition. TMF Newsletter of the DFG Research Unit 816, 16, 12. doi:10.5678/lcrs/for816.cit.1081
Book chapters

2024
Velescu, A.; Fabian, T.; Wilcke, W. (2024). Soil properties and development in the tropical dry forest. Biodiversity Hotspot : Tropical Seasonal Dry Forests. Ed. F.X. Bogner & E. Beck, 70–77, Naturaleza y Cultura Internacional. doi:10.5678/sypj-xq74
2020
Wilcke, W.; Velescu, A.; Leimer, S.; Valarezo, C. (2020). Water and Nutrient Budgets of Organic Layers and Mineral Topsoils Under Tropical Montane Forest in Ecuador in Response to 15 Years of Environmental Change. Forest-Water Interactions. Ed.: D.F. Levia, 565–586, Springer Nature Switzerland. doi:10.1007/978-3-030-26086-6_23
2016
Velescu, A.; Wilcke, W. (2016). Rising Nitrogen Inputs to the Tropical Mountain Rain Forests. Biodiversity Hotspot : tropical mountain rainforest. Ed.: F.X. Bogner, 80–85, Naturaleza y Cultura Internacional.