Dr. Anja Miltner
Contact/Address:
Phone +49 341 235 482332
Fax +49 341 235 452332
Office: building 1.0 Room 116
Areas of Expertise & Research
My research focuses on the transformation of organic compounds (both natural and anthropogenic) in complex environmental systems, particular in soils. I am using incubation experiments with isotopically (both radioactive and stable) labelled compounds to trace the fate of selected compounds and to reveal microbial processes in soil. I am particularly interested in
- contribution of microbial biomass to the formation of soil organic matter
- contribution of microbial biomass to the formation of non-extractable residues of contaminants in soil
- reasons and consequences of limited bioavailability of xenobiotics in soil for risk assessment
- effects of changing redox potential and water contents on the transformation of organic compounds
- interactions between soil microorganisms and soil physical properties
Curriculum Vitae
Since 2004
Senior Scientist at the Helmholtz Centre for Environmental Research - UFZ, Leipzig, Germany.
2003-2004
parental leave
2000-2003
PostDoc at the Department of Bioremediation of the Helmholtz Centre for Environmental Research - UFZ, Leipzig Germany
1997-2000
PostDoc at the Department of Marine Geology (Prof. Dr. Kay-Christian Emeis) at the Baltic Sea Research Institute Warnemünde, Germany
1992-1997
Ph.D in Geoecology/Soil Science at the Institute of Soil Science and Soil Geography (Prof. Dr. Wolfgang Zech) of the University of Bayreuth, Germany
1985-1991
Study of Geoecology at the Institute of Soil Science and Soil Geography (Prof. Dr. Wolfgang Zech) of the University of Bayreuth, Germany
Projects
2022-2024
"Thermodynamics of microbial turnover of organic compounds in soil - matter and energy flux under varying environmental conditions (water, nutrient availability, temperature)" (TherMic), funded by DFG in the framework of SPP 2322 "Soil Systems"
2019-2022
Electricity driven Low Energy and Chemical input Technology foR Accelerated bioremediation (ELECTRA), funded by the EU
2018-2022
Elucidation of degradation processes in soil, funded by Bayer Crop Science
2017-2020
Assessing the Fate of Pesticides and Waterborne Contaminants in Agricultural Crops and their Environmental Risks (AWARE), funded by the EU
2016-2020
Impact of bacterial biomass on the surface wettability of soil particles under varying moisture
conditions, funded by DFG
2014-2017
Characterization of bound residues in soil, based on the example of the herbizide pendimethalin, funded by BASF
2008-2012
"Model Driven Soil Probing, Site Assessment and Evaluation" (MODELProbe), funded by the EU (FP7)
2007-2014
"Dynamic (redox) interfaces in soil - Carbon turnover in microbial food webs and impact on soil organic matter (DynaCARB) in the framework of the DFG priority program 1315 "Biogeochemical Interfaces in Soils"
2007-2011
"Risk Assessment and Environmental Safety Affected by Compound Bioavailability in Multiphase Environments" (RAISEBIO), a Marie Curie EST action funded by the EU (FP6)
2000-2009
"Mass balance of microbial biomass contribution to the formation of refractory soil organic matter using isotope tracer techniques – (cells, cell components,CO2, and NH4) (BIOREFRAK) in the framework of the DFG priority program 1090 "Soils as source and sink for CO2 - mechanisms and regulation of organic matter stabilization in soils"
Memberships
- Verband für Geoökologie in Deutschland
- Deutsche Bodenkundliche Gesellschaft
Publications
Recent publications
2022 (3)
- Jing, Y., Miltner, A., Eggen, T., Kästner, M., Nowak, K.M. (2022):
Microcosm test for pesticide fate assessment in planted water filters: 13C,15N-labeled glyphosate as an example
Water Res. 226 , art. 119211
full text (doi) - Karagulyan, M., Goebel, M.-O., Diehl, D., Abu Quba, A.A., Kästner, M., Bachmann, J., Wick, L.Y., Schaumann, G.E., Miltner, A. (2022):
Water stress-driven changes in bacterial cell surface properties
Appl. Environ. Microb. 88 (21), e00732-22
full text (doi) - Muskus, A.M., Miltner, A., Hamer, U., Nowak, K.M. (2022):
Microbial community composition and glyphosate degraders of two soils under the influence of temperature, total organic carbon and pH
Environ. Pollut. 297 , art. 118790
full text (doi)
2021 (4)
- Butkovskyi, A., Jing, Y., Bergheim, H., Lazar, D., Gulyaeva, K., Odenmarck, S.R., Norli, H.R., Nowak, K.M., Miltner, A., Kästner, M., Eggen, T. (2021):
Retention and distribution of pesticides in planted filter microcosms designed for treatment of agricultural surface runoff
Sci. Total Environ. 778 , art. 146114
full text (doi) - Jing, Y., Krauss, M., Zschieschang, S., Miltner, A., Butkovskyi, A., Eggen, T., Kästner, M., Nowak, K.M. (2021):
Superabsorbent polymer as a supplement substrate of constructed wetland to retain pesticides from agricultural runoff
Water Res. 207 , art. 117776
full text (doi) - Kästner, M., Miltner, A., Thiele-Bruhn, S., Liang, C. (2021):
Microbial necromass in soils—Linking microbes to soil processes and carbon turnover
Front. Environ. Sci. 9 , art. 756378
full text (doi) - Wang, S., Miltner, A., Muskus, A.M., Nowak, K.M. (2021):
Microbial activity and metamitron degrading microbial communities differ between soil and water-sediment systems
J. Hazard. Mater. 408 , art. 124293
full text (doi)
2020 (6)
- Luks, A.-K., Zegarski, T., Nowak, K.M., Miltner, A., Kästner, M., Matthies, M., Schmidt, B., Schäffer, A. (2020):
Fate of pendimethalin in soil and characterization of non-extractable residues (NER)
Sci. Total Environ. 753 , art. 141870
full text (doi) - Miltner, A., Kästner, M. (2020):
Mikrobielle Nekromasse im Boden und deren Bedeutung für Bodenprozesse
Biospektrum 26 (3), 333 - 335
full text (doi) - Muskus, A.M., Krauss, M., Miltner, A., Hamer, U., Nowak, K.M. (2020):
Degradation of glyphosate in a Colombian soil is influenced by temperature, total organic carbon content and pH
Environ. Pollut. 259 , art. 113767
full text (doi) - Nowak, K.M., Miltner, A., Kästner, M. (2020):
Environmental fate assessment of chemicals and the formation of biogenic non-extractable residues (bioNER)
In: Ortega-Calvo, J.J., Parsons, J.R. (eds.)
Bioavailability of organic chemicals in soil and sediment
Hdb. Env. Chem. 100
Springer, Berlin, Heidelberg, New York, p. 81 - 111
full text (doi) - Nowak, K.M., Miltner, A., Poll, C., Kandeler, E., Streck, T., Pagel, H. (2020):
Plant litter enhances degradation of the herbicide MCPA and increases formation of biogenic non-extractable residues in soil
Environ. Int. 142 , 105867
full text (doi) - Zheng, T., Miltner, A., Liang, C., Nowak, K.M., Kästner, M. (2020):
Turnover of gram-negative bacterial biomass-derived carbon through the microbial food web of an agricultural soil
Soil Biol. Biochem. 152 , art. 108070
full text (doi)
2019 (1)
- Muskus, A.M., Krauss, M., Miltner, A., Hamer, U., Nowak, K.M. (2019):
Effect of temperature, pH and total organic carbon variations on microbial turnover of 13C315N-glyphosate in agricultural soil
Sci. Total Environ. 658 , 697 - 707
full text (doi)
2018 (5)
- Kaestner, M., Nowak, K., Brock, A.L., Miltner, A., Schaeffer, A., Trapp, S. (2018):
Classification and modelling of non-extractable residues (NER) formation from pesticides in soil
Abstr. Paper Am. Chem. Soc. 256 , 161-AGRO - Kästner, M., Miltner, A. (2018):
SOM and microbes—what is left from microbial life
In: Garcia, C., Nannipieri, P., Hernandez, T. (eds.)
The future of soil carbon : its conservation and formation
Elsevier, London, p. 125 - 163
full text (doi) - König, S., Worrich, A., Banitz, T., Centler, F., Harms, H., Kästner, M., Miltner, A., Wick, L.Y., Thullner, M., Frank, K. (2018):
Spatiotemporal disturbance characteristics determine functional stability and collapse risk of simulated microbial ecosystems
Sci. Rep. 8 , art. 9488
full text (doi) - König, S., Worrich, A., Banitz, T., Harms, H., Kästner, M., Miltner, A., Wick, L.Y., Frank, K., Thullner, M., Centler, F. (2018):
Functional resistance to recurrent spatially heterogeneous disturbances is facilitated by increased activity of surviving bacteria in a virtual ecosystem
Front. Microbiol. 9 , art. 734
full text (doi) - Nowak, K.M., Telscher, M., Seidel, E., Miltner, A. (2018):
Unraveling microbial turnover and non-extractable residues of bromoxynil in soil microcosms with 13C-isotope probing
Environ. Pollut. 242 , 769 - 777
full text (doi)
2017 (8)
- Adam, I.K.U., Duarte, M., Pathmanathan, J., Miltner, A., Brüls, T., Kästner, M. (2017):
Microbial communities in pyrene amended soil–compost mixture and fertilized soil
AMB Express 7 , art. 7
full text (doi) - König, S., Worrich, A., Centler, F., Wick, L.Y., Miltner, A., Kästner, M., Thullner, M., Frank, K., Banitz, T. (2017):
Modelling functional resilience of microbial ecosystems: Analysis of governing processes
Environ. Modell. Softw. 89 , 31 - 39
full text (doi) - López-Martín, M., Nowak, K.M., Miltner, A., Knicker, H. (2017):
Incorporation of N from burnt and unburnt 15N grass residues into the peptidic fraction of fire affected and unaffected soils
J. Soils Sediments 17 , 1554 - 1564
full text (doi) - Pronk, G.J., Heister, K., Vogel, C., Babin, D., Bachmann, J., Ding, G.-C., Ditterich, F., Gerzabek, M.H., Giebler, J., Hemkemeyer, M., Kandeler, E., Mouvenchery, Y.K., Miltner, A., Poll, C., Schaumann, G.E., Smalla, K., Steinbach, A., Tanuwidjaja, I., Tebbe, C.C., Wick, L.Y., Woche, S.K., Totsche, K.U., Schloter, M., Kögel-Knabner, I. (2017):
Interaction of minerals, organic matter, and microorganisms during biogeochemical interface formation as shown by a series of artificial soil experiments
Biol. Fert. Soils 53 (1), 9 - 22
full text (doi) - Trellu, C., Miltner, A., Gallo, R., Huguenot, D., van Hullebusch, E.D., Esposito, G., Oturan, M.A., Kästner, M. (2017):
Characteristics of PAH tar oil contaminated soils—Black particles, resins and implications for treatment strategies
J. Hazard. Mater. 327 , 206 - 215
full text (doi) - Wang, S., Miltner, A., Kästner, M., Schäffer, A., Nowak, K.M. (2017):
Transformation of metamitron in water-sediment systems: Detailed insight into the biodegradation processes
Sci. Total Environ. 578 , 100 - 108
full text (doi) - Wang, S., Miltner, A., Nowak, K.M. (2017):
Identification of degradation routes of metamitron in soil microcosms using 13C-isotope labeling
Environ. Pollut. 220 (Part B), 927 - 935
full text (doi) - Worrich, A., Stryhanyuk, H., Musat, N., König, S., Banitz, T., Centler, F., Frank, K., Thullner, M., Harms, H., Richnow, H.-H., Miltner, A., Kästner, M., Wick, L.Y. (2017):
Mycelium-mediated transfer of water and nutrients stimulates bacterial activity in dry and oligotrophic environments
Nat. Commun. 8 , art. 15472
full text (doi)
2016 (11)
- Coban, H., Miltner, A., Centler, F., Kästner, M. (2016):
Effects of compost, biochar and manure on carbon mineralization of biogas residues applied to soil
Eur. J. Soil Sci. 67 (2), 217 - 225
full text (doi) - Kästner, M., Miltner, A. (2016):
Application of compost for effective bioremediation of organic contaminants and pollutants in soil
Appl. Microbiol. Biotechnol. 100 (8), 3433 - 3449
full text (doi) - Kästner, M., Miltner, A., Nowak, K.M. (2016):
Pestizide im Boden – Was bleibt von ihnen?
Biospektrum 22 (2), 208 - 210
full text (doi) - Kästner, M., Nowak, K.M., Miltner, A., Schäffer, A. (2016):
(Multiple) Isotope probing approaches to trace the fate of environmental chemicals and the formation of non-extractable ‘bound’ residues
Curr. Opin. Biotechnol. 41 , 73 - 82
full text (doi) - Mouvenchery, Y.K., Miltner, A., Schurig, C., Kästner, M., Schaumann, G.E. (2016):
Linking atomic force microscopy with nanothermal analysis to assess microspatial distribution of material characteristics in young soils
J. Plant Nutr. Soil Sci. 179 (1), 48 - 59
full text (doi) - Rein, A., Adam, I.K.U., Miltner, A., Brumme, K., Kästner, M., Trapp, S. (2016):
Impact of bacterial activity on turnover of insoluble hydrophobic substrates (phenanthrene and pyrene)—Model simulations for prediction of bioremediation success
J. Hazard. Mater. 306 , 105 - 114
full text (doi) - Schaeffer, A., Amelung, W., Hollert, H., Kaestner, M., Kandeler, E., Kruse, J., Miltner, A., Ottermanns, R., Pagel, H., Peth, S., Poll, C., Rambold, G., Schloter, M., Schulz, S., Streck, T., Roß-Nickoll, M. (2016):
The impact of chemical pollution on the resilience of soils under multiple stresses: A conceptual framework for future research
Sci. Total Environ. 568 , 1076 - 1085
full text (doi) - Schweigert, M., Herrmann, S., Miltner, A., Fester, T., Kästner, M. (2016):
Corrigendum to "Fate of ectomycorrhizal fungal biomass in a soil bioreactor system and its contribution to soil organic matter formation" [Soil Biol. Biogeochem. 88 (2015) 120–127]
Soil Biol. Biochem. 92 , 242
full text (doi) - Wang, S., Seiwert, B., Kästner, M., Miltner, A., Schäffer, A., Reemtsma, T., Yang, Q., Nowak, K.M. (2016):
(Bio)degradation of glyphosate in water-sediment microcosms – A stable isotope co-labeling approach
Water Res. 99 , 91 - 100
full text (doi) - Worrich, A., König, S., Banitz, T., Centler, F., Frank, K., Thullner, M., Harms, H., Miltner, A., Wick, L.Y., Kaestner, M. (2016):
Bacterial dispersal promotes biodegradation in heterogeneous systems exposed to osmotic stress
Front. Microbiol. 7 , art. 1214
full text (doi) - Worrich, A., König, S., Miltner, A., Banitz, T., Centler, F., Frank, K., Thullner, M., Harms, H., Kästner, M., Wick, L.Y. (2016):
Mycelium-like networks increase bacterial dispersal, growth, and biodegradation in a model ecosystem at various water potentials
Appl. Environ. Microb. 82 (10), 2902 - 2908
full text (doi)
2015 (9)
- Achtenhagen, J., Goebel, M.-O., Miltner, A., Woche, S.K., Kästner, M. (2015):
Bacterial impact on the wetting properties of soil minerals
Biogeochemistry 122 (2-3), 269 - 280
full text (doi) - Adam, I.K.U., Miltner, A., Kästner, M. (2015):
Degradation of 13C-labeled pyrene in soil-compost mixtures and fertilized soil
Appl. Microbiol. Biotechnol. 99 (22), 9813 - 9824
full text (doi) - Coban, H., Miltner, A., Elling, F.J., Hinrichs, K.-U., Kästner, M. (2015):
The contribution of biogas residues to soil organic matter formation and CO2 emissions in an arable soil
Soil Biol. Biochem. 86 , 108 - 115
full text (doi) - Coban, H., Miltner, A., Kästner, M. (2015):
Fate of fatty acids derived from biogas residues in arable soil
Soil Biol. Biochem. 91 , 58 - 64
full text (doi) - Hachicho, N., Reithel, S., Miltner, A., Heipieper, H.J., Küster, E., Luckenbach, T. (2015):
Body mass parameters, lipid profiles and protein contents of zebrafish embryos and effects of 2,4-dinitrophenol exposure
PLOS One 10 (8), e0134755
full text (doi) - Ludwig, M., Achtenhagen, J., Miltner, A., Eckhardt, K.-U., Leinweber, P., Emmerling, C., Thiele-Bruhn, S. (2015):
Microbial contribution to SOM quantity and quality in density fractions of temperate arable soils
Soil Biol. Biochem. 81 , 311 - 322
full text (doi) - Rein, A., Trapp, S., Adam, I.K.U., Miltner, A., Smith, K., Marchal, G., Gosewinkel, U., Mayer, P., Kästner, M., Clausen, L. (2015):
Simulation of bioremediation options by microbial degradation of aged PAH contamination in soils
AquaConSoil Copenhagen 2015 : 13th International UFZ-Deltares Conference on Sustainable Use and Management of Soil, Sediment and Water Resources, 9-12 June 2015, Copenhagen, Denmark
p. 124 - 125
full text (url) - Schurig, C., Müller, C.W., Höschen, C., Prager, A., Kothe, E., Beck, H., Miltner, A., Kästner, M. (2015):
Methods for visualising active microbial toluene and benzene degraders in in situ microcosms
Appl. Microbiol. Biotechnol. 99 (2), 957 - 968
full text (doi) - Schweigert, M., Herrmann, S., Miltner, A., Fester, T., Kästner, M. (2015):
Fate of ectomycorrhizal fungal biomass in a soil bioreactor system and its contribution to soil organic matter formation
Soil Biol. Biochem. 88 , 120 - 127
full text (doi)
2014 (7)
- Adam, I.K.U., Rein, A., Miltner, A., Fulgêncio, A.C.D., Trapp, S., Kästner, M. (2014):
Experimental results and integrated modelling of bacterial growth on insoluble hydrophobic substrate (phenanthrene)
Environ. Sci. Technol. 48 (15), 8717 - 8726
full text (doi) - Kaestner, M., Nowak, K.M., Miltner, A., Trapp, S., Schaeffer, A. (2014):
Classification and modelling of non-extractable residue (NER) formation from pesticides in soil: A synthesis
Abstr. Paper Am. Chem. Soc. 248 , 799-AGRO - Kästner, M., Nowak, K.M., Miltner, A., Trapp, S., Schäffer, A. (2014):
Classification and modelling of nonextractable residue (NER) formation of xenobiotics in soil — a synthesis
Crit. Rev. Environ. Sci. Technol. 44 (19), 2107 - 2171
full text (doi) - Miltner, A., Kästner, M. (2014):
Ökosystem Boden : der Beitrag von Mikroorganismen zur Bodenfruchtbarkeit
Biospektrum 20 (6), 611 - 614
full text (doi) - Schurig, C., Kästner, M., Miltner, A., Zschornack, L. (2014):
Erkundung des mikrobiellen Schadstoffabbaupotenzials in-situ ohne Messstellen: DP-BACTRAPs
In: Franzius, V., Altenbockum, M., Gerhold, T. (Hrsg.)
Handbuch Altlastensanierung und Flächenmanagement : HdA. 71. Aktualisierung
Verlagsgruppe Hüthig Jehle Rehm, München, S. 85 - 106 - Schurig, C., Melo, V.A., Miltner, A., Kaestner, M. (2014):
Characterisation of microbial activity in the framework of natural attenuation without groundwater monitoring wells?: a new Direct-Push probe
Environ. Sci. Pollut. Res. 21 (15), 9002 - 9015
full text (doi) - Schurig, C., Miltner, A., Kaestner, M. (2014):
Hexadecane and pristane degradation potential at the level of the aquifer – evidence from sediment incubations compared to in-situ microcosms
Environ. Sci. Pollut. Res. 21 (15), 9081 - 9094
full text (doi)
2013 (5)
- Girardi, C., Nowak, K.M., Carranza-Diaz, O., Lewkow, B., Miltner, A., Gehre, M., Schäffer, A., Kästner, M. (2013):
Microbial degradation of the pharmaceutical ibuprofen and the herbicide 2,4-D in water and soil - use and limits of data obtained from aqueous systems for predicting their fate in soil
Sci. Total Environ. 444 , 32 - 42
full text (doi) - Hagedorn, F., Hiltbrunner, D., Streit, K., Ekblad, A., Lindahl, B., Miltner, A., Frey, B., Handa, I.T., Hättenschwiler, S. (2013):
Nine years of CO2 enrichment at the Alpine treeline stimulates soil respiration but does not alter soil microbial communities
Soil Biol. Biochem. 57 , 390 - 400
full text (doi) - Nowak, K.M., Girardi, C., Miltner, A., Gehre, M., Schäffer, A., Kästner, M. (2013):
Contribution of microorganisms to non-extractable residue formation during biodegradation of ibuprofen in soil
Sci. Total Environ. 445-446 , 377 - 384
full text (doi) - Schurig, C., Smittenberg, R., Berger, J., Kraft, F., Woche, S.K., Goebel, M.-O., Heipieper, H.J., Miltner, A., Kästner, M. (2013):
Microbial cell-envelope fragments and the formation of soil organic matter - a case study from a glacier forefield
Biogeochemistry 113 (1-3), 595 - 612
full text (doi) - Schütze, E., Miltner, A., Nietzsche, S., Achtenhagen, J., Klose, M., Merten, D., Greyer, M., Roth, M., Kästner, M., Kothe, E. (2013):
Live and death of streptomyces in soil—what happens to the biomass?
J. Plant Nutr. Soil Sci. 176 (5), 665 - 673
full text (doi)
2012 (2)
- Loick-Wilde, N., Dutz, J., Miltner, A., Gehre, M., Montoya, J.P., Voss, M. (2012):
Incorporation of nitrogen from N2 fixation into amino acids of zooplankton
Limnol. Oceanogr. 57 (1), 199 - 210
full text (doi) - Miltner, A., Bombach, P., Schmidt-Brücken, B., Kästner, M. (2012):
SOM genesis: microbial biomass a significant source
Biogeochemistry 111 (1-3), 41 - 55
full text (doi)