Dr. Anja Miltner
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
- stabilization of soil organic matter and carbon sequestration in soils
- 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 physicochemical properties
- understanding how matter and energy fluxes in the soil systems are linked and in how far these links can explain soil carbon turnover
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
2022-2028
"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", member of the Scientific Committee of the SPP
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
2025 (2)
- Simon, C., Miltner, A., Mulder, I., Kaiser, K., Lorenz, M., Thiele-Bruhn, S., Lechtenfeld, O.J. (2025):
Long-term effects of manure addition on soil organic matter molecular composition: Carbon transformation as a major driver of energetic potential
Soil Biol. Biochem. 205 , art. 109755 10.1016/j.soilbio.2025.109755 - Yang, S., Rupp, A., Kästner, M., Harms, H., Miltner, A., Maskow, T. (2025):
Experimental access to cellulose oxidation and the dynamics of microbial carbon and energy use in artificial soil under varying temperature, water content, and C/N ratio
Soil Biol. Biochem. 203 , art. 109717 10.1016/j.soilbio.2025.109717
2024 (7)
- Kästner, M., Maskow, T., Miltner, A., Lorenz, M., Thiele-Bruhn, S. (2024):
Assessing energy fluxes and carbon use in soil as controlled by microbial activity - A thermodynamic perspective A perspective paper
Soil Biol. Biochem. 193 , art. 109403 10.1016/j.soilbio.2024.109403 - Kästner, M., Maskow, T., Miltner, A., Lorenz, M., Thiele-Bruhn, S., Bölscher, T., Blagodatsky, S., Streck, T., Pagel, H., Blagodatskaya, E. (2024):
Gibbs energy or enthalpy - What is relevant for microbial C-turnover in soils? A letter to Wang & Kuzyakov, GBC, 2023
Glob. Change Biol. 30 (2), e17183 10.1111/gcb.17183 - Maskow, T., Yang, S., Di Lodovico, E., Rupp, A., Fricke, C., Miltner, A., Kästner, M. (2024):
Expanding understanding: Investigating the information value of calorespirometric ratio in dynamic processes of soil microbial growth using calorimetry
EGU General Assembly 2024, Vienna, Austria, 14–19 Apr 2024
EGUsphere
Copernicus Publications, EGU24-6520 10.5194/egusphere-egu24-6520 - Miltner, A., Kästner, M., Maskow, T., Lorenz, M., Thiele-Bruhn, S. (2024):
Thermodynamic control of microbial turnover of organic substrates in soils
EGU General Assembly 2024, Vienna, Austria, 14–19 Apr 2024
EGUsphere
Copernicus Publications, EGU24-8948 10.5194/egusphere-egu24-8948 - Stumpf, K., Simon, C., Miltner, A., Maskow, T., Lechtenfeld, O. (2024):
Deciphering the energy use channels in soil organic matter: Impacts of long-term farmyard manure addition and microbial necromass revealed by LC-FT-ICR-MS
ChemRxiv 10.26434/chemrxiv-2024-txqzj - Yang, S., Di Lodovico, E., Rupp, A., Harms, H., Fricke, C., Miltner, A., Kaestner, M., Maskow, T. (2024):
Enhancing insights: exploring the information content of calorespirometric ratio in dynamic soil microbial growth processes through calorimetry
Front. Microbiol. 15 , art. 1321059 10.3389/fmicb.2024.1321059 - Zhu, M., Yuan, L., Zhou, F., Ma, S., Zhang, W., Miltner, A., He, H., Zhang, X. (2024):
Time-dependent regulation of soil aggregates on fertilizer N retention and the influence of straw mulching
Soil Biol. Biochem. 198 , art. 109551 10.1016/j.soilbio.2024.109551
2023 (4)
- Abu Quba, A.A., Goebel, M.-O., Karagulyan, M., Miltner, A., Kästner, M., Bachmann, J., Schaumann, G.E., Diehl, D. (2023):
Hypertonic stress induced changes of Pseudomonas fluorescens adhesion towards soil minerals studied by AFM
Sci. Rep. 13 , art. 17146 10.1038/s41598-023-44256-7 - Abu Quba, A.A., Goebel, M.-O., Karagulyan, M., Miltner, A., Kästner, M., Bachmann, J., Schaumann, G.E., Diehl, D. (2023):
Changes in cell surface properties of Pseudomonas fluorescens by adaptation to NaCl induced hypertonic stress
FEMS Microbes 4 , xtac028 10.1093/femsmc/xtac028 - Thiele-Bruhn, S., Kästner, M., Miltner, A., Maskow, T., Lorenz, M. (2023):
SoilSystems, a research program on systems ecology of soils – energy discharge modulated by microbiome and boundary conditions
EGU General Assembly 2023, Vienna, Austria, 24–28 Apr 2023
EGUsphere
Copernicus Publications, EGU23-16304 10.5194/egusphere-egu23-16304 - Zheng, T., Miltner, A., Liang, C., Nowak, K.M., Kästner, M. (2023):
Turnover of bacterial biomass to soil organic matter via fungal biomass and its metabolic implications
Soil Biol. Biochem. 180 , art. 108995 10.1016/j.soilbio.2023.108995
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 10.1016/j.watres.2022.119211 - 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 10.1128/aem.00732-22 - 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 10.1016/j.envpol.2022.118790
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 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2021.146114 - 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 10.1016/j.watres.2021.117776 - 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 10.3389/fenvs.2021.756378 - 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 10.1016/j.jhazmat.2020.124293
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 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2020.141870 - Miltner, A., Kästner, M. (2020):
Mikrobielle Nekromasse im Boden und deren Bedeutung für Bodenprozesse [Microbial necromass in the soil and its importance for soil processes]
Biospektrum 26 (3), 333 - 335 10.1007/s12268-020-1351-0 - 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 10.1016/j.envpol.2019.113767 - 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 10.1007/698_2020_515 - 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 , art. 105867 10.1016/j.envint.2020.105867 - 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 10.1016/j.soilbio.2020.108070
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 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2018.12.195
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 10.1016/B978-0-12-811687-6.00005-5 - 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 10.1038/s41598-018-27785-4 - 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 10.3389/fmicb.2018.00734 - 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 10.1016/j.envpol.2018.07.049
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 10.1186/s13568-016-0306-9 - 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 10.1016/j.envsoft.2016.11.025 - 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 10.1007/s11368-016-1624-x - 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 10.1007/s00374-016-1161-1 - 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 10.1016/j.jhazmat.2016.12.062 - 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 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2016.10.125 - 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 10.1016/j.envpol.2016.10.078 - 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 10.1038/ncomms15472
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 10.1111/ejss.12326 - 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 10.1007/s00253-016-7378-y - Kästner, M., Miltner, A., Nowak, K.M. (2016):
Pestizide im Boden – Was bleibt von ihnen? [Pesticides in the soil - What remains of them?]
Biospektrum 22 (2), 208 - 210 10.1007/s12268-016-0673-4 - 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 10.1016/j.copbio.2016.05.002 - 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 10.1002/jpln.201500082 - 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 10.1016/j.jhazmat.2015.12.005 - 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 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2016.06.161 - 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 10.1016/j.soilbio.2015.09.004 - 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 10.1016/j.watres.2016.04.041 - 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 10.3389/fmicb.2016.01214 - 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 10.1128/AEM.03901-15
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 10.1007/s10533-014-0040-9 - 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 10.1007/s00253-015-6822-8 - 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 10.1016/j.soilbio.2015.03.023 - Coban, H., Miltner, A., Kästner, M. (2015):
Fate of fatty acids derived from biogas residues in arable soil
Soil Biol. Biochem. 91 , 58 - 64 10.1016/j.soilbio.2015.08.027 - 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 10.1371/journal.pone.0134755 - 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 10.1016/j.soilbio.2014.12.002 - 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
124 - 125 - 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 10.1007/s00253-014-6037-4 - 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 10.1016/j.soilbio.2015.05.012