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Agriculture
Soil Science

Soil fauna and soil function in the fabric of the food web

Profile image of Mirjam PullemanMirjam PullemanProfile image of Abdoulaye MandoAbdoulaye Mando

2007, Pedobiologia

https://doi.org/10.1016/J.PEDOBI.2006.10.007
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16 pages

Abstract
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This article investigates the complex interrelationships between soil fauna and soil functions, emphasizing the role of plants as ecosystem engineers. It challenges the conventional perspective by illustrating how both soil biota and vegetation are crucial to the terrestrial food web, affecting processes such as primary production and decomposition. Additionally, it highlights the importance of root systems and the rhizosphere in modifying biotic interactions and nutrient cycling within the soil.

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Soil biota accelerate decomposition in high-elevation forests by specializing in the breakdown of litter produced by the plant species above them
Edward Ayres

Journal of Ecology, 2009

There is mounting evidence that leaf litter typically decomposes more rapidly beneath the plant species it derived from than beneath the different plant species, which has been called home-field advantage (HFA). It has been suggested that this HFA results from the local adaptation of soil communities to decompose the litter that they encounter most often, which probably comes from the plant species above them. 2. To test this hypothesis and to investigate how HFA varies over time and in relation to litter quality, we performed the first detailed assessment of HFA in relation to litter decomposition. We monitored decomposition over time in two reciprocal litter transplant experiments involving three high-elevation tree species that differ in litter quality. The three tree species used were trembling aspen (Populus tremuloides), lodgepole pine (Pinus contorta) and Engelmann spruce (Picea engelmannii). 3. First, we incubated litter from each of these species with soil biota extracted from stands of each tree species in a laboratory experiment and observed greater cumulative respiration, a measure of decomposition, when litter was incubated with its home soil biota. Second, we performed a field experiment, which demonstrated that the decomposition HFA also occurred under field conditions. In addition, this experiment demonstrated that despite increased mass loss at home, litter also immobilized more nitrogen when in its home environment. In both experiments, the HFA was most pronounced for pine litter, which is consistent with the hypothesis that HFA increases with decreasing litter quality. 4. Synthesis. As well as demonstrating conclusively that soil communities specialize in decomposing the litter produced by the plant species above them, our data challenge the widely held view that soil organisms are largely functionally redundant.

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Fine root decomposition rates do not mirror those of leaf litter among temperate tree species
Peter Reich

Oecologia, 2009

Elucidating the function of and patterns among plant traits above ground has been a major research focus, while the patterns and functioning of belowground traits remain less well understood. Even less well known is whether species differences in leaf traits and their associated biogeochemical effects are mirrored by differences in root traits and their effects. We studied fine root decomposition and N dynamics in a common garden study of 11 temperate European and North American tree species (Abies alba, Acer platanoides, Acer pseudoplatanus, Carpinus betulus, Fagus sylvatica, Larix decidua, Picea abies, Pseudotsuga menziesii, Quercus robur, Quercus rubra and Tilia cordata) to determine whether leaf litter and fine root decomposition rates are correlated across species as well as which species traits influence microbial decomposition above versus below ground. Decomposition and N immobilization rates of fine roots were unrelated to those of leaf litter across species. The lack of correspondence of above-and belowground processes arose partly because the tissue traits that influenced decomposition and detritus N dynamics different for roots versus leaves, and partly because influential traits were unrelated between roots and leaves across species. For example, while high hemicellulose concentrations and thinner roots were associated with more rapid decomposition below ground, low lignin and high Ca concentrations were associated with rapid aboveground leaf decomposition. Our study suggests that among these temperate trees, species effects on C and N dynamics in decomposing fine roots and leaf litter may not reinforce each other. Thus, species differences in rates of microbially mediated decomposition may not be as large as they would be if above-and belowground processes were working in similar directions (i.e., if faster decomposition above ground corresponded to faster decomposition below ground). Our results imply that studies that focus solely on aboveground traits may obscure some of the important mechanisms by which plant species influence ecosystem processes. Keywords Ecosystem processes Á Nitrogen dynamics Á Plant traits Á Species effects Á Forest Communicated by Christian Koerner.

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Title: Functional roles of leaf litter detritus in terrestrial food webs
Candan Soykan
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Do plant species encourage soil biota that specialise in the rapid decomposition of their litter?
Edward Ayres

Soil Biology and Biochemistry, 2006

Plants are often nutrient limited and soil organisms are important in mediating nutrient availability to plants. Thus, there may be a selective advantage to plants that alter the soil community in ways that enhance the decomposition of their litter and, hence, their ability to access nutrients. We incubated litter from three tree species (Fagus sylvatica, Acer pseudoplatanus and Picea sitchensis) in the presence of biota extracted from soil beneath a stand of each species to test the hypothesis that litter decomposes fastest in the presence of biota derived from soil where that species is locally abundant. We found that respiration rate, a measure of decomposer activity and carbon mineralisation, was affected by litter type and source of soil biota, whereas, mass loss was only affected by litter type. However, litter from each tree species did not decompose faster in the presence of indigenous soil biota. These findings, therefore, provide no support for the notion that woodland plants encourage the development of soil communities that rapidly decompose their litter. q

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SOIL FAUNA AND LEAF LITTER DECOMPOSITION IN DIFFERENT SUCCESSIONAL STAGES OF A SUBMOUNTAINOUS SEASONAL SEMIDECIDUOUS FOREST
Rodrigo Camara

Floresta, 2021

Resumo Fauna do solo e decomposição de serapilheira foliar em diferentes estágios sucessionais de Floresta Estacional Semidecidual Submontana. Em florestas tropicais, o estágio de sucessão ecológica influencia a ciclagem de nutrientes. Este estudo teve como objetivo analisar a estrutura e composição da comunidade da fauna do solo, e a decomposição da serapilheira foliar em fragmentos de Floresta Estacional Semidecidual em estágios sucessionais intermediário e avançado (ISF e LSF, respectivamente). Utilizamos uma armação quadrada de metal para coletar 10 amostras da camada de serapilheira e do solo superficial (profundidade de 0,00-0,05 m) em cada área, nas estações chuvosa e seca. Os indivíduos da fauna do solo foram então extraídos usando funis de Berlese-Tüllgren modificados. Para a análise da decomposição da serapilheira, 15 sacos contendo 30 g de folhas senescentes foram aleatoriamente colocados sobre o solo florestal em cada área, na estação seca, e três sacos foram coletados após 60, 90, 120, 150 e 180 dias. Formicidae, Diptera e Coleoptera foram os grupos predominantes, independentemente do estágio sucessional. 16 grupos taxonômicos (classe, ordem ou família) restringiram-se á área de LSF, e nenhum grupo se restringiu à área de ISF. A área de LSF se associou a maiores valores de densidade total, riqueza total, riqueza média, diversidade e densidade de todos os grupos taxonômicos, com a exceção de Collembola e uniformidade, cujos maiores valores ocorreram na área de ISF. O processo de decomposição da serapilheira foliar foi praticamente o mesmo, nas duas áreas. Palavras-chave: Floresta Atlântica; sucessão ecológica; fauna edáfica; ciclagem de nutrientes. Abstract In tropical forests, the stage of ecological succession influences the nutrient cycling. This study aimed to analyze the soil fauna community structure and composition, and leaf litter decomposition in fragments of intermediate-successional and late-successional Submountainous Seasonal Semideciduous Forest (ISF and LSF, respectively). We used a square metal frame to collect 10 samples of the leaf litter layer and topsoil (0.00-0.05 m depth) from each area in the wet and dry seasons. Soil fauna individuals were then extracted using a modified Berlese-Tüllgren funnel. For analysis of leaf litter decomposition, 15 litter bags containing 30 g of senescent leaves were randomly placed on the forest floor of each area in the dry season, and three bags were collected after 60, 90, 120, 150, and 180 days. Formicidae, Diptera, and Coleoptera were the predominant groups, regardless of successional stage. 16 taxonomic groups (class, order, or family) were restricted to the LSF area and no group was restricted to the ISF area. The LSF area was associated with greater values of total density, total richness, mean richness, diversity, and density of all of the soil fauna taxonomic groups, with the exception of Collembola and evenness, whose greater values were verified in the ISF area. The process of leaf litter decomposition was almost identical in both areas.

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Related topics

  • Plant Biology
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    Journal of Geophysical Research, 2008

    1] To investigate the control of earthworm populations on leaf litter biopolymer decay dynamics, we analyzed the residues of Liriodendron tulipifera L. (tulip poplar) leaves after six months of decay, comparing open surface litter and litter bag experiments among forests with different native and invasive earthworm abundances. Six plots were established in successional tulip poplar forests where sites varied in earthworm density and biomass, roughly 4-10 fold, of nonnative lumbricid species. Analysis of residues by diffuse reflectance Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy and alkaline CuO extraction indicated that open decay in sites with abundant earthworms resulted in residues depleted in cuticular aliphatic and polysaccharide components and enriched in ether-linked lignin relative to open decay in low earthworm abundance plots. Decay within earthwormexcluding litter bags resulted in an increase in aliphatic components relative to initial amendment and similar chemical trajectory to low earthworm open decay experiments. All litter exhibited a decline in cinnamyl-based lignin and an increase in nitrogen content. The influence of earthworm density on the chemical trajectory of litter decay was primarily a manifestation of the physical separation and concentration of lignin-rich and cutin-poor petioles with additional changes promoted by either microorganisms and/or mesofauna resulting in nitrogen addition and polysaccharide loss. These results illustrate how projected increases in invasive earthworm activity in northern North American forests could alter the chemical composition of organic matter in litter residues and potentially organic matter reaching the soil which may result in shifts in the aromatic and aliphatic composition of soils in different systems.

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    K. Helming

    Sustainability, 2014

    There is currently no legislation at the European level that focuses exclusively on soil conservation. A cross-policy analysis was carried out to identify gaps and overlaps in existing EU legislation that is related to soil threats and functions. We found that three soil threats, namely compaction, salinization and soil sealing, were not addressed in any of the 19 legislative policies that were analyzed. Other soil threats, such as erosion, decline in organic matter, loss of biodiversity and contamination, were covered in existing legislation, but only a few directives provided targets for reducing the soil threats. Existing legislation addresses the reduction of the seven soil functions that were analyzed, but there are very few directives for improving soil functions. Because soil degradation is ongoing in Europe, it raises the question whether existing legislation is sufficient for maintaining soil resources. Addressing soil functions individually in various directives fails to account for the multifunctionality of soil. This paper suggests that a European Soil Framework Directive would increase the effectiveness of conserving soil functions in the EU.

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    Scientific Opinion addressing the state of the science on risk assessment of plant protection products for in‐soil organisms
    Colin Ockleford

    EFSA Journal

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    Soil Fauna Affects Dissolved Carbon and Nitrogen in Foliar Litter in Alpine Forest and Alpine Meadow
    Wanqin Yang

    PloS one, 2015

    Dissolved organic carbon (DOC) and total dissolved nitrogen (TDN) are generally considered important active biogeochemical pools of total carbon and nitrogen. Many studies have documented the contributions of soil fauna to litter decomposition, but the effects of the soil fauna on labile substances (i.e., DOC and TDN) in litter during early decomposition are not completely clear. Therefore, a field litterbag experiment was carried out from 13th November 2013 to 23rd October 2014 in an alpine forest and an alpine meadow located on the eastern Tibetan Plateau. Litterbags with different mesh sizes were used to provide access to or prohibit the access of the soil fauna, and the concentrations of DOC and TDN in the foliar litter were measured during the winter (the onset of freezing, deep freezing and thawing stage) and the growing season (early and late). After one year of field incubation, the concentration of DOC in the litter significantly decreased, whereas the TDN concentration in ...

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    Fine Scale Determinants of Soil Litter Fauna on a Mediterranean Mixed Oak Forest Invaded by the Exotic Soil-Borne Pathogen Phytophthora cinnamomi
    Luis Matías

    Forests

    There is growing recognition of the importance of soil fauna for modulating nutrient cycling processes such as litter decomposition. However, little is known about the drivers promoting changes in soil fauna abundance on a local scale. We explored this gap of knowledge in a mixed oak forest of Southern Spain, which is under decline due to the invasion of the exotic soil-borne pathogen Phytophthora cinnamomi. Meso-invertebrate abundance found in soil litter was estimated at the suborder level. We then explored their statistical correlations with respect to light availability, tree and litter characteristics, and P. cinnamomi abundance. Oribatida and Entomobryomporpha were the most abundant groups of Acari and Collembola, respectively. According to their trophic level, predator and detritivore abundances were positively correlated while detritivores were, in turn, positively correlated with pathogen abundance and negatively influenced by light availability and tree defoliation. These overall trends differed between groups. Among detritivores, Diplopoda preferred highly decomposed litter while Oribatida and Psocoptera preferred darker environments and Poduromorpha were selected for environments with lower tree defoliation. Our results show the predominant role of light availability in influencing litter fauna abundances at local scales and suggest that the invasive soil-borne pathogen P. cinnamomi is integrated in these complex relationships.

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