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Do alterations in mesofauna community affect earthworms?
Alexei V Uvarov1,2, Kamil Karaban3
1Institute of Ecology and Evolution, Russian Academy of Sciences, Moscow, Russia. av.uvarov@hotmail.com.
Oecologia
|July 20, 2015
Summary
Soil mesofauna impacts earthworm species differently. Increased mesofauna harms epigeic earthworms but aids endogeic earthworm reproduction, altering soil functions.
Area of Science:
- Soil Ecology
- Soil Biology
- Ecosystem Dynamics
Background:
- Interactions between earthworms and mesofauna are crucial for soil microbial activity and detrital food webs.
- Earthworm activities significantly influence mesofauna, but mesofauna's impact on earthworms is less understood.
- Earthworms are keystone species for soil system functioning, highlighting the importance of their interactions.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the effects of a diverse mesofauna community on epigeic (Lumbricus rubellus) and endogeic (Aporrectodea caliginosa) earthworm species.
- To understand how manipulated mesofauna densities influence earthworm populations and soil system properties.
- To determine if earthworm/mesofauna interactions are species-specific and affect soil engineering activities.
Main Methods:
- Microcosm experiments were conducted using a deciduous forest mesofauna community.
- Densities of total mesofauna or specific groups (enchytraeids, collembolans, gamasid mites) were experimentally increased.
- Responses of earthworms (biomass, mortality, reproduction) and soil properties (respiration, organic matter, microbial activity) were measured.
Main Results:
- Increased mesofauna density led to reduced biomass and increased mortality in Lumbricus rubellus, likely due to resource competition.
- The same mesofauna manipulations promoted reproduction in Aporrectodea caliginosa, indicating facilitated resource exploitation.
- Mesofauna influenced soil respiration, organic matter content, and microbial activities, with varied responses depending on the earthworm species present.
Conclusions:
- Earthworm/mesofauna interactions are species-specific, with different effects on epigeic versus endogeic earthworms.
- Mesofauna can negatively impact epigeic earthworms (L. rubellus) and positively influence endogeic earthworms (A. caliginosa).
- Mesofauna's role as a factor influencing the soil engineering activities of different earthworm ecological groups is significant.
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