Effects of experimental liming on collembolan communities and soil microbial biomass in a southern Quebec sugar maple ( Acer saccharum Marsh.) stand

Abstract

The effects of corrective forest liming on collembolan communities, microbial biomass and chemical soil properties were examined in a sugar maple stand growing on an acidic Ferro Humic Podzol at the Duchesnay experimental forest station northwest of Quebec City (Canada). Three rates (0, 2, or 20 t ha −1) of Dolomite lime (CaCO 3+MgCO 3) were applied in 1994 and Collembola were sampled in 1996. Each lime mix rate was applied to six sampling locations. Pit-light traps were used to capture epigeic species and endogeic species were extracted with Berlese–Tullgren funnels. At each of the 18 locations, pH, total C and N t, extractable P, exchangeable cations (K e, Ca e, Mg e, Mg e, Al e, Na e), and microbial C and N were estimated. In response to liming treatments, significant increases in pH and in concentrations of Ca e, Mg e, microbial C and N, and Ca e/Al e were observed, while Al e declined significantly. These changes in soil properties were accompanied by a decrease in abundance and dominance of the epigeic species Sminthurinus ( Katiannina) macgillivrayi, Sminthurides ( Sminthurides) lepus and Hypogastrura ( Ceratophysella) sp. B and of the endogeic species Folsomia penicula, Micrisotoma achromata, and Dagamaea tenuis. These decreases caused an increase in dominance of the endogeic species Isotomiella minor, and Tullbergia ( Tullbergia) silvicola. Results were consistent with those of a previous study relating collembolan species to chemical and biological soil parameters over several unamended sites covering a wide range of soil pH and a large territory. This confirmed the bioindicator value of collembolan communities for the assessment of soil acidity.