Enchytraeids in a changing climate: A mini-review

Abstract

The climate is undergoing rapid changes with rising atmospheric CO 2 concentration, increasing temperatures and changes in the hydrological regimes resulting in more frequent and intense drought periods. These three climate change factors will, separately and in combination, affect the biotic and abiotic components of soil communities. This paper reviews the impact of climate change on field communities of enchytraeids with special emphasis on Cognettia sphagnetorum because most relevant studies have involved this species. C. sphagnetorum prefers cold and wet environments and several studies suggest that reductions of soil moisture may have dramatic consequences for C. sphagnetorum and other enchytraeid species. Effects of changing temperatures are less clear partly because thermal conditions influence soil moisture, which complicate the predictions of the outcome from such changes. The predicted increasing annual mean temperature may be stimulating and expand the season for growth and reproduction of enchytraeids; on the other hand, an increased frequency of extreme weather events, with heat waves during summer and bare soil freezes during autumn and spring, may occasionally cause severe mortality. Stimulating effects of increased atmospheric CO 2 have been observed, perhaps due to increased food availability via root and litter production. However, effects of CO 2 are also influenced by moisture and temperature. Generally, there is a lack of research looking into the complicated interactions between various climate change factors, and little is known about the potential of enchytraeids to adapt to a changing climate. Existing data suggest that C. sphagnetorum is not capable of adapting to a drier climate, thus, a decline in abundance and distribution of this species is possible. Since enchytraeids are of ecological significance in some types of habitats, a reduction may result in serious disruption in the functioning of these decomposer communities.