Macroarthropod-microorganism interactions during the decomposition of Mediterranean shrub litter at different moisture levels

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Saprophagous macroarthropods reach high population densities in many Mediterranean terrestrial ecosystems of southern Europe but their impact on decomposition processes remains unclear. We studied the direct and indirect effects of the millipede Ommatoiulus sabulosus on the decomposition of litter from four shrub species (Cistus albidus, Quercus coccifera, Rosmarinus officinalis and Ulex parviflorus) in a 1-month laboratory experiment. Litter mass loss, substrate-induced respiration (SIR) in litter and faecal pellets, and microbial community structure and biomass in litter (using PLFA profiles) were determined under three sets of conditions: (1) litter and microorganisms; (2) litter, microorganisms and millipedes; (3) litter, microorganisms and millipede faecal pellets regularly added to litter. Two watering frequencies were used to study the effects of simulated drought on the measured variables. Millipedes consumed large amounts of shrub litter with low assimilation efficiency. The largest effect was observed for Cistus that showed also the highest rate of microbial-driven decomposition. Conversion of litter into faecal pellets by millipedes did not increase organic matter decomposition and there was no evidence for a stimulation of microbial activity in faecal pellets compared to uningested litter. Faecal pellet deposition on litter, which was maximal in Cistus, did not change mass loss and SIR rates of litter but significantly changed microbial community structure. Bacterial biomass was lower and fungal:bacterial ratio was higher in moist, but not in dry Cistus litter, after 1 month of regular faeces addition. Simulated drought strongly decreased microbial-driven decomposition but not millipede feeding. The resulting sustained production of faecal pellets, however, did not offset the slower microbial-driven decomposition under dry conditions. We conclude that the transformation of large amounts of shrub litter into faeces by macroarthropods and the resultant interactions with microorganisms do not enhance carbon mineralization in the short term, regardless of litter humidity. We however expect that faeces could be incorporated into the soil more easily than intact plant litter, with important consequences for carbon and nutrient cycling in Mediterranean ecosystems under increasing drought.