The effects of feeding byOniscus asellus (Isopoda) on nutrient cycling in an incubated hardwood forest soil

Abstract

Oniscus asellus produced changes in the nutrients leached from Oie and Oa horizons of a hardwood forest soil. Soil with isopods lost more K+ (54%) from the Oie horizon and more Ca2+ (25%), Mg2+ (40%), and water-extractable S (23%) from the Oa horizon than soil without isopods. In contrast, soils with isopods lost less Ca2+ (39076) from the Oie horizon and less dissolved C-bonded S (33%) from the Oa horizon than soil without isopods. In addition, the Oia and Oa horizons exhibited different nutrient dynamics. When isopods were present, the Oa horizon leachates accumulated more Na+ K+, Ca2+, Mg2+, NO3− , water-soluble SO42−, and dissolved C-bonded S, and the Oie horizon retained more of these nutrients. The type of leaching solution also had a major effect on nutrients. Leaching with a simulated soil solution resulted in smaller nutrient losses for K+ and Mg2+ in both horizons and for Na+, Ca2+, and NO3− in the Oa horizon than leaching with distilled water.