Soil Mesofauna Research Articles (Page 5)

The use of soil cover plants and alternative sources of nitrogen fertilization can promote improvements in the biological characteristics of the soil. The objective of this study was to determine the contribution of the isolated and/or intercropped cultivation of ground cover crops in autumn/winter and the use of poultry litter as a source of N in the wheat crop in succession on the soil mesofauna and macrofauna community. The experimental design was randomized blocks, with split plots, in a factorial arrangement (4 x 4), with three replications. The collections of the edaphic fauna were realized with pitfall traps PROVID in plots of 15 m². The edaphic fauna orders, abundance, Shannon diversity, Simpson dominance, Pielou evenness and the family of organisms of the order Collembola were evaluated. The use of ground cover plants in autumn/winter, induced a greater abundance of edaphic fauna organisms, which were mostly represented by the order Collembola, belonging to the Entomobryidae family. The isolated or intercropped cultivation of cover crops, associated with the use of N via poultry litter, enabled a greater diversity of organisms and a uniform distribution of different groups in the edaphic community.

Dead bamboo culms promote litter mass, carbon and nitrogen loss, but do not modulate the effect of soil fauna on litter decomposition

Niche theory fundamentally contributed to the understanding of animal diversity. However, in soil, the diversity of animals seems enigmatic since the soil is a rather homogeneous habitat, and soil animals are often generalist feeders. A new approach to understand soil animal diversity is the use of ecological stoichiometry. The elemental composition of animals may explain their occurrence, distribution, and density. This approach has been used before in soil macrofauna, but this study is the first to investigate soil mesofauna. Using inductively coupled plasma optic emission spectrometry (ICP‐OES), we analyzed the concentration of a wide range of elements (Al, Ca, Cu, Fe, K, Mg, Mn, Na, P, S, Zn) in 15 soil mite taxa (Oribatida, Mesostigmata) from the litter of two different forest types (beech, spruce) in Central Europe (Germany). Additionally, the concentration of carbon and nitrogen, and their stable isotope ratios (15N/14N, 13C/12C), reflecting their trophic niche, were measured. We hypothesized that (1) stoichiometry differs between mite taxa, (2) stoichiometry of mite taxa occurring in both forest types is not different, and (3) element composition is correlated to trophic level as indicated by 15N/14N ratios. The results showed that stoichiometric niches of soil mite taxa differed considerably indicating that elemental composition is an important niche dimension of soil animal taxa. Further, stoichiometric niches of the studied taxa did not differ significantly between the two forest types. Calcium was negatively correlated with trophic level indicating that taxa incorporating calcium carbonate in their cuticle for defense occupy lower trophic positions in the food web. Furthermore, a positive correlation of phosphorus with trophic level indicated that taxa higher in the food web have higher energetic demand. Overall, the results indicate that ecological stoichiometry of soil animals is a promising tool for understanding their diversity and functioning.

Enhanced mite grazing leads to pattern shifts in soil N2O emissions after organic fertilizer application

A two-year study was conducted in bermudagrass hay fields in central Alabama to estimate the potential of plant growth-promoting rhizobacteria (PGPR) as a tool for sustainable agriculture in forage management. This study compared the effects of two treatments of PGPR, applied with and without lowered rates of nitrogen, to a full rate of nitrogen fertilizer in a hay production system. The PGPR treatments included a single-strain treatment of Paenibacillus riograndensis (DH44), and a blend including two Bacillus pumilus strains (AP7 and AP18) and a strain of Bacillus sphaericus (AP282). Data collection included estimates of forage biomass, forage quality, insect populations, soil mesofauna populations, and soil microbial respiration. Applications of PGPR with a half rate of fertilizer yielded similar forage biomass and quality results as that of a full rate of nitrogen. All PGPR treatments increased soil microbial respiration over time. Additionally, treatments containing Paenibacillus riograndensis positively influenced soil mesofauna populations. The results of this study indicated promising potential for PGPR applied with lowered nitrogen rates to reduce chemical inputs while maintaining yield and quality of forage.

Single and combined diversification practices in crop fields and their effects on arthropod predators, decomposers and herbivores have mainly been assessed in small plot and cage experiments. In particular, effects of diversification on arthropod predators and their food resources, such as soil fauna, weed seeds and herbivorous prey in entire crop fields across the growing season, remain unclear. We explored how organic fertilisers, with or without the legacy of perennial ley in the crop rotation, and mineral fertiliser without the legacy of perennial ley, affected below- and aboveground communities in 19 spring cereal crop fields. In each field, we determined the abundance of the soil mesofauna, communities of arthropod prey aboveground and of the predator guilds carabids, staphylinids and spiders. We sampled at three crop stages: tillering, heading and ripening. Weed cover and soil characteristics, such as carbon and nitrogen content, were assessed. For most soil mesofauna groups, the combination of organic fertiliser with the legacy of ley gave highest, organic fertiliser with annual crop rotations intermediate, and mineral fertiliser with annual crop rotations the lowest total abundance. Aboveground arthropod prey abundances were similar across treatments. The legacy of ley increased richness of all aboveground arthropod predators. Staphylinid communities’ abundance increased additively as diversification treatments were combined during tillering of the crop. Increasing organic amendments, alongside the reduced disturbances through inclusion of perennial ley in the rotation, led to more abundant communities below- and aboveground as well as more richness in aboveground predator communities.

Soil Mesofauna from Litter Bag Set in Riparian Areas of Rivers Flowing into Lake Inawashiro

The transition to innovative tillage technologies is currently an effective way to preserve and increase the fertility of agricultural land. The purpose of the work is to study the impact of no-till technology on the fertility of degraded and low-humus soils in the Middle Volga region. The main research method was the monitoring of agricultural lands, where traditional (control), minimum and no-till technologies for cultivating grain crops were used as part of field crop rotations. As a result of research conducted over fifteen years on degraded leached chernozems, light gray forest and low-humus soddy-podzolic soil types, it was found that the introduction of no-till technology contributes to an increase in the number of earthworms by 36% and soil invertebrates by 42%. At the same time, the ratio of different groups of soil mesofauna also changes. In particular, an increase in the number of organized predators (ground beetles, rove beetles, spiders, geofields) capable of regulating the number of harmful species of soil animals (for example, wireworm larvae) was revealed. No-till technology has a beneficial effect on agrophysical, agrochemical indicators of fertility and biological activity of degraded and low-humus soils. The crushing of straw and its use as mulch for fifteen years made it possible to form a positive balance of organic matter and increase the content of mobile phosphorus and exchangeable potassium in the soil by an average of 20% and 15%, respectively. Improving the nutritional regime of the soil contributes to a positive impact on the quality characteristics and grain yield of winter and spring wheat, winter rye, barley and corn. With the introduction of no-till technology as the main method of crop production, grain yield increases by 3 and 6% compared to the minimum and traditional technology.

Soil faunal communities play key roles in maintaining soil nutrient cycling. Affected by different land-use types, soil environment and soil faunal communities change significantly. However, few studies have focused on the aforementioned observations in coastal zones, which provide suitable habitats for many species of concern. Here, we investigated the changes in soil mesofaunal communities under different land-use types, including cotton fields, jujube trees, ash trees, a saline meadow, and wetlands. The variations in land-use types affected the community composition and diversity of soil mesofauna in the coastal zones. The taxa of soil mesofauna had different responses to land-use types in the coastal zones. Isotomidae was regarded as an indicator taxon of the coastal cropland regions. Entomobryidae was considered to be an indicator taxon of coastal artificial trees. Meanwhile, Onychiuridae and three taxa (Brachycera, Armadillidiidae, and Gammaridae) were indicator taxa of the coastal terrestrial ecosystem and the coastal wetland ecosystem, respectively. Thus, we suggested that specific soil mesofaunal taxa were considered to be appropriate bioindicators for land-use types in the coastal zones. The results of this study were helpful to develop guidelines for coastal biodiversity and ecosystem conservation in the future.

Fauna access outweighs litter mixture effect during leaf litter decomposition

The use of pesticides to protect crops often affects non-target organisms vital to ecosystem functioning. A functional soil mesofauna is important for decomposition and nutrient cycling processes in agricultural soils, which generally have low biodiversity. To assess pesticide effects on natural soil communities we enclosed intact soil cores in situ in an agricultural field in 5 cm wide mesocosms. We used two types of mesh lids on the mesocosms, allowing or preventing migration of mesofauna. The mesocosms were exposed to the insecticide imidacloprid (0, 0.1, 1, and 10 mg/kg dry soil) and left in the field for 20 days. Overall, regardless of lid type, mesocosm enclosure did not affect springtail or mite abundances during the experiment when compared with undisturbed soil. Imidacloprid exposure reduced the abundance of both surface- and soil-living springtails in a concentration-dependent manner, by 65–90% at the two highest concentrations, and 21–23% at 0.1 mg/kg, a concentration found in some agricultural soils after pesticide application. Surface-living springtails were more affected by imidacloprid exposure than soil-living ones. In contrast, neither predatory nor saprotrophic mites showed imidacloprid-dependent changes in abundance, concurring with previous findings indicating that mites are generally less sensitive to neonicotinoids than other soil organisms. The possibility to migrate did not affect the springtail or mite abundance responses to imidacloprid. We show that under realistic exposure concentrations in the field, soil arthropod community composition and abundance can be substantially altered in an organism-dependent manner, thus affecting the soil community diversity.

Mesofauna community influences litter chemical trajectories during early-stage litter decay

Mesofauna as effective indicators of soil quality differences in the agricultural systems of central Cuba

The belowground community structure of soil biota depends on plant composition and may be affected by invasive plant species. We hypothesized that the type of land restoration method applied affects the abundance and composition of soil invertebrates. Our field experiment centred on Solidago species control using different seed mixtures and methods of seed introduction (sowing mixtures: grasses, grasses with legumes, seeds from a seminatural meadow, and application of fresh hay) and different frequencies of mowing (one, two, or three times per year). Soil invertebrates were identified to the taxa, using light microscopes. Richness and diversity indices were calculated, and a redundancy analysis was conducted. Generally, mowing intensity negatively influenced soil organisms, although increased mowing frequency positively affected the abundance of some taxa (Symphyla, Hemiptera). Mowing twice per year decreased the abundance of soil invertebrates, but not their diversity. Soil invertebrate taxa had the greatest abundance in the plots sown with a seed mixture containing grasses with legumes. Among the restoration methods studied, mowing once a year and introducing grasses with legumes represented the least harmful strategy with regard to soil invertebrate abundance. Further studies are needed to investigate the dynamics of soil mesofauna exposed to long-term mowing and changes in vegetation characteristics.

ABSTRACT Environmental degradation impacts negatively the diversity and quantity of invertebrates living in the soil, mainly in semiarid regions. Generally, a high diversity of invertebrates indicates good biofunctionality and sustainable use of the soil. We evaluated the effects of 14 years of grazing deferment and the presence of the native trees Mimosa tenuiflora and Cnidoscolus quercifolius on the soil mesofauna of a degraded Caatinga area, according to the χ 2 test, applied to assess the abundance of these microorganisms. The grazing deferment alone more than tripled the soil mesofauna. The abundance of the mesofauna under M. tenuiflora canopies increased by a factor of 3.17 and 3.41 in grazed and ungrazed areas, respectively, and under C. quercifolius canopies increased by a factor of 22.6 in the ungrazed area. The effect of M. tenuiflora in the grazed area was similar to 14 years of grazing deferment. The quantity of mesofauna under C. quercifolius canopies after 14 years of grazing deferment was 6.6-fold higher than that under M. tenuiflora canopies, under similar conditions. The grazing deferment and trees, especially C. quercifolius, increased the soil mesofauna; however, full recovery of such organisms in degraded Caatinga areas may need more than 14 years. Considering the current scenario of increasing environmental degradation, our findings regarding the relationships between soil mesofauna, grazing deferment and native trees are important to devise strategies and procedures for the recovery of degraded areas in the Caatinga biome.

Community diversity of soil meso-fauna indicates the impacts of oil exploitation on wetlands

Soil mesofauna alter the balance between stochastic and deterministic processes in the plastisphere during microbial succession

Urbanization is accelerating worldwide, resulting in drastic alterations of natural riverbanks, which seriously affects the ecological functions and services of riparian landscapes. Our understanding of how anthropogenic activities influence soil animal communities within riparian zones is scarce. The soil fauna represents an important biotic component of the soil ecosystem and greatly contributes to soil structure and fertility formation. We investigated the richness, abundance, diversity, and distribution of soil animal groups, including macro- and mesofauna, in different riparian landscapes along an urban–rural habitat gradient. In natural riparian zones with permeable revetments, the soil fauna was richest and most abundant, mainly because of the low levels of human disturbance and the more suitable habitat conditions. Different soil animal groups responded differently to revetment type and distance from the water flow. The hygrophilous soil mesofauna, requiring a more humid environment, was more sensitive to shifts in revetment types, the location on the riverbank, and the seasons. In summer, when precipitation in the study area was highest, the abundance of the hygrophilous soil mesofauna was significantly higher than in autumn. Distance from the water flow significantly affected the abundance of the hygrophilous soil mesofauna. Our results demonstrated that hygrophilous soil mesofauna can serve as a good indicator in riparian zones, reflecting the hydrological conditions. We also observed interactions between revetment type and distance from the water flow; the distance effect was stronger in the natural riparian zone with a permeable revetment type. Our results highlight the importance of anthropogenic effects on soil ecosystem processes and functions in riparian landscapes, and the necessity of protecting and retaining the natural riverbank and native vegetation patches in riparian landscape planning and construction.

Изучалась почвенная мезофауна черноольховых лесов Казахского мелкосопочника, как показатель функциональных особенностей насаждений Alnus glutinosaна юго-восточной границе ареала. Леса не образуют массивов большой площади и связаны с типом рельефа, долинами ручьев и речек, глубиной залегания грунтовых вод. О древнем происхождении и важном значении черноольшаников, как рефугиумов, свидетельствуют реликтовые виды флоры и фауны. Под влиянием рекреационной нагрузки и выпаса лесные сообщества изменяются, что требует скорейшей оценки состояния наземных биоценозов. Установлено, что черноольховые леса мелкосопочника характеризуются высокой общей биомассой мезофауны (от 13,6 г/м2 до 42,1 г/м2), где более 85 % зоомассы приходится на сапрофильный комплекс. Плотность почвенного населения значительна (от 272,6 экз/м2 до 503,55 экз/м2), т.е., в целом, леса сохраняют черты зональных широколиственных формаций. Выявлены антропические изменения структуры педобионтов в черноольшаниковых ассоциациях, находящихся на разных стадиях рекреационной и пастбищной дигрессии. Наблюдается последовательное уменьшение индекса плотности почвенного населения (Р=145,6; 80,19; 69,7) и доли лесных видов. Отмечены смена жизненных форм и их соотношений в модельных (Carabidae) и доминирующих (Lumbricidae) группах, рост численности зоофагов, снижение общего обилия и обеднение видового состава сапрофагов. Почвенная мезофауна отражает в своей структуре биоценотическое своеобразие реликтовых черноольшаников степной зоны и сукцессию биоценозов.

Soil is a habitat for various types of fauna, especially macrofauna and soil mesofauna. In general, fertile soil can be found on land used for agricultural activities. The purpose of this study was to determine and reveal the community structure of soil macrofauna and mesofauna which includes individual count, diversity, and dominance as well as environmental quality on agricultural land in Pliken Village, Kembaran District, Banyumas Regency in 2021. The study was carried out in January-June 2021. by using survey method and purposive random sampling technique. Sampling of soil macrofauna and mesofauna was carried out in three locations, namely agricultural land in the west, north, and south of the village. Data sampling was carried out in the morning (07.00-09.00 am) and at night (19.00-21.00 am) 6 times with an interval of once a month. Soil macrofauna and meofuana that had been obtained were identified using the Taxonomy and Identification Key book. An Introduction to the Study of Insects and other references related to the identification of soil macrofauna During the study, 2717 soil macrofauna were found which belong to 15 Orders, 31 Families and 40 Species, while for soil mesofauna, 500 individuals were obtained which belong to 14 Orders, 18 Families. and 21 species.The highest individual count for soil macrofauna came from the Formicideae family (86.86%), while the highest individual count for soil mesofauna came from the Isotomideae family (27%). The index of soil macrofauna diversity on agricultural land in Pliken Village ranged from 0.997- 1,789 with an average of 1,287 which means the level of diversity is moderate, while the index Soil mesofauna diversity ranges from 1.13 to 2.15 with an average of 1.65 which means the level of diversity is moderate. Soil macrofauna dominance index is moderate with a range of 0.264 - 0.546 which indicates that there is still dominance by certain soil macrofauna, namely the Formicideae (ant) family, while the soil mesofauna dominance index ranges from 0.13 to 0.38 with an average of 0.23 which indicates the absence of a predominant species. The environmental quality of agricultural land in Pliken Village is categorized as good to support the life of macrofauna and soil mesofauna. Keywords : Soil Macrofauna, Soil Mesofauna, Individual Count, Diversity, Dominance, Pliken Village Agricultural Land