Species Richness Of Collembola Research Articles

Response of arboreal Collembola communities to the conversion of lowland rainforest into rubber and oil palm plantations

BackgroundIn the last decades, Southeast Asia has experienced massive conversion of rainforest into rubber and oil palm monoculture plantations. The effects of this land-use change on canopy arthropods are still largely unknown. Arboreal Collembola are among the most abundant canopy arthropods in tropical forests, potentially forming a major component of the canopy food web by contributing to the decomposition of arboreal litter and being an important prey for canopy arthropod predators. We investigated abundance, richness, and community composition of, as well as the influence of a series of environmental factors on, canopy Collembola communities in four land-use systems in Jambi Province, Sumatra, Indonesia: (1) lowland rainforest, (2) jungle rubber (rubber agroforest), and monoculture plantations of (3) rubber and (4) oil palm.ResultsUsing canopy fogging in 32 research plots in both the dry and rainy seasons in 2013, we collected 77,104 specimens belonging to 68 (morpho) species. Generally, Collembola communities were dominated by few species including two species of the genus Salina (Paronellidae; 34% of total individuals) and two species of Lepidocyrtinae (Entomobryidae; 20%). The abundance of Collembola in lowland rainforest (53.4 ± 30.7 ind. m−2) was more than five times higher than in rubber plantations, and more than ten times higher than in oil palm plantations; abundances in jungle rubber were intermediate. Collembola species richness was highest in rainforest (18.06 ± 3.60 species) and jungle rubber (16.88 ± 2.33 species), more than twice that in rubber or oil palm. Collembola community composition was similar in rainforest and jungle rubber, but different from monoculture plantations which had similar Collembola community composition to each other. The environmental factors governing community composition differed between the land-use systems and varied between seasons.ConclusionsOverall, this is the first in-depth report on the structure of arboreal Collembola communities in lowland rainforest and agricultural replacement systems in Southeast Asia. The results highlight the potentially major consequences of land-use change for the functioning of arboreal arthropod food webs.

Impact of three co-occurring physical ecosystem engineers on soil Collembola communities

The interplay between organisms with their abiotic environment may have profound effects within ecological networks, but are still poorly understood. Soil physical ecosystem engineers (EEs) modify the abiotic environment, thereby potentially affecting the distribution of other species, such as microarthropods. We focus on three co-occurring physical EEs (i.e. cattle, vegetation, macrodetritivore) known for their profound effect on soil properties (e.g. pore volume, microclimate, litter thickness). We determined their effects on Collembola community composition and life-form strategy (a proxy for vertical distribution in soil) in a European salt marsh. Soil cores were collected in grazed (compacted soil, under short and tall vegetation) and non-grazed areas (decompacted soil, under short and tall vegetation), their pore structure analysed using X-ray computed tomography, after which Collembola were extracted. Collembola species richness was lower in grazed sites, but abundances were not affected by soil compaction or vegetation height. Community composition differed between ungrazed sites with short vegetation and the other treatments, due to a greater dominance of epigeic Collembola and lower abundance of euedaphic species in this treatment. We found that the three co-occurring EEs and their interactions modify the physical environment of soil fauna, particularly through changes in soil porosity and availability of litter. This alters the relative abundance of Collembola life-forms, and thus the community composition within the soil. As Collembola are known to play a crucial role in decomposition processes, these compositional changes in litter and soil layers are expected to affect ecosystem processes and functioning.

A multiscale approach to evaluate the structure of diversity of Collembola in boreo-nemoral forests of the Russian Plain

Collembola is a group of numerous ubiquitous small soil-dwelling arthropods decomposing the plant residues. The study analyses the diversity structure of this group in mesic conditions of coniferous, mixed, and broad-leaved forests. Sample plots were located in three Protected Areas in the Moscow Region (Losiny Ostrov National Park and the Valuyevsky Forest Park) and Smolensk Region (Smolenskoe Poozerye National Park). In total, 70 species of Collembola were registered in the forest litter. Two Collembola species were of Asian origin, namely Appendisotoma stebayevae (noted in Europe for the first time) and Vertagopus asiaticus (the second record of this species in the study area). The number of species was close to the number of genera, indicating the allochthonous character of the forest fauna of Collembola of the central Russian Plain. A multiscale approach was applied for sampling design. This allowed us to assess the diversity of Collembola at various spatial scales: from 1 m to hundreds of kilometres. The study scheme included two regions, four localities, 12 sample sites, and 36 plots; the latter was 1 m2 (the smallest area unit). The data analysis was based on the concept of alpha-beta diversity accompanied by the additive partitioning method. The region (the largest area unit) was the most important factor in forming the species diversity. The type of forest litter (coniferous vs. broad-leaved) was less significant; the habitat heterogeneity factor made even a less contribution. On average, 1 m2 of forest litter comprised about a quarter of the entire list of Collembola species in the studied forests. The species richness of Collembola in the broad-leaved forests was more variable in space and in time compared to coniferous forests and mixed forests; a transitional pattern was observed. The species composition of Collembola varied between the seasons of the year by about a quarter when considering the same sites of coniferous and mixed forests. In broad-leaved forests of various areas, seasonal changes in species composition varied highly, from very pronounced to insignificant. The new concept of plant litter traits is discussed as a factor for affecting the patterns of the structure and dynamics of the Collembola species diversity.

The extremely high diversity of Collembola in relict forests of Primorskii Krai of Russia.

BackgroundThe diversity of soil animals of relict forest ecosystems in East Asia continues to be insufficiently studied and almost not represented in international databases, including GBIF. This article is based on 7550 records of 175 species which were collected in Ussuriiskii, Sikhote-Alinskii and Kedrovaya Pad’ natural reserves of Russian Far East in 2016–2017. A multi-scale sampling design allowed us to estimate population densities and local species richness of Collembola at areas of different sizes. The work continues the digitization of the collections of the Moscow Pedagogical State University (MPSU) and their publication through GBIF.org, which began in 2019. This article is based on original data including 2377 specimens of springtails from eight forests and 648 soil cores.New informationWithin the framework of modern taxonomy, this work represents the first publication of lists of Collembola species of forests of Primorsky Krai. The work focused on the relict protected cedar-deciduous forests. Nine species new to science were described and data on the fauna of the region were significantly revised. Considerable contribution was made to the biogeography of Collembola of East Asia. The design of the sampling allowed us to draw conclusions about the species saturation of springtails at various spatial scales within the habitat: from a few square cm to 100 sq. m. Number of species reached record high values reflecting the benchmark state of Collembola communities of undisturbed old temperate forest ecosystems.

Responses of Collembola communities to mixtures of wheat varieties: A trait-based approach

The genetic diversity of cultivated crops has decreased continuously since the beginning of the 20th century, because of the gradual replacement of genetically heterogeneous traditional varieties by new genetically homogenous varieties, grown in monospecific stands. The resulting agro-ecosystems are now considered as unsustainable. Increasing within-field genetic crop diversity by using a mixture of varieties could increase the sustainability of these agro-ecosystems. This could also potentially increase non-crop biodiversity. In the present study we used an experimental approach to test whether the number of wheat varieties (genetic diversity), the number of functional groups (functional diversity), the composition of functional groups and wheat traits influence (1) species richness and abundance of Collembola, and (2) species and trait assemblages of Collembola. A total of 104 plots were seeded with either monocultures or mixtures of 2, 4 and 8 wheat varieties. Soil cores were collected in each plot to extract Collembola and measure soil features. The number of wheat varieties and the functional wheat diversity did not influence the abundance and species richness of Collembola. The sensitivity of wheat to septoria leaf blotch was positively related to abundance and species richness of Collembola, while specific root length was positively related to collembolan species richness. Wheat traits related to sensitivity to fungal diseases, (more especially septoria leaf blotch) and characteristics of aerial parts and roots impacted collembolan species and trait assemblages, but these effects were weak. Soil features, especially the proportion of coarse silt, were also influential. Our study did not show a favorable impact of wheat genetic diversity on soil Collembola, which might result from their low abundance. Nevertheless, it suggests correlations between some variety traits and the species richness and abundance of Collembola.

Soil-litter Collembolan Diversity in an Arabica Coffee-Benguet Pine-Based Agroforestry System

The study aimed to determine the effect of Arabica coffee- Benguet pine based agroforestry system on soil-litter collembolan diversity. Under this agroforestry system, two coffee production systems were identified in this study, the Agroforestry Coffee System (ACS) and Lone Coffee System (LCS). ACS have coffee plants growing under Benguet pine trees while LCS have coffee plants that are not under any shade trees. Shannon diversity index (H’), Margalef’s richness index (Dmg), Soil temperature (ST), and Soil Moisture Content (SMC) data were gathered and subjected to linear regression with correlation analysis, and student T-test. The result of this study revealed a higher species richness of collembola under ACS (Dmg =3.52±0.47) than LCS (Dmg = 1.75±0.36). Similarly, ACS has higher diversity index (H’ = 1.68±0.66) than LCS (H’ = 0.90±0.49). ACS ST and SMC was 18.60±0.21℃ and 68.34±12.22% while LCS was 21.24±1.31℃ and 55.38±5.52%. ST had significant negative association with diversity and SMC had positive association with diversity. However, only Dmg had significant correlation with SMC. In regression analysis, 18.7% of the total variation in H’ was explained by ST. While for Dmg, 56.6% and 21.7% of its total variations were explained by ST and SMC, respectively. These results showed that ACS can conserve collembolan diversity because it creates a microclimatic condition favorable for the collembolans. This finding could serve as basis for endeavors to promote and develop agroforestry systems.

Collembola communities and soil conditions in forest plantations established in an intensively managed agricultural area

The challenges of a changing climate have directed greater attention to afforestation, but the effects of afforestation on soil fertility and soil biota have not been fully clarified. To explore changes in the soil conditions in two 20-year-old forest plantations established in formerly intensively fertilized plots of agricultural land, we focused on the current developmental state of the sites that received the most fertilizer and evaluated soil properties and Collembola (springtails) communities. Sessile oak (Quercus petraea) and black locust (Robinia pseudoacacia) that had been planted in the afforestation sites were assessed for differences between plantations of native and invasive species. Five adjacent reference associations, including forests and open habitats, were also analyzed and compared. Results showed that the soils in the two afforested sites were similar in their properties and Collembola communities to those of the control cultivated forests, but differed from each other in pH, calcium, phosphorus, and ammonium content. The available potassium and phosphorus contents in the soil of the sessile oak plantation were still high, while the soil organic matter content was adequate (SOM > 2.0%) in both plantations. Species richness of Collembola ranged from 18 in the cultivated arable land to 43 in the relict forest. Only a few species typical for forests (e.g., Neanura muscorum, Isotomiella minor, Entomobrya muscorum) were detected in the young plantations, while species characteristic of open habitats (e.g., Protaphorura campata, Lepidocyrtus cyaneus) occurred as well. Although more individuals and species of Collembola were present in the soil of young plantations than in arable fields, their community diversities were significantly lower compared to the control forest stands. Collembola community diversity differed significantly also between the two plantation types (with native and non-native tree species). Mean abundance in the afforested sites was about 2.5 times higher than in the cultivated arable land, yet far lower than the mean abundance in the control forests.

Habitat preferences rather than morphological traits affect the recovery process of Collembola (Arthropoda, Hexapoda) on a bare saline-alkaline land.

The Songnen Plain of China was once an important grassland used for sheep grazing, but it has largely been degraded to bare saline-alkaline land (BSAL). BSAL consists of plant-free areas characterized by high soil pH values (up to 10) and salt and alkali (e.g., Na+ and Ca2+) contents, as well as low soil organic matter and water contents; thus, very few soil faunal species can survive on BSAL. The recovery of degraded ecosystems provides a great opportunity to investigate the reconstruction of belowground soil faunal communities. Collembola are a class of widespread and abundant soil fauna that can colonize this harsh environment. Habitat changes on BSAL promote aboveground revegetation, which greatly facilitates the recovery of Collembola. A soil transfer experiment on the BSAL of the Songnen Plain was conducted to study the effects of habitat and Collembola morphological traits on the recovery process of Collembola. Defaunated and with-fauna soil blocks were transferred among three habitats: BSAL, reclaimed arable land, and naturally revegetated grassland. The recovered Collembola in the transferred soil blocks were compared two, seven, and 12 weeks after the start of the experiment. The results showed that (1) the majority of the Collembola, regardless of their morphological traits, recovered in the defaunated soil blocks within 2 weeks; (2) generalists and habitat-preferring species recovered faster than specialists; (3) the average total abundance, species richness, and community composition of Collembola recovered to the natural levels in 2 weeks; and (4) 12 weeks after replacement, the highest average total abundance and species richness of Collembola were found in the arable land. Our results indicate that the majority of Collembola in this study, regardless of their dispersal type, which is related to their morphological traits, are fast dispersers, and their recovery speeds are mainly affected by habitat preferences. We suggest that the reclamation of BSAL to arable land rather than its natural recovery to grassland aids in the recovery of Collembola in degraded grassland systems.

Springtail (Hexapoda: Collembola) functional group composition varies between different biotopes in Russian rice growing systems

Regular flooding during rice cultivation adversely affects soil animals in agroecosystems and may disrupt ecological functions that they deliver. Alternation of upland crops and flooded rice potentially has a positive effect on soil fauna. However, this aspect has not yet been studied outside the tropics. We focused on the influence of interannual crop rotation accompanied by long periods of paddy drainage in Russian rice growing systems on the total abundance, species richness and abundance of functional groups of springtails (Hexapoda: Collembola) with respect to their vertical stratification. In three rice-growing regions of Russia (Krasnodarsky Krai, the Republic of Kalmykia and Primorsky Krai), we collected soil in four different biotope types: flooded rice paddies, drained paddies seeded with upland crops, paddy bunds and a control of semi-natural grasslands. We found that the total abundance and total species richness of Collembola were consistently higher in upland crops (21100 ± 12700 ind. m−2; 4 ± 0.7 species plot−1) than that in flooded rice (340 ± 190; 1 ± 0.4, respectively) across all regions. The abundance of euedaphic springtails in upland crops and flooded rice paddies (700 ± 350 and 150 ± 150 ind. m−2, respectively) remained significantly lower than that in bunds or control grassland sites (5600 ± 1900 and 6100 ± 2100, respectively). In contrast, the abundance of epiedaphic springtails was higher in upland crops (18900 ± 12500 ind. m−2) than that in flooded rice paddies (170 ± 100) but did not differ from that in control grasslands and bunds. We conclude that interannual alternation of flooded rice and upland crops in Russian rice paddies implies opportunities for soil microarthropods to rebuild their diversity and functional group composition before the next period of flooding mainly due to quicker dispersing surface-dwelling species.

Response of Collembola to the addition of nutrients along an altitudinal gradient of tropical montane rainforests

Soil microarthropods are important drivers of decomposition processes in terrestrial ecosystems. However, the factors controlling their density and diversity are little understood especially in tropical ecosystems. In this study, we focus on how soil Collembola communities along an altitudinal gradient in the tropical Andes respond to moderate nutrient additions. Nitrogen (N) and phosphorus (P) were added twice annually in a full-factorial design and Collembola communities were investigated at three sites (1000, 2000, 3000 m) along the altitudinal gradient, one and six years after the first nutrient addition. We expected Collembola to significantly respond to nutrient additions with the effect being similar in different taxonomic groups of Collembola, and increasing with the duration of the experiment and with increasing altitude. Further, we expected species richness to decline but body size to increase with both nutrient addition and increasing altitude. Both density and species richness of Collembola were low as compared to temperate regions and decreased significantly with increasing altitude. Contrasting our expectations, different groups of Collembola responded differently to nutrient additions with their response varying with altitude. The density of the dominant group of Entomobryomorpha was increased by the addition of P at higher altitude but decreased at lower altitude. By contrast, the density of Poduromopha and Symphypleona was increased by the addition of N at lower altitude but decreased at higher altitude. Notably, only the effect of the addition of P on Entomobryomorpha increased with duration of the experiment. Body size of Collembola significantly increased by the addition of N and also with increasing altitude. The results suggest that resource quality and availability rather than the amount of resources are controlling Collembola communities in tropical montane rainforests. In these ecosystems changes in human-mediated nutrient deposition therefore, are likely to affect the structure and functioning of Collembola communities as major detritivore soil animals.

Type of fixative solution in pitfall traps as a decisive factor affecting community parameters of Collembola (Hexapoda) inhabiting superficial subterranean habitats

Vertical distribution of collembolan communities along a depth gradient was studied at three forested karst scree slopes in the Western Carpathians, differing in topography, microclimate, soil-chemical parameters, and forest associations. Two different fixative solutions were used in subterranean pitfall traps. The activity and species richness of Collembola in the vertical scree profiles were significantly higher in traps filled with ethylene glycol than in those filled with formaldehyde at all three sites. Using traps filled with formaldehyde, both Collembola species numbers and activity positively correlated with the soil moisture and carbon content, while for ethylene glycol traps this relation was the same only for species numbers and carbon content. Ecological groups of Collembola showed a different response, distinguished by the level of association to subterranean habitats, to environmental factors and to the fixation liquid used in the subterranean traps. Eutroglophiles, the forms relatively well-adapted to subterranean habitats, were associated with depth exclusively when using ethylene glycol traps. This implies that ethylene glycol is a more suitable preservative in terms of species richness and activity of Collembola in deeper scree layers compared to traditionally used formaldehyde. Thus, the effect of environmental factors on diversity and vertical distribution of Collembola in scree habitats may be substantially superimposed by the type of fixation used in subterranean traps.

An important role of decomposing wood for soil environment with a reference to communities of springtails (Collembola).

Present study focused on how the presence of decaying wood affects soil environment including its biota. The study was carried out in the montane spruce forest, disturbed by wind and bark beetles in Trojmezná Mt. of the Bohemian Forest in the Czech Republic. According to the results, presence of decomposing wood influenced soil environment in terms of its chemical properties by increasing soil pH and total carbon content significantly in soil below the trunks compared with soil from further distance. Decomposing wood did not affect total density and species richness of Collembola, but it had a significant influence on species composition and some species were more abundant in soil right below the trunks whereas others preferred soil environment further from them. Finally, significant relations, both positive and negative, were recorded between some Collembola species and ammonium. Thus, this substance might play a role of a volatile attractant in soil environment.

Effect of Soybean Cultivation on Soil Collembola Community in Marshland of Sanjiang Plain, China

The Sanjiang Plain, the largest inland freshwater marshland in China, was extensive reclaimed into agricultural land. To assess the effects of marshland reclamation on Collembola, we investigated collembolan communities in a chronosequence of soybean plantations (2, 15, and 25 years) in Sanjiang marshland, Northeastern China. We found that: 1) the densities and species richness of Collembola were promoted after short-term (2 years) cultivation of soybean, but significantly decreased after medium-term cultivation (15 years); 2) the densities of epi-edaphic Collembola increased while the densities of hemi-edaphic Collembola decreased as the elongation of soybean cultivation; 3) compared with S0, two species of Collembola appeared while five species disappeared in S25. The changes of plant communities and the soil traits were supposed to be the key factors affecting the composition of soil Collembola. We thus suggest that original marshland should be saved for preserving high diversity and densities of Collembola in the Sanjiang Plain.

Effects of habitat heterogeneity on epiedaphic Collembola (Arthropoda: Hexapoda) in a semiarid ecosystem in Northeast Brazil

The spatial distribution of abiotic resources and environmental conditions can vary at small scales within terrestrial ecosystems, influencing the composition of soil fauna. Epiedaphic springtails (Collembola) of a semiarid Caatinga ecosystem were studied to determine if factors related to vegetation structure, such as species richness, aerial biomass, litterfall, and soil characteristics (pH, granulometry and soil organic matter), influence species richness and abundance of this group. A total of 5,513 individuals were collected of 15 species distributed in 13 genera and 9 families. The most abundant species wereTemeritassp., with 2,086 (38% of the total abundance) individuals, andNeotropiellameridionalis(Arlé, 1939), with 1,911 (35% of the total abundance) individuals. None of the variables in the regression model were significantly related to Collembola species richness, but abundance was significantly related to plant species richness, aerial biomass and soil pH. Thus, even at a small spatial scale, habitat heterogeneity influences the epiedaphic Collembola in the Caatinga ecosystem, especially their abundance.

Non-vascular plants as a food source for litter-dwelling Collembola: Field evidence

Summary Non-vascular plants such as mosses, lichens and especially microalgae are widespread in terrestrial ecosystems, but their contribution in the nutrient cycling and energy budget of soil food webs is generally neglected. Despite a relatively low total biomass, soil microalgae can be very productive and contribute to the diet of many soil decomposers such as Collembola. Using 15 N/ 14 N ratios we showed that phycophagy is of particular importance for Collembola in extreme habitats like rock surfaces, or seasonally during the wintertime. In such situations, non-vascular plants can represent the major part of the diet of Collembola. In a temperate spruce forest partial phytophagy was observed for epigeic collembolan species. These species account for about half of the total biomass of litter-dwelling springtails. Experimental blackout of the forest floor affected population density and species richness of Collembola along with their δ 15 N values, confirming the importance of soil microalgae for maintaining the structure of collembolan communities. These results support the emerging view that soil phototrophic microorganisms should be considered an important channel for nutrient cycling in soil communities.

Area size mediates the role of arthropods on ecosystem functioning

AbstractSeveral impacts arising from anthropogenic activities hinder ecosystem properties, but the effects of habitat area size on ecosystem functioning remain little known. We aimed to evaluate the effects of area size, and the associated abundance and species richness of collembola, oribatid mites and other arthropods on litter decomposition, phosphorus and nitrogen release within tropical forests. We designed a natural mesocosm experiment with plots varying in area size (0.16 – 3.24 m2), with both a control and a faunal limitation treatment (naphthalene addition). After 240 days we found lower litter decomposition and higher phosphorus release (both about 30%) in litterbags from the faunal limitation treatment. However, variations on these ecosystem properties were not related to area size, arthropod richness or abundance in this treatment, likely because of the loss of key species. Conversely, plots without faunal limitation showed a positive linear effect of area size on decomposition, and interactive effects among area size and collembolan richness, abundance and other arthropod richness. The larger the area, the smaller the positive role of collembola and other arthropod richness on decomposition, while the opposite pattern occurred for collembolan abundance. The indirect effects of arthropods on decomposition have a more significant role within smaller areas, which have a restricted microbial community with a lower array of fungal enzymes and foraging strategies available. As far as we know, this is the first evidence that the role of arthropods in decomposition may be mediated by area size, but only when arthropod biodiversity has not been reduced. We highlight the need for further assessments of these relationships in larger scales, while also measuring microbial communities, as the impact of biodiversity loss on ecosystem functioning may be even greater when coupled with habitat loss.

The use of a functional approach as surrogate of Collembola species richness in European perennial crops and forests

Collembolans are known indicators of soil disturbance, used in several soil biodiversity monitoring programmes. As for other groups of soil microarthropods, taxonomic determination of Collembola species requires a huge effort and expert knowledge. In this study, we evaluated whether identification of Collembola species to the morphotype level, using an eco-morphological index which classifies individuals based on their adaptation to the soil, can be used as a surrogate of species richness in extensive monitoring schemes. The same evaluation was performed for higher taxa surrogates, using taxonomic categories at the genus and family levels. Additionally, sampling effort for perennial crops and forest systems was determined. Species data were collected from 35 sites sampled within different projects with the same number of samples (16 per site). Results showed that, on average, 8–12 samples are enough to have a good estimate of species richness for this type of systems, averaging 80–90%, but varying considerably with site habitat heterogeneity and local Collembola species pool. GLM models (using species richness as response variable) fitted for family, genus or morphotype levels (explanatory variables) were all significant (p<0.05) but only the latter two had a pseudo R2 higher than 0.75. This indicates that when a rapid, cost-effective assessment of Collembola richness in different sites is required, this eco-morphological trait approach, as well as the determination to the genus level, could be used.

Updated list of Collembola species currently recorded from South Africa.

Understanding the abundance and richness of species is one of the most fundamental steps in effecting their conservation. Despite global recognition of the significance of the below-ground component of diversity for ecosystem functioning, the soil remains a poorly studied terrestrial ecosystem. In South Africa, knowledge is increasing for a variety of soil faunal groups, but many still remain poorly understood. We have started to address this gap in the knowledge of South African soil biodiversity by focusing on the Collembola in an integrated project that encompasses systematics, barcoding and ecological assessments. Here we provide an updated list of the Collembola species from South Africa. A total of 124 species from 61 genera and 17 families has been recorded, of which 75 are considered endemic, 24 widespread, and 25 introduced. This total number of species excludes the 36 species we consider to be dubious. From the published data, Collembola species richness is high compared to other African countries, but low compared to European countries. This is largely a consequence of poor sampling in the African region, as our discovery of many new species in South Africa demonstrates. Our analyses also show that much ongoing work will be required before a reasonably comprehensive and spatially explicit picture of South Africa’s springtail fauna can be provided, which may well exceed 1000 species. Such work will be necessary to help South Africa meet its commitments to biodiversity conservation, especially in the context of the 2020 Aichi targets of the Convention on Biological Diversity.

Soil Warming Elevates the Abundance of Collembola in the Songnen Plain of China

The effect of soil warming and precipitation control in the context of soil warming on Collembola community was studied in Songnen grassland, China. Treatments included (1) control; (2) soil warming; (3) soil warming with low precipitation; and (4) soil warming with high precipitation. The open top chambers were used to increase the soil temperature, and the low and high precipitation were created by covering 30% of the chamber and artificial addition after rainfall through the three-year long field experiment. Soil samples were taken and collembolans were extracted in the 15th in June, August and October from 2010 to 2012. Abundance of total Collembola and dominant morphospecies Orchesellides sp.1 was significantly increased by soil warming. Total Collembola abundance was not affected by the precipitation. However, the abundance of Mesaphorura sp.1 was significantly increased by warming with low precipitation treatment. Collembola species richness, diversity and evenness were not impacted by any treatment through all the sampling times. These results suggest that more attention should be paid to the Collembola community variation under global warming in the future.

Effects of the annual invasive plant Impatiens glandulifera on the Collembola and Acari communities in a deciduous forest

Abstract Invasive plants can disturb interactions between soil organisms and native plants and thereby alter ecosystem functions and/or reduce local biodiversity. Collembola and Acari are the most abundant microarthropods in the leaf litter and soil playing a key role in the decomposition of organic material and nutrient cycling. We designed a field experiment to examine the potential effects of the annual invasive plant Impatiens glandulifera on species diversity, abundance and community composition of Collembola and Acari in leaf litter and soil in a deciduous forest in Switzerland. Leaf litter and soil samples were obtained from plots invaded by I. glandulifera since 6 years, from plots in which the invasive plant had been removed for 4 years and from plots which were not yet colonized by the invasive plant. The 45 leaf litter and soil samples were equally distributed over three forest areas, which were differently affected by a wind throw 12 years prior to sampling representing a natural gradient of disturbance. Collembola species richness and abundance in the leaf litter and soil samples were not affected by the presence of the invasive plant. However, the species composition of Collembola was altered in plots with I. glandulifera . The abundance of leaf-litter dwelling Acari was increased in invaded plots compared to the two other plot types. Furthermore, the presence of the invasive plant shifted the composition of Acari individuals belonging to different groups. Our field experiment demonstrates that an annual invasive plant can affect microarthropods which are important for nutrient cycling in various ecosystems.