Common coastal foraging areas for loggerheads in the Gulf of Mexico: Opportunities for marine conservation

Designing conservation strategies that protect wide-ranging marine species is a significant challenge, but integrating regional telemetry datasets and synthesizing modeled movements and behavior offer promise for uncovering distinct at-sea areas that are important habitats for imperiled marine species. Movement paths of 10 satellite-tracked female loggerheads (Caretta caretta) from three separate subpopulations in the Gulf of Mexico, USA, revealed migration to discrete foraging sites in two common areas at-sea in 2008, 2009, and 2010. Foraging sites were 102–904 km away from nesting and tagging sites, and located off southwest Florida and the northern Yucatan Peninsula, Mexico. Within 3–35 days, turtles migrated to foraging sites where they all displayed high site fidelity over time. Core-use foraging areas were 13.0–335.2 km² in size, in water <50 m deep, within a mean distance to nearest coastline of 58.5 km, and in areas of relatively high net primary productivity. The existence of shared regional foraging sites highlights an opportunity for marine conservation strategies to protect important at-sea habitats for these imperiled marine turtles, in both USA and international waters. Until now, knowledge of important at-sea foraging areas for adult loggerheads in the Gulf of Mexico has been limited. To better understand the spatial distribution of marine turtles that have complex life-histories, we propose further integration of disparate tracking data-sets at the oceanic scale along with modeling of movements to identify critical at-sea foraging habitats where individuals may be resident during non-nesting periods.     

Terrestrial habitat requirements of nesting freshwater turtles

Because particular life history traits affect species vulnerability to development pressures, cross-species summaries of life history traits are useful for generating management guidelines. Conservation of aquatic turtles, many members of which are regionally or globally imperiled, requires knowing the extent of upland habitat used for nesting. Therefore, we compiled distances that nests and gravid females had been observed from wetlands. Based on records of > 8000 nests and gravid female records compiled for 31 species in the United States and Canada, the distances that encompass 95% of nests vary dramatically among genera and populations, from just 8 m for Malaclemys to nearly 1400 m for Trachemys. Widths of core areas to encompass varying fractions of nesting populations (based on mean maxima across all genera) were estimated as: 50% coverage = 93 m, 75% = 154 m, 90% = 198 m, 95% = 232 m, 100% = 942 m. Approximately 6–98 m is required to encompass each consecutive 10% segment of a nesting population up to 90% coverage; thereafter, ca. 424 m is required to encompass the remaining 10%. Many genera require modest terrestrial areas (<200 m zones) for 95% nest coverage (Actinemys, Apalone, Chelydra, Chrysemys, Clemmys, Glyptemys, Graptemys, Macrochelys, Malaclemys, Pseudemys, Sternotherus), whereas other genera require larger zones (Deirochelys, Emydoidea, Kinosternon, Trachemys). Our results represent planning targets for conserving sufficient areas of uplands around wetlands to ensure protection of turtle nesting sites, migrating adult female turtles, and dispersing turtle hatchlings.     

Relationships between C respiration and fine particulate organic matter (250–50 μm) weight

Soil organic matter (SOM) status was evaluated using the relationships between two independent soil variables, i.e., C respiration and the weight of particulate organic matter POM (4000–50 μm) under different vegetation covers and ecosystems of central Belgium. A positive relationship was found between the weight of the finest POM fraction, i.e., fine POM fraction (250–50 μm) and C respiration after 1 week (R² = 0.34, n = 120, p < 0.0001) and 2 weeks (R² = 0.28, n = 120, p < 0.0001) of incubation. Therefore, we assumed that the C respiration and the weight of fine POM might be used to evaluate the SOM status under different vegetation covers and ecosystems.     

Climatic influences on active fractions of soil organic matter

Biologically active fractions of soil organic matter are important in understanding decomposition potential of organic materials, nutrient cycling dynamics, and biophysical manipulation of soil structure. We evaluated the quantitative relationships among potential C and net N mineralization, soil microbial biomass C (SMBC), and soil organic C (SOC) under four contrasting climatic conditions. Mean SOC values were 28±11 mg g⁻¹ (n=24) in a frigid–dry region (Alberta/British Columbia), 25±5 mg g⁻¹ (n=12) in a frigid–wet region (Maine), 11±4 mg g⁻¹ (n=117) in a thermic–dry region (Texas), and 12±5 mg g⁻¹ (n=131) in a thermic–wet region (Georgia). Higher mean annual temperature resulted in consistently greater basal soil respiration (1.7 vs 0.8 mg CO₂–C g⁻¹ SOC d⁻¹ in the thermic compared with the frigid regions, P<0.001), greater net N mineralization (2.8 vs 1.3 mg inorganic N g⁻¹ SOC 24 d⁻¹, P<0.001), and greater SMBC (53 vs 21 mg SMBC g⁻¹ SOC, P<0.001). Specific respiratory activity of SMBC was, however, consistently lower in the thermic than in the frigid regions (29 vs 34 mg CO₂–C g⁻¹ SMBC d⁻¹, P<0.01). Higher mean annual precipitation resulted in consistently lower basal soil respiration (1.1 vs 1.3 mg CO₂–C g⁻¹ SOC d⁻¹ in the wet compared with the dry regions, P<0.01) and lower SMBC (31 vs 43 mg SMBC g⁻¹ SOC, P<0.001), but had inconsistent effects on net N mineralization that depended upon temperature regime. Specific respiratory activity of SMBC was consistently greater in the wet than the dry regions (≈33 vs 29 mg CO₂–C g⁻¹ SMBC d⁻¹, P<0.01). Although the thermic regions were not able to retain as high a level of SOC as the frigid regions, due likely to high annual decomposition rates, biologically active soil fractions were as high per mass of soil and even 2–3-times greater per unit of SOC in the thermic compared with the frigid regions. These results suggest that macroclimate has a large impact on the portion of soil organic matter that is potentially active, but a relatively small impact on the specific respiratory activity of SMBC.     

Relationships between single tree canopy and grass net radiations

It is reported a simple approach to transform daily values of grass net (all-wave) radiation (R_n, MJ m⁻² day⁻¹), as measured over standard grass surface at meteorological stations, into whole tree canopy net radiation (A, MJ tree⁻¹ day⁻¹). The revolving Whirligig device [McNaughton, K.G., Green, S.R., Black, T.A., Tynam, B.R., Edwards, W.R.N., 1992. Direct measurement of net radiation and photosynthetically active radiation absorbed by a single tree. Agric. For. Meteorol. 62, 87–107] describing a sphere about the tree measured A in five trees of different species (walnut, dwarf apple, normal apple, olives and citrus), with leaf area L_A varying from 8.65 to 40 m². For each tree, A and R_n were linearly related (A = bR_n), as previously reported elsewhere, but it was found that the slope of such regression was also a linear function of L_A or, b = 0.303 (±0.032) L_A. Consequently, the hypothesis that total daily tree canopy net radiation per unit leaf area is linearly related to grass net radiation could not be rejected after 86 days of measurements in five locations, and the empirical relationship is A = 0.303 (±0.032) R_nL_A (R² = 0.9306).     

Quantifying the uncertainties of transpiration calculations with the Penman–Monteith equation under different climate and optimum water supply conditions

The uncertainties of transpiration calculations with the Penman–Monteith equation were quantified under different climate conditions of Brazil, Germany and Israel using maize as a common crop type. All experiments were carried out under non-limiting growing conditions. Canopy resistance was determined by scaling to canopy level specific relations between in situ measurements of incident radiation and stomatal conductance using a light penetration model. The model was tested against heat-pulse measured sap flow in plant stems. The root mean square error (RMSE) of daily calculated transpiration minus measured sap flow was 0.4 mm/day. It was dominated by its variance component (variance = 0.2 {mm/day}²; bias = 0.0 mm/day). Calculated transpiration closely matched the measured trends at the three locations. No significant differences were found between seasons and locations. Uncertainties of canopy conductance parameterizations led to errors of up to 2.1 mm/day. The model responded most sensitively to a 30% change of net radiation (absolute bias error = 1.6 mm/day), followed by corresponding alterations of canopy resistances (0.8 mm/day), vapour pressure deficits (0.5 mm/day) and aerodynamic resistances (0.34 mm/day). Measured and calculated 30-min or hourly averaged transpiration rates are highly correlated (r² = 0.95; n = 10634), and the slope of the regression line is close to unity. The overall RMSE of calculated transpiration minus measured sap flow was 0.08 mm/h and was dominated by its variance component (0.005 {mm/h}²). Measured sap flow consistently lagged behind calculated transpiration, because plant hydraulic capacitance delays the change of leaf water potential that drives water uptake. Calculated transpiration significantly overestimated sap flow during morning hours (mean = 0.068 mm/h, n = 321) and underestimated it during afternoon hours (mean = ?0.065 mm/h; n = 316). The Penman–Monteith approach as implemented in the present study is sufficiently sensitive to detect small differences between transpiration and water uptake and provides a robust tool to manage plant water supply under unstressed conditions.     

Remote estimation of gross primary production in wheat using chlorophyll-related vegetation indices

A number of recent studies have focused on estimating gross primary production (GPP) using vegetation indices (VIs). In this paper, GPP is retrieved as a product of incident light use efficiency (LUE), defined as GPP/PAR, and the photosynthetically active radiation (PAR). As a good correlation is found between canopy chlorophyll content and incident LUE for six types of wheat canopy (R² = 0.87, n = 24), indices aimed for chlorophyll assessment can be used as an indicator of incident LUE and the product of chlorophyll indices and PAR will be a proxy of GPP. In a field experiment, we investigated four canopy chlorophyll content related indices (Red edge Normalized Difference Vegetation Index [Red Edge NDVI], modified Chlorophyll Absorption Ratio Index [MCARI₇₁₀], Red Edge Chlorophyll Index [CI_{red edge}] and the MERIS Terrestrial Chlorophyll Index [MTCI]) for GPP estimation during the growth cycle of wheat. These indices are validated for leaf and canopy chlorophyll estimation with ground truth data of canopy chlorophyll content. With ground truth data, a strong correlation is observed for canopy chlorophyll estimation with correlation coefficients R² of 0.79, 0.84, 0.85 and 0.87 for Red Edge NDVI, MCARI₇₁₀, CI_{red edge} and MTCI, respectively (n = 24). As evidence of the existence of a relationship between canopy chlorophyll and GPP/PAR, these indices are shown to be a good proxy of GPP/PAR with R² ranging from 0.70 for Red Edge NDVI and 0.75 for MTCI (n = 240). Remote estimation of GPP from canopy chlorophyll content × PAR is proved to be relatively successful (R² of 0.47, 0.53, 0.65 and 0.66 for Red edge NDVI, MCARI₇₁₀, CI_{red edge} and MTCI respectively, n = 240). These results open up a new possibility to estimate GPP and should inspire new models for remote sensing of GPP.     

Production and dissolution rates of earthworm-secreted calcium carbonate

Earthworms secrete granules of calcium carbonate. These are potentially important in soil biogeochemical cycles and are routinely recorded in archaeological studies of Quaternary soils. Production rates of calcium carbonate granules by the earthworm Lumbricus terrestris L. were determined over 27 days in a range of soils with differing chemical properties (pH, organic matter content, water holding capacity, bulk composition, cation exchange capacity and exchangeable cations). Production rate varied between soils, lay in the range $0–0.043{\text{mmol}}_{{\text{CaCO}}_3}$ (0–4.3 mg) earthworm^?1 d^?1 with an average rate of $8\times {10}^{?3}{\text{mmol}}_{{\text{CaCO}}_3}$ (0.8 mg) earthworm^?1 d^?1 and was significantly correlated (r = 0.68, P ≤ 0.01) with soil pH. In a second experiment lasting 315 days earthworms repeatedly (over periods of 39–57 days) produced comparable masses of granules. Converting individual earthworm granule production rates into fluxes expressed on a per hectare of land per year basis depends heavily on estimates of earthworm numbers. Using values of 10–20 L. terrestris m^?2 suggests a rate of $18–3139{\text{mol}}_{{\text{CaCO}}_3}{\text{ha}}^{?1}{\text{yr}}^{?1}$. Data obtained from flow-through dissolution experiments suggest that at near neutral pH, granule geometric surface area-normalised dissolution rates are similar to those for other biogenic and inorganic calcites. Fits of the data to the dissolution relationship r = k(1 ? Ω)ⁿ where r = dissolution rate, k = a rate constant, Ω = relative saturation and n = the reaction order gave values of k = 1.72 × 10^?10 mol cm^?2 s^?1 and n = 1.8 for the geometric surface area-normalised rates and k = 3.51 × 10^?13 mol cm^?2 s^?1 and n = 1.8 for the BET surface area-normalised rates. In 196 day leaching column experiments trends in granule dissolution rate referenced to soil chemistry corresponded to predictions made by the SLIM model for dissolution of limestone in soil. If soil solution approaches saturation with respect to calcium carbonate, granule dissolution will slow or even stop and granules be preserved indefinitely. Granules have the potential to be a small but significant component of the biogeochemical cycling of C and Ca in soil.     

Animal manure and anhydrous ammonia amendment alter microbial carbon use efficiency,microbial biomass,and activities of dehydrogenase and amidohydrolases in semiarid agroecosystems

The potential negative impact of agricultural practices on soil and water quality is of environmental concern. The associated nutrient transformations and movements that lead to environmental concerns are inseparable from microbial and biochemical activities. Therefore, biochemical and microbiological parameters directing nitrogen (N) transformations in soils amended with different animal manures or inorganic N fertilizers were investigated. Soils under continuous corn cultivation were treated with N annually for 5 years at 56, 168, and 504 kg N ha⁻¹ in the form of swine effluent, beef manure, or anhydrous ammonia. Animal manure treatments increased dehydrogenase activity, microbial biomass carbon (C_mic) and N (N_mic) contents, and activities of amidohydrolases, including l-asparaginase, urease, l-glutaminase, amidase, and β-glucosaminidase. Soils receiving anhydrous ammonia demonstrated increased nitrate contents, but reduced microbiological and biochemical activities. All treatments decreased C_mic:organic C (C_org) ratios compared with the control, indicating reduced microbial C use efficiency and disturbance of C equilibrium in these soil environments. Activities of all enzymes tested were significantly correlated with soil C_org contents (P < 0.001, n = 108), but little correlation (r = 0.03, n = 36) was detected between C_mic and C_org. Activities of amidase and β-glucosaminidase were dominated by accumulated enzymes that were free of microbial cells, while activities of asparaginase and glutaminase were originated predominately from intracellular enzymes. Results indicated that soil microbial and biochemical activities are sensitive indicators of processes involved in N flow and C use efficiency in semiarid agroecosystems.     

The effect of organic matter on the structure of soils of different land uses

In this study, the soil structure of two soils (Haplic Chernozem and Eutric Fluvisol) of different land uses (forest, meadow, urban and agro-ecosystem – consisted of four crop rotations) in Slovakia was compared. The soil aggregate stability was determined with a dependence on the chemical composition of plant residues. The quantity and quality of the organic matter was assessed through the parameters of the C and N in size fractions of dry-sieved and water-resistant aggregates. The soil structure of the forest ecosystem was evaluated as the best of all of forms of land use. Differences in the soil structure under the grass vegetation of a meadow (natural conditions) and urban ecosystem were also recorded. The agro-ecosystem was characterised by a higher portion (55.95%) of the most valuable (agronomically) water-resistant aggregate size fraction of 0.5–3 mm. Values of the carbon management index showed that the larger water-resistant aggregates were, the greater were the changes in the organic matter (r = ?0.680, P < 0.05). In addition, a smaller content of dry-sieved aggregates of the 3–5 mm size fraction was observed with higher contents of soil organic carbon (SOC) (r = ?0.728, P < 0.05) and labile carbon (C_L) (r = ?0.760, P < 0.05); there were also greater changes in the soil organic matter and vice versa, higher contents of SOC (r = 0.744, P < 0.05) and C_L (r = 0.806, P < 0.05) greater contents of dry-sieved aggregates of size fraction 0.5–1 mm. The soil structure of agro-ecosystem was superior at a higher content of cellulose (r = ?0.712, P < 0.05) in the plant residues. The higher content of cellulose and hemicellulose in the plant residue of a previous crop was reflected in a smaller C_L content in the water-resistant aggregates (r = ?0.984, P < 0.05). A correlation was observed between a high content of lignin in the plant residue and a smaller SOC content in the water-resistant aggregates (r = ?0.967, P < 0.05). Lastly, a higher content of proteins in the plant residues (r = 0.744, P < 0.05) supported a greater content of dry-sieved aggregates of the 0.5–1 mm size fraction.     

Nitrogen mineralization in the ruderal sub-alpine communities in Mount Uludağ, Turkey

Nitrogen mineralization and nitrification in the soil of sub-alpine ruderal community of Mount Uludağ, Bursa, Turkey was measured for 1 year, under field conditions with Verbascum olympicum and Rumex olympicus being the dominant pioneer species under dry and wet sites, respectively. Seasonal fluctuations were observed in N mineralization and nitrification. The net N mineralization and nitrification were high in early summer and winter, due to high moisture. The annual net N mineralization rate (for the 0–15 cm soil layer) was higher under R. olympicus (188 kg N ha⁻¹ yr⁻¹) than under V. olympicum (96 kg N ha⁻¹ yr⁻¹). A significant positive correlation between net N mineralization and soil organic C (r² = 0.166), total N (r² = 0.141) and water content (r² = 0.211) was found. Our results indicate that N mineralization rate is high in soils of ruderal communities on disturbed sites and varies with dominant species and, a difference in net N mineralization rate can be attributed to organic C, total N and moisture content of soils.     

Evapotranspiration and water use efficiency in different-aged Pacific Northwest Douglas-fir stands

We used the eddy-covariance technique to measure evapotranspiration (E) and gross primary production (GPP) in a chronosequence of three coastal Douglas-fir (Pseudotsuga menziesii) stands (7, 19 and 58 years old in 2007, hereafter referred to as HDF00, HDF88 and DF49, respectively) since 1998. Here, we focus on the controls on canopy conductance (g_c), E, GPP and water use efficiency (WUE) and the effect of interannual climate variability at the intermediate-aged stand (DF49) and then analyze the effects of stand age following clearcut harvesting on these characteristics. Daytime dry-foliage Priestley–Taylor α and g_c at DF49 were 0.4–0.8 and 2–6 mm s^?1, respectively, and were linearly correlated (R² = 0.65). Low values of α and g_c at DF49 as well at the other two stands suggested stomatal limitation to transpiration. Monthly E, however, showed strong positive linear correlations to monthly net radiation (R² = 0.94), air temperature (R² = 0.77), and daytime vapour pressure deficit (R² = 0.76). During July–September, monthly E (mm) was linearly correlated to monthly mean soil water content (θ, m³ m^?3) in the 0–60 cm layer (E = 453θ ? 21, R² = 0.69), and GPP was similarly affected. Annual E and GPP of DF49 for the period 1998–2007 varied from 370 to 430 mm and from 1950 to 2390 g C m^?2, respectively. After clearcut harvesting, E dropped to about 70% of that for DF49 while ecosystem evapotranspiration was fully recovered when stand age was ～12 years. This contrasted to GPP, which varied hyperbolically with stand age. Monthly GPP showed a strong positive linear relationship with E irrespective of the stand age. While annual WUE of HDF00 and HDF88 varied with age from 0.5 to 4.1 g C m^?2 kg^?1 and from 2.8 to 4.4 g C m^?2 kg^?1, respectively, it was quite conservative at ～5.3 g C m^?2 kg^?1 for DF49. N-fertilization had little first-year response on E and WUE. This study not only provides important results for a more detailed validation of process-based models but also helps in predicting the influences of climate change and forest management on water vapour and CO₂ fluxes in Douglas-fir forests.     

Switch of tropical Amazon forest to pasture affects taxonomic composition but not species abundance and diversity of arbuscular mycorrhizal fungal community

Arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) community composition and species richness are affected by several factors including soil attributes and plant host. In this paper we tested the hypothesis that conversion of tropical Amazon forest to pasture changes taxonomic composition of AMF community but not community species abundance and richness. Soil samples were obtained in 300 m × 300 m plots from forest (n = 11) and pasture (n = 13) and fungal spores extracted, counted and identified. A total of 36 species were recovered from both systems, with 83% of them pertaining to Acaulosporaceae and Glomeraceae. Only 12 species were shared between systems and spore abundance of the majority of fungal species did not differ between pasture and forest. Spore abundance was significantly higher in pasture compared to forest but both systems did not differ on mean species richness, Shannon diversity and Pielou equitability. Species abundance distribution depicted by species rank log abundance plots was not statistically different between both systems. We concluded that conversion of pristine tropical forest to pasture influences the taxonomic composition of AMF communities while not affecting species richness and abundance distribution.     

Factors influencing earthworm communities in post-industrial areas of Krakow Soda Works

Application of earthworm in soil re-cultivation and re-creation in post-industrial ecosystems make a big challenge for temporal applied zoology. The sediments of the Krakow Soda Works “Solvay” have undergone land reclamation in different ways: older sediments traps were left without any re-cultivation practices; meanwhile the newest ones were reclaimed using standard method (new soil cover planted with combination of grass and leguminous plants). The effect of different treatments on community and population structure of earthworm was estimated during consecutive years 1999–2000. Six localities differing in time of establishment, reclamation processes, vegetation type and soil properties were chosen. Nine species were recorded, among which Aporrectodea caliginosa occurred in all localities, being also the most abundant. Two other species, Lumbricus rubellus and Dendrobaena octaedra, which are epigeic species, become most important in forest assemblages and were characteristic for communities of older succession processes. Abundance of adult forms as well as total biomass were significantly affected by soil depth (r = 0.75, P < 0.05, r = 0.917, P < 0.001, respectively). Species richness however was connected with higher amount of macroelements and average plant height. Shannon diversity index and its evenness negatively correlated only with forestation (r = –0.67, P < 0.05, r = –0.68, P < 0.05, respectively). Niche overlap (α Pianka) for all analysed species extracted two groups differing in environmental requirements. First contained epigeic earthworms, closely related to plant succession (PCA results), the other one grouped endogeic and anecique species correlated significantly with soil depth and plant density. Community structure of earthworms do not reflects succession changes in post-industrial habitats, but is strongly affected by microhabitat factors in local scale (mainly soil depth and plant density).     

Soil losses due to cassava and sweet potato harvesting: A case study from low input traditional agriculture

Soil loss due to crop harvesting (SLCH) has been established as an important soil erosion process that has significantly contributed to soil degradation in highly mechanised agriculture. This has stimulated the need to investigate the importance of this process of erosion under low input agriculture where, until now, only water and tillage erosion are known as important phenomena causing soil degradation. This study was conducted in Eastern Uganda with the following objectives: (1) to assess the amount of soil lost due to the harvesting of cassava roots and sweet potato tubers under low input agriculture, (2) to look into the factors that influence variations in these soil losses, and (3) to estimate the amount of plant nutrients lost due to SLCH for cassava and sweet potato. Soil sticking to roots and tubers was washed and the soil suspension oven dried to estimate the amount of soil lost after harvesting. Mean annual soil loss for cassava was 3.4 tonnes ha⁻¹ and for sweet potato was 0.2 tonnes ha⁻¹. Ammonium acetate lactate extractable soil nutrient losses for cassava were N = 1.71 kg ha⁻¹ harvest⁻¹, P = 0.16 kg ha⁻¹ harvest⁻¹, K = 1.08 kg ha⁻¹ harvest⁻¹ and for sweet potato were N = 0.14, P = 0.01 kg ha⁻¹ harvest⁻¹, K = 0.15 kg ha⁻¹ harvest⁻¹. Difference in soil loss due to crop harvesting for cassava and sweet potato could be due to: (1) smaller yields of sweet potato leading to smaller soil losses on an area basis, (2) smoother skin and less kinked morphology of sweet potato that allowed less soil to adhere, and (3) the fact that sweet potato is planted in mounds which dry out faster compared to the soil under cassava. Soil moisture content at harvesting time and crop age were significant factors that explained the variations in the soil lost at cassava harvesting. Soil loss under cassava justifies the need to conduct further investigations on this process of soil erosion under low input agriculture.     

Detection and quantification of the nematophagous fungus Hirsutella minnesotensis in soil with real-time PCR

A real-time PCR assay was developed to quantify in soil the fungus Hirsutella minnesotensis, an important parasite of secondary-stage juvenile (J2) of the soybean cyst nematode. A primer pair 5′-GGGAGGCCCGGTGGA-3′ and 5′-TGATCCGAGGTCAACTTCTGAA-3′ and a TaqMan probe 5′-CGTCCGCCGTAAAACGCCCAAC-3′ were designed based on the sequence of the ITS region of the rRNA gene. The primers were highly species-specific. The PCR reaction system was very sensitive and able to detect as few as 4 conidia g^?1 soil. Regression analysis showed similar slopes and efficiency on DNA from pure culture (y = ?3.587x + 41.017, R² = 0.9971, E = 0.9055) and from Log conidia g^?1 soil (y = ?3.855x + 37.669, R² = 0.9139, E = 0.8172), indicating that the real-time PCR protocol can reliably quantify H. minnesotensis in the soil. The real-time PCR assay was applied to 20 soil samples from soybean fields, and compared with a parasitism assay. The real-time PCR assay detected H. minnesotensis in six of the soils, whereas the parasitism assay detected H. minnesotensis in the same six soils and three additional soils. The real-time PCR assay was weakly correlated (R² = 0.49) with the percentage of parasitized J2 in the six soils, indicating that different types of soil may interfere the efficiency of the real-time PCR assay, possibly due to the effect of soil types on efficacy of DNA extraction. The parasitism assay appeared to be more sensitive than real-time PCR in detecting presence of H. minnesotensis, but real-time PCR was much faster and less costly and provided a direct assessment of fungal biomass. Using the two assays in combination can obtain more complete information about the fungus in soil than either assay alone. Hirsutella parasitism was widespread and detected in 13 of the 20 field soils, indicating that these fungi may contribute to suppressiveness of soybean cyst nematode in nature and likely have high biological control potential for the nematode.     

The temperature dependence of dicyandiamide (DCD) degradation in soils: A data synthesis

Dicyandiamide (DCD, C₂H₄N₄) is a nitrification inhibitor that has been studied for more than 80 years. However, there are few papers that have examined the use of DCD on dairy farms where cattle graze pasture and where urine is the primary form of nitrogen (N) deposited onto soils. After DCD was applied (10 kg DCD ha^?1) with bovine urine (700–1200 kg N ha^?1) to five soils throughout New Zealand, the reduction in direct nitrous oxide (N₂O) emissions was significant and remarkably consistent (71 ± 8%, average ± standard error). The application of DCD to these soils occurred in autumn and winter; daily average soil temperature (T) was reported but these data were not further analysed. Perusal of the literature suggested no consensus on the temperature dependence of DCD degradation in soils. Based on published data from controlled-environment studies of soils sampled in four countries, we quantified the relation between T and the time for DCD concentration in soils to decline to half its application value (t_½) as t_½ (T) = 168e^?0.084T with parameter standard errors of ±16 d and ±0.011 d^?1, respectively (n = 16). For example, at 5 °C a 1 °C increase in T reduced t_½ from 110 to 101 d whereas at 25 °C the reduction was 20–19 d. Analysing T data from the New Zealand trials using our t_½ (T) function, over 43–89 d when direct N₂O emissions from treated plots became indistinguishable from the controls, the estimated percentage of applied DCD remaining in the soil averaged 43 ± 10%. These calculations suggested the apparently remaining DCD was ineffective with respect to direct N₂O emissions. In the absence of measurements, explanations for this interpretation included vertical displacement of the DCD and sorption onto organic matter in soils. The consistent DCD efficacy from these trials corresponded with T generally <10 °C, so it is suggested as an application criteria for the reduction of direct N₂O emissions from pastoral soils subjected to urine excretion by grazing cattle.     

Turnover of low molecular weight dissolved organic C (DOC) and microbial C exhibit different temperature sensitivities in Arctic tundra soils

Polar ecosystems are currently experiencing some of the fastest rates of climate warming. An increase in soil temperature in High Arctic regions may stimulate soil permafrost melting and microbial activity, thereby accelerating losses of greenhouse gases. It is therefore important to understand the factors regulating the rates of C turnover in polar soils. Consequently, our aims were to: (1) assess the concentration of low molecular weight (MW) dissolved organic carbon (DOC) in soil, (2) to investigate the temperature-dependent turnover of specific low MW compounds, and (3) to analyse the influence of substrate concentration on C cycling. Microbial mineralisation of labile low MW DOC in two High Arctic tundra soils was investigated using soil solutions spiked with either ¹⁴C-labelled glucose or amino acids. Spiked solutions were added to the top- and sub-soil from two ecosystem types (lichen and Carex dominated tundra), maintained at three temperatures (4–20 °C), and their microbial mineralisation kinetics monitored. ¹⁴CO₂ evolution from the tundra soils in response to ¹⁴C-glucose and -amino acid addition could best be described by a double first order exponential kinetic equation with rate constants k₁ and k₂. Both forms of DOC had a short half-life (t_1/2) in the pool of microbial respiratory substrate (t_1/2 = 1.07 ± 0.10 h for glucose and 1.63 ± 0.14 h for amino acids; exponential coefficient k₁ = 0.93 ± 0.07 and 0.64 ± 0.06 h^?1 respectively) whilst the second phase of mineralisation, assumed to be C that had entered the microbial biomass, was much slower (average k₂ = 1.30 × 10^?3 ± 0.49 × 10^?4 h^?1). Temperature had little effect on the rate of mineralisation of ¹⁴C used directly as respiratory substrate. In contrast, the turnover rate of the ¹⁴C immobilized in the microbial biomass prior to mineralisation was temperature sensitive (k₂ values of 0.99 × 10^?3 h^?1 and 1.66 × 10^?3 h^?1 at 4 and 20 °C respectively). Concentration-dependent glucose and amino acid mineralisation kinetics of glucose and amino acids (0–10 mM) were best described using Michaelis–Menten kinetics; there was a low affinity for both C substrates by the microbial community (K_m = 4.07 ± 0.41 mM, V_max = 0.027 ± 0.005 mmol kg^?1 h^?1). In conclusion, our results suggest that in these C limiting environments the flux of labile, low MW DOC through the soil solution is extremely rapid and relatively insensitive to temperature. In contrast, the turnover of C incorporated into higher molecular weight microbial C pools appears to show greater temperature sensitivity.     

Earthworm populations in relation to soil organic matter dynamics and management in California tomato cropping systems

Earthworms are key regulators of soil structure and soil organic matter (SOM) dynamics in many agroecosystems. They are greatly impacted by agricultural management, yet little is known about how these factors interact to control SOM dynamics. This study sought to explore linkages between agricultural management, earthworms and aggregate associated SOM dynamics through a survey of tomato (Solanum lycopersicum L.) cropping systems in northern California. Earthworms and soil samples were collected between February and April of 2005 from 16 fields under one of three types of residue management: (1) tomato mulch – no postharvest tillage and tomato residues left on the soil surface, (2) cover crop – tomato residues tilled in and leguminous cover crop planted, and (3) bare fallow – tomato residues tilled in and soil surface left exposed throughout the winter. Earthworms were collected via hand-sorting and identified to species, while soils were wet sieved to yield four aggregate size classes: large macroaggregates (>2000 μm), small macroaggregates (250–2000 μm), microaggregates (53–250 μm) and the silt and clay fraction (<53 μm). The combined large and small macroaggregate fraction was then fractionated into coarse particulate organic matter (cPOM; 250 μm), microaggregates within macroaggregates (mM; 53–250 μm) and macroaggregate occluded silt and clay (Msc; <53 μm). The earthworms identified in this survey were composed entirely of exotic species and were dominated by Aporrectodea caliginosa. Earthworm abundance was related to residue management, with the tomato mulch systems averaging 4.5 times greater fresh earthworm biomass than bare fallow (P = 0.024). Aggregate stability and total soil C and N also appeared to be influenced by residue management, such that the tomato mulch system displayed significantly greater mean weight diameters than the bare fallow system (P = 0.049), as well as more than 50% greater total soil C and N (P = 0.049 and P = 0.036; respectively). Earthworm biomass was also found to be positively correlated with total soil C (P = 0.009, R² = 0.39) and N (P = 0.010, R² = 0.039) as well as the proportion of macroaggregate C in the cPOM fraction (P = 0.028, R² = 0.30). Our findings suggest that residue handling and the associated management practices (e.g., tillage, organic vs. conventional agriculture) are important for both earthworm populations and SOM storage. Although earthworms are known to influence SOM in many ways, other factors appear to play a more prominent role in governing aggregate associated SOM dynamics.     

Impact of allelochemical exuded from allelopathic rice on soil microbial community

Allelopathic rice releases allelochemicals from its roots to paddy soils at early growth stages to inhibit neighboring weeds. However, little is currently known about the effects of allelochemicals on soil microbes. In this study, we show that allelopathic rice can have great impact on the population and community structure of soil microbes. Allelopathic rice PI312777 seedlings reduced the culturable microbial population and total PLFA when compared to non-allelopathic rice Liaojing-9. Similar results were observed when, instead of growing seedlings, soils were incubated with plant root exudates. This result demonstrates that the composition of root exudates from the rice varieties tested contributes to the soil microbial community. Further experiments showed that the microbial community was affected by the allelochemical 5,4′-dihydroxy-3′,5′-dimethoxy-7-O-β-glucopyranosylflavone exuded from allelopathic rice roots, through immediately hydrolyzing glucose with stimulation on soil bacteria and aglycone (5,7,4′-trihydroxy-3′,5′-dimethoxyflavone) with inhibition on soil fungi. This result indicates that the flavone O-glycoside can provide carbon and interact with soil microbes. PC analysis of the fatty acid data clearly separated the allelopathic PI312777 and the non-allelopathic Liaojing-9 variety (PC1 = 46.4%, PC2 = 20.3%). Similarly, the first principal component (PC1 = 37.4%) together with the second principal component (PC2 = 17.3%) explained 54.7% of the variation between the allelopathic and non-allelopathic root exudates. Furthermore, the canonical correlation between allelopathic root exudates and the flavone O-glycoside was statistically significant (Canonical R = 0.889, χ² (25) = 69.72, p = 0.0041). Although the data generated in this study were not completely consistent between culturable microbes and PLFA profile, it is a fact that variation in soil microbial populations and community structures could be distinguished by the allelopathic and non-allelopathic rice varieties tested. Our results suggest that individual components of rice root exudates, such as allelochemicals from allelopathic rice, can modify the soil microbial community.