Species diversity and metal accumulation in oribatid mites (Acari, Oribatida) of forests affected by a metallurgical plant

A study was made of oribatid mite communities and their responses to metal contamination derived from the Kosogorsky metallurgical plant located in the Tula District, Russia. Mite communities were sampled in three different seasons in four sites at different distances from the smelter. Concentrations of zinc, copper, cadmium, lead and iron were measured in ten mite species. The data show that the mite community as a whole is quite tolerant to the metal contamination caused by the Kosogorsky plant. At the polluted sites some species typical for nutrient-rich soils appeared, but community structure and species diversity were not seriously affected by metal contamination. In general, oribatid mites accumulated metals to very high internal concentrations. Average Cu, Cd, Pb and Fe concentrations did not differ significantly between species, but Zn did, and its level was associated with the mode of feeding of the species. Microphytophagous species, feeding exclusively on fungi, accumulated zinc in higher concentrations than other mites. This study illustrates the potential for bioindication by the little studied but species-rich group of soil oribatids.     

Effects of microhabitat diversity and geographical isolation on oribatid mite (Acari: Oribatida) communities in mangrove forests

The effects of microhabitat diversity and geographical isolation on the structure of oribatid communities were studied in mangrove forests on the Ryukyu Islands of Japan. The study took place at three sites on two islands 470 km apart. Oribatid mites (Oribatida) were extracted from leaves, branches, bark of trunks (0-50, 50-100, and 100-150 cm high) and of knee roots, and from forest-floor soil and littoral algae, each defined as a microhabitat of oribatid mites. At the 0-50 cm height, the species composition of the oribatid communities on the knee-root bark and the bark of trunks of Bruguiera gymnorrhiza differed significantly from that on the other microhabitats. This difference was attributed to tidal flooding of the mangrove forests. Cluster analysis showed that oribatid communities in the same microhabitat at different sites tended to be more similar than those on different microhabitats at the same site. This implies that the species composition of oribatid communities in mangrove forests is more likely to be affected by factors responsible for microhabitat diversity (characterized specifically by the flooded trunks) than by geographical distance between the islands.     

Limits to the bioindication potential of Collembola in environmental impact analysis: a case study of forest soil-liming and fertilization

We tested the suitability of the collembolan community as a bioindicator for assessing the effects of forest soil-liming and fertilization on the belowground decomposer community. Our investigation was based on a 5-year survey that took place in a German oak-hornbeam and spruce forest in which amelioration measures took place in 1988, 1994 and 1995, with chemical parameters and Collembola being sampled between 1993 and 1997. To address these questions, we applied new methods which have not yet, to our knowledge, been used in biomonitoring studies on forest soils. We used a time-lag analysis for the detection of directional change and a regression-tree induction to show the relationship between Collembola and soil factors. Soil parameters changed considerably after the onset of liming and fertilization. However, no change was detected in community composition over time, nor was there a relationship between Collembola and soil parameters that would make possible the development of a model with at least a moderate predictive success. Taking into account the effort invested in this study (5-year sampling period, identification of 35,000 Collembola, 99 species, 1,170 chemical analyses), we question the suitability of collembolan communities as a bioindicator for forest disturbance.     

Nematodes and their relationship to forest dynamics: II. Abundance and morphometric variability of Monochida related to changes in humus forms

Mononchida nematode populations were analysed in parallel with stages of natural forest dynamics in a nature reserve within the state forest of Fontainebleau (La Tillaie, France). Changes in the relative abundance of species and morphometric variability of Clarkus papillatus provided additional information about the differentiation of sites on acid mull humus. Especially in clearings, the role of the herbaceous layer and dead fallen wood was demonstrated by the improvement of the humus form. Furthermore, although not typically representative of successional stages of forest development, Mononchida indicate the existence of changes of environmental conditions. These changes relate especially to a gradual differentiation between two groups of sites, one represented by the bare ground in clearing (located within the mature stage), growth and mature stages, and the other associated with the senescent stage and the clearing located near this site. Differences illustrated by the two types of clearing indicate the important role of windthrows in the forest regeneration process.     

Response of soil microbial community in Jiuduansha wetland to different successional stages and its implications for soil microbial respiration and carbon turnover

To clarify the variation in soil microbial respiration (SMR) in Jiuduansha wetland during different succession stages, the SMR of five typical zones was evaluated. The results showed that the SMR during different successional stages of vegetation varied significantly (P < 0.05), with the SMR of the Spartina alterniflora zone (0.43 mg CO₂ g⁻¹ d⁻¹) being the highest. These findings implied that S. alterniflora could enhance the SMR. Based on both the SMR and input of organic matter from plant decomposition, the Phragmites australis community likely possesses a higher organic carbon accumulation capability. In addition, the results of the present study implied that the difference in microbial characteristics among the wetland soils may be the primary reason for their different SMR. Path analysis indicated that the correlation between soil bacterial diversity and SMR was especially strong. Moreover, phylogenetic analysis showed that the bacterial community structure along the successional stages varied. Specifically, microbial species such as Acidobacteria, δ-Proteobacteria and Cytophaga belonging to Bacteroidetes, which have special heterotrophic metabolic capabilities or the ability to degrade cellulose, were the dominant soil bacterial flora in the S. alterniflora zone, which ultimately strengthened the SMR. Different elevations and vegetation types leading to a change in the wetland soil characteristics such as waterlogging time and inorganic nitrogen may be important factors resulting in the differences in soil microbial characteristics of different successional stages in Jiuduansha wetland.     

Quantifying terrestrial carbon stocks: examining the spatial variation in two upland areas in the UK and a comparison to mapped estimates of soil carbon

Intensive field surveys were undertaken in two upland catchments in the UK, Plynlimon in mid-Wales and Glensaugh in North East Scotland. The survey was to examine the spatial variation across the area and to assess the accuracy of the database underpinning the soil carbon map for the UK. In each area three 1-km² squares were sampled on a 200-m grid, with samples taken from both the organic and mineral horizons. Carbon stock was estimated, from the sample data, for each 1-km² square and compared with values from the UK database for that square. The results showed large differences between some squares, particularly for Plynlimon. In this area, the overall discrepancy between field and database values was 45%, compared with 8% for Glensaugh. Various sources of uncertainty were examined, including bulk density, organic horizon depth, and the proportion of different soil types within a square. The value for bulk density, assumed to determine carbon stock, had a significant effect on the estimates. In both catchments the organic layer showed a gradual decrease in bulk density with depth, resulting in a large proportion of the carbon being stored in the top part of the profile. The soil types, mapped during the survey, also showed large differences from those previously identified for each 1-km² square. This would have a considerable effect on the estimates of carbon stock within the UK database. It highlights that caution needs to be used when interpreting the UK soil map at this spatial scale.     

Diversity and dynamics of eco-units in the biological reserves of the Fontainebleau Forest (France): Contribution of soil biology to a functional approach

Beech integral biological reserves of the Fontainebleau forest (France) display varied site conditions due to geomorphological heterogeneity and to interactions between biological components of the ecosystem. Taking examples in shifts observed in plant communities following gap opening, the authors show that, as Oldeman viewed it, tree-fall gaps seem to be the driving force in sylvigenesis as well as a source of spatial biodiversity. Studies carried out on macromorphological features of humus profiles and on the behaviour of soil invertebrate communities (Lumbricidae and Nematoda) pointed out two key aspects of forest functioning. First, the renewal of the forest ecosystem is linked to the dynamics of humus forms and of soil animal functional groups, featuring the regeneration of trees. Second, tree-fall gaps are places where the forest ecosystem is destabilized and thereafter may renew itself or on the contrary may evolve towards another ecosystem, showing either a co-adaptation between the sylvigenetic and the edaphic cycle, or a discordance between these two cycles. These two aspects (co-adaptation and discordance), important from the point of view of fundamental ecology and forest management, suggest a need for further field research.

Résumé

La hêtraie des réserves biologiques intégrales de la forêt de Fontainebleau offre des situations naturelles variées en fonction de l'hétérogénéité géomorphologique et des interactions entre les composantes biologiques de l'écosystème. Prenant comme exemple l'évolution des associations végétales au sein des clairières, les auteurs montrent que, selon la conception d'Oldeman, le chablis apparaît comme l'élément moteur de la sylvigénèse et un facteur important de biodiversit é spatiale. Des études portant sur la caractérisation macromorphologique des profils d'humus et le comportement des peuplements d 'invertébrés du sol (Lumbricidae, Nematoda) mettent en avant deux points importants pour le fonctionnement de l'écosysteme forestier. Premièrement, le renouvellement de l'écosystème est associé à la dynamique des humus et des groupes fonctionnels de la pédofaune, façonnant ainsi la niche de régénération. Deuxièmement, les clairières apparaissent comme une zone de rupture de l'écosystème forestier pouvant lui permettre, soit de se renouveler, soit d'évoluer vers un autre écosystème, montrant ainsi soit une co-adaptation entre le cycle sylvigénétique et le cycle édaphique, soit une discordance entre ces deux cycles. Cette approche fonctionnelle par le biais de la biologie des sols suggère une réflexion touchant autant l'écologie fondamentale que la gestion forestière.