Soil nematode populations beneath faeces from reindeer treated with ivermectin

Abstract

The size and composition of the nematode assemblage in soil beneath faecal material derived from reindeer treated with ivermectin oral, or ivermectin subcutaneous formulations in early winter in northern Finland, was studied over a two-year period. This study was performed on both ungrazed and grazed areas that typify the reindeer habitat of the region and comparisons were also made with soil nematodes recovered from soils receiving untreated faecal material. Although significant differences in numbers of soil nematode fauna were observed between treatments on individual occasions, none of the differences occurred consistently with treatment, or with time. These results showed no adverse environmental impact of the faeces of reindeer given either formulation of ivermectin in early winter on soil nematode communities in subsequent years.     

Soil feedback on plant growth in a sub-arctic grassland as a result of repeated defoliation

In the long term, defoliation of plants can be hypothesized to decrease plant carbon supply to soil decomposers and thus decrease decomposer abundance and nutrient mineralization in the soil. To test whether defoliation creates changes in soil that can feedback to plant growth, we collected soil from sub-arctic grassland plots that had been either defoliated or non-defoliated for three years and followed the growth of different plant species combinations in these soils in greenhouse conditions. Plant N acquisition and plant growth were lower in the soil collected from the defoliated field plots than in the soil collected from the non-defoliated plots. This response did not depend on the species composition or richness of the tested plant community. In the field, defoliation decreased net nitrogen mineralization. Despite the negative effect of decreased nutrient mineralization rate on plant growth and N accumulation in the greenhouse test, the aboveground abundance of most plant species was not affected by defoliation in the field. This indicates that plants in these sub-arctic grasslands can at least temporarily overcome defoliation-induced decrease in soil nutrient availability. To our knowledge, our results are the first direct evidence that defoliation can induce changes in the soil that negatively feedback to plant growth and N accumulation. This finding indicates that, especially in arctic and sub-arctic grasslands where nutrient mineralization rates are inherently low, soil feedbacks can have an important role in the outcome of herbivore–plant interactions.     

Traits explain the responses of a sub-arctic Collembola community to climate manipulation

Ecosystems at high northern latitudes are subject to strong climate change. Soil processes, such as carbon and nutrient cycles, which determine the functioning of these ecosystems, are controlled by soil fauna. Thus assessing the responses of soil fauna communities to environmental change will improve the predictability of the climate change impacts on ecosystem functioning. For this purpose, trait assessment is a promising method compared to the traditional taxonomic approach, but it has not been applied earlier.In this study the response of a sub-arctic soil Collembola community to long-term (16 years) climate manipulation by open top chambers was assessed. The drought-susceptible Collembola community responded strongly to the climate manipulation, which substantially reduced soil moisture and slightly increased soil temperature. The total density of Collembola decreased by 51% and the average number of species was reduced from 14 to 12. Although community assessment showed species-specific responses, taxonomically based community indices, species diversity and evenness, were not affected. However, morphological and ecological trait assessments were more sensitive in revealing community responses. Drought-tolerant, larger-sized, epiedaphic species survived better under the climate manipulation than their counterparts, the meso-hydrophilic, smaller-sized and euedaphic species. Moreover it also explained the significant responses shown by four taxa. This study shows that trait analysis can both reveal responses in a soil fauna community to climate change and improve the understanding of the mechanisms behind them.     

Below ground carbon turnover and greenhouse gas exchanges in a sub-arctic wetland

Here we present results from a field experiment in a sub-arctic wetland near Abisko, northern Sweden, where the permafrost is currently disintegrating with significant vegetation changes as a result. During one growing season we investigated the fluxes of CO₂ and CH₄ and how they were affected by ecosystem properties, i.e., composition of species that are currently expanding in the area (Carex rotundata, Eriophorum vaginatum and Eriophorum angustifolium), dissolved CH₄ in the pore water, substrate availability for methane producing bacteria, water table depth, active layer, temperature, etc. We found that the measured gas fluxes over the season ranged between: CH₄ 0.2 and 36.1 mg CH₄ m⁻² h⁻¹, Net Ecosystem Exchange (NEE) −1000 and 1250 mg CO₂ m⁻² h⁻¹ (negative values meaning a sink of atmospheric CO₂) and dark respiration 110 and 1700 mg CO₂ m⁻² h⁻¹. We found that NEE, photosynthetic rate and CH₄ emission were affected by the species composition. Multiple stepwise regressions indicated that the primary explanatory variables for NEE was photosynthetic rate and for respiration and photosynthesis biomass of green leaves. The primary explanatory variables for CH₄ emissions were depth of the water table, concentration of organic acid carbon and biomass of green leaves. The negative correlations between pore water concentration and emission of CH₄ and the concentrations of organic acid, amino acid and carbohydrate carbon indicated that these compounds or their fermentation by-products were substrates for CH₄ formation. Furthermore, calculation of the radiative forcing of the species expanding in the area as a direct result of permafrost degradation and a change in hydrology indicate that the studied mire may act as an increasing source of radiative forcing in future.     

Responses of springtail and mite populations to prolonged periods of soil freeze-thaw cycles in a sub-arctic ecosystem

The effect of temperature changes on soil communities is an important aspect when estimating the effects of a predicted climate change. The aim of this investigation was to increase knowledge on how freeze-thaw cycles alter the soil microarthropod community in the sub-arctic. The abundance of springtails and mites was investigated after three seasons of prolonged periods of freeze-thaw cycles in the field, and the presence or absence of migration barriers, at two different field sites. Dome shaped transparent plastic greenhouses were successfully used as a novel method to increase freeze-thaw cycle frequencies in the soil. At a fellfield site, freeze-thaw treatment did not lead to significant differences in the five main soil faunal groups, but increased abundance were seen in a number of separate taxa. There was no freeze-thaw treatment effect on soil microbial biomass or soil nutrients, although treatments interacted as inorganic N increased in the separate freeze-thaw and migration barrier treatments. By contrast, at a glade site responses were strong due to more pronounced increases in the number of freeze-thaw cycles. The highest numbers of Collembola after 2 years of treatment were found in the freeze-thaw plots, in combination with migration barriers. The freeze-thaw treatment here also resulted in more Oribatida, microbial biomass C and dissolved organic C. A common hypothesis is that an increased number of freeze-thaw cycles would result in elevated winter mortality in microarthropods due to increased risk of inoculative freezing. However, we observed no increased mortality due to freeze-thaw events. Rather, there was a stimulation of soil microarthropods and microbial biomass, perhaps due to a prolonged period of microbial and faunal activity when the soil is repeatedly frozen and thawed compared to a constantly frozen soil.     

Effects of defoliation on carbohydrate status,nodules and spring growth in white clover in a sub-arctic climate

Abstract

In order to improve the basis for utilizing white clover (Trifolium repens L) in northern agriculture, we studied the effects of defoliation intensity on spring growth in a sub-arctic climate in relation to carbohydrate and nodule status. White clover plants (cv Snowy) were studied in a pot experiment in the field on the coast of northern Norway from spring 2001 until spring 2002. The experiment was repeated with some modifications from spring 2002 until spring 2003. During the growing season from summer to autumn, the plants were totally stripped of leaves down to the stolon, cut at four or seven cm height or left undisturbed. The plants were sampled destructively in autumn, early spring and late spring and sorted into leaves, stolons and roots. The plant material was weighed and analysed for carbohydrate reserves and nodule number. Defoliation during the growing season resulted in reduced concentration of reserve carbohydrates in autumn and reduced winter survival of the stolons. The most severe defoliation treatment reduced the herbage growth in spring. In contrast, the two milder defoliation treatments had no effect on herbage growth during spring or on total plant dry matter and nodule status in late spring. In conclusion, moderate defoliation during the growing season had no effect on herbage growth the following spring nor on carbohydrate, nodule or dry matter status of the plant in late spring. Moderate defoliation increased spring growth and thereby also the nitrogen demand of the plants. This probably enhanced nodule formation and development of inactive to active nodules.     

Effects of long-term soil warming and fertilisation on microarthropod abundances in three sub-arctic ecosystems

Soil microarthropod responses to long-term soil warming and increased fertilisation by addition of NKP or litter were assessed in three subarctic ecosystems. The experiment was carried out at three different field sites, where temperature and fertilisation manipulations had been running for 3–5 years (glade), 11 years (fellfield), and 12 years (heath) at the time of sampling. In the glade soil, warming led to decreases in Collembola and Gamasida, and increases in Oribatida, although effects were inconsistent between years. Actinedida densities were increased by fertilization, while Acaridida had higher densities in the treatment with both fertilisation and warming. In the fellfield, we found increased densities of Oribatida, Gamasida and Actinedida in the fertilised treatments, and some increases in Oribatida and decreases in Collembola and Gamasida in warming treatments. In the heath, there were increased densities of Collembola, Oribatida and Actinedida in the fertilised treatments, but we found no strong effects of warming. We suggest that the responses found in this study comply with the assumption that soil microarthropods are bottom-up controlled, and the observed changes are probably linked to changes in food availability more than direct climatic influences.     

Effects of a power line on migration and range use of wild reindeer

Linear infrastructures such as roads, pipelines and power lines can hinder Rangifer migration and reduce the total amount of area available for foraging. We studied the barrier and aversion effect of a 66 kV power line transecting the range of wild reindeer in North Ottadalen, south central Norway using aerial surveys of reindeer distribution (direct measurement of reindeer use) and lichen measurements (indirect measurement of reindeer use) at varying distances from both sides of the power line. We present a clear definition of the expected barrier and aversion effects, and present specific hypotheses and predictions based on these two terms that are often used unclearly in the literature. The aerial surveys and ground observations showed that reindeer crossed underneath and grazed under and on both sides of the power line during 14 out of the 22 years (63.6%) surveys were conducted over the last 31 years. This behaviour was confirmed by the lichen measurements, indicating a higher use of lichen pastures along ridges close to and under the power line compared to those at increasing distances and up to 3 km from both sides of the power line. This winter grazing pattern probably reflects the topographical channeling of reindeer to the ridges along an 8 km wide topographical corridor encompassing the power line and cannot be attributed to the power line itself. We found that direct measurement data (visual observations such as ours or GPS/telemetry tracking) provide less ambiguous information for testing barrier and aversion effects than indirect measurement data (pasture/lichen measurements) that are likely influenced by numerous uncontrollable environmental variables independent of reindeer grazing. Our results contrast with recent studies indicating strong barrier and aversion effects of similar power lines for Rangifer migration and grazing behaviour in alpine terrain.     

The response of organic matter mineralisation to nutrient and substrate additions in sub-arctic soils

Global warming in the Arctic may alter decomposition rates in Arctic soils and therefore nutrient availability. In addition, changes in the length of the growing season may increase plant productivity and the rate of labile C input below ground. We carried out an experiment in which inorganic nutrients (NH₄NO₃ and NaPO₄) and organic substrates (glucose and glycine) were added to soils sampled from across the mountain birch forest-tundra heath ecotone in northern Sweden (organic and mineral soils from the forest, and organic soil only from the heath). Carbon dioxide production was then monitored continuously over the following 19 days. Neither inorganic N nor P additions substantially affected soil respiration rates when added separately. However, combined N and P additions stimulated microbial activity, with the response being greatest in the birch forest mineral soil (57% increase in CO₂ production compared with 26% in the heath soil and 8% in the birch forest organic soil). Therefore, mineralisation rates in these soils may be stimulated if the overall nutrient availability to microbes increases in response to global change, but N deposition alone is unlikely to enhance decomposition. Adding either, or both, glucose and glycine increased microbial respiration. Isotopic separation indicated that the mineralisation of native soil organic matter (SOM) was stimulated by glucose addition in the heath soil and the forest mineral soil, but not in the forest organic soil. These positive ‘priming’ effects were lost following N addition in forest mineral soil, and following both N and P additions in the heath soil. In order to meet enhanced microbial nutrient demand, increased inputs of labile C from plants could stimulate the mineralisation of SOM, with the soil C stocks in the tundra-heath potentially most vulnerable.     

Effects of long-term soil warming and fertilisation on microarthropod abundances in three sub-arctic ecosystems

Soil microarthropod responses to long-term soil warming and increased fertilisation by addition of NKP or litter were assessed in three subarctic ecosystems. The experiment was carried out at three different field sites, where temperature and fertilisation manipulations had been running for 3–5 years (glade), 11 years (fellfield), and 12 years (heath) at the time of sampling. In the glade soil, warming led to decreases in Collembola and Gamasida, and increases in Oribatida, although effects were inconsistent between years. Actinedida densities were increased by fertilization, while Acaridida had higher densities in the treatment with both fertilisation and warming. In the fellfield, we found increased densities of Oribatida, Gamasida and Actinedida in the fertilised treatments, and some increases in Oribatida and decreases in Collembola and Gamasida in warming treatments. In the heath, there were increased densities of Collembola, Oribatida and Actinedida in the fertilised treatments, but we found no strong effects of warming. We suggest that the responses found in this study comply with the assumption that soil microarthropods are bottom-up controlled, and the observed changes are probably linked to changes in food availability more than direct climatic influences.     

Biotoxicity and persistence of nonylphenol during incubation in a compost-sandstone mixture

Summary The persistence and biotoxicity of nonylphenol, a mixture of monoalkyl phenols that is found in relatively high concentrations in sewage sludge, were studied in an incubation experiment with a reconstituted soil system (compost + sandstone). The effect of nonylphenol (100 and 1000 ppm) on CO₂ evolution and biomass ATP were monitored. Nonylphenol depressed CO₂ production significantly only at high concentrations [1000 ppm 4-nonylphenol (4-NP)]. Biomass ATP declined progressively after the 5th day. At 100 ppm no toxic effects were detected. After a lag phase, nonylphenol disappeared readily upon incubation at the lower concentration (100 ppm), but persisted at high levels (1000 ppm). The persistence of 4-nonylphenol increased under aseptic conditions. The chromatogram profile of 4-NP changed over time, indicating that some of the isomers are more easily degraded than others.     

The persistence and degradation of chlorothalonil and chlorpyrifos in a cranberry bog

The effect of a spray-tank adjuvant on the persistence, distribution, and degradation of two pesticides, chlorothalonil and chlorpyrifos, was studied in a commercial cranberry bog. Pesticides were applied according to label instructions to cranberry plants in paired plot studies. Dislodgeable foliar and whole fruit residues of both pesticides and several degradation products were assessed over a growing season. Residues were also assessed in soil samples collected at fruit harvest. Adjuvant increased both fruit and foliar residues but did not significantly alter the dissipation rate or metabolism of either pesticide. The dissipation of dislodgeable foliar chlorothalonil and chlorpyrifos residues followed first-order kinetics, with estimated half-lives of 12.7 and 3.5 d, respectively. All residue levels on harvested fruit were well below the current U.S. EPA tolerances for fresh cranberries. Chlorothalonil (58%) was the major residue in fruit at harvest (76 d post-chlorothalonil application), with 4-hydroxy-2,5,6-trichloroisophthalonitrile and 1,3-dicarbamoyl-2,4,5,6-tetrachlorobenzene accounting for 26% and 6% of the total residues, respectively. Degradation products accounted for 88% of the total chlorothalonil residues in soil at fruit harvest. The products 1,3-dicarbamoyl-2,4,5,6-tetrachlorobenzene, 1-carbamoyl-3-cyano-4-hydroxy-2,5,6-trichlorobenzene, 2,5,6-trichloro-4-methylthioisophthalonitrile, and 2,4,5-trichloroisophthalonitrile have not been previously identified in cranberry bog environments. Chlorpyrifos was detected in fruit at harvest (62 d post-chlorpyrifos application), but no metabolites were found. Chlorpyrifos-oxon and 3,5,6-trichloro-2-pyridinol, however, were detected in earlier fruit samples and in foliage and soil samples.     

Evaluating persistence and its predictors in a West African carnivore community

Carnivore extinctions frequently have cascading impacts through an ecosystem, so effective management of ecological communities requires an understanding of carnivore vulnerability. This has been hindered by the elusive nature of many carnivores, as well as a disproportionate focus on large-bodied species and particular geographic regions. We use multiple survey methods and a hierarchical multi-species occupancy model accounting for imperfect detection to assess extinction risk across the entire carnivore community in Ghana’s Mole National Park, a poorly studied West African savanna ecosystem. Only 9 of 16 historically occurring carnivore species were detected in a camera-trap survey covering 253 stations deployed for 5469 trap days between October 2006 and January 2009, and our occupancy model indicated low overall likelihoods of false absence despite low per-survey probabilities of detection. Concurrent sign, call-in, and village surveys, as well as long-term law enforcement patrol records, provided more equivocal evidence of carnivore occurrence but supported the conclusion that many carnivores have declined and are likely functionally or fully extirpated from the park, including the top predator, lion (Panthera leo). Contrary to expectation, variation in carnivore persistence was not explained by ecological or life-history traits such as body size, home range size or fecundity, thus raising questions about the predictability of carnivore community disassembly. Our results imply an urgent need for new initiatives to better protect and restore West Africa’s embattled carnivore populations, and they highlight a broader need for more empirical study of the response of entire carnivore communities to anthropogenic impact.     

Inconsistencies in net radiation estimates from use of several models of instruments in a desert environment

Studies of surface energy and water balance generally require an accurate estimate of net radiation and its spatial distribution. A project quantifying both short term and seasonal water use of shrub and grass vegetation in the Jornada Experimental Range in New Mexico prompted a study to compare net radiation observations using two types of net radiometers currently being used in research. A set of 12 REBS net radiometers were compared with each other and one Swissteco, over wet and dry surfaces in an arid landscape under clear skies. The set of REBS exhibited significant differences in output over both surfaces. However, they could be cross calibrated to yield values within 10 W m⁻², on average. There was also a significant bias between the REBS and Swissteco over a dry surface, but not over a wet one. The two makes of instrument could be made to agree under the dry conditions by using regression or autoregression techniques. However, the resulting equations would induce bias for the wet surface condition. Thus, it is not possible to cross calibrate these two makes of radiometer over the range of environmental conditions observed. This result indicates that determination of spatial distribution of net radiation over a variable surface should be made with identical instruments which have been cross calibrated. The need still exists for development of a radiometer and calibration procedures which will produce accurate and consistent measurements over a range of surface conditions.     

Survival of trees in a metal-contaminated environment

This study investigates the survival of sycamore (Acer pseudoplatanus) trees at a metal contaminated site where populations of herbaceous flora are known to have evolved metal tolerance. The incidence of pollution at the site relates to a copper refinery, the existence of which is pre-dated by many trees in the area. High soil levels of Cu, Cd, Zn and Ph were recorded to depths of 40 to 90 cm. Tolerance tests on tree seedlings carried out in soils showed no evidence that the trees produce tolerant offspring. Cell culture growth experiments on explant material from shoot meristems of mature trees did show increased tolerance to Cu, compared with material originating from unpolluted sites. The significance of these findings is discussed in relation to facultative adaptations providing trees with the resilience to withstand pollution impact.

     

Multiple effects of reindeer grazing on the soil processes in nutrient-poor northern boreal forests

Reindeer grazing has a great influence on the ground vegetation of nutrient-poor northern boreal forests dominated by Cladonia lichens in Fennoscandia. Grazing may influence the soil processes in these systems either by influencing the quality of plant litter, or by indirect effects through the soil microclimate. In order to investigate the mechanisms underlying the effects of reindeer on boreal forest soils, we analyzed litter decomposition, soil and microbial C and N, microbial community composition, and soil organic matter quality in three forest sites with old reindeer exclosures adjacent to grazed areas. There was no effect of grazing on soil C/N ratio, inorganic N concentrations, microbial biomass C, microbial community structure analyzed by phospholipid fatty acid (PLFA) analysis, and organic matter quality analyzed by sequential fractionation, in the soil organic layer. However, microbial N was enhanced by grazing at some of the sampling dates and was negatively correlated with soil moisture, which indicates that increased microbial N could be a stress response to drought. The effect of grazing on litter decomposition varied among the decomposition stages: during the first 1.5 months, the litter C loss was significantly higher in the grazed than the ungrazed areas, but the difference rapidly levelled out and, after one year, the accumulated litter C loss was higher in the ungrazed than the grazed areas. Litter N loss was, however, higher in the grazed areas. Our study demonstrates that herbivores may influence soil processes through several mechanisms at the same time, and to a varying extent in the different stages of decomposition.     

Production and persistence of urease activity in soils

Addition of urea to Iowa soils did not induce urease activity, but production of urease activity was observed on addition of glucose and other organic materials that promote microbial activity. The persistence of the urease activity produced on addition of these materials varied with the soil, but, with each soil studied, the urease activity after addition of organic materials eventually was identical to that of the unamended soil. No increase or decrease in urease activity was observed when unamended or urea-treated soils were incubated under aerobic conditions for several months. It is concluded that soil constituents protect urease against microbial degradation and other processes leading to inactivation of enzymes and that every soil has a stable level of urease activity determined by the ability of its constituents to provide this protection.     

Response of the carbon cycle in sub-arctic black spruce forests to climate change: Reduction of a carbon sink related to the sensitivity of heterotrophic respiration

Assessment of the response of the carbon cycle to climate change is important for predicting future climate, especially in northern high latitudes, where the warming may be highly pronounced. In this paper, three years of data measured by the eddy covariance method were used to verify the carbon dynamics of a black spruce forest in interior Alaska with the BIOME-BGC model. The model was modified and calibrated to the cold regions. The calibrated model simulation satisfactorily performed reproduction of the observed net ecosystem exchange (NEE), gross primary productivity (GPP), and ecosystem respiration (RE). The daily output of the model also correlated with field-based estimates of NEE (42%), GPP (89%), and RE (89%). The model simulation showed that the heterotrophic respiration occupied a substantial portion of total carbon exchange, and that inter-annual variation of the heterotrophic respiration determined the sink/source strength of carbon. According to our simulation, the black spruce forest in interior Alaska was a net carbon sink between 1949 and 2005, and the trend of the projected sink strength was not obvious in the recent climate warming. The model analysis suggested that the change in the seasonal weather pattern strongly affected the carbon balance. A potentially increased carbon sink due to future warming climate and elevated CO₂ will be at least partly offset by a concurrent increase of VPD, since the response of the stomatal conductance to increased VPD could increase the soil moisture, and thus stimulate heterotrophic respiration, rather than net primary productivity. The results of this study should be useful to forecast the response of the carbon cycle to warming in black spruce forests of interior Alaska.     

以色列南部极端干旱气候条件下裸地的水分蒸发

Microlysimeters of different sizes(5cm 10cm and 15cm in length) were used extensively in the present study of the measurements of soil evaporation in situ in an extremely arid area in southern Israel,All of the data obtained from the microlysimeters were used to evaluate two conventional evaporation models developed by Black et al.and Ritchie,respectively.Our results indicated that the models could overestimate total cumulative evaporation by about 30% in the extremely arid environment.Reducing the power factor of the conventional model by a factor of 0.1 produced good agreement between the measured and simulated cumulative evaporation.Microlysimeter method proved to be a simple and accurate approach for the evaluation of soil evaporation.