模拟氮沉降对杨树人工林土壤动物类群结构的影响

氮沉降过量会导致一系列严重的全球性生态问题,研究氮沉降对土壤动物群落结构的影响,对于明晰土壤动物群落受大气氮沉降加剧产生的响应机理有重要意义.通过模拟氮沉降试验,研究了不同氮沉降浓度下土壤动物群落特征的变化规律.试验结果表明：甲螨亚目（Oribatida）,前气门亚目（Prostigmata）,弹尾纲（Collembola）,寡毛纲（Oligocllaeta）,膜翅目（Hymenoptera）及盲蜘目（Opiliones）6个类群在不同龄级,不同氮沉降梯度下所占比例较高,为典型的优势类群;土壤动物类群丰富度及数量在不同氮沉降梯度下呈现先升后降的趋势;幼龄林土壤动物多样性指数普遍较高,且随氮沉降浓度的增加波动明显,老龄林与之相反;土壤甲螨随着氮沉降增加呈现先增后减的趋势,具有环境指示作用.     

Top-down control of soil microarthropods - Evidence from a laboratory experiment

Predator-prey interactions are of eminent importance as structuring forces for animal communities. The present study investigates if and how strongly the density of soil microarthropods is controlled by top-down forces, i.e. predation by mesostigmate mites (Mesostigmata, Acari). We set up a laboratory experiment running for ten weeks with undisturbed soil cores taken from the field using two densities of predatory mesostigmate mites: (1) ambient density (control) and (2) increased density (addition of seven Pergamasus septentrionalis and eight Lysigamasus sp. individuals). Increased predator density resulted in a decrease in the density of Oribatida, Collembola and Protura whereas the density of other taxa including Astigmata, Prostigmata and Uropodina was not significantly affected. Additionally, the species number of Oribatida was also not significantly affected. Taxa of Oribatida and Collembola were differently affected by increased predator density. Among Collembola, densities of Poduridae and Sminthuridae were reduced, whereas Entomobryidae were not affected. Among Oribatida, densities of Oppiidae and Suctobelbidae were reduced whereas Desmonomata, Poronota and Tectocepheus were not affected. Grouping of Oribatida into different size classes and into classes differing in sclerotization suggests that smaller mites (200-300 μm) and mites with less sclerotization were more heavily affected than larger mites and mites with strong sclerotization. The results indicate that predatory mesostigmate mites have the potential to control the density of certain taxa of soil microarthropods. In particular, small and little sclerotized prey is susceptible to predator control indicating that predator defense is an important component of the life history tactics of soil microarthropods, especially of Oribatida.     

The composition and abundance of microarthropod communities on arboreal litter in the canopy of Cryptomeria japonica trees

In a Cryptomeria japonica plantation, we examined the composition and seasonal abundance of microarthropods in communities associated with habitat substrates in the canopy (defined as dead leaves, dead branches, and living leaves) and compared them with those in soil communities. Habitat substrates and microarthropods were periodically collected by the branch-clipping and washing method from the canopy and by the Tullgren method from the soil. Oribatida, Collembola, and larvae of the Chironomidae, most of which are detritivorous or fungivorous, were dominant in the canopy. The dominant oribatid and collembolan families differed markedly between the canopy and the soil. Numbers of all microarthropods per unit dry weight of leaf or per unit area of branch ranged from 4.2 to 11.7g^–1 dry wt on dead leaves, 0.13–0.48cm^–2 on dead branches, and 1.3–6.4g^–1 dry wt on living leaves. In the soil, the number of individuals per unit ground area ranged from 24000 to 220000m^–2. The total abundances of microarthropods on dead leaves and dead branches were almost constant throughout the year. These results suggest that the arboreal litter characteristic of C. japonica canopies is utilized consistently by large numbers of detritivorous and fungivorous microarthropods, and that the decomposition of dead foliage and branches is initiated in the canopy.     

Population responses of oribatids and enchytraeids to ectomycorrhizal and saprotrophic fungi in plant-soil microcosms

The oribatid mites Oppiella nova, Tectocepheus velatus and Nothrus silvestris and the enchytraeid worm Cognettia sphagnetorum are four common animal species in boreal forest soils. According to the literature, they respond differently to clear-cutting of forest stands. O. nova responds with population decreases, T. velatus and N. silvestris with small changes and C. sphagnetorum with population increases. We hypothesised that the presence/absence of ectomycorrhizal (EM) fungi is a major factor in explaining these reactions. The population responses of these soil animals to inoculation of five species of EM fungi growing in symbiosis with their host tree (Pinus sylvestris L.) and one saprotrophic fungus, Hypholoma capnoides, growing on wood were tested in pot microcosms with artificial soil (peat and vermiculite) for 70-84 days. Additionally, plants without inoculation of EM fungi, plants growing in forest soil (FS) and plant-free peat and vermiculite (PV) were included. O. nova increased significantly in abundance in the treatments with the EM fungi Suillus variegatus and Paxillus involutus, but not in the other treatments. T. velatus increased significantly in abundance in FS, but declined in most of the other treatments, and N. silvestris showed a similar, albeit not significant, response. C. sphagnetorum did not increase in abundance in any of the treatments with EM fungi but increased its abundance four times in both FS and PV. The results show that the fungivore O. nova preferentially feeds on certain EM fungi, especially S. variegatus, whereas the EM fungus Piloderma fallax and the saprotrophic H. capnoides are not preferred. In contrast, C. sphagnetorum is restricted in its population growth by the EM fungi studied, and this dominant microbi-detritivore is clearly favoured by the absence of EM fungi.     

Diversity surfaces and species wave fronts in a soil microarthropod assemblage: Adding the dimension of time

As a general rule, animal species of intermediate size within a given taxonomic group are most abundant in nature. It is not known if these patterns occur in small-bodied taxa, such as soil microarthropods, or how these patterns change through time. Here I show that Oribatida (Acari), the most abundant and diverse arthropod fauna of coniferous forest soils, exhibit this pattern. However, the pattern is more complex than reported for other arthropods. I analyzed the total species surface comprising 6613 individuals and 54 species by forest stand. The underlying pattern consists of 15-year stands and 30-year stands forming two distinct and separated maxima. These results suggest that assemblage patterns form early in the development of ecological communities, and that these patterns appear within the soil assemblage as waves propagating in species–abundance–body size space during forest development. These results also support the assertion that undescribed species will likely be of intermediate size within a group. This analysis contributes to investigations of biodiversity and body size relationships by adding the temporal dimension. Potential applications are in disturbance and indicator studies or other work where changes in assemblage structure are used as measures of disturbance or as response variables in manipulative studies.     

Do oribatid mites live in enemy-free space? Evidence from feeding experiments with the predatory mite Pergamasus septentrionalis

To examine whether their strongly hardened cuticle permits adult oribatid mites (Acari) to live in enemy-free space, we investigated (1) if Pergamasus septentrionalis, a widespread and abundant predatory mesostigmate mite species, is able to feed on oribatid mites, (2) if this predator preferentially feeds on certain oribatid mite species and (3) to what extent oribatid mites are consumed compared to collembolans and juvenile Mesostigmata. Single adult individuals of six different oribatid mite species (Steganacarus magnus; Nothrus silvestris; Damaeus riparius; Liacarus coracinus; Eupelops plicatus; Achipteria coleoptrata), one collembolan species (Folsomia quadrioculata) and juvenile Pergamasus spp. were offered separately to adult P. septentrionalis in a no-choice feeding experiment. The predators quickly and preferentially fed on collembolans and juvenile Pergamasus; three oribatid mite species were occasionally eaten (L. coracinus, N. silvestris, A. coleoptrata); the other oribatid mite species were rejected as food (E. plicatus, S. magnus, H. riparius). When preying on oribatid mites, P. septentrionalis typically first cut off the legs of the mite, then opened the body through the region of the genital plates or the mouthparts. The results suggest that predator pressure on adult oribatid mites in the field is low, since few relevant predators at the study site are more abundant and powerful than P. septentrionalis. Adult oribatid mites therefore likely indeed live in enemy-free space, i.e. are little affected by predators, but that may not apply to soft-bodied immatures. Collembolans were quickly consumed indicating that they comprise a major part of the diet of P. septentrionalis. Strong feeding on juveniles of Pergamasus suggests that P. septentrionalis also functions as an intra-guild predator.     

贵州东部地区茶园土壤甲螨种类调查研究

报道了贵州东部地区茶园土壤甲螨111种，分属38科。以奥甲螨科、单翼甲螨科、盲甲螨科、菌甲螨科、上罗甲螨科等为茶园土壤甲螨优势类群，新小奥甲螨、卵角单翼甲螨、棒菌甲螨等为茶园土壤甲螨类动物常见种类。     

Acari (mite) assemblages under plantations of bluegum, Eucalyptus globulus, in southwestern Australia

Farm forestry, in particular the planting of exotic bluegums Eucalyptus globulus, is a strategy increasingly used in southwestern Australia to mitigate the damaging effects of land clearing and to improve agricultural productivity. At the same time, such agroforestry systems have the potential to at least partially impede the biodiversity decline associated with habitat destruction and agriculture. The soil/litter habitat, an important repository of biodiversity in terrestrial systems, is one of the habitats most affected by clearing and conventional agricultural practices. Within this habitat, free-living mites are one of the most diverse and abundant animal groups contributing significantly to key ecosystem functions. This study compares the soil and litter mite assemblages of 7-year-old E. globulus plantations with those of adjacent native forest and pasture sites. The assemblages associated with E. globulus were substantially more diverse than those of the pasture soils but well below that of the native forest. Particularly low densities of oribatid mites were observed in the plantation sites. We suggest that the young plantation age, the exotic nature of the plantation species, and the homogeneous, mono-specific litter all contributed to limit the potential for these plantations to enhance mite biodiversity.     

Effects of experimental forest harvesting on oribatid mite biodiversity

Ecosystem-based management (e.g. partial cut harvesting) attempts to mimic natural forest dynamics and maintain structural complexity, and this less intense harvesting may minimize the impact on forest floor fauna and help maintain soil system biodiversity. We tested how different experimental harvesting regimes affect the diversity, abundance and composition of Oribatida at the sylviculture et aménagement forestiers écosystémique (SAFE) research forest located in the Abitibi region in NW Québec. Litter and soil were sampled in June 2006 in the mixedwood boreal forest at SAFE where the following treatments were applied and replicated three times: clear cut harvest, 1/3 partial cut harvest, 2/3 partial cut harvest, prescribed burn (after clear cut harvest) and uncut control. Eight years after harvest, partial cuts had more similar species composition to the uncut control within their respective blocks; however, burned habitat showed a shift in species dominance patterns and harboured a relatively distinct composition and species richness compared to treatments. With the exception of samples from clear cuts, species composition of the harvesting treatments was more similar within blocks than among blocks, suggesting that for less intense harvesting practices, spatial scale (i.e. regional factors) could have a greater influence in structuring oribatid assemblages than harvesting regime, but in more severe disturbances such as burn-after-clear cut harvest, habitat is altered enough to affect oribatid biodiversity.     

贵州东部地区茶园土壤甲螨种类调查研究(甲螨亚目)

报道了贵州东部地区茶园土壤甲螨111种,分属38科。以奥甲螨科、单翼甲螨科、盲甲螨科、菌甲螨科、上罗甲螨科等为茶园土壤甲螨优势类群,新小奥甲螨、卵角单翼甲螨、棒菌甲螨等为茶园土壤甲螨类动物常见种类。