Interactions between earthworms, litter and trees in an old-growth beech forest |
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Authors: | J-F Ponge N Patzel L Delhaye E Devigne C Levieux P Beros R Wittebroodt |
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Institution: | (1) Museum National d'Histoire Naturelle, Laboratoire d'Ecologie Générale, 4 Avenue du Petit-Chateau, F-91800 Brunoy, France e-mail: jean-francois.ponge@wanadoo.fr Tel.: +33-1-60479213, Fax: +33-1-60465009, FR |
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Abstract: | Forty plots were selected in an old-growth beech forest (Biological Reserve of La Tillaie, Fontainebleau State Forest, France),
to embrace the whole range of site conditions and phases of vegetation dynamics. Soils are sandy, thus the nutrient status
of the topsoil is very poor except when trees have access to an underlying limestone layer. The study was focused on the role
of calcium in the sustainability of the beech ecosystem. Calcium is mostly redistributed through leaf litter accretion and
the activity of litter-consuming organisms, but other sources are fallen wood and uprooted mounds. In each of the 40 plots,
earthworm species were sampled, and measurements were taken in order to describe humus profiles, growth of adult trees, litter
quantity and quality, and access to lime. Densities of soil-dwelling earthworms, calcium content of beech leaf litter, height
of tallest trees and depth of the limestone layer were correlated, indicating a gradient of soil fertility which mainly results
from long-term interactions between soil organisms and trees in varying geological conditions. Possible causal relationships
and implications of calcium turnover for nature conservation were discussed in the light of existing knowledge.
Received: 6 July 1998 |
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Keywords: | Beech Old-growth forest Earthworms Litter quality Humus form |
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