Application of body size spectra to nematode trait-index analyses

Warming favours small-bodied organisms through enhanced reproduction and compositional shifts in belowground systems

“…The body size spectral approach has been only recently applied to soil systems (Mulder and Elser, 2009;Mulder et al, 2011;Lindo et al, 2012;George and Lindo, 2015;Turnbull and Lindo, 2015), but shows promise as a community-wide metric of ecological change. Simmons et al (2009) observed reductions in the abundance of nematodes under experimental warming in Antarctica along with a corresponding decrease in the average body size of the dominant species, while Lindo and Winchester (2013) found a positive correlation of small-bodied species abundance and higher temperatures in canopy moss microarthropods.…”

Congruence of community structure between taxonomic identification and T-RFLP analyses in free-living soil nematodes

“…Indeed this has been well-documented through the use of trait-based indices (e.g. Maturity Index) for the assessment of the responses of a nematode community to anthropogenic disturbance (Bongers et al,1990;Ferris et al, 2001;George and Lindo 2015). For example, the effects of pollution, fertilization, and ecosystem management have been extensively characterized using nematode community structure (Bongers 1999).…”

“…For example, the effects of pollution, fertilization, and ecosystem management have been extensively characterized using nematode community structure (Bongers 1999). Trait-based approaches are based on morphological assessment and knowledge of biology, which may not be feasible for researchers lacking experience with nematodes, as these animals require extensive taxonomic expertise (Coomans 2002) and time to identify (George and Lindo 2015). In fact, as the time required to identify this incredibly abundant taxon is so great, generally only the first 100-200 individuals in a sample are identified (Bongers 1994).…”

“…Various methods have attempted to overcome such impairments, including strict trait-based approaches that can be used independently of taxonomic identity like body size (Turnbull et al 2014;George and Lindo 2015), and molecular techniques. Indeed the use of molecular techniques to discern community structure has been aggressively explored (Wiesel et al 2015).…”

“…We collected five replicate samples from each of the following silviculture treatment implemented in summer 2012: uncut forest, clear-cut forest, clear-cut with 100 kg/ha wood ash amendment, clear-cut with 200 kg/ha wood ash amendment, and clear-cut with 400 kg/ha wood ash amendment. Full site and treatment descriptions are given in Kwiation et al (2011) and George and Lindo (2015). Samples were collected using core sampling (5 cm diameter × 15 cm in depth) and homogenized into two 25 g wet soil weight aliquots for morphological identification and T-RFLP analyses.…”