Humus forms in a Mediterranean area (Castelporziano Reserve, Rome, Italy): classification, functioning and organic carbon storage

Nicola, Cristina De; Zanella, Augusto; Testi, Anna Maria; Fanelli, Giuliano; Pignatti, Sandro

doi:10.1016/j.geoderma.2014.06.033

Cited by 32 publications

(8 citation statements)

References 54 publications

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“…Soil mesofauna and microfauna, with numerous species and individuals occupying a wide range of ecological niches, are other interesting representatives of biodiversity (De Nicola et al 2014). In spite of the great interest of these organisms, this compartment of biodiversity is still poorly understood in the Mediterranean forests.…”

Section: Biodiversitymentioning

confidence: 99%

Mediterranean forests, land use and climate change: a social-ecological perspective

et al. 2016

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Mediterranean forests are found in the Mediterranean basin, California, the South African Cape Province, South and southwestern Australia and parts of Central Chile. They represent 1.8 % of the world forest areas of which the vast majority is found in the Mediterranean basin, where historical and paleogeographic episodes, long-term human influence and geographical and climatic contrasts have created ecosystemic diversity and heterogeneity. Even if evergreen is dominant, deciduous trees are also represented, with different forest types including dense stands with a closed canopy (forests sensu stricto) and pre-forestal or pre-steppic structures with lower trees density and height. The Mediterranean basin is also a hot spot of forest species and genetic diversity, with 290 woody species versus only 135 for non-Mediterranean Europe. However, the characteristics of the Mediterranean area (long-standing anthropogenic pressure, significant current human activity and broad biodiversity) make it one of the world’s regions most threatened by current changes. Four examples of Mediterranean forest types, present in south and north of the Mediterranean basin and more or less threatened, are developed in order to show that linking “hard sciences” and humanities and social sciences is necessary to understand these complex ecosystems. We show also that these forests, in spite of specific climatic constraints, can also be healthy and productive and play a major ecological and social role. Furthermore, even if the current human activity and global change constitute a risk for these exceptional ecosystems, Mediterranean forests represent a great asset and opportunities for the future of the Mediterranean basin

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Section: Biodiversitymentioning

confidence: 99%

Mediterranean forests, land use and climate change: a social-ecological perspective

et al. 2016

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“…The weakening of bioturbation forces is generally associated with harsh climates (cold mountain and subalpine forests and seasonally dry and warm submontane forests) [71,73]. Amphi humus with an A horizon endowed with biomesoand biomicrostructured A or OHA horizons has also been observed in Mediterranean environments [74,75]. We think that in these environments, the low temperature would not be a limiting factor, but periodic droughts might have an effect.…”

Section: Stable Amphi Humus Formsmentioning

confidence: 85%

Soil, Humipedon, Forest Life and Management

Zampedri,

Bernier,

Zanella

et al. 2023

IJPB

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In recent years, three sections (Humipedon, Copedon and Lithopedon) were recognized in the soil profile. It was then possible to link the first and most biologically active section to the characteristics of the environment and soil genesis. In particular, it is now possible to distinguish organic horizons, mainly produced by arthropods and enchytraeids in cold and acidic or dry and arid environments, from organo-mineral horizons produced by earthworms in more temperate and mesotrophic environments. Each set of horizons can be associated with a humus system or form, with important implications for forestry. Anecic/endogeic earthworms and Mull or Amphi systems are more abundant in the early and late stages of sylvogenesis; by completely recycling litter, earthworms accelerate the availability of organic and inorganic soil nutrients to roots and pedofauna. On the other hand, arthropods and Moder or Tangel systems characterize the intermediate stages of sylvogenesis, where thickening in the organic horizons and the parallel impoverishment/reduction in the underlying organo-mineral horizons are observed. Recognizing the humus system at the right spatial and temporal scale is crucial for the biological management of a forest. This article includes a data review, new data from a doctoral thesis, and recent comparisons of Italian and French investigations.

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“…This second gradient was significantly influenced by burrowing earthworm biomass whereas litter dwellers have no impact. In amphis, the superficial, periodically very dry organic horizon is generally not inhabited by earthworms, restricting their presence to the deeper soil horizons (De Nicola, Zanella, Testi, Fanelli, & Pignatti, 2014). Because mainly burrowers are active, an amphi humus form, although having a high forest floor C:N ratio, is most related to a mull humus type (Zanella et al., 2011).…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Positive feedback loop between earthworms, humus form and soil pH reinforces earthworm abundance in European forests

et al. 2020

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1. In many terrestrial ecosystems, earthworms operate at the interface between plants and soil. As ecosystem engineers, they affect key ecosystem functions such as decomposition, nutrient cycling and bioturbation. Their incidence and abundance depends on several soil properties, yet simultaneously they also impact soil properties themselves. The existence of a positive feedback loop in which earthworm activity maintains their own niche-by promoting turnover rate in the forest floor, thereby increasing topsoil pH and creating suitable living conditions for themselves-has been suggested before, yet lacks supporting evidence. 2. Here we assessed how tree species litter traits relate to such below-ground interactions in forests across Europe. Specifically, we hypothesized a below-ground feedback loop between burrowing earthworm biomass, humus form and pH, affected by litter quality. We tested this hypothesis by means of structural equation modelling. 3. Our results demonstrate that litter nutrient concentrations affect both burrowing and litter dwelling earthworm biomass, which in turn directly impacts humus form and indirectly soil pH. At a continental scale, that is, including all edaphic conditions, soil pH did not feed into earthworm biomass nor could we link leaf structural recalcitrance (e.g. lignin) or functional diversity to below-ground interactions. 4. However, in forests where moisture is not limiting, soil acidity proved an important factor determining the context of below-ground interactions. Therefore, we were able to confirm the hypothesized feedback loop for forest ecosystems with soil pH ≤ 5. In calcareous and/or periodically dry forests, other factors than soil chemistry and litter quality became determinant for earthworm biomass. 5. The activity of burrowing earthworms is pivotal in below-ground ecosystem functioning of mesic forest soils, impacting litter accumulation and forest floor | 2599 Functional Ecology DESIE Et al.

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Humus forms in a Mediterranean area (Castelporziano Reserve, Rome, Italy): classification, functioning and organic carbon storage

Cited by 32 publications

References 54 publications

Mediterranean forests, land use and climate change: a social-ecological perspective

Mediterranean forests, land use and climate change: a social-ecological perspective

Soil, Humipedon, Forest Life and Management

Positive feedback loop between earthworms, humus form and soil pH reinforces earthworm abundance in European forests

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