Macroinvertebrates in North American tallgrass prairie soils: effects of fire, mowing, and fertilization on density and biomass

Callaham, Mac A.; Blair, John M.; Todd, T. C.; Kitchen, D. J.; Whiles, Matt R.

doi:10.1016/s0038-0717(03)00153-6

Cited by 70 publications

(49 citation statements)

References 44 publications

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“…In a multiyear study of soil fauna on the Konza prairie, Callaham et al (2003) observed mean white grub densities of approximately 5 individuals/m 2 and slightly higher av-erage elaterid densities; these are much lower numbers than we observed. White grub densities of 46.3 and 47 individuals/m 2 were reported by Ueckert (1979) and Lura and Nyren (1992) in infested areas of shortgrass and mixed-grass prairie, respectively; these densities are nearly equal to those observed in our October samples (45 larvae/m 2 ; Table 1).…”

Section: Root Herbivore Responses and Life Cyclescontrasting

confidence: 70%

Patterns in Soil Fertility and Root Herbivory Interact to Influence Fine-Root Dynamics

Stevens

Jones

2006

Ecology

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Abstract. Fine-scale soil nutrient enrichment typically stimulates root growth, but it may also increase root herbivory, resulting in trade-offs for plant species and potentially influencing carbon cycling patterns. We used root ingrowth cores to investigate the effects of microsite fertility and root herbivory on root biomass in an aggrading upland forest in the coastal plain of South Carolina, USA. Treatments were randomly assigned to cores from a factorial combination of fertilizer and insecticide. Soil, soil fauna, and roots were removed from the cores at the end of the experiment (8-9 mo), and roots were separated at harvest into three diameter classes. Each diameter class responded differently to fertilizer and insecticide treatments. The finest roots (Ͻ1.0 mm diameter), which comprised well over half of all root biomass, were the only ones to respond significantly to both treatments, increasing when fertilizer and when insecticide were added (each P Ͻ 0.0001), with maximum biomass found where the treatments were combined (interaction term significant, P Ͻ 0.001). These results suggest that root-feeding insects have a strong influence on root standing crop with stronger herbivore impacts on finer roots and within more fertile microsites. Thus, increased vulnerability to root herbivory is a potentially significant cost of root foraging in nutrient-rich patches.

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Section: Root Herbivore Responses and Life Cyclescontrasting

confidence: 70%

Patterns in Soil Fertility and Root Herbivory Interact to Influence Fine-Root Dynamics

Stevens

Jones

2006

Ecology

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“…1). This finding is not consistent with the results of other studies showing that native earthworms predominate in undisturbed or minimally disturbed grasslands (James 1991;Callaham et al 2003;Winsome et al 2006). The rarity of native earthworms in our prairie sites provides support for the replacement of native earthworms by exotic earthworms in visibly intact remnants of fragmented habitats as proposed by Kalisz and Wood (1995).…”

Section: Earthworm Populationscontrasting

confidence: 99%

“…European lumbricid earthworms dominated in a managed and disturbed (fertilized, after vegetation conversion) grassland in California (Winsome et al 2006) and in CRP lands in North Dakota (Deibert and Utter 2003). In Kansas tall grass prairie soils, Callaham et al (2003) found that earthworm populations were composed of three earthworm genera and that two of these were European earthworms. In addition, Callaham et al (2003) found that introduced European species, including A. trapezoides, were dominant in treatments excluded from historical disturbance (fire and grazing).…”

Section: Earthworm Populationsmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…In Kansas tall grass prairie soils, Callaham et al (2003) found that earthworm populations were composed of three earthworm genera and that two of these were European earthworms. In addition, Callaham et al (2003) found that introduced European species, including A. trapezoides, were dominant in treatments excluded from historical disturbance (fire and grazing). Deibert and Utter (2003) found only exotic earthworm species (A. trapezoides, A. caliginosa, A. tuberculata, Dendrobaena octaedra and L. rubellus) in 12 CRP sites in North Dominance of an invasive earthworm in native and non-native grassland ecosystems Dakota.…”

Section: Earthworm Populationsmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…grazing, vegetation conversion for agricultural production or pasture land, suppression of fire, fertilization) usually decreases the abundance of native earthworms and increases the abundance of exotic earthworms (James 1991;Callaham et al 2003;Hendrix et al 2006;Winsome et al 2006). Results of these previous studies of earthworm community composition in undisturbed and disturbed grassland ecosystems suggest that native earthworms may be present in native undisturbed grasslands but are less abundant or absent in disturbed grasslands.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Dominance of an invasive earthworm in native and non-native grassland ecosystems

León

Johnson‐Maynard

2008

Biol Invasions

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More attention is currently being focused on earthworm invasions; however, in many ecosystems the relative abundance of native and invasive earthworm species is unknown. We characterized earthworm populations of two grassland types within the Palouse region: native prairie remnants and Conservation Reserve Program (CRP) set asides planted with exotic grasses. The earthworm community in both grassland types was completely dominated by the exotic-invasive Aporrectodea trapezoides. Only one individual of a native species, Driloleirus americanus (the giant Palouse earthworm), was found in a prairie remnant. No differences were found between prairie remnants and CRP sites for mean earthworm density (24-106 individuals m -2 ) or fresh weight (12-45 g m -2 ). Our results suggest that the combined effects of land-use change, habitat fragmentation and competitive interactions have resulted in the decimation of native earthworm populations and dominance of invasive earthworms in native and non-native grasslands of the Palouse region.

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Earthworm density differences among tallgrass prairies over time in the Ozark Highlands

Hensley

Brye

Savin

et al. 2021

Agrosystems Geosci & Env

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To mitigate the loss of tallgrass prairies through fragmentation and conversion to other land uses, prairie restoration efforts have been undertaken to reclaim areas that have been previously used for agricultural production. Earthworms are a key component of the soil ecology of natural, undisturbed ecosystems. However, limited research exists on earthworm populations in prairie restorations and how earthworm densities may change over time. The objectives of this study were (a) to evaluate earthworm densities in the upper 20 cm of soil over time (i.e., May 2007 and May 2019) in a native prairie and chronosequence of three prairie restorations (i.e., established in 1979, 2000, and 2002), and (b) to identify relationships between earthworm (i.e., juvenile, adult, and total) density and soil physical and chemical properties. Juvenile (P = .03) earthworm density decreased 25 and 35% and total (P = .03) earthworm density decreased by 33 and 42% in the 2000 and 2002 restorations, respectively, from May 2007 to May 2019. Adult earthworm density did not change over time (P > .05) in any prairie ecosystem. Combined across prairie sites, adult earthworm density was positively correlated (P < .05) with sand content (r = .49) and pH (r = .49) and negatively correlated (P < .05) with silt (r = –.56) and sulfur content (r = –.47). To promote earthworm densities similar to native prairies, consideration should be given to numerous soil properties for a successful restoration.

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Macroinvertebrates in North American tallgrass prairie soils: effects of fire, mowing, and fertilization on density and biomass

Cited by 70 publications

References 44 publications

Patterns in Soil Fertility and Root Herbivory Interact to Influence Fine-Root Dynamics

Patterns in Soil Fertility and Root Herbivory Interact to Influence Fine-Root Dynamics

Dominance of an invasive earthworm in native and non-native grassland ecosystems

Earthworm density differences among tallgrass prairies over time in the Ozark Highlands

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