Soil and vegetation nutrient response to bison carcasses in Białowieża Primeval Forest, Poland

Abstract

Ungulate carcasses can have important effects on the surrounding soil and vegetation. The impact of six carcasses of European bison (Bison bonasus) was investigated for the first time in a natural temperate forest (Białowie_ za, Poland) by measuring soil and plant nutrient concentrations along a gradient extending from the centre of each carcass. Calcium concentration and pH were found to be higher at the centre of the carcass, decreasing towards the periphery. This effect lasted up to 7 years after the death of the animal. The concentration of most nutrients in the soil and plants varied irregularly, suggesting an effect of the carcass at its centre but the absence of a clear pattern of variation along the gradient. Concentrations of NO 3 À in the soil differed only at the 1-year old carcass, suggesting a fast turnover of nitrate in temperate forests. Our results show that the effects of large herbivore carcasses on soil and plant nutrient concentrations are not easily detectable in a temperate forest as in more homogeneous habitats, such as tundra and prairie. This may be due to the high activity of scavengers and nutrient recycling in the study area, but it may also be a consequence of a more complex and patchy interaction between nutrient availability and other limiting factors in temperate forests.

Can soil testate amoebae be used for estimating the time since death? A field experiment in a deciduous forest

“…For forensic purposes it shall be highly interesting to look at the testate amoeba community and at what time the population recovers totally and whether this follows a succession pattern. As nutrient levels can remain high up to several years in soil influenced by cadavers [60][61][62], the influence of long-gone cadavers on soil communities can also be expected to remain visible for over one year, as indeed suggested by our results. Longer-term experiments are required to study in further detail the re-colonisation patterns (which species re-colonise first, how do these patterns relate to food sources such as bacteria, fungi, other protists, etc.)…”

Fatal attraction: vegetation responses to nutrient inputs attract herbivores to infectious anthrax carcass sites

“…cicada carcasses [33]). Previous studies of ungulate carcass effects on soil and vegetation have been conducted only in temperate or arctic environments [17][18][19]34], and Towne [17] suggested that abundant scavenger communities would reduce the nutrient effect of carcasses in tropical systems. In our subtropical system, however, we found that carcasses created clear and biologically significant effects on soil P, N and rspb.royalsocietypublishing.org Proc.…”

“…Animal carcasses are important biotic agents that create localized nutrient pulses while at the same time aggregating parasites in the environment. Carcasses can create nutrient hotspots that can persist for several years, altering soil fertility and vegetation response [17][18][19]. However, it has yet to be determined how herbivores respond to these hotspots, including whether lingering visual or olfactory cues from a carcass serve as a deterrent to herbivores or if these nutrient-rich sites eventually become preferred foraging locations.…”

Top Scavengers in a Wilder Europe

“…5.1). This increase in soil nutrient concentration in the vicinity of a carcass shows a gradient decreasing towards the periphery and which may persist for several years (Towne 2000;Danell et al 2002;Melis et al 2007). For vegetation, the changes are more drastic and can occur both in terms of biomass and community structure.…”

“…From an abiotic point of view, it is noteworthy that the appearance of a carcass represents a key natural "disturbance" in the composition of soils and plant communities, because it means a sudden availability of nutrients (Towne 2000;Melis et al 2007). In fact, based on the high levels recorded of soil nutrients deposit, biomass production and activity of edaphic fauna, the experts have defined the carcasses as "islands of decomposition" (Carter et al 2007;Selva and Cortés-Avizanda 2009;Fig.…”