Soil animal responses to moisture availability are largely scale, not ecosystem dependent: insight from a cross‐site study

Sylvain, Zachary A.; Wall, Diana H.; Cherwin, Karie L.; Peters, Debra P. C.; Reichmann, Lara G.; Sala, Osvaldo E.

doi:10.1111/gcb.12522

Cited by 81 publications

(91 citation statements)

References 73 publications

(98 reference statements)

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“…From semiarid systems, more idiosyncratic patterns emerge, with some nematode genera increasing and others decreasing under drying conditions, also depending on the soil temperature Nagy 2000, Bakonyi et al 2007). A study conducted across mesic, xeric and arid grasslands and a polar desert found that soil nematode numbers decreased with increased moisture availability in each ecosystem except for the arid site, where no relationship was found (Sylvain et al 2014). In a recent meta-analysis Blankinship et al (2011) demonstrated that the effect of precipitation on soil biota abundance was independent of taxon, body size or trophic group, but did depend on ecosystem type; while this effect was positive in boreal forests, coniferous forests and deciduous forests, no effect was observed in grassland, heathland or tundra.…”

Section: Nematode Responses To Long-term Alterations In Water Availabmentioning

confidence: 97%

“…The nematode samples were ultimately preserved in 5% formalin solution. The 2009 and 2010 nematode and moisture data from the control, þ80% and À80% treatments have been used together with data from natural gradients in an earlier wider assessment of soil fauna responses to soil moisture availability at different sites and across time (Sylvain et al 2014).…”

Section: Sampling Extraction and Identificationmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Responses of a desert nematode community to changes in water availability

et al. 2015

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Abstract. The most recent climate models unequivocally predict a strong drying trend for the southwestern USA within the next century. Soil nematodes are a highly important component of desert ecosystem functioning, but rely on water films for movement. However, it is currently poorly understood how different trophic groups of nematodes respond to chronic presses as well as short-lived pulses of altered water availability, especially in arid systems where such changes are expected to have the greatest impact. The aim of this study was to assess the effects of both instantaneous and long-term variation in water availability on desert soil nematode trophic groups. We hypothesized that nematode abundance would respond positively to both short-and long-term increases in moisture. Based on the ecology of the different trophic groups we further made predictions about their relative rates of response. We increased or decreased precipitation from ambient levels in the Chihuahuan Desert for four consecutive years and sampled soil nematodes after two, three and four years. We tested the effects of altered precipitation treatments through time as well as gravimetric soil moisture at the time of sampling on the abundance of the different nematode trophic groups. In contrast to our hypotheses, the abundances of most nematode trophic groups were unaffected by the amount of precipitation, even after four years of altered precipitation. Plant-parasitic nematodes from low moisture soils were the only group that reacted positively to increased precipitation from the third year onwards. Trophic groups responded differently to soil moisture, with bacterivores decreasing with increasing moisture and omnivores showing a positive relationship that diminished over time. We show that in general, these desert nematodes were not limited by precipitation, and were highly resilient to decreases therein. However, when also considering the effects of soil moisture, some more complex patterns and differences among trophic groups emerged. We discuss potential mechanisms explaining these observations and contrast our findings with those from other ecosystems around the world. We conclude that deserts harbor nematode communities that seem more resilient to altered water availability than other ecosystems.

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Section: Nematode Responses To Long-term Alterations In Water Availabmentioning

confidence: 97%

Section: Sampling Extraction and Identificationmentioning

confidence: 99%

Responses of a desert nematode community to changes in water availability

et al. 2015

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“…This could be caused by environmental factors, especially soil pH (Zhang et al 2015) or soil moisture (Sylvain et al 2014). Another reason could be the food supply inside the ecosystem and the level of microhabitat transformation (Smrž et al 2015).…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Influence of 90-year potato and winter rye monocultures under different fertilisation on soil mites

Gruss¹,

Twardowski²,

Hurej³

2018

Plant Prot. Sci.

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Gruss I., Twardowski J.P., Hurej M. (2018): Influence of 90-year potato and winter rye monocultures under different fertilisation on soil mites. Plant Protect Sci., 54: 31-38.The influence of the cultivation of a single crop (potato or winter rye) on mite assemblages was evaluated. Both crops were cultivated in a long-term monoculture (90 years). The response of mites to fertilisation treatment (mineral with manure or mineral alone) was also studied. It was hypothesised that the density of mites as a community and the density of particular mite groups are higher in winter rye crop in comparison with potato. Secondly, the fertilisation with manure is more beneficial for mites than the use of mineral fertilisers alone, both in winter rye and potato crops. Results showed significantly higher mite abundance in potato, mainly due to Prostigmata dominance. Oribatida and Gamasida groups were significantly more numerous in winter rye. The fertilisation type, except for the suborder Astigmata, had no significant influence on the mite community.

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“…Altered precipitation regimes, including drought, may create thresholds that alter nematofauna community composition. For example, bacterial feeding nematodes exhibit more sensitivity to drought than fungal feeding nematodes and drought conditions have been linked to a significant reduction in nematofauna abundance [12], resulting in altered trophic patterns, thus altered ecosystem functioning [10]. Understanding how water balance impacts soil biological communities and plant production is of paramount importance for future management and sustainability in a context of climate change.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Impact of Simulated Drought Stress on Soil Microbiology, and Nematofauna in a Native Shrub + Millet Intercropping System in Senegal

Diakhaté¹,

Badiane-Ndour²,

Founoune-Mboup³

et al. 2016

OJSS

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Drought stress strongly affects soil biota and impairs crop production, which under climate change will be exacerbated in semi-arid cropping regions such as the Sahel. Hence soil management systems are needed that can buffer against drought. In West Africa, field studies have found intercropping of millet with the native shrub Piliostigma reticulatum improves soil-plant-water relations, microbial activity and diversity, and suppress parasitic nematodes, which can significantly increase crop yield. However, little information is available on its beneficial or negative effects on soils or crops during water stress. Therefore, the objective was to investigate the impact of P. reticulatum in moderating water stress effects on soil properties and pearl millet (Pennisetum glaucum [L.] R. Br.) productivity. In the greenhouse, soil chemical and microbial properties and millet growth were investigated with a factorial experiment of varying levels of soil moisture (favorable, moderately stressed, or severely stressed water conditions) that was imposed for 55 days on soils containing sole P. reticulatum or millet, or millet + P. reticulatum. The results showed that the presence of P. reticulatum did not buffer soils against water stress in relation to soil chemical and microbial properties measured at the end of the experiment. Severe water stress did significantly decrease the height, number of leaves, and aboveground biomass of millet plants. Additionally, respiration, nematofauna trophic structure and abundance decreased as water stress increased. Lastly, bacterial feeders and plant parasitic 190nematodes were the most sensitive to severe water stress while fungal feeding nematodes remained unaffected. The results suggested that the intensity of water stress had more negative effects on soil basal respiration rather than soil microbial biomass.

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Soil animal responses to moisture availability are largely scale, not ecosystem dependent: insight from a cross‐site study

Cited by 81 publications

References 73 publications

Responses of a desert nematode community to changes in water availability

Responses of a desert nematode community to changes in water availability

Influence of 90-year potato and winter rye monocultures under different fertilisation on soil mites

Impact of Simulated Drought Stress on Soil Microbiology, and Nematofauna in a Native Shrub + Millet Intercropping System in Senegal

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