Species composition and seasonal variation of earthworms and their effect on soil properties in southern Ontario, Canada

Tomlin, A. D.; Mccabe, D.; Protz, R.

doi:10.1016/0038-0717(92)90132-h

Cited by 15 publications

(7 citation statements)

References 18 publications

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“…For example, typical mull is observed only when endogeic earthworms are abundant (see also Bernier et al, 1994) and the depth of the mull humus form (10 cm) fits well with the maximal burrowing depth of these animals (Bal, 1982;Tomlin et al, 1992). In the course of the forest cycle, data on earthworm populations undoubtedly describe a species succession.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 77%

Humus form dynamics during the sylvogenetic cycle in a mountain spruce forest

Bernier¹,

Ponge²

1994

Soil Biology and Biochemistry

155

137

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Summary-The humus forms during the life cycle of a spruce forest are described. A significant change in humus form may be attributed to plant and soil fauna changes. This phenomenon is considered to be fundamental for the renewal of the forest ecosystem. Forest dynamics is perceived as a biphasic cycle, (i) the tree growth phase with a shift from mull towards moder humus form, as a consequence of a decline in earthworm populations and (ii) a humus form improvement from moder towards earthworm mull humus, during the second half of the life of spruce trees. This results from a succession of earthworm species. The particular role of anecic species during the second phase has been highlighted, where they allow endogeic earthworm species and young spruce seedlings to install themselves in the regeneration site, the fall of parent trees not being considered as the chief factor governing humus changes.The life cycle of the spruce ecosystem can nevertheless be impaired by the development of a bilberry heath, with a mor humus form which is detrimental to the germination and growth of spruce seedlings.Earthworm populations of anecic and endogeic species are present in this case but without any burrowing activity.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 77%

Humus form dynamics during the sylvogenetic cycle in a mountain spruce forest

Bernier¹,

Ponge²

1994

Soil Biology and Biochemistry

155

137

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“…(2) Ecosystem engineering: This has previously been shown in earthworms (Stout & Goh 1980; Tomlin et al 1992). The combination of feeding habits and nesting habits in termites (Eggleton & Tayasu, in press) can be studied using stable and radioisotopes even if they contain non‐trophic relationships.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…137 Cs (half‐life = 30.1 years) is derived from atmospheric nuclear testing which, like ‘bomb’ carbon, reached maximum levels in 1963/64. 137 Cs is useful for estimating turnover in soils (Dörr & Münnich 1989), such as the contribution of earthworms to soil mixing estimated by using 137 Cs (Tomlin et al 1992) and 14 C (Stout & Goh 1980).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Termite ecology in a dry evergreen forest in Thailand in terms of stable (δ¹³C and δ¹⁵N) and radio (¹⁴C, ¹³⁷Cs and ²¹⁰Pb) isotopes

Tayasu

Nakamura²,

Oda³

et al. 2002

Ecological Research

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Stable (δ13C and δ15N) and radio‐ (14C, 137Cs and 210Pb) isotopes were determined for termites that have been sampled from a dry evergreen forest in Thailand. A wood‐feeding termite, Microcerotermes crassus, was separated from soil‐feeders: Termes propinquus, Termes comis and Dicuspiditermes makhamensis by δ13C and δ15N values. The Termes group in Thailand had less diverse values in δ13C and δ15N than those in Australia, where the feeding habits of the ‘Termes’ group are more diverse. Other soil‐feeding termites produced similar δ13C values, but a larger range in δ15N values. 14C‐percent modern carbon (pMC) values suggest that the soil‐feeding termites used younger carbon than the wood‐feeding termites, and this was consistent with the termites from Cameroon, central Africa. Values of δ13C and 14C‐pMC indicate that surface soil was used by a soil‐feeding termite, D. makhamensis, in making the nest mounds, and deeper soil (10–30 cm) by a fungus‐growing termite, Macrotermes carbonarius. 210Pb and 137Cs were scarcely incorporated into the termites, although 214Pb was recovered from the workers. The results suggest that stable‐ and radioisotopes are useful in the study of detritivorous animals, organic matter decomposition and ecosystem engineering.

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“…The vertical arrangement of humus profile components can be summarized by its degree of stratification (Meyer and GOttsche, 1971;Tomlin et al, 1992), which is closely related to the balance between epigeic versus endogeic (or anecic) soil fauna activity. In S 1550, Bernier and Ponge (1994) brought evidence of a cyclic dynamics of humus form between mull and moder (Figs.…”

Section: Forest Humus Profilesmentioning

confidence: 99%

Altitudinal changes in humus form dynamics in a spruce forest at the montane level

Bernier¹

1996

Plant Soil

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An altitudinal transect was studied at the montane level in a spruce forest, in order to describe changes in humus form dynamics. Whatever the elevation, the periodicity of humus form changes is copied on forest dynamics. Spruce regeneration is restricted both in space and time to favourable micro-site conditions accompanying tree fall gaps. One of these conditions is a shift from moder to mull humus form. As a result, this forest ecosystem shows a space-time mosaic pattern. The recovery of mull humus form takes more time as elevation increases and thus the ratio mull:moder progressively decreases. Simultaneously, burrowing earthworms become scarce. Nevertheless mull humus form does not change basically at increased elevation. On the other hand, moder has little organic matter at the lower montane level. At the mid montane level, accumulation of holorganic faeces into OH horizon is maximum. A mor-moder (few faunal traces) is observed during tree growth phase at the upper montane level. Lack of nutrient availability was hypothesized to explain the observed shift from mull to moder or mor-moder during the phase of intense tree growth. An increased independancy between the building of a moder humus profile and the actual accumulation of organic matter was the main change occurring with elevationl The transition to the subalpine level may thus be defined as the highest elevation up to which the forest ecosystem is able to reverse the mor-building process produced by tree growth. The discoupling between primary producers, plant debris accumulation and decomposers observed in the subalpine spruce forest leads to a breaking point in the carrying capability of humus for spruce seedlings. At high elevation spruce seedlings are mainly observed on rotten wood.The influence of humus form dynamics upon forest sustainability was discussed. The lack of humus biological activity at higher elevation was found to be a reason for the weakness of the forest ecosystem faced to the bilberry heath. Forest sustainability depends both on mull and moder. It was observed that moder failed to recover after mull along the forest cycle and turned to mor in harsh climate conditions. Consequences of management practices on the issue of competition between forest and heath were also discussed.

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Species composition and seasonal variation of earthworms and their effect on soil properties in southern Ontario, Canada

Cited by 15 publications

References 18 publications

Humus form dynamics during the sylvogenetic cycle in a mountain spruce forest

Humus form dynamics during the sylvogenetic cycle in a mountain spruce forest

Termite ecology in a dry evergreen forest in Thailand in terms of stable (δ¹³C and δ¹⁵N) and radio (¹⁴C, ¹³⁷Cs and ²¹⁰Pb) isotopes

Altitudinal changes in humus form dynamics in a spruce forest at the montane level

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Species composition and seasonal variation of earthworms and their effect on soil properties in southern Ontario, Canada

Cited by 15 publications

References 18 publications

Humus form dynamics during the sylvogenetic cycle in a mountain spruce forest

Humus form dynamics during the sylvogenetic cycle in a mountain spruce forest

Termite ecology in a dry evergreen forest in Thailand in terms of stable (δ13C and δ15N) and radio (14C, 137Cs and 210Pb) isotopes

Altitudinal changes in humus form dynamics in a spruce forest at the montane level

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Resources

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Termite ecology in a dry evergreen forest in Thailand in terms of stable (δ¹³C and δ¹⁵N) and radio (¹⁴C, ¹³⁷Cs and ²¹⁰Pb) isotopes