Early successional changes in biological soil crust community assembly and nutrient capture in mining impacted landscapes

Cowden, Phaedra; Hanner, Robert; Collis, Brianna; Kuzmina, Maria; Conway, Alix; Ivanova, Natalia V.; Stewart, Katherine

doi:10.1016/j.soilbio.2022.108841

Cited by 4 publications

(1 citation statement)

References 66 publications

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“…Common nonvascular species include lichens (e.g., Cetraria spp., Thamnolia vermicularix ) and numerous bryophytes (e.g., Hylocomium splendens , Aulacomnium spp ., Racomitrium lanuginosum , Pohlia spp., Ceratodon purpureus , Bryum spp., and Distichium spp.) [ 17 , 18 ]. Soils are characterized as cryosolic and topped with thick organic layers.…”

Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Rocks, lichens, and woody litter influenced the soil invertebrate density in upland tundra heath

et al. 2023

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Soil invertebrates are an integral part of Arctic ecosystems through their roles in the breakdown of litter, soil formation, and nutrient cycling. However, studies examining soil invertebrates in the Arctic are limited and our understanding of the abiotic and biotic drivers of these invertebrate communities remains understudied. We examined differences in soil invertebrate taxa (mites, collembolans, enchytraeids) among several undisturbed upland tundra heath sites in Nunavut Canada and identified the drivers (vegetation and substrate cover, soil nutrients and pH) of the soil invertebrate community across these sites. Soil invertebrate densities were similar to that of other Arctic studies. While invertebrate communities were relatively consistent between our sites, cover of rocks, woody litter, and the lichen Alectoria nigricans had significant, positive influences on the density of all invertebrates studied. Mites and collembolans were more closely associated with cover of lichens, whereas enchytraeids were more closely associated with woody litter and rocks. Our results suggest that anthropogenic (e.g., resource exploration and extraction) and/or natural (e.g., climate change) disturbances that result in changes to the vegetation community and woody litter inputs will likely impact soil invertebrates and the ecosystem services they provide.

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Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%