Earthworm abundance and nitrogen mineralization rates along an urban-rural land use gradient

Steinberg, David A.; Pouyat, Richard V.; Parmelee, Robert W.; Groffman, Peter M.

doi:10.1016/s0038-0717(96)00043-0

Cited by 124 publications

(66 citation statements)

References 3 publications

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“…After three months of incubation, the total length of burrows (21197 ± 1810 mm) was significantly higher in the urban compared to the alluvial soil (15834 ± 1598 mm) and probably explains the increase of SOM dynamics (cumulative C-CO 2 emission) and the fast nitrogen mineralization (N-NH 4 + and N-NO 3 − ). Studies reported also that in low fertile soils, the response of endogeic earthworms -which do not usually form permanent galleries (Bouché, 1972(Bouché, , 1977Lavelle et al, 1992) -on organic matter dynamics is particularly marked (Lofs-Holmin, 1983;Steinberg et al, 1997;Lowe and Butt, 2007). However, little is known about the response of endogeic earthworms on soil structuring process in disturbed soils over time.…”

Section: Endogeic Earthworms As Actors Of the Soil Organic Matter Dynmentioning

confidence: 99%

Effects of endogeic earthworms on the soil organic matter dynamics and the soil structure in urban and alluvial soil materials

et al. 2015

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Section: Endogeic Earthworms As Actors Of the Soil Organic Matter Dynmentioning

confidence: 99%

Effects of endogeic earthworms on the soil organic matter dynamics and the soil structure in urban and alluvial soil materials

et al. 2015

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“…A high abundance of non-native earthworms was found in New York City (Steinberg et al 1997), and this was considered a main reason for the accelerated decomposition at urban compared to rural sites. Since earthworms are not native to the New York City area, rural sites were without earthworms as they lacked introduced species.…”

Section: Influence Of Decomposition Sitementioning

confidence: 99%

“…Abiotic environmental conditions shown to be influenced by the level of urbanization are raised temperatures (urban heat island (UHI), Oke 1973) and increased precipitation in and downwind of cities ). Decomposer communities have been shown to be influenced by the level of urbanization due to heavy metal deposition (Cotrufo et al 1995) and introduction of non-native soil fauna (Steinberg et al 1997). The quality of decomposing material can be altered in numerous chemical parameters known to influence decomposition processes (e.g., N content), with significant interspecific differences in alterations (Carreras et al 1996;Alfani et al 2000).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Urban-induced changes in tree leaf litter accelerate decomposition

et al. 2015

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Introduction: The role of urban areas in the global carbon cycle has so far not been studied conclusively. Locally, urbanization might affect decomposition within urban boundaries. So far, only few studies have examined the effects of the level of urbanization on decomposition. This study addresses the influence of the level of urbanization on decomposition processes. It explores whether potential influences are exerted through leaf litter quality alterations or through direct effects of decomposition site's level of urbanization. Leaf litter of five different tree species was sampled at urban and periurban sites. Decomposition of this litter was analyzed in three different experiments: a climate chamber incubation, a reciprocal litterbag transplant at urban and periurban sites, and a common garden litterbag transplant. Results: Decomposition site's level of urbanization did not show a significant effect. However, in all species, when significant differences were observed, leaf litter of urban origin decomposed significantly faster than leaf litter of periurban origin. This effect was observed in all three experiments. In the reciprocal litter transplant experiment, 62% ± 3% mass loss in litter of urban origin compared to 53% ± 3% in litter of periurban origin was observed. The difference was not as pronounced in the other two experiments, with 94% ± 1% mass loss of litter originating in urban habitats compared to 92% ± 1% mass loss of litter originating in periurban habitats in the common garden experiment and 225 ± 13 mg CO 2 released from litter originating in urban habitats compared to 200 ± 13 mg CO 2 released from litter originating in periurban habitats in the climate chamber incubation. Conclusions: We conclude that the level of urbanization affects decomposition indirectly through alterations in leaf litter quality even over short urban to periurban distances.

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“…Members of the Urban-Rural Gradient Ecology project, led by Dr. Mark McDonnell, discovered that forest stands closer to the core of New York City had higher levels of nitrogen deposition (Lovett et al, 2000), exotic earthworm species (Steinberg et al, 1997), and higher levels of nitrogen turnover Pouyat et al, 1997;Zhu and Carreiro, 1999) than rural forests. Additional studies showed altered populations of other soil invertebrates and of fungal species (Carreiro et al, 1999).…”

Section: Ecology "In" Versus Ecology "Of" Citiesmentioning

confidence: 99%

Integrative approaches to investigating human-natural systems: the Baltimore ecosystem study

Cadenasso

Pickett

Grove

2006

Natures Sciences Sociétés

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La ville de Baltimore est ici assimilée à un écosystème dans lequel interagissent des complexes biotiques et abiotiques. Cela suppose une reconnaissance explicite de la composante humaine de cet écosystème, y compris dans ses dimensions culturelles et institutionnelles. Dans cette perspective, les auteurs rendent compte d'une expérience interdisciplinaire en construction, en quête de méthodes, de concepts, de questions de recherche -et nous invitent à croiser nos pratiques de part et d'autre de l'Atlantique, comme le souligne le commentaire à cet article. La RédactionKeywords: urban ecology; spatial heterogeneity; patch dynamics; riparian; management Abstract -This paper presents an overview of the research approaches used to study metropolitan Baltimore (Maryland, USA) as an ecological system. The urban ecosystem is a complex of biophysical, social, and built components, and is studied by an interdisciplinary team of biological, social, and physical scientists, and urban designers. Ecology "of" the metropolis is addressed rather than restricting research to ecology of green areas "in" the metropolis. The project applies standard ecological approaches such as the ecosystem, watersheds, and patch dynamics to the metropolitan area. In addition to research, the project conducts education at all levels and engages with communities and local policy makers and managers. Three broad questions guide the project, and focus on 1) the structure of the system from biophysical, social, and built perspectives, 2) the fluxes of energy, matter, population, and capital, and 3) the feedback between ecological information and environmental quality. We present examples of results focusing on each question. Mots-clés :écologie urbaine ; hétérogénéité spatiale ; dynamique des taches ; milieu riverain ; gestion Résumé -Étude intégrée des systèmes homme-nature : l'écosystème de Baltimore, Maryland, USA. Cet article synthétise l'étude d'une métropole vue comme un écosystème -la ville de Baltimore. Les investigations ont porté sur l'écologie de la métropole entière et non seulement sur l'écologie des zones vertes dans la métropole. Trois questions majeures sous-tendent le projet : 1) la structure du système aux points de vue biophysique, social et bâti ; 2) les flux d'énergie, de matière, de population et de capitaux ; 3) la rétroaction entre l'information écologique et la qualité de l'environnement. En réponse à la première question, nous montrons qu'il est mieux rendu compte de l'hétérogénéité urbaine par une classification qui intègre, au lieu de les séparer, les couverts bâtis et végétalisés. En réponse à la deuxième question, nous montrons que les zones riveraines urbaines ne réduisent pas la pollution par les nitrates comme dans les régions agricoles. La structure de la végétation riveraine est induite par des processus sociaux différents de ceux qui déterminent la structure de la végétation des parcelles urbaines, que ces dernières soient privées ou qu'elles relèvent de servitudes des passage publics, suggérant que les gens se sou...

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Earthworm abundance and nitrogen mineralization rates along an urban-rural land use gradient

Cited by 124 publications

References 3 publications

Effects of endogeic earthworms on the soil organic matter dynamics and the soil structure in urban and alluvial soil materials

Effects of endogeic earthworms on the soil organic matter dynamics and the soil structure in urban and alluvial soil materials

Urban-induced changes in tree leaf litter accelerate decomposition

Integrative approaches to investigating human-natural systems: the Baltimore ecosystem study

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