Spatial distribution of nematodes in polar desert soils of Antarctica

Powers, Laura E.; Freckman, Diana W.; Virginia, Ross A.

doi:10.1007/bf00238482

Cited by 53 publications

(34 citation statements)

References 32 publications

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“…However, discrete microhabitats in soils also favour the development of distinct microbial populations, for example by affinities for different organic substrates [21]. In agreement with previous studies [11,16,18,19], our data therefore suggest that attraction to different populations of microbial prey present in discrete microhabitats may be a potentially important factor governing the heterogeneous distribution of nematodes in Antarctic soils.…”

Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 91%

“…Previous studies have recorded heterogeneous spatial distributions of nematodes in Antarctic soils [11,18]. The primary factors responsible for these clumped distributions are thought to be increased temperature and water availability, which lead to the development of favourable microhabitats for nematodes in soil [11,18].…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…The primary factors responsible for these clumped distributions are thought to be increased temperature and water availability, which lead to the development of favourable microhabitats for nematodes in soil [11,18]. However, discrete microhabitats in soils also favour the development of distinct microbial populations, for example by affinities for different organic substrates [21].…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Differing preferences of Antarctic soil nematodes for microbial prey

Newsham

Rolf

Pearce

et al. 2004

European Journal of Soil Biology

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We tested the preferences of three nematode taxa, Geomonhystera villosa, Plectus spp. and Teratocephalus spp., extracted from moss at Signy Island in the Maritime Antarctic, for two microalgae, three microfungi and six heterotrophic bacteria, each also from soils at Signy Island.Choice test experiments on water agar medium, in which nematodes were enumerated in wells containing microbes at 24 and 48 h, indicated that there were differing preferences between nematodes for distinct prey. G. villosa was significantly attracted to the alga Chlorella cf. minutissima and the fungus Mortierella hyalina, and was more attracted to all algae and fungi than either of the other two nematodes. Both G. villosa and Teratocephalus spp. were attracted to an actinobacterium. Plectus spp.were significantly attracted to the alga Stichococcus bacillaris and bacteria with close taxonomic affinities to Arthrobacter, Pseudomonas and Polaromonas. Experiments using 0.5 µm diameter fluorescent beads indicated significantly increased ingestion by nematodes in the presence of each of these microbes compared with controls, except by Plectus spp. in the presence of S. bacillaris. We conclude that complex trophic interactions may occur in apparently simple Antarctic soil food webs.

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Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 91%

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Differing preferences of Antarctic soil nematodes for microbial prey

Newsham

Rolf

Pearce

et al. 2004

European Journal of Soil Biology

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“…Depths 1 and 2 (Fig. 4) represent the upper 5 cm of the soil, where the majority of invertebrate activity occurs (Powers et al 1995). The osmotic stress imposed by the very high salt content means high-salinity soils exhibit very low or non-existent invertebrate abundances, despite the fact that many of these ions are mineral nutrients necessary for life Poage et al 2008).…”

Section: Responses To Seepsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Implications of meltwater pulse events for soil biology and biogeochemical cycling in a polar desert

et al. 2011

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The McMurdo Dry Valleys are one of the most arid environments on Earth. Over the soil landscape for the majority of the year, biological and ecosystem processes in the dry valleys are constrained by the low temperatures and limited availability of water. The prevalence of these physical limitations in controlling biological and ecosystem processes makes the dry valleys a climate-sensitive system, poised to experience substantial changes following projected future warming. Short-duration increases in summer temperatures are associated with pulses of water from melting ice reserves, including glaciers, snow and permafrost. Such pulses alter soil geochemistry by mobilizing and redistributing soil salts (via enhanced weathering, solubility and mobility), which can alter habitat suitability for soil organisms. Resulting changes in soil community composition or distribution may alter the biogeochemical processes in which they take part. Here, we review the potential impacts of meltwater pulses and present new field data documenting instances of meltwater pulse events that result from different water sources and hydrological patterns, and discuss their potential influence on soil biology and biogeochemistry. We use these examples to discuss the potential impacts of future climate change on the McMurdo Dry Valley soil ecosystem

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“…Soil nematodes are important functional components in soil-ecosystem (Freckman, 1988;Hu et al, 1999) and they play important roles in the process of organic matter decomposition (Ingham et al, 1985;Hu et al, 1999) and mineralization of plant nutrients and their cycles. Because of soil nematofauna is rich in many categories and nematode genera, many species can survive in extreme conditions (Powers et al, 1995;Freckman & Virginia, 1997), moreover soil nematodes have a short reproduction time and they are highly responsive to habitat changes. Researches about them not only reveal structure of the soil ecosystem, but also provide unique information about soil ecological processes (Ritz & Trudgill, 1999).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Soil nematode community characteristics around the Gangue hill of Fushun West Open-pit mine

et al. 2011

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SummaryDiversity and nematode abundance were investigated in soils collected around the Gangue hill of Fushun West open-pit mine to evaluate soil pollution, due to heavy metals contents, using nematodes as bioindicators. Nematodes were collected from soil samples using elutriate-sievingflotation and centrifugation methods. The species richness and ecological indices were analyzed. On the base of chemical and nematological analysis, the results indicated that the area around the Gangue hill of Fushun West Openpit mine was polluted by heavy metal, but the degree of pollution was not very serious. According to the results obtained from single-factor analysis, cadmium soil content was ten times higher than the background; 29 genera of nematodes were identified and Acrobeloides, Cervidellus and Mesorhabtidis were the dominant genera in almost all sampling sites. The dominant genera were different as the distances to the Gangue hill changed. In particular, in the investigated areas bacterivores and plant-parasites nematodes were more diffuse than fungivores and omnivorepredators. Copper soil content was significantly correlated with plant parasitic trophic group and with total number of nematodes, thus suggesting that nematode communities studies are important scientific basis for understanding the healthy development of soil ecosystem.

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Spatial distribution of nematodes in polar desert soils of Antarctica

Cited by 53 publications

References 32 publications

Differing preferences of Antarctic soil nematodes for microbial prey

Differing preferences of Antarctic soil nematodes for microbial prey

Implications of meltwater pulse events for soil biology and biogeochemical cycling in a polar desert

Soil nematode community characteristics around the Gangue hill of Fushun West Open-pit mine

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