The soil food web revisited: Diverse and widespread mycophagous soil protists

Thecofilosea is a class in Cercozoa comprising mainly freshwater inhabiting algivores. Since direct observation of amoeboid protists in soil is not possible, the prey spectra of their terrestrial relatives remain obscure. To test for grazing selectivity and the preferred prey of terrestrial thecofiloseans, we conducted a food choice experiment including yeasts and algae as prey. When being offered all food sources at once, the yeast cells were strongly reduced, whereas the abundance of the algae only slightly decreased. Since Fisculla terrestris thrives with fungal prey, it must be considered as a predator of eukaryotes with high preference for fungal cells.

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“…Consumption of yeasts by protist predators is clearly an underrepresented trophic link in soil food webs (Geisen et al. ; Kramer et al. ).…”

Section: Resultsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Food Choice Experiments Indicate Selective Fungivorous Predation in Fisculla terrestris (Thecofilosea, Cercozoa)

Dumack

Pundt

Bonkowski

2018

J Eukaryotic Microbiology

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“…We could not create more precise categories (e.g., fungivores) because of a lack of information (or contradictory reports/probable multiple trophic modes) for most taxa. We considered most Cercomonadidae as omnivores, based on recent observations (Flues, Bass, & Bonkowski, ; Geisen et al, ), although most characterized taxa were isolated with bacteria as the sole food source (Bass et al, ; Howe, Bass, Chao, & Cavalier‐Smith, ; Howe, Bass, Vickerman, Chao, & Cavalier‐Smith, ). However, many taxa that have been originally considered as bacterivorous may actually be omnivorous, feeding on small flagellates, algae or yeasts, as ongoing observations and studies suggest.…”

Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Making sense of environmental sequencing data: Ecologically important functional traits of the protistan groups Cercozoa and Endomyxa (Rhizaria)

Dumack

Fiore-Donno

Bass

et al. 2019

Molecular Ecology Resources

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We have compiled a database of functional traits for two widespread and ecologically important groups of protists, Cercozoa and Endomyxa (Rhizaria). The functional traits of microorganisms are crucially important for interpreting results from environmental sequencing surveys. Linking morphological and ecological traits to environmental factors is common practice in studies involving micro‐ and macroorganisms, but is rarely applied to protists. Our database provides functional and ecologically significant traits linked to morphology, nutrition, locomotion and habitats. We discuss how the use of functional traits may help to unveil underlying ecosystem processes. This database is intended as a common reference for the molecular ecology community and will boost the understanding of ecosystem functions, especially those driven by biological interactions.

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“…Scientists call this phenomenon "priming effect" (Guenet et al, 2010). The decomposer living network is still partially understood and under investigation (Straatsma et al, 1994;Anastasi et al, 2005;Jayasinghe and Parkinson, 2009;Mummey et al, 2010;Burns et al, 2013;Lange et al, 2015;Ballhausen and de Boer, 2016;Geisen et al, 2016); • During the process of respiration about 2/3 of the C content of organic remains is lost in the atmosphere as CO 2 and 1/3 incorporated in new microorganisms. If the C/N ratio of organic remains is ≤ 30, and if all N can be incorporated in new microbial structures (McDowell and Clark-McDowell, 2008), the process of biodegradation can go on fast and well until the complete utilisation of the organic remains.…”

Section: Manure Humus Systems: Techno Humus Systems With Soil Createdmentioning

confidence: 99%

Humusica 2, article 16: Techno humus systems and recycling of waste

Zanella

Ponge

Guercini

et al. 2018

Applied Soil Ecology

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Techno humus systems correspond to man-made topsoils under prominent man influence. They may be purposely\ud conceived for supporting agricultural activities or dumping of waste products, sometimes abandoned to\ud an unknown evolution. Both categories needed a more scientific frame. This is the reason we classified them as\ud morpho-functional humus systems. Improving agricultural soils with organic waste products is an ancestral\ud practice. We present four examples of techno humus systems purposely created for supporting plant growth.\ud Considering a simple home-made composting pile, we give a few basic notions about the biological functioning\ud of these artificial humus systems. Humipedon functioning and structuration are similar to those observed in\ud natural humus systems. Using even animal manure, we illustrate how to manage larger compost piles of waste\ud for application in farming areas. Composting waste that contains animal proteins needs a more careful measurement\ud of the temperature of the pile and a longer period of elevated temperature in the core of the pile.\ud Mulching of pruning residues is presented in a large urban context. The use of mulch must take into account\ud quality and composition of woody material. The lack of nutrients in some residues has to be compensated by a\ud moderate use of appropriate mineral fertilizers. Municipal solid waste, anaerobic digestion residues (grape remains)\ud and spent mushroom compost, eventually mixed with mineral fertilizers, have been tested in horticulture.\ud Benefits and drawbacks are listed for each experiment, with the evolution of carbon storage along 8\ud years of horticultural practice. Finally, we present an example of “dump” humus system. Mine tailing wastes\ud represent a huge problem in many countries. Pointing on their microbial activity, we show that they must be\ud seen as manageable living humipedons, not as piles of inert rocky material

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The soil food web revisited: Diverse and widespread mycophagous soil protists

Cited by 183 publications

References 74 publications

Food Choice Experiments Indicate Selective Fungivorous Predation in Fisculla terrestris (Thecofilosea, Cercozoa)

Food Choice Experiments Indicate Selective Fungivorous Predation in Fisculla terrestris (Thecofilosea, Cercozoa)

Making sense of environmental sequencing data: Ecologically important functional traits of the protistan groups Cercozoa and Endomyxa (Rhizaria)

Humusica 2, article 16: Techno humus systems and recycling of waste

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