Tree identity rather than tree diversity drives earthworm communities in European forests

Wandeler, Hans De; Bruelheide, Helge; Dawud, Seid Muhie; Dănilă, Gabriel; Domisch, Timo; Finér, Leena; Hermy, Martin; Jaroszewicz, Bogdan; Joly, François‐Xavier; Müller, Sandra; Ratcliffe, Sophia; Raulund‐Rasmussen, Karsten; Rota, Emilia; Meerbeek, Koenraad Van; Vesterdal, Lars; Muys, Bart

doi:10.1016/j.pedobi.2018.01.003

Cited by 20 publications

(13 citation statements)

References 92 publications

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“…Plots with a higher litter FD were found to have a significantly higher epigeic earthworm abundance and biomass, in accordance to a previous study (De Wandeler et al, 2018). By creating a more complex litter layer, litter FD increases habitat heterogeneity and food sources for the fauna that live in it (Hooper, 2000).…”

Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 89%

Tree litter functional diversity and nitrogen concentration enhance litter decomposition via changes in earthworm communities

Patoine

Bruelheide

Haase

et al. 2020

Ecology and Evolution

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Biodiversity is a major driver of numerous ecosystem functions. However, consequences of changes in forest biodiversity remain difficult to predict because of limited knowledge about how tree diversity influences ecosystem functions. Litter decomposition is a key process affecting nutrient cycling, productivity, and carbon storage and can be influenced by plant biodiversity. Leaf litter species composition, environmental conditions, and the detritivore community are main components of the decomposition process, but their complex interactions are poorly understood. In this study, we tested the effect of tree functional diversity (FD) on litter decomposition in a field experiment manipulating tree diversity and partitioned the effects of litter physiochemical diversity and the detritivore community. We used litterbags with different mesh sizes to separate the effects of microorganisms and microfauna, mesofauna, and macrofauna and monitored soil fauna using pitfall traps and earthworm extractions. We hypothesized that higher tree litter FD accelerates litter decomposition due to the availability of complementary food components and higher activity of detritivores. Although we did not find direct effects of tree FD on litter decomposition, we identified key litter traits and macrodetritivores that explained part of the process. Litter mass loss was found to decrease with an increase in leaf litter carbon:nitrogen ratio. Moreover, litter mass loss increased with an increasing density of epigeic earthworms, with most pronounced effects in litterbags with a smaller mesh size, indicating indirect effects. Higher litter FD and litter nutrient content were found to increase the density of surface‐dwelling macrofauna and epigeic earthworm biomass. Based on structural equation modeling, we conclude that tree FD has a weak positive effect on soil surface litter decomposition by increasing the density of epigeic earthworms and that litter nitrogen‐related traits play a central role in tree composition effects on soil fauna and decomposition.

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Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 89%

Tree litter functional diversity and nitrogen concentration enhance litter decomposition via changes in earthworm communities

Patoine

Bruelheide

Haase

et al. 2020

Ecology and Evolution

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“…Moreover, this species identity effect is likely related to distinct effects of conifer and broadleaf species on soil resource availability (Richards et al, 2010). Across all FunDivEUROPE sites, including the sites addressed in this study, conifer proportion significantly altered topsoil properties (increasing C stocks, C/N ratio and reducing soil pH; Dawud et al, 2016Dawud et al, , 2017, affected decomposition rates (Joly et al, 2017) and evergreen litter reduced earthworm abundance and richness (De Wandeler et al, 2018), altogether suggesting slower nutrient cycling. Consequently, decreasing soil nutrient availability with increasing conifer proportion may cause greater biomass allocation to roots.…”

Section: Species Identity Effectsmentioning

confidence: 79%

Tree species mixing reduces biomass but increases length of absorptive fine roots in European forests

et al. 2021

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“…(biogeochemistry and microbiota) and 2015 (soil carbon). Earthworm communities were sampled in opposite corners of each plot (Figure 1 -top right) (Verstraeten et al, 2018) by subsequent sampling and hand sorting the forest floor, mustard extraction on the same surface of the mineral soil (surface of 0.5 m 2 , earthworms were collected directly after coming to the surface) and by hand sorting a soil core taken within the mustard treated area (0.1m 2 , 20cm deep) (De Wandeler et al, 2018;Valckx et al, 2011). All earthworms were killed and preserved in 95% ethanol and afterwards fixed in 5% formalin solution.…”

Section: Data Collectionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Forest conversion to conifers induces a regime shift in soil process domain affecting carbon stability

Desie

Vancampenhout

Heyens

et al. 2019

Soil Biology and Biochemistry

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Tree identity rather than tree diversity drives earthworm communities in European forests

Cited by 20 publications

References 92 publications

Tree litter functional diversity and nitrogen concentration enhance litter decomposition via changes in earthworm communities

Tree litter functional diversity and nitrogen concentration enhance litter decomposition via changes in earthworm communities

Tree species mixing reduces biomass but increases length of absorptive fine roots in European forests

Forest conversion to conifers induces a regime shift in soil process domain affecting carbon stability

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