ISSN:
1432-0789
Keywords:
Aporrectodea caliginosa
;
Soil microflora C mineralization
;
Beech litter
;
Temperature
;
Climate change
Source:
Springer Online Journal Archives 1860-2000
Topics:
Biology
,
Geosciences
,
Agriculture, Forestry, Horticulture, Fishery, Domestic Science, Nutrition
Notes:
Abstract A microcosm was used to study the effect of the endogeic earthworm Aporrectodea caliginosa (Savigny) on the use of C by microorganisms in a calcareous beech forest soil and its dependence on temperature (5–25%C). Inclusion of 14C-labelled beech leaf litter made it possible to differentiate between C use by litter-colonizing microflora and by autochthonous soil microflora. The effect of temperature on the soil microbial biomass 12C was confined to a significant increase at 15 and 20°C. The size of the 14C-labelled microbial biomass, in contrast, was positively correlated with temperature. The 12C mineralization increased exponentially with temperature. The relationship between 14C mineralization and temperature, in contrast, followed a logistic curve. Significant main effects of A. caliginosa were confined to 12C mineralization, reflecting an increase in 12CO2−C production in the earthworm treatments. The earthworm effects on 12CO2−C production and on 14C incorporation of the microflora were not linear. The effect of A. caliginosa on 12CO2−C production was most pronouned at intermediate temperatures. It is concluded that temperature alterations affect the microbial use of different C sources in different ways and that the temperature effects can be significantly modified by endogeic earthworms.
Type of Medium:
Electronic Resource
URL:
http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/BF00336145
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