Litter quality, mycorrhizal association, and soil properties regulate effects of tree species on the soil fauna community

Author(s)

Peng, Yan ^{[1, 2]} ; Holmstrup, Martin ^[3] ; Schmidt, Inger Kappel ^[1] ; De Schrijver, An ^{[4, 5]} ; Schelfhout, Stephanie ^[4] ; Hedenec, Petr ^[1] ; Zheng, Haifeng ^[1] ; Bachega, Luciana Ruggiero ^[6] ; Yue, Kai ^[2] ; Vesterdal, Lars ^[1]

Affiliation

^[1] Univ Copenhagen, Dept Geosci & Nat Resource Management, Rolighedsvej 23, DK-1958 Frederiksberg C - Denmark

^[2] Fujian Normal Univ, Sch Geog Sci, Key Lab Humid Subtrop Ecogeog Proc, Minist Educ, Fuzhou 350007 - Peoples R China

^[3] Aarhus Univ, Dept Biosci, Sect Terr Ecol, Vejlsovej 25, DK-8600 Silkeborg - Denmark

^[4] Univ Ghent, Fac Biosci Engn, Dept Environm, Forest & Nat Lab, Geraardsbergsesteenweg 267, B-9090 Gontrode - Belgium

^[5] HOGENT Univ Appl Sci & Arts, Sch Biosci & Ind Technol, Brusselsesteenweg 161, B-9090 Melle - Belgium

^[6] Fed Univ Sao Carlos UFSCar, Dept Environm Sci, BR-13565905 Sao Carlos, SP - Brazil

• Document type: Journal article
• Source: Geoderma; v. 407, FEB 1 2022.
• Web of Science Citations: 0

Abstract

Forest management, including selection of appropriate tree species to mitigate climate change and sustain biodiversity, requires a better understanding of factors that affect the composition of soil fauna communities. These communities are an integral part of the soil ecosystem and play an essential role in forest ecosystem functioning related to carbon and nitrogen cycling. Here, by performing a field study across six common gardens in Denmark, we evaluated the effects of tree species identity and mycorrhizal association (i.e., arbuscular mycorrhiza (AM) and ectomycorrhiza (ECM)) on soil fauna (meso- and macrofauna) taxonomic and functional community composition by using diversity, abundance, and biomass as proxies. We found that (1) tree species identity and mycorrhizal association both showed significant effects on soil fauna communities, but the separation between community characteristics in AM and ECM tree species was not entirely consistent; (2) total soil fauna abundance, biomass, as well as taxonomic and functional diversity were generally significantly higher under AM tree species, as well as lime, with higher litter quality (high N and base cation and low lignin:N ratio); (3) tree species significantly influenced the properties of litter, forest floor, and soil, among which litter and/or forest floor N, P, Ca, and Mg concentrations, soil pH, and soil moisture predominantly affected soil fauna abundance, biomass, and taxonomic and functional diversity. Our results from this multisite common garden experiment provide strong and consistent evidence of positive effects of tree species with higher litter quality on soil fauna communities in general, which helps to better understand the effects of tree species selection on soil biodiversity and its functions related to forest soil carbon sequestration. (AU)

• FAPESP's process: 17/26019-0 - Soil microbial functional communities in restored tropical forests
• Grantee: Luciana Ruggiero Bachega
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships abroad - Research Internship - Doctorate
• FAPESP's process: 15/14785-5 - Litter-soil layer in reforested riparian forests
• Grantee: Luciana Ruggiero Bachega
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Doctorate