This study aims to assess the impact of monospecific Tectona grandis forest plantation on the soil mite abundance and diversity. To achieve these objectives, two sites situated in Ivory Coast were investigated. The fi...This study aims to assess the impact of monospecific Tectona grandis forest plantation on the soil mite abundance and diversity. To achieve these objectives, two sites situated in Ivory Coast were investigated. The first, a primary forest was characterized by a very weak human activities whereas the second, a teak plantation was characterized by a high disturbance performed during the planting. After extracting, sorted and description, 116 mite species were described in the two sites. Mite densities were lower in teak plantation and also higher in the litter and decreased to the depth in both sites. Species richness re- corded in teak plantation （52 species） was significantly lower compared to primary forest （98 species）. The same trend was ob- served for Oribatida but not for Gamasida. The lower Oribatida （5 vs. 17） and higher Oribatida （24 vs. 41） were recorded respec- tively in teak plantation and primary forest. Mite Shannon index and evenness were significantly different between sites. High Jaccard index values and the appearance of exclusive species in both habitats showed that the sites are very distinct. Total number of species recorded corresponded to 58%-63% of the total number of species estimated by ACE and Chao 1＆2 estimators, indi- cating that the sampling effort was not sufficient. Mite abundance and diversity varied depending on the characteristics of habi- tats. Chemical element （Corn, Ctot, Ntot, and SOM） values were lower in teak plantation （disturbed habitat） and significantly dif- ferent to primary forest in the topsoil. Apart from litter height, soil depth, pH and C/N ratio, others variables were strongly corre- lated to mite abundance and diversity [Current Zoology 59 （5）： 633-643, 2013].展开更多
A short term field mesocosm experiment was performed in semi-deciduous forest areas of Ivory Coast to assess the impact of a decompacting （Hyperiodrilus africanus, Eudrilidae） and two compacting （Millsonia omodeoi ...A short term field mesocosm experiment was performed in semi-deciduous forest areas of Ivory Coast to assess the impact of a decompacting （Hyperiodrilus africanus, Eudrilidae） and two compacting （Millsonia omodeoi and Dichogaster terrae nigrae, Acanthodrilidae） earthworm species on soil properties. These species have been selected for their predominance in the re- gion and their contrasting impact on soil structure. The experimental design consisted of a treatment without worms （control）, and treatments with one, two or three species of earthworms. Both compacting and decompacting earthworms increased water infil- tration rate in all treatments, with marked impact in H. africanus and M. omodeoi＋D, terraenigrae treatments. Interactions be- tween compacting and decompacting species resulted in more large aggregates in comparison to when the compacting species D. terraenigrae was alone. This may be accounted for by their compacting attribute as compacting earthworms are responsible for producing the highest number of large aggregates. The low values of mean weight diameter in treatments combining decompact-ing and compacting earthworms compared with compacting ＂M. omodeoi＂ one also confirmed the trend of decline in soil com-paction in the presence of the decompacting species. These results showed positive impact of species richness on soil structure regulation, which is crucial in ecosystem productivity and support consequently the insurance hypothesis. In fact, this study showed that the preservation of earthworm species belonging to these two contrasting functional groups is essential for the main-tenance of stable soil structure regulation in agro-tropical ecosystems.展开更多
文摘This study aims to assess the impact of monospecific Tectona grandis forest plantation on the soil mite abundance and diversity. To achieve these objectives, two sites situated in Ivory Coast were investigated. The first, a primary forest was characterized by a very weak human activities whereas the second, a teak plantation was characterized by a high disturbance performed during the planting. After extracting, sorted and description, 116 mite species were described in the two sites. Mite densities were lower in teak plantation and also higher in the litter and decreased to the depth in both sites. Species richness re- corded in teak plantation （52 species） was significantly lower compared to primary forest （98 species）. The same trend was ob- served for Oribatida but not for Gamasida. The lower Oribatida （5 vs. 17） and higher Oribatida （24 vs. 41） were recorded respec- tively in teak plantation and primary forest. Mite Shannon index and evenness were significantly different between sites. High Jaccard index values and the appearance of exclusive species in both habitats showed that the sites are very distinct. Total number of species recorded corresponded to 58%-63% of the total number of species estimated by ACE and Chao 1＆2 estimators, indi- cating that the sampling effort was not sufficient. Mite abundance and diversity varied depending on the characteristics of habi- tats. Chemical element （Corn, Ctot, Ntot, and SOM） values were lower in teak plantation （disturbed habitat） and significantly dif- ferent to primary forest in the topsoil. Apart from litter height, soil depth, pH and C/N ratio, others variables were strongly corre- lated to mite abundance and diversity [Current Zoology 59 （5）： 633-643, 2013].
文摘A short term field mesocosm experiment was performed in semi-deciduous forest areas of Ivory Coast to assess the impact of a decompacting （Hyperiodrilus africanus, Eudrilidae） and two compacting （Millsonia omodeoi and Dichogaster terrae nigrae, Acanthodrilidae） earthworm species on soil properties. These species have been selected for their predominance in the re- gion and their contrasting impact on soil structure. The experimental design consisted of a treatment without worms （control）, and treatments with one, two or three species of earthworms. Both compacting and decompacting earthworms increased water infil- tration rate in all treatments, with marked impact in H. africanus and M. omodeoi＋D, terraenigrae treatments. Interactions be- tween compacting and decompacting species resulted in more large aggregates in comparison to when the compacting species D. terraenigrae was alone. This may be accounted for by their compacting attribute as compacting earthworms are responsible for producing the highest number of large aggregates. The low values of mean weight diameter in treatments combining decompact-ing and compacting earthworms compared with compacting ＂M. omodeoi＂ one also confirmed the trend of decline in soil com-paction in the presence of the decompacting species. These results showed positive impact of species richness on soil structure regulation, which is crucial in ecosystem productivity and support consequently the insurance hypothesis. In fact, this study showed that the preservation of earthworm species belonging to these two contrasting functional groups is essential for the main-tenance of stable soil structure regulation in agro-tropical ecosystems.
