Impacts of the epigeic earthworm Dendrobaena octaedra on oribatid mite community diversity and microarthropod abundances in pine forest floor: a mesocosm study

• Published in: Applied soil ecology : a section of Agriculture, ecosystems & environment ecosystems & environment, 1998, Vol.7 (2), p.125-136
• Main Authors: McLean, M.A., Parkinson, D.
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: arthropod communities; Collembola; community ecology; Dendrobaena; Dendrobaena octaedra; Earthworm invasion; forest litter; invasion; Microarthropods; Oribatid community; Oribatida; population density; soil arthropods; species abundance; species diversity; species dominance
• ISSN: 0929-1393; 1873-0272
• DOI: 10.1016/S0929-1393(97)00041-3

The effects of the invasion of the epigeic earthworm Dendrobaena octaedra on the pine forest floor oribatid mite community and the abundances of microarthropods were studied in mesocosm. The study was conducted in intact soil cores (30 cm diameter × 25 cm) from the pine forest at constant moisture content and 15°C for 6 months. D. octaedra was added to half the cores at abundances equivalent to its 1993 field density of 250 immatures and 70 matures m −2. At 3 and 6 months, earthworm densities and microarthropod abundances were assessed. High earthworm densities increased the similarity between the oribatid communities in adjacent soil layers/horizons. Oribatid dominance by Oppiella nova decreased and overall oribatid diversity increased in the earthworm treatment at 3 months. At 6 months oribatid species richness increased in the earthworm treatment. Earthworm activities had varying effects on abundances of oribatid species and groups of microarthropods, but maximum abundances tended to occur at intermediate levels of earthworm activity.