Earthworm response to silver birch afforestation: Implications for soil biodiversity and ecosystem services

• Published in: Forest ecology and management 2024-07, Vol.563, p.121971, Article 121971
• Main Authors: Regulska, Edyta, Affek, Andrzej N., Kondras, Marek, Słowińska, Sandra, Jonczak, Jerzy, Chojnacka, Aleksandra, Oktaba, Lidia, Pawłowicz, Edyta, Oktaba, Jarosław, Kruczkowska, Bogusława
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Afforestation; Earthworm assemblages; Post-agricultural land; Silver birch; Soil properties
• ISSN: 0378-1127; 1872-7042
• DOI: 10.1016/j.foreco.2024.121971

In recent decades, afforestation with silver birch (Betula pendula Roth) instead of other species has become more popular, as it adapts easily to a wide spectrum of climatic and habitat conditions. We aimed to determine the impact of birch planting on earthworms, one of the most important soil quality and biodiversity bioindicators. Our study area included post-arable plots afforested with silver birch and corresponding arable fields, located in central Poland. Birch stands spanning in age from 20 to 80 years old were studied. To control for soil properties, approx. half of the plots were located on sandy soils, and the other half on loamy soils, and several soil parameters were measured at each site. Earthworms were collected in two seasons (spring and autumn) from 54 locations over two consecutive years. Our findings revealed a significant increase in earthworm biomass in the post-arable birch forest compared to adjacent arable land (from 3.1 to 13.7 g m−2), particularly evident on sandy soils (from 0.68 to 9.8 g m−2). Forest age emerged as an important predictor of earthworm biomass in recently established birch forests (F = 17.39; p < 0.001). Across all sites, we identified ten earthworm species: four endogeic, five epigeic, and one anecic. Epigeic species benefited the most from afforestation, being present on only 30% of arable field plots but 77% of forest plots. Anecic species were found on 7% and 53% of plots, while endogeic – on 63% and 83%, respectively. Among the ten identified species, four exhibited the largest biomass and predominantly influenced the investigated relationships. Our conclusion is that birch afforestation can be particularly beneficial for nutrient-poor sandy soils, as it fosters essential soil fauna communities and augments the ecosystem services reliant upon them. Utilizing birch for afforestation of less agriculturally suitable soils shows promise for improving their quality as the forest develops, given that earthworms, as soil engineers, exert a strong impact on the soil environment. [Display omitted] •Birch afforestation boosts earthworm biomass 3.1-fold, fostering soil biodiversity.•Afforestation affects earthworms more in sandy than loamy soils.•Epigeic species benefited the most from afforestation.•Earthworm biomass rises with birch forest age, particularly for endogeic species.•Birch planting increases the provision of earthworm-mediated ecosystem services.