Diatom communities in soils influenced by the wandering albatross (Diomedea exulans)

Soil diatom communities within two breeding colonies of the wandering albatross (Diomedea exulans) on Île de la Possession (Crozet Archipelago) were investigated. Samples were collected around occupied and abandoned nests and compared with control samples taken from soils lacking any animal influenc...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Polar biology 2010-02, Vol.33 (2), p.241-255
Main Authors: Moravcová, Adéla, Beyens, Louis, Van de Vijver, Bart
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Albatrosses
Animal and plant ecology
Animal populations
Animal, plant and microbial ecology
Archipelagoes
Aves
Biogeography
Biological and medical sciences
Biomedical and Life Sciences
Birds
Ecology
Flora
Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology
Life Sciences
Microbiology
Nests
Oceanography
Original Paper
Particular ecosystems
Plant Sciences
Soil microorganisms
Soils
Species composition
Synecology
Taxa
Terrestrial ecosystems
Vertebrates: general zoology, morphology, phylogeny, systematics, cytogenetics, geographical distribution
Zoology
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Summary:Soil diatom communities within two breeding colonies of the wandering albatross (Diomedea exulans) on Île de la Possession (Crozet Archipelago) were investigated. Samples were collected around occupied and abandoned nests and compared with control samples taken from soils lacking any animal influence. A total of 163 diatom taxa has been identified. Differences in the diatom flora were recorded between the two colonies, but the results show that it is almost impossible to identify a single diatom community typical for albatross-influenced areas. Diatom species composition varied markedly between control samples, occupied and abandoned nests. A turnover in the diatom community (shift from eutraphentic to oligotraphentic taxa) was observed when moving away from both occupied and abandoned nests, although no significant differences in diversity have been found. In summary, soil diatom species composition seems to indicate the impact of animal perturbations. However, it is too early to draw sound conclusions and further studies regarding the topic should be performed to confirm the results of the present study.
ISSN:0722-4060
1432-2056
DOI:10.1007/s00300-009-0700-8