A terrestrial micro-ecosystem for measuring effects of pollutants on isopod-mediated litter decomposition

Microecosystems using oak and poplar litter, with the isopod, Porcellio scaber, as a representative soil fauna species, were used to simulate soil fauna-mediated litter decomposition. The research enabled classification of the total carbon dioxide production of the microecosystem into three componen...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Hydrobiologia 1989-12, Vol.188-189 (1), p.507-516
Main Author: VAN WENSEM, J
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Animal, plant and microbial ecology
Applied ecology
Biological and medical sciences
Ecotoxicology, biological effects of pollution
Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology
Isopoda
Porcellionidae
Techniques
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Summary:Microecosystems using oak and poplar litter, with the isopod, Porcellio scaber, as a representative soil fauna species, were used to simulate soil fauna-mediated litter decomposition. The research enabled classification of the total carbon dioxide production of the microecosystem into three components: microbial respiration, isopod respiration, and extra microbial, isopod-mediated respiration. The isopods stimulated the microbial respiration by 10-50%, depending on litter type and experimental design. The microecosystem combined ecological relevance with reproducibility and provides a useful tool for measuring effects of soil contaminants.
ISSN:0018-8158
1573-5117
DOI:10.1007/BF00027818