Testacean communities in perturbed soils : the influence wandering albatross

On Île de la Possession (Crozet Archipelago, sub-Antarctica), the testate amoebae (Protozoa, Rhizopoda) fauna in soils around abandoned and occupied nests of the wandering albatross (Diomedea exulans) was investigated. A comparison with control samples, a cluster analysis and several ordination tech...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Polar biology 2007-03, Vol.30 (4), p.395-406
Main Authors: VINCKE, Sofie, VAN DE VIJVER, Bart, LEDEGANCK, Pieter, NIJS, Ivan, BEYENS, Louis
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Ammonium
Animal and plant ecology
Animal, plant and microbial ecology
Archipelagoes
Biological and medical sciences
Cluster analysis
Diomedea exulans
Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology
Microbiology
Nests
Ordination
Particular ecosystems
Rhizopoda
Soil fauna
Soils
Synecology
Terrestrial ecosystems
Trinema lineare
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Summary:On Île de la Possession (Crozet Archipelago, sub-Antarctica), the testate amoebae (Protozoa, Rhizopoda) fauna in soils around abandoned and occupied nests of the wandering albatross (Diomedea exulans) was investigated. A comparison with control samples, a cluster analysis and several ordination techniques indicated that the presence of the breeding albatrosses induced modifications in physico-chemical soil characteristics and in the soil inhabiting testacean fauna. Only 11 testate species occurred frequently in the soils in the albatross' zone. Soils around occupied nests had significantly higher moisture values, less acid pH values, an increased specific conductance and elevated phosphate and ammonium concentrations. Highly influenced testacean communities were characterised by high abundances of Difflugiella oviformis and extremely high abundances of Trinema lineare, resulting in a very low diversity and evenness within these communities. The intermediary situation of one abandoned nest indicated that soils around abandoned nests evolve gradually back to undisturbed soils. Although an overall negative influence on the testacean diversity, a limited albatross' influence may increase the living fraction within the testacean soil communities.[PUBLICATION ABSTRACT]
ISSN:0722-4060
1432-2056
DOI:10.1007/s00300-006-0196-4