Earthworm and microbe response to litter and soils of tropical forest plantations with contrasting C:N:P stoichiometric ratios

1The stoichiometry of resources is increasingly acknowledged as a major control of consumer activity and abundance. Chemical properties of litter, the main source of food for decomposers, are likely to be important drivers of decomposer activity.2Theory predicts a high control of resource stoichiome...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Soil biology & biochemistry 2011-07, Vol.43 (7), p.1528-1535
Main Authors: Marichal, R., Mathieu, J., Couteaux, M.-M., Mora, P., Roy, J., Lavelle, P.
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Agronomy. Soil science and plant productions
Biochemistry and biology
Biodiversity and Ecology
Biological and medical sciences
C:N:P stoichiometry
Chemical, physicochemical, biochemical and biological properties
earthworms
Environmental Sciences
enzyme activity
foods
forest plantations
Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology
Homeostasis
leaves
microbial activity
nitrogen
nutrient balance
phosphorus
Phosphorus limitation
physicochemical properties
Physics, chemistry, biochemistry and biology of agricultural and forest soils
Pontoscolex corethrurus
Soil enzyme activity
Soil science
stoichiometry
trees
tropical forests
tropical soils
Zoology (interactions between soil fauna and agricultural or forest soils)
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Summary:1The stoichiometry of resources is increasingly acknowledged as a major control of consumer activity and abundance. Chemical properties of litter, the main source of food for decomposers, are likely to be important drivers of decomposer activity.2Theory predicts a high control of resource stoichiometry on the abundance of consumer organisms that maintain strict homeostasis, due to costs associated with the regulation of nutrient balance in their body tissue. Decomposer efforts in nutrient acquisition should be related to imbalances in resource stoichiometry.3A 21 year old experimental plantation of monospecific plots of trees with leaves of contrasting chemistry was used to test four hypotheses: (i) soil and litter nutrient stoichiometry (C, N, P) are linked; (ii); soil enzyme activity ratios and stoichiometry are linked; (iii) earthworms’ tissue stoichiometry does not depend on soil and litter stoichiometry (homeostasis); (iv) earthworm density is dependent upon phosphorus availability, the most limiting nutrient in soils at this site, and, to a lesser extent, to nitrogen availability.4We found (i) no relationship between litter and soil stoichiometry, (ii) microbial activity was linked to soil stoichiometry, (iii) earthworms showed strict homeostasis in their tissue and (iv) earthworm abundance increased with P availability.5We discuss the mechanisms that might lead to these patterns. ► No relationship between litter and soil stoichiometry. ► Microbial activity was influenced by soil stoichiometry. ► Earthworm composition showed strict homeostasis C:N:P ratios of 127:26.5:1. ► Earthworm abundance increased with N and P availability.
ISSN:0038-0717
1879-3428
DOI:10.1016/j.soilbio.2011.04.001