Rocks, lichens, and woody litter influenced the soil invertebrate density in upland tundra heath.
Soil invertebrates are an integral part of Arctic ecosystems through their roles in the breakdown of litter, soil formation, and nutrient cycling. However, studies examining soil invertebrates in the Arctic are limited and our understanding of the abiotic and biotic drivers of these invertebrate com...
| Main Authors: | , , , , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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Public Library of Science (PLoS)
2023-01-01
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| Series: | PLoS ONE |
| Online Access: | https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0282068 |
| _version_ | 1797828136230977536 |
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| author | Olukayode O Jegede Katherine M Standen Steven Siciliano Eric G Lamb Katherine J Stewart |
| author_facet | Olukayode O Jegede Katherine M Standen Steven Siciliano Eric G Lamb Katherine J Stewart |
| author_sort | Olukayode O Jegede |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Soil invertebrates are an integral part of Arctic ecosystems through their roles in the breakdown of litter, soil formation, and nutrient cycling. However, studies examining soil invertebrates in the Arctic are limited and our understanding of the abiotic and biotic drivers of these invertebrate communities remains understudied. We examined differences in soil invertebrate taxa (mites, collembolans, enchytraeids) among several undisturbed upland tundra heath sites in Nunavut Canada and identified the drivers (vegetation and substrate cover, soil nutrients and pH) of the soil invertebrate community across these sites. Soil invertebrate densities were similar to that of other Arctic studies. While invertebrate communities were relatively consistent between our sites, cover of rocks, woody litter, and the lichen Alectoria nigricans had significant, positive influences on the density of all invertebrates studied. Mites and collembolans were more closely associated with cover of lichens, whereas enchytraeids were more closely associated with woody litter and rocks. Our results suggest that anthropogenic (e.g., resource exploration and extraction) and/or natural (e.g., climate change) disturbances that result in changes to the vegetation community and woody litter inputs will likely impact soil invertebrates and the ecosystem services they provide. |
| first_indexed | 2024-04-09T12:59:21Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-a9cd1ff269644ff88fb1a4b0c2fedd01 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 1932-6203 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-04-09T12:59:21Z |
| publishDate | 2023-01-01 |
| publisher | Public Library of Science (PLoS) |
| record_format | Article |
| series | PLoS ONE |
| spelling | doaj.art-a9cd1ff269644ff88fb1a4b0c2fedd012023-05-13T05:31:10ZengPublic Library of Science (PLoS)PLoS ONE1932-62032023-01-01185e028206810.1371/journal.pone.0282068Rocks, lichens, and woody litter influenced the soil invertebrate density in upland tundra heath.Olukayode O JegedeKatherine M StandenSteven SicilianoEric G LambKatherine J StewartSoil invertebrates are an integral part of Arctic ecosystems through their roles in the breakdown of litter, soil formation, and nutrient cycling. However, studies examining soil invertebrates in the Arctic are limited and our understanding of the abiotic and biotic drivers of these invertebrate communities remains understudied. We examined differences in soil invertebrate taxa (mites, collembolans, enchytraeids) among several undisturbed upland tundra heath sites in Nunavut Canada and identified the drivers (vegetation and substrate cover, soil nutrients and pH) of the soil invertebrate community across these sites. Soil invertebrate densities were similar to that of other Arctic studies. While invertebrate communities were relatively consistent between our sites, cover of rocks, woody litter, and the lichen Alectoria nigricans had significant, positive influences on the density of all invertebrates studied. Mites and collembolans were more closely associated with cover of lichens, whereas enchytraeids were more closely associated with woody litter and rocks. Our results suggest that anthropogenic (e.g., resource exploration and extraction) and/or natural (e.g., climate change) disturbances that result in changes to the vegetation community and woody litter inputs will likely impact soil invertebrates and the ecosystem services they provide.https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0282068 |
| spellingShingle | Olukayode O Jegede Katherine M Standen Steven Siciliano Eric G Lamb Katherine J Stewart Rocks, lichens, and woody litter influenced the soil invertebrate density in upland tundra heath. PLoS ONE |
| title | Rocks, lichens, and woody litter influenced the soil invertebrate density in upland tundra heath. |
| title_full | Rocks, lichens, and woody litter influenced the soil invertebrate density in upland tundra heath. |
| title_fullStr | Rocks, lichens, and woody litter influenced the soil invertebrate density in upland tundra heath. |
| title_full_unstemmed | Rocks, lichens, and woody litter influenced the soil invertebrate density in upland tundra heath. |
| title_short | Rocks, lichens, and woody litter influenced the soil invertebrate density in upland tundra heath. |
| title_sort | rocks lichens and woody litter influenced the soil invertebrate density in upland tundra heath |
| url | https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0282068 |
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