两种代表性蚯蚓对设施菜地土壤微生物群落结构及理化性质的影响

不同生态型蚯蚓的取食偏好和生境有所差异,因此蚯蚓的生态型差异可能关乎其对土壤性质的不同影响;有关不同生态型蚯蚓对土壤性质尤其是微生物学性质影响的研究有助于了解蚯蚓生态功能的作用机制。在野外调控试验的第4年采集土壤,研究了牛粪混施和表施处理下内层种威廉腔环蚓(Metaphire guillelmi)和表层种赤子爱胜蚓(Eisenia foetida)对设施菜地土壤微生物群落结构和主要理化性质的影响。结果表明,土壤微生物群落结构同时受到蚯蚓种类和牛粪施用方式的影响。牛粪表施时,两种蚯蚓均显著降低了菌根真菌、真菌生物量和原生动物生物量(P0.05);牛粪混施时,不同蚯蚓的影响有所差异,威廉腔环蚓明显增加了菌根真菌、真菌生物量和放线菌生物量,而赤子爱胜蚓的作用不明显。此外,两种蚯蚓均提高了土壤孔隙度、团聚体稳定性和土壤p H、矿质氮以及微生物生物量碳氮水平,但提高幅度取决于蚯蚓种类和牛粪施用方式。冗余分析表明蚯蚓影响下土壤微生物群落结构的变化与团聚体稳定性、p H、速效磷、矿质氮呈正相关,而与土壤容重呈负相关。     

Earthworm invasions of ecosystems devoid of earthworms: effects on soil microbes

Recent studies document North American earthworm invasions and their profound effects on the structure of the soil profile, which is the habitat for soil microorganisms (mainly fungi and bacteria). Dramatic alterations made to these layers during earthworm invasion significantly change microbial community structure and therefore microbial activities such as C transformations. Understanding the impacts of earthworm invasion on the microbes themselves will give insight into earthworm effects on microbial activities. Bacterial and actinomycete communities in earthworm guts and casts have not been studied in environments recently invaded by earthworms. Earthworm invasion tended to decrease fungal species density and fungal species diversity and richness. The presence of earthworms decreased zygomycete species abundance probably due to disruption of fungal hyphae. Physical disruption of hyphae may also explain decreased mycorrhizal colonization rates, decreased mycorrhizal abundance and altered mycorrhizal morphology in the presence of earthworms. Mixing of organic layers into mineral soil during earthworm invasion tended to decrease microbial biomass in forest floor materials while increasing it in mineral soil. In newly invaded forest soils, microbial respiration and the metabolic quotient tended to decline. In forests where either the microbial community has had time to adapt to earthworm activities, or where the destruction of the forest floor is complete, as in invasions by the Asian Amynthas hawayanus, the presence of earthworms tends to increase the metabolic quotient indicating a shift to a smaller, more active microbial community.     

Earthworms and soil fertility

Summary Earthworms redistribute organic materials within the soil, increase soil penetrability and, und certain conditions, influence ion transport in soils. Root distribution may be modified and microbial activity increased by their burrowing and feeding activities. Earthworms influence the supply of nutrients in several ways. Not only is earthworm tissue and cast material enriched in certain nutrients, relative to the soil matrix, but ingestion of organic material increases the rate of cycling. Certain farm-management practices, such as cultuvation and the use of acidic fertilizers, reduce the ability of earthworm to improve plant growth. Where other inorganic fertilizers increase the growth of plants, an increase in earthworm numbers can be expected because of the increased food supply. Lime, in particular, and possibly drainage also increase earthworm activity. Further research is required on the physical and biological effects of earthworms on nutrient supply, so that suitable management practices can be developed to optimise the beneficial effects of earthworms on soil fertility.Introductory lecture     

蚯蚓对土壤微生物残留物的影响研究评述与展望

蚯蚓如何影响土壤有机碳的固持是土壤生态学的关键科学问题之一。蚯蚓能同时促进土壤有机碳分解和稳定,这种两面作用带来的不确定性被研究者称为"蚯蚓困境"。研究证据和新兴的"土壤微生物碳泵"概念模型表明土壤微生物残留物是土壤有机质的主要贡献者。为系统了解蚯蚓对土壤微生物残留物的影响与可能的机制,研究分析和总结了已有的国内外蚯蚓与微生物残留物（氨基糖）的相关研究成果,表明：（1）过往的研究忽略了蚯蚓对微生物残留物的影响,导致这一方向的研究严重滞后;（2）蚯蚓对土壤微生物残留物影响的方向和大小仍有很大的不确定性,可供量化分析其驱动机制的研究还很缺乏。研究尝试将蚯蚓整合到"土壤微生物碳泵"概念框架中,分析蚯蚓影响土壤微生物残留物3个方面的可能机制,即：（1）改变土壤微生物量、群落结构,（2）改变微生物生理特性,（3）改变土壤团聚体结构等,影响土壤有机碳的积累。同时,本文提出了未来相关研究的6个重点方向,包括：（1）蚯蚓对微生物的选择性取食,（2）肠道介导的微生物"涨落"现象,（3）蚯蚓对矿质结合有机物的"破坏"与"重组",（4）蚯蚓引起的"激发"和"续埋"效应,（5）多生态型相互作用,（6）全球变化背景下的蚯蚓生态学等,以期为进一步揭示蚯蚓-微生物相互作用影响土壤有机碳累积与稳定性的机制提供参考。     

Earthworm effect on root morphology in a split root system

Plants respond to their environment through adaptations such as root proliferation in nutrient-rich patches. Through their burrows and casts production in soil, earthworms create heterogeneity which could lead to local root adaptations or systemic effects. To investigate the effect of earthworms on root system morphology and determine whether earthworm effect is local or systemic, we set up two independent split root experiments with rice or barley, (i) without earthworm (CC), (ii) with earthworms in both compartments (EE), and (iii) with earthworms in one single compartment (CE). Earthworms had an effect on belowground plant biomass. The relative length of thick roots decreased with an increasing abundance of earthworms. Some root diameter classes responded to earthworm number in a linear or curvilinear way, making simple conclusions difficult. We found no difference in root biomass or morphology between the two compartments of the split root system in the CE treatment, but a positive effect of earthworm biomass on root biomass, volume, surface area, and length at the whole plant level. Results supported a systemic effect dependent on earthworm abundance. Modification of nutrient mineralization, soil physical structure, and/or the concentration of signal molecules could all be responsible for this systemic effect.     

Effects of earthworms and arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi depend on the successional stage of a grassland plant community

Earthworms and arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) have profound impacts on plant performance. However, it is largely unknown if and how earthworms and AMF may affect plant succession. We planted mesocosms with an early-mid successional and a mid-late successional grassland plant community and added endogeic earthworms and commercial AMF in a full-factorial way to natural background soil. Earthworms had a positive effect on the total root and shoot biomass of both plant communities, with the effect on the shoots being slightly enhanced by co-inoculation with AMF. Surprisingly, the earthworm effect on the mid successional plant species depended on the successional stage of the plant community. Earthworms had a positive effect on the mid successional plant species when they were growing in the mid-late successional plant community, but no effect when the same plant species were growing in the early-mid successional plant community. Addition of AMF alone tended to reduce the shoot biomass of the early successional plant species, while the addition of earthworms in the presence or absence of AMF increased their shoot biomass. We conclude that the impacts of earthworms on plant species may depend on the successional stage of the plant community, while the effect of AMF addition depends on the successional stage of the plant community and may be changed by the presence of earthworms. Earthworms and AMF addition affect plants and plant communities of different successional stages differently with potential effects on plant succession.     

The wave towards a new steady state: effects of earthworm invasion on soil microbial functions

Earthworms are ecosystem engineers that cause a long cascade of ecological effects when they invade previously earthworm-free forests. However, the consequences of earthworm invasion for soil microbial functions are poorly understood. Here, we used two well-studied invasion fronts of European earthworms in northern North American hardwood forests previously devoid of earthworms in order to investigate three stages of earthworm invasion: uninvaded, the front of the leading edge of earthworm invasion and locations invaded at least 10 years previously. Soil microbial biomass, respiration and metabolic quotient were measured. Earthworms had marked effects on soil microbial biomass (−42%) and respiration (−32%). At both sites, impacts were most pronounced at the leading edge of the invasion front, significantly decreasing soil microbial C use efficiency. This was most likely due to the disturbance of the soil microbial community caused by water stress. Based on these results, we hypothesize that effects of earthworm invasion on native soil ecosystem functioning are most pronounced at the peak of the invasion wave. After experiencing this wave, ecosystems possibly enter a new steady state with altered biotic compositions and functions.     

Colonization and Recovery of Invertebrate Ecosystem Engineers during Prairie Restoration

Ants (Hymenoptera: Formicidae) and earthworms (Oligochaeta) are considered ecosystem engineers because they form biogenic structures in the soil that influence resource supply. The objectives of this study were to quantify recovery dynamics of these invertebrate groups across a chronosequence of restored prairies and elucidate whether changes in the abundance and biomass of ants and earthworms were related to key plant and ecosystem properties. We sampled ants and earthworms from cultivated fields, grasslands restored from 1 to 21 years, and native prairie. Ant abundance and biomass peaked between 5 and 8 years of restoration and abundance was 198 times greater than cultivated fields. Earthworm abundance increased linearly across the chronosequence and became representative of native prairie, but all earthworm populations were dominated by European species. Ant abundance and biomass were positively correlated with plant diversity and plant richness, whereas earthworm abundance biomass was only related to surface litter. These results demonstrate that earthworm abundance increases with time since cessation of cultivation and concomitant with prairie establishment, whereas the abundance and biomass of ants are more related to the structure of restored plant communities than time. The dominance of exotic earthworms in these restorations, coupled with their capacity to alter soil properties and processes may represent novel conditions for grassland development.     

Drought stress in rice (Oryza sativa L.) is enhanced in the presence of the compacting earthworm Millsonia anomala

Earthworms increase growth of most plant species through a number of poorly investigated mechanisms. We tested the hypothesis that earthworm modifications of soil structure and the resulting changes in water availability to plants explain this positive effect. Addition of endogeic earthworms Millsonia anomala induced a 40% increase in shoot biomass production and a 13% increase in CO₂ assimilation rate of well watered rice plants grown in pots. Conversely, when plants were subjected to water deficit, presence of earthworms had no effect on shoot biomass production and a negative impact on CO₂ assimilation rate (−21%). Early stomatal closure in presence of earthworms indicated lower water availability. The hypothesis that earthworms improve plant biomass production through soil physical structure modification was thus rejected. Three hypotheses were tested to explain this decrease in water availability: (i) a decrease in soil water retention capacity, (ii) an increase in evaporation from the soil or/and (iii) an increase in plant transpiration. Results showed that earthworms significantly reduced soil water retention capacity by more than 6%, but had no effect on evaporation rate. Water losses through transpiration were greater in the presence of earthworms when the soil was maintained at field capacity, but this was not the case under drought conditions. This experiment showed that the endogeic compacting earthworm M. anomala significantly increased plant photosynthesis by an undetermined mechanism under well-watered conditions. However, photosynthesis was reduced under drought conditions due to reduced soil water retention capacity.     

Endogeic earthworms modify soil phosphorus,plant growth and interactions in a legume–cereal intercrop

Background and aims

Intercropping of legumes and cereals appears as an alternative agricultural practice to decrease the use of chemical fertilizers while maintaining high yields. A better understanding of the biotic and abiotic factors determining interactions between plants in such associations is required. Our study aimed to analyse the effect of earthworms on the legume–cereal interactions with a focus on the modifications induced by earthworms on the forms of soil phosphorus (P).

Methods

In a glasshouse experiment we investigated the effect of an endogeic earthworm (Allolobophora chlorotica) on the plant biomass and on N and P acquisition by durum wheat (Triticum turgidum durum L.) and chickpea (Cicer arietinum L.) either grown alone or intercropped. The modifications of the different organic and inorganic P forms in the bulk soil were measured.

Results

There was no overyielding of the intercrop in the absence of earthworms. Earthworms had a strong influence on biomass and resource allocation between roots and shoots whereas no modification was observed in terms of total biomass production and P acquisition. Earthworms changed the interaction between the intercropped species mainly by reducing the competition for nutrients. Facilitation (positive plant–plant interactions) was only observed for the root biomass and P acquisition in the presence of earthworms. Earthworms decreased the amount of organic P extracted with NaOH (Po NaOH), while they increased the water soluble inorganic P (Pi H₂O) content.

Conclusions

In this experiment, earthworms could be seen as “troubleshooter” in plant–plant interaction as they reduced the competition between the intercropped species. Our study brings new insights into how earthworms affect plant growth and the P cycle.     

施用玉米秸秆和接种蚯蚓后几种土壤活性有机碳的动态变化

通过室内培养试验,研究在施用玉米秸秆和接种蚯蚓后,土壤微生物生物量碳(SMBC),水提取碳(WEOC),碳水化合物(CHOC)和酚类物质(PEOC)等活性有机碳组分的动态变化。研究结果表明,在不施秸秆或表施秸秆的情况下,接种蚯蚓对四种活性有机碳组分含量都有一定的促进作用,且在表施秸秆的情况下达到显著水平,其SMBC、WEOC、CHOC和PEOC的含量与不接种蚯蚓相比,分别增加了33.50%、43.13%、68.21%和30.28%。接种蚯蚓在混施秸秆的处理中只有WEOC的含量增加,而SMBC和CHOC含量分别降低了11.04%和16.63%,PEOC的变化不明显。不论接种蚯蚓与否,秸秆的施用对4种组分都有显著的促进作用,其中秸秆混施处理的作用最显著。接种蚯蚓和秸秆施用都能提高土壤WEOC的质量(CHOC/PEOC的比值)。方差分析表明,蚯蚓、秸秆和时间对活性碳组分含量都有显著影响,并且因子间存在强烈的交互作用。土壤活性有机碳各组分除SMBC以外,WEOC、CHOC和PEOC的含量变化受秸秆因子的影响最大,方差解释比例v分别达到82.35%、62.53%和75.82%。试验结果也表现出较一致的随时间的波动性。相关性分析表明,所测定项目SMBC、WEOC、CHOC和PEOC之间有显著的相关性。     

两种生态类型蚯蚓几种消化酶活性比较研究

蚯蚓在有机残体转化和土壤养分循环中起着重要的作用,为明确不同生态类型蚯蚓的食性及其消化有机物质的能力,测定了表居型蚯蚓赤爱胜蚓（Eisenia fetida）和上食下居型蚯蚓威廉环毛蚓（Pheretima guillemi）肠道内纤维素酶、蛋白酶、酸性磷酸酶和碱性磷酸酶的活性;同时还对威廉环毛蚓排泄物中蛋白酶、磷酸酶以及CO2呼吸强度与原土进行了比较,结果表明,赤爱胜蚓肠道内纤维素酶活性远远高于威廉环毛蚓,而蛋白酶和酸性及碱性磷酸酶活性显著低于威廉环毛蚓;两种蝗 蚓肠道消化酶活化的差异与赤爱胜蚓直接以植物残体为食,而威廉环毛蚓以半分解的有机残体上的微生物为食有关。根据研究结果,提出了饲养环毛 时要注意增加饵料中微生物量的观点。     

蚯蚓在我国南方土壤修复中的应用

蚯蚓作为生物量最大的土壤动物, 对土壤生态系统和环境质量影响深远。本研究介绍了华南地区主要应用的皮质远盲蚓(Amynthas corticis)、毛利远盲蚓(A. morrisi)、壮伟远盲蚓(A. robustus)、参状远盲蚓(A. aspergillum)、南美岸蚓(Pontoscolex corethrurus)和赤子爱胜蚓(Eisenia fetida)的生态特征, 阐述了它们与土壤pH值、酶活性、金属富集和有效性改变、孔道和微团聚体形成之间的紧密关系: (1)蚯蚓生存的土壤酸碱性范围较广(pH为3.8-7.9), 其存活率与土壤类型、有机质含量和成分、土壤污染程度和蚯蚓种类相关; (2)肠道内、蚓粪和蚓触圈的酶活性分别表征了蚯蚓取食喜好、土壤养分循环及微生物种群特征; (3)蚯蚓能够富集不同种类的金属并改变其有效性, 这些变化具有蚓种间、金属种类间和土壤类型之间的差异; (4)蚯蚓活动及其生产的蚓粪能改变土体结构、产生孔道、影响土壤团聚体数量、大小和分布。蚯蚓的上述作用使其在解决中国南方红壤酸化、土壤金属污染、茶园土壤养分不平衡、高速公路建设临时用地土壤损毁等方面具有广阔的应用前景。目前, 由于华南远盲蚓的生理特征差异研究较少, 远盲蚓繁育技术的缺乏一定程度上限制了这些蚯蚓在中型和大型尺度下应用技术的研究和推广。有必要进一步挖掘蚯蚓在土壤修复中的潜力, 进行蚯蚓主导的相关技术研发, 深入探讨其影响机制。     

Earthworm effects without earthworms: inoculation of raw organic matter with worm-worked substrates alters microbial community functioning

Background

Earthworms are key organisms in organic matter decomposition because of the interactions they establish with soil microorganisms. They enhance decomposition rates through the joint action of direct effects (i.e. effects due to direct earthworm activity such as digestion, burrowing, etc) and indirect effects (i.e. effects derived from earthworm activities such as cast ageing). Here we test whether indirect earthworm effects affect microbial community functioning in the substrate, as when earthworms are present (i. e., direct effects).

Methodology/Principal Findings

To address these questions we inoculated fresh organic matter (pig manure) with worm-worked substrates (vermicompost) produced by three different earthworm species. Two doses of each vermicompost were used (2.5 and 10%). We hypothesized that the presence of worm-worked material in the fresh organic matter will result in an inoculum of different microorganisms and nutrients. This inoculum should interact with microbial communities in fresh organic matter, thus promoting modifications similar to those found when earthworms are present. Inoculation of worm-worked substrates provoked significant increases in microbial biomass and enzyme activities (β-glucosidase, cellulase, phosphatase and protease). These indirect effects were similar to, although lower than, those obtained in pig manure with earthworms (direct and indirect earthworm effects). In general, the effects were not dose-dependent, suggesting the existence of a threshold at which they were triggered.

Conclusion/Significance

Our data reveal that the relationships between earthworms and microorganisms are far from being understood, and suggest the existence of several positive feedbacks during earthworm activity as a result of the interactions between direct and indirect effects, since their combination produces stronger modifications to microbial biomass and enzyme activity.     

Effects of earthworms and organic litter distribution on plant performance and aphid reproduction

Human management practices and large detritivores such as earthworms incorporate plant litter into the soil, thereby forming a heterogeneous soil environment from which plant roots extract nutrients. In a greenhouse experiment we investigated effects of earthworms and spatial distribution of ¹⁵N-labelled grass litter on plants of different functional groups [Lolium perenne (grass), Plantago lanceolata (forb), Trifolium repens (legume)]. Earthworms enhanced shoot and root growth in L. perenne and P. lanceolata and N uptake from organic litter and soil in all plant species. Litter concentrated in a patch (compared with litter mixed homogeneously into the soil) increased shoot biomass and ¹⁵N uptake from the litter in L. perenne and enhanced root proliferation in P. lanceolata when earthworms were present. Growth of clover (T. repens) was rather independent of the presence of earthworms and organic litter distribution: nevertheless, clover took up more nitrogen in the presence of earthworms and exploited more ¹⁵N from the added litter than the other plant species. The magnitude of the effects of earthworms and organic litter distribution differed between the plant species, indicating different responses of plants with contrasting root morphology. Aphid (Myzus persicae) reproduction was reduced on P. lanceolata in the presence of earthworms. We suggest that earthworm activity may indirectly alter plant chemistry and hence defence mechanisms against herbivores.     

Root Foraging Influences Plant Growth Responses to Earthworm Foraging

Interactions among the foraging behaviours of co-occurring animal species can impact population and community dynamics; the consequences of interactions between plant and animal foraging behaviours have received less attention. In North American forests, invasions by European earthworms have led to substantial changes in plant community composition. Changes in leaf litter have been identified as a critical indirect mechanism driving earthworm impacts on plants. However, there has been limited examination of the direct effects of earthworm burrowing on plant growth. Here we show a novel second pathway exists, whereby earthworms (Lumbricus terrestris L.) impact plant root foraging. In a mini-rhizotron experiment, roots occurred more frequently in burrows and soil cracks than in the soil matrix. The roots of Achillea millefolium L. preferentially occupied earthworm burrows, where nutrient availability was presumably higher than in cracks due to earthworm excreta. In contrast, the roots of Campanula rotundifolia L. were less likely to occur in burrows. This shift in root behaviour was associated with a 30% decline in the overall biomass of C. rotundifolia when earthworms were present. Our results indicate earthworm impacts on plant foraging can occur indirectly via physical and chemical changes to the soil and directly via root consumption or abrasion and thus may be one factor influencing plant growth and community change following earthworm invasion. More generally, this work demonstrates the potential for interactions to occur between the foraging behaviours of plants and soil animals and emphasizes the importance of integrating behavioural understanding in foraging studies involving plants.     

Plant diversity effects on soil heterotrophic activity in experimental grassland ecosystems

The loss of plant species from terrestrial ecosystems may cause changes in soil decomposer communities and in decomposition of organic material with potential further consequences for other ecosystem processes. This was tested in experimental communities of 1, 2, 4, 8, 32 plant species and of 1, 2 or 3 functional groups (grasses, legumes and non-leguminous forbs). As plant species richness was reduced from the highest species richness to monocultures, mean aboveground plant biomass decreased by 150%, but microbial biomass (measured by substrate induced respiration) decreased by only 15% (P = 0.05). Irrespective of plant species richness, the absence of legumes (across diversity levels) caused microbial biomass to decrease by 15% (P = 0.02). No effect of plant species richness or composition was detected on the microbial metabolic quotient (qCO₂) and no plant species richness effect was found on feeding activity of the mesofauna (assessed with a bait-lamina-test). Decomposition of cellulose and birchwood sticks was also not affected by plant species richness, but when legumes were absent, cellulose samples were decomposed more slowly (16% in 1996, 27% in 1997, P = 0.006). A significant decrease in earthworm population density of 63% and in total earthworm biomass by 84% was the single most prominent response to the reduction of plant species richness, largely due to a 50% reduction in biomass of the dominant `anecic' earthworms. Voles (Arvicola terrestris L.) also had a clear preference for high-diversity plots. Soil moisture during the growing season was unaffected by plant species richness or the number of functional groups present. In contrast, soil temperature was 2 K higher in monocultures compared with the most diverse mixtures on a bright day at peak season. We conclude that the lower abundance and activity of decomposers with reduced plant species richness was related to altered substrate quantity, a signal which is not reflected in rates of decomposition of standard test material. The presence of nitrogen fixers seemed to be the most important component of the plant diversity manipulation for soil heterotrophs. The reduction in plant biomass due to the simulated loss of plant species had more pronounced effects on voles and earthworms than on microbes, suggesting that higher trophic levels are more strongly affected than lower trophic levels.     

Viability of gut microbes as a complementary earthworm biomarker of metal exposure

Earthworms are standard species used in soil ecotoxicology to evaluate the adverse effects of soil contaminants. This study proposes the assessment of the viability of earthworm gut microbes as an indicator in a site-specific test of soil toxicity. Using slow centrifugation, the microbial community was extracted from the guts of earthworms that had been exposed to copper (Cu)- or nickel (Ni)-contaminated soil. Microbial cell viability was assessed using calcein acetoxymethyl ester staining and flow cytometric analysis. We confirmed a metal concentration-dependent decrease in the cell viability of the gut microbial community. The general endpoints, including survival, abnormalities, coelomocyte activity, and metal bioaccumulation, showed a metal concentration-dependent response, and were strongly associated with gut microbial viability in the Ni-exposure group. In contrast, the general endpoints in the Cu-exposure group were significantly different from those in the former group, because the soil penetration rate of the earthworms was very low on the Cu-contaminated soil. Our results indicated that the gut microbial community viability assay holds potential for assessing the toxicity of soil to field worms by simply and rapidly monitoring the viability of the earthworm gut microbial community.     

Interactions of earthworms with Atrazine-degrading bacteria in an agricultural soil

In the last 10 years, accelerated mineralization of Atrazine (2-chloro-ethylamino-6-isopropylamino-s-triazine) has been evidenced in agricultural soils repeatedly treated with this herbicide. Here, we report on the interaction between earthworms, considered as soil engineers, and the Atrazine-degrading community. The impact of earthworm macrofauna on Atrazine mineralization was assessed in representative soil microsites of earthworm activities (gut contents, casts, burrow linings). Soil with or without earthworms, namely the anecic species Lumbricus terrestris and the endogenic species Aporrectodea caliginosa, was either inoculated or not inoculated with Pseudomonas sp. ADP, an Atrazine-degrading strain, and was either treated or not treated with Atrazine. The structure of the bacterial community, the Atrazine-degrading activity and the abundance of atzA, B and C sequences in soil microsites were investigated. Atrazine mineralization was found to be reduced in representative soil microsites of earthworm activities. Earthworms significantly affected the structure of soil bacterial communities. They also reduced the size of the inoculated population of Pseudomonas sp. ADP, thereby contributing to the diminution of the Atrazine-degrading genetic potential in representative soil microsites of earthworm activities. This study illustrates the regulation produced by the earthworms on functional bacterial communities involved in the fate of organic pollutants in soils.     

Root, mycorrhiza and earthworm interactions: their effects on soil structuring processes, plant and soil nutrient concentration and plant biomass

Earthworms, arbuscular mycorrhiza fungi (AMF) and roots are important components of the belowground part of terrestrial ecosystem. However, their interacting effects on soil properties and plant growth are still poorly understood. A compartmental experimental design was used in a climate chamber in order to investigate, without phosphorus (P) addition, the single and combined effects of earthworms (Allolobophora chlorotica), AMF (Glomus intraradices) and roots (Allium porrum) on soil structure, nutrient concentration and plant growth. In our experimental conditions, plant roots improved soil structure stability (at the level of macroaggregates) whereas earthworms decreased it. AMF had no effect on soil structure stability but increased P transfer from the soil to the plant and significantly increased plant biomass. Earthworms had no direct influence on P uptake or plant biomass, and the N/P ratio measured in the shoots indicated that P was limiting. Interactions between AMF and earthworms were also observed on total C and N content in the soil and on total root biomass. Their effects varied temporally and between the different soil compartments (bulk soil, rhizosphere and drilosphere). After comparison with other similar studies, we suggest that effects of earthworms and AMF on plant production may depend on the limiting factors in the soil, mainly N or P. Our experiment highlights the importance of measuring physical and chemical soil parameters when studying soil organism interactions and their influence on plant performance.