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.     

Invasion of exotic earthworms into ecosystems inhabited by native earthworms

The most conspicuous biological invasions in terrestrial ecosystems have been by exotic plants, insects and vertebrates. Invasions by exotic earthworms, although not as well studied, may be increasing with global commerce in agriculture, waste management and bioremediation. A number of cases has documented where invasive earthworms have caused significant changes in soil profiles, nutrient and organic matter dynamics, other soil organisms or plant communities. Most of these cases are in areas that have been disturbed (e.g., agricultural systems) or were previously devoid of earthworms (e.g., north of Pleistocene glacial margins). It is not clear that such effects are common in ecosystems inhabited by native earthworms, especially where soils are undisturbed. We explore the idea that indigenous earthworm fauna and/or characteristics of their native habitats may resist invasion by exotic earthworms and thereby reduce the impact of exotic species on soil processes. We review data and case studies from temperate and tropical regions to test this idea. Specifically, we address the following questions: Is disturbance a prerequisite to invasion by exotic earthworms? What are the mechanisms by which exotic earthworms may succeed or fail to invade habitats occupied by native earthworms? Potential mechanisms could include (1) intensity of propagule pressure (how frequently and at what densities have exotic species been introduced and has there been adequate time for proliferation?); (2) degree of habitat matching (once introduced, are exotic species faced with unsuitable habitat conditions, unavailable resources, or unsuited feeding strategies?); and (3) degree of biotic resistance (after introduction into an otherwise suitable habitat, are exotic species exposed to biological barriers such as predation or parasitism, “unfamiliar” microflora, or competition by resident native species?). Once established, do exotic species co-exist with native species, or are the natives eventually excluded? Do exotic species impact soil processes differently in the presence or absence of native species? We conclude that (1) exotic earthworms do invade ecosystems inhabited by indigenous earthworms, even in the absence of obvious disturbance; (2) competitive exclusion of native earthworms by exotic earthworms is not easily demonstrated and, in fact, co-existence of native and exotic species appears to be common, even if transient; and (3) resistance to exotic earthworm invasions, if it occurs, may be more a function of physical and chemical characteristics of a habitat than of biological interactions between native and exotic earthworms.     

Population structure, propagule pressure, and conservation biogeography in the sub-Antarctic: lessons from indigenous and invasive springtails

The patterns in and the processes underlying the distribution of invertebrates among Southern Ocean islands and across vegetation types on these islands are reasonably well understood. However, few studies have examined the extent to which populations are genetically structured. Given that many sub‐Antarctic islands experienced major glaciation and volcanic activity, it might be predicted that substantial population substructure and little genetic isolation‐by‐distance should characterize indigenous species. By contrast, substantially less population structure might be expected for introduced species. Here, we examine these predictions and their consequences for the conservation of diversity in the region. We do so by examining haplotype diversity based on mitochondrial cytochrome c oxidase subunit I sequence data, from two indigenous (Cryptopygus antarcticus travei, Tullbergia bisetosa) and two introduced (Isotomurus cf. palustris, Ceratophysella denticulata) springtail species from Marion Island. We find considerable genetic substructure in the indigenous species that is compatible with the geological and glacialogical history of the island. Moreover, by employing ecological techniques, we show that haplotype diversity is likely much higher than our sequenced samples suggest. No structure is found in the introduced species, with each being represented by a single haplotype only. This indicates that propagule pressure is not significant for these small animals unlike the situation for other, larger invasive species: a few individuals introduced once are likely to have initiated the invasion. These outcomes demonstrate that sampling must be more comprehensive if the population history of indigenous arthropods on these islands is to be comprehended, and that the risks of within‐ and among‐island introductions are substantial. The latter means that, if biogeographical signal is to be retained in the region, great care must be taken to avoid inadvertent movement of indigenous species among and within islands. Thus, quarantine procedures should also focus on among‐island movements.     

土壤重金属污染对蚯蚓的急性毒性效应研究

测定了草甸棕壤条件下 ,Cu、Zn、Pb、Cd单一 /复合污染对蚯蚓的急性致死及亚致死效应 .结果表明 ,Cu、Pb浓度与蚯蚓死亡率显著相关 (α=0 .0 5 ,RCu=0 .86 ,RPb=0 .87) ,Cu浓度与生长抑制率显著相关 (α=0 .0 5 ,RCu=0 .84) ,其他供试重金属浓度与蚯蚓死亡率和生长抑制率相关性不显著 .蚯蚓个体对重金属毒性的耐受程度差别较大 .其毒性阈值 (引起个体蚯蚓死亡浓度 )分别为 :Cu 30 0mg·kg-1,Zn 130 0mg·kg-1,Pb 170 0mg·kg-1,Cd 30 0mg·kg-1.LC50 分别为 :Cu 40 0～ 45 0mg·kg-1,Zn15 0 0～ 190 0mg·kg-1,Pb2 35 0～ 2 40 0mg·kg-1,Cd 90 0mg·kg-1.在Cu、Zn、Pb、Cd单一污染引起 >10 %蚯蚓死亡的浓度下 ,复合污染导致 10 0 %蚯蚓死亡 ,表明复合污染极强的协同效应 .     

Resistance of an invasive gastropod to an indigenous trematode parasite in Lake Malawi

Successful establishment and spread of biological invaders may be promoted by the absence of population-regulating enemies such as pathogens, parasites or predators. This may come about when introduced taxa are missing enemies from their native habitats, or through immunity to enemies within invaded habitats. Here we provide field evidence that trematode parasites are absent in a highly invasive morph of the gastropod Melanoides tuberculata in Lake Malawi, and that the invasive morph is resistant to indigenous trematodes that castrate and induce gigantism in native M. tuberculata. Since helminth infections can strongly influence host population abundances in other host-parasite systems, this enemy release may have provided an advantage to the invasive morph in terms of reproductive capacity and survivorship.     

Thermal properties and fauna on the bark of trees in two different African ecosystems

Summary The thermal properties of 26 African tree species in two different ecosystems were studied using thermocouples. In a subtropical moist forest were three bark types of trees: species with thin and smooth bark types with low values of insulation across the bark; species with a more structured bark type and medium insulation values; and species with deep-fissured or scaly bark types and high insulation values. Only these latter trees are able to survive openings in the subtropical forest and stand alone on edges of forest gaps. In the savanna all tree species showed adaptations in the structure of their bark in different forms: many tree species shade their trunks. Some have low bark insulation and these are known to be sensitive to fires. Some tree species show high bark insulation and do not shade their trunks. Tree species with white bark avoid overheating of their surface by reflection of the radiation. The arthropod community living exclusively on the bark was investigated for the first time on South African trees, on ten tree species. In the two different ecosystems this habitat is occupied by different arthropod groups. In the subtropical forest Acari, Araneae, Opiliones, Isopoda, Myriopoda, Blattodea, Psocoptera, Heteroptera, Coleoptera, Formicidae, and Nematocera (Diptera) are the main arthropod groups living exclusively on the bark of trees. In the savanna Pseudoscorpiones, Araneae, Collembola, Blattodea, Psocoptera, Coleoptera, Neuroptera, Termites, Formicidae, Hymenoptera and Brachycera (Diptera) are the main arthropod groups living exclusively on the bark of trees. Within one ecosystem on one bark type the dominant species are similar; richly structured bark types have a richer fauna. In the forest, bark arthropod diversity is related to the bark structure of the constituent trees, and the arthropod communities on the bark would reflect changes in the structure of the forest. Forests comprising tree species with different bark types would have a richer total bark arthropod fauna. Specialists on richly structured bark types would die out if tree species composition were altered by man to give stands consisting only of tree species with smooth bark types. Bark arthropods in a subtropical moist forest have different proportions of herbivorous and fungivorous compared to carnivorous species than those on the bark of trees in a savanna.     

The soil fauna of a beech forest on limestone: trophic structure and energy budget

Summary The soil fauna of a mull beech forest on lime-stone in southern Lower Saxony (West Germany) was sampled quantitatively. Biomass estimates, trophic characteristics, and measurement and calculation of the energetic parameters of the constituent animal populations were used to construct an energy budget of the total heterotrophic subsystem of the forest. Mean annual zoomass amounted to about 15 g d wt m^–2; earthworms (about 10 g d wt m^–2) and other groups of the macrofauna were dominant. Protozoa constituted about 1.5 g d wt m^–2. Relative distribution of zoomass among the trophic categories was 50% macrosaprophages, 30% microsaprophages, 12% microphytophages, and 4% zoophages. Total annual consumption rate of the saprophagous and microphytophagous soil fauna (6328 and 4096 kJ m^–2 yr^–1, respectively) was of the same order of magnitude as annual litter fall (canopy leaves 6124 kJ m^–2 yr^–1, flowers and fruits 944 kJ m^–2 yr^–1, herbs 1839 kJ m^–2 yr^–1, fine woody material 870 kJ m^–2 yr^–1, tree roots 3404 kJ m^–2 yr^–1, without coarse woody litter). Primary decomposers (macrosaprophages) were the key group for litter comminution and translocation onto and into the soil, thus contributing to the high decomposition rate (k=0.8) for leaf litter. Consumption rates of the other trophic groups were (values as kJ m^–2 yr^–1): bacteriophages 2954, micromycophages 416, zoophages 153. Grazing pressure of macrophytophages (including rhizophages) was low. Faeces input from the canopy layer was not significant. Grazing pressure on soil microflora almost equalled microbial biomass; hence, a large fraction of microbial production is channelled into the animal component. Predator pressure on soil animals is high, as a comparison between consumption rates by zoophages and production by potential prey — mainly microsaprophages, microphytophages and zoophages — demonstrated. Soil animals contributed only about 11% to heterotrophic respiration. However, there is evidence that animals are important driving variables for matter and energy transfer: key processes are the transformation of dead organic material and grazing on the microflora. It is hypothesized that the soil macrosaprophages are donor-limited.     

Controls over invasion of Bromus tectorum: The importance of climate,soil, disturbance and seed availability

Question: Predicting the future abundance and distribution of invasive plants requires knowing how they respond to environmental conditions. In arid and semi‐arid ecosystems where water is a limiting resource, environmental conditions and disturbance patterns influence invasions by altering acquisition and utilization of water over space and time. We ask: 1. How do variations in climatic and soil properties influence temporal soil water dynamics? 2. How does this variation affect the establishment of Bromus tectorum (cheatgrass), a cool‐season annual grass that has successfully colonized much of the U.S. Great Basin? Location: Short‐grass Steppe in northeastern Colorado, USA; Arid Lands Ecology reserve in southeastern Washington, USA; and the Patagonian steppe of the Chubut province in Argentina. Methods: We utilized a soil water model to simulate seasonal soil water dynamics in multiple combinations of climatic and soil properties. In addition, we utilized a gap dynamics model to simulate the impact of disturbance regime and seed availability on competition between B. tectorum and native plants. Results: Our results suggest that climate is very important, but that soil properties do not significantly influence the probability of observing conditions suitable for B. tectorum establishment. Results of the plant competition model indicate that frequent disturbance causes more Bromus tectorum in invaded areas and higher seed availability causes faster invasion. Conclusions: These results imply a general framework for understanding Bromus tectorum invasion in which climatic conditions dictate which areas are susceptible to invasion, disturbance regime dictates the severity of invasion and seed availability dictates the speed of invasion.     

川西高寒生态系统不同海拔土壤动物对冬季凋落叶腐殖化过程的影响

凋落叶在冬季的腐殖化过程是高寒生态系统土壤有机质形成和碳固定的重要阶段,并可能受到严酷冻结环境下仍具有一定活性的土壤动物的影响,但缺乏必要的关注。因此,以川西高山峡谷区海拔3000、3600、4000m的高寒森林和草甸典型凋落叶为研究对象,采用不同孔径大小的凋落物网袋去除土壤动物的方法,根据凋落叶的自然腐解过程,于2013年11月—2014年4月研究了不同冻融时期(冻结前期、深冻期、融化期)土壤动物对凋落叶腐殖化过程的作用。结果表明:通过对色调系数(Δlog K)和光密度值(E_4/E_6)值的分析,在高寒生态系统中,冬季随着温度的降低土壤动物促进了凋落叶的腐殖化,而随着温度的升高土壤动物抑制了凋落叶的腐殖化。深冻期土壤动物对海拔3000m的森林凋落叶腐殖化过程具有显著促进作用;在冻结前期土壤动物对海拔3600m森林凋落叶腐殖化过程具有显著促进作用;而融化期土壤动物对海拔4000m的草甸凋落叶腐殖化过程具有显著的抑制作用;其他海拔和时期没有显著影响。冻结初期土壤动物对凋落叶的腐殖化速率的作用高于深冻期和融化期,腐殖化度在深冻期达到最大值。这些结果表明气候变化情景下冬季变暖可能导致土壤动物抑制凋落物腐殖化,减少凋落物向土壤有机质的转化。     

长白山北坡土壤动物群落物种共有度的海拔梯度变化

群落间各生活型土壤动物科及所有土壤动物科的共有度,一定程度上反映了群落间的相关性及沿环境梯度的物种替代关系。应用梯度格局法在长白山北坡海拔550～2650m地段,每隔100m海拔高度设置一块样地,共计22块样地,并应用Jaccard指数,对各海拔不同土壤动物群落间物种共有度的海拔梯度变化进行了分析。结果表明,不同海拔土壤动物群落间物种的共有度,无论以哪一生活层的土壤动物科来表达,基本都以与其最相邻的群落间为最高,群落间物种共有度峰值与谷点反映了群落类型随海拔具有间断性变化。线虫、甲螨、弹尾等各生活型土壤动物的共有度以及所有土壤动物科的共有度,均随着海拔差的增加呈下降趋势,但并非与植被情况完全吻合。     

Invasion of an indigenous Perna perna mussel bed on the south coast of South Africa by an alien mussel Mytilus galloprovincialis and its effect on the associated fauna

The introduced mussel Mytilus galloprovincialis is progressively increasing in abundance along the south coast of South Africa. Quantitative 0.1 m² samples were collected in the mid-zone of an indigenous Perna perna mussel bed in the 1980s prior to the arrival M. galloprovincialis (12) and in the 2000s during the M. galloprovincialis invasion (16). In addition, in situ counts of M. galloprovincialis were done on eight occasions between 1993 and 2005, and in the low- and high-zones on four occasions. In the mid-zone M. galloprovincialis was absent until 1987, its mean densities were low (< 15 individuals/0.1 m²) between 1993 and 1996, but thereafter increased steadily, peaking in 2004 (at 721 individuals/0.1 m²), before declining in 2005 (331 individuals/0.1 m²). The greatest densities of M. galloprovincialis were recorded at the high-zone (1121 individuals/0.1 m²) and the smallest in the low-zone. As M. galloprovincialis numbers increased, there was an associated, but smaller decline in P. perna numbers and the overall density of mussels increased significantly (P < 0.05). No major change was recorded in the size composition of P. perna. The density of associated fauna differed significantly (P < 0.01) between sampling dates with the lowest and highest values being recorded near the ‘beginning’ (2001) and ‘end’ (2005) of the invasion period respectively. These differences were largely due to variations in the density of barnacles, and the toothed barnacle Chthamalus dentatus appeared to be the only associated faunal species that was directly affected by the M. galloprovincialis invasion, experiencing a significantly (P ≤ 0.05), but temporary decline in density and biomass values.     

陆地生态系统混合凋落物分解研究进展

凋落物分解在陆地生态系统养分循环与能量流动中具有重要作用,是碳、氮及其他重要矿质养分在生态系统生命组分间循环与平衡的核心生态过程。自然生态系统中,植物群落大多具有较高的物种丰富度和多样性,其混合凋落物在分解过程中也更有可能发生养分传递、化学抑制等种间互作,形成多样化的分解生境,多样性较高的分解者类群以及复杂的级联效应分解,这些因素和过程均对研究混合凋落物分解过程、揭示其内在机制形成了极大的挑战。从构成混合凋落物物种丰富度和多样性对分解生境、分解者多样性及其营养级联效应的影响等方面,综合阐述混合凋落物对陆地生态系统凋落物分解的影响,探讨生物多样性在凋落物分解中的作用。通过综述近些年的研究发现,有超过60%的混合凋落物对其分解速率的影响存在正向或负向的效应。养分含量有差异的凋落物混合分解过程中,分解者优先利用高质量凋落物,使低质量的凋落物反而具有了较高的养分有效性,引起低质量凋落物分解加快并最终使混合凋落物整体分解速率加快;而凋落物物种丰富度对土壤动物群落总多度有轻微的影响或几乎没有影响,但是对线虫和大型土壤动物的群落组成和多样性有显著影响,并随着分解阶段呈现一定动态变化;混合凋落物改变土壤微生物生存的理化环境,为微生物提供更多丰富的分解底物和养分,优化微生物种群数量和群落结构及其分泌酶的活性,并进一步促进了混合凋落物的分解。这些基于植物-土壤-分解者系统的动态分解过程的研究,表明混合凋落物分解作用不只是经由凋落物自身质量的改变,更会通过逐级影响分解者多样性水平而进一步改变分解速率和养分释放动态,说明生物多样性确实在一定程度上调控凋落物分解及其养分释放过程。     

The response of native species to removal of invasive exotic grasses in a seasonally dry Hawaiian woodland

Abstract. Non-native perennial grasses form 30% of the live understory biomass in seasonally dry, submontane forests in Hawaii Volcanoes National Park, yet their effects on native species are unknown. We removed these grasses from plots of 20 m × 20 m in 1991 and maintained removal and control areas over the next three years. Two fast growing shrub species, Dodonaea viscosa and Osteomeles anthylidifolia, increased in size significantly more in removal areas than in controls. Individuals of the most abundant shrub species, Styphelia tameiameia showed no net growth response to grass removal. They did, however, change their architecture: many branches along the mid and upper sections of the main trunk died and a proliferation of new leaves and shoots occurred in the lower 40 cm of trunk. Basal diameter increase was very small in Metrosideros polymorpha, the dominant tree species in these sites. All species except Styphelia had significantly increased leaf tissue nitrogen in removal plots by 18 months after removal when compared to shrubs in control areas suggesting that removal plot shrubs had greater access to soil nitrogen. Available soil-N pools, which were generally higher in the removal plots, support this interpretation. Light levels near the soil surface were also higher where grasses were removed than where they were present which may have contributed to increased shrub growth. By contrast, soil moisture was consistently lower where grasses were removed than where they were still present. Shrub tissue carbon isotope values were consistent with the interpretation that shrubs in removal plots had less rather than more water available to them. Hence, the increased growth observed in removal plot shrubs could not be due to release from moisture competition. Lastly, our results showed that seedlings of all woody species except Metrosideros were significantly more abundant in removal plots at both one and three years after removal and initially high sapling mortality was balanced by high recruitment into the sapling class. We believe that over time this will result in increased densities of native shrubs if grasses are kept out. With the presence of grasses, shrub growth in these woodlands is reduced and biomass is shifting towards grasses.     

The effect of invasive plant management on the rate of removal of vertebrate-dispersed fruits

Chrysanthemoides monilifera ssp. rotundata is an invasive plant in eastern Australia. It produces large quantities of fleshy fruits, which are dispersed by birds and mammals, and has the potential to alter ecological processes in native plant communities in several ways. Seed dispersal of native plants growing amongst C. monilifera could be decreased (if C. monilifera is effective in competing for limited seed dispersers), increased (if C. monilifera-infested vegetation supports more seed dispersers), or be unchanged (if there is sufficient separation in fruiting time or dispersal agents between the species, or if dispersers are not limiting). We compared the rates of removal of fruits of native plants (Monotoca elliptica and Elaeocarpus spp.) from experimental stations in C. monilifera stands, in uninfested coastal vegetation, and in vegetation from which C. monilifera had been eliminated with herbicide. The rate of removal of fruits differed between plant species and locations, but not between any of the habitat treatments. This may have resulted from temporal separation of peak fruit availability between M. elliptica and C. monilifera, and differences in fruit morphology and disperser assemblages between Elaeocarpus spp. and C. monilifera. We also measured removal of C. monilifera fruits from stations in C. monilifera stands and from where C. monilifera had been eliminated with herbicide. In the herbicide-treated habitat, removal of C. monilifera fruits was reduced. This may assist control efforts and suggests that, to reduce seed dispersal, dense (core) populations should be targeted in control programs.     

The effect of the spatial configuration of habitat fragmentation on invasive spread

To address how the spatial configuration of habitat fragmentation influences the persistence and the rate of spread of an invasive species, we consider three simple periodically fragmented environments, a lattice-like corridor environment, an island-like environment and a striped environment. By numerically analyzing Fisher’s equation with a spatially varying diffusion coefficient and the intrinsic growth rate, we find the following. (1) When the scale of fragmentation is sufficiently large, the minimum favorable area needed for successful invasion reduces in the following order: lattice-like corridor, striped and island-like environments. (2) When the scale of fragmentation and the fraction of favorable area are sufficiently large, the spreading speeds along contiguous favorable habitats in the lattice-like corridor and striped environments are faster than the speeds across isolated favorable habitats in the island-like environment and the striped environment. (3) When the periodicity of fragmentation is relaxed by stochastically shifting the boundaries between favorable and unfavorable habitats, the average speed increases with increases in the irregularity of fragmentation.     

Assemblage level variation in springtail lower lethal temperature: the role of invasive species on sub‐Antarctic Marion Island

Abstract. It is widely held both in the physiological literature, and more generally, that the average characteristics of species within an assemblage differ among sites. Such generalizations should be based on investigations of whole assemblages at sites, but this is rarely done. Here, such a study is undertaken for virtually the full assemblage of springtails found at sub‐Antarctic Marion Island, by investigating supercooling points (SCPs) of 12 of the 16 species that occur there. Assemblage level variation tends to be less than that documented for assemblages across northern hemisphere sites but similar to that found at some Antarctic locations. Across this set of species, the mean SCPs of the indigenous species (mean ± SE =?17.2 ± 0.4 °C) do not differ significantly from that of the invasive species (?16.3 ± 0.7 °C). Overall, the introduction of several species to the island does not appear to have led to functional homogenization (for this trait). By combining the assemblage‐level SCP data with information on the abundances of the species in each of four major habitats, it is also shown that severe but uncommon low temperature events could substantially alter species relative abundances. By resetting assemblage trajectories, such events could play an important role in the terrestrial system at the island.     

The invasive Yellow Crazy Ant and the decline of forest ant diversity in Indonesian cacao agroforests

Throughout the tropics, agroforests are often the only remaining habitat with a considerable tree cover. Agroforestry systems can support high numbers of species and are therefore frequently heralded as the future for tropical biodiversity conservation. However, anthropogenic habitat modification can facilitate species invasions that may suppress native fauna. We compared the ant fauna of lower canopy trees in natural rainforest sites with that of cacao trees in agroforests in Central Sulawesi, Indonesia in order to assess the effects of agroforestry on occurrence of the Yellow Crazy Ant Anoplolepis gracilipes, a common invasive species in the area, and its effects on overall ant richness. The agroforests differed in the type of shade-tree composition, tree density, canopy cover, and distance to the village. On average, 43% of the species in agroforests also occurred in the lower canopy of nearby primary forest and the number of forest ant species that occurred on cacao trees was not related to agroforestry characteristics. However, A. gracilipes was the most common non-forest ant species, and forest ant richness decreased significantly with the presence of this species. Our results indicate that agroforestry may have promoted the occurrence of A. gracilipes, possibly because tree management in agroforests negatively affects ant species that depend on trees for nesting and foraging, whereas A. gracilipes is a generalist when it comes to nesting sites and food preference. Thus, agroforestry management that includes the thinning of tree stands can facilitate ant invasions, thereby threatening the potential of cultivated land for the conservation of tropical ant diversity.     

Influence of an invasive ant on grazing and detrital communities and nutrient fluxes in a tropical forest

Aim  Pathways linking grazing and detrital subsystems of terrestrial ecosystems are important for ecosystem processes and function, but remain poorly understood. The invasion of a generalist predator creates a unique opportunity to study the effects of predation across these subsystems. We examine here, the effects of a non-native generalist predator, the little red fire ant ( Wasmannia auropunctata, Roger) on both grazing and detrital invertebrate communities and ecosystem processes in a rain forest understorey.
Location  Gamba Protected Area Complex, south-western Gabon, Africa.
Methods  We measured abundances and diversities of understorey grazing and detrital invertebrate communities, soil nutrients, herbivory, litter fragmentation rates and leaf chemistry of a dominant understorey shrub inside and outside of 19 separate invasion fronts. We then explored possible trophic cascades and pathways of interaction using path analysis.
Results  Results suggest that invasive ants may alter herbivory regimes, grazing and detrital communities, and may indirectly alter litter decomposition and nutrient cycling in the soil by suppressing important microbivore and detritivore populations with consequences for leaf chemistry.
Main conclusions  These results demonstrate that generalist predators may be major drivers of both grazing and detrital subsystems by inducing strong shifts in adjacent communities that ultimately affect ecosystem processes.     

The impact of invasive fungi on agricultural ecosystems in the United States

Invasive fungi and other non-indigenous plant pathogens have had a significant effect on American agriculture for hundreds of years. At present crop loss due to invasive plant pathogens, especially fungi, is estimated at $21 billion per year in the United States, greater than the loss caused by non-indigenous insects. Plant pathogenic fungi are difficult to detect and identify. Thus knowledge of which fungi pose a threat is essential to prevent their entry by means others than inspection. In this paper, examples are presented of invasive fungi on agricultural commodities introduced into the United States. In all cases two factors have been crucial: first, the pathway through which these fungi have entered, and second, systematic knowledge to prevent and respond to the new invasive species. Historically important plant pathogens such as black stem rust of wheat still cause considerable damage while others such as late blight of potato appear to be having a resurgence. Known previously in Australia, then moving to Africa and South America, the virulent species of soybean rust appeared in the U.S. in 2004 but has not been as devastating as anticipated. Plant pathogenic fungi on specialty crops such as daylily, gladiola and chrysanthemum are threatened by rust fungi recently found in the U.S. apparently brought in on infected germplasm. A crisis in the export of U.S. wheat occurred in the late 1990’s when the molecular diagnostic test for Karnal bunt gave a false positive response to a closely related but previously unknown species. Many potentially dangerous plant pathogens of crop plants have not yet been introduced into the U.S. It is critical that meticulous surveillance be conducted as plant material enters the country as well as where crops are grown prior to shipment. In addition, the scientific infrastructure is needed to be able to respond quickly to new invasive fungi. This requires sound systematic knowledge of plant pathogenic fungi both in the U.S. and around the world and a cadre of systematic experts who can characterize invasive fungi.     

The influence of nematodes on below-ground processes in grassland ecosystems

This review summarises recent information on beneficial roles that soil nematodes play in the cycling of carbon and other plant nutrients in grassland ecosystems. In particular, we focus on the role of the two dominant functional groups of nematodes, namely the microbial- and root-feeders, and how their activities may enhance soil ecosystem-level processes of nutrient cycling and, ultimately, plant productivity in managed and unmanaged grassland ecosystems. We report recent experiments which show that low amounts of root herbivory by nematodes can increase the allocation of photoassimilate carbon to roots, leading to increased root exudation and microbial activity in the rhizosphere. The effects of these interactions on soil nutrient cycling and plant productivity are discussed. Evidence is presented to show that the feeding activities of microbial-feeding nematodes can enhance nutrient mineralization and plant nutrient uptake in grasslands, but that these responses are highly species-specific and appear to be strongly regulated by higher trophic groups of fauna (top-down regulation). We recommend that future studies of the roles of nematodes in grasslands ecosystems should consider these more complex trophic interactions and also the effects of species diversity of nematodes on soil ecosystem-level processes. This revised version was published online in June 2006 with corrections to the Cover Date.