哈密露天煤矿不同环境介质微生物群落特征分析

【背景】干旱区露天煤矿开采过程中产生的粉尘颗粒物加剧了土壤生态环境的恶化和矿区空气质量的下降,针对煤矿区土壤和粉尘颗粒物的微生物群落组成的研究鲜有报道。【目的】研究新疆哈密南湖乡露天煤矿土壤、粉尘及大气PM_2.5颗粒物中的微生物群落结构和多样性特征,并预测潜在的功能类群。【方法】采用高通量测序技术,对煤矿露天采坑区和电厂粉煤灰堆放区的土壤、粉尘及大气PM_2.5颗粒物的微生物真菌及细菌群落组成进行比对分析。【结果】矿区优势真菌类群来自子囊菌门(Ascomycota)和担子菌门(Basidiomycota),优势细菌类群来自变形菌门(Proteobacteria)和放线菌门(Actinobacteria)。真菌和细菌群落的丰富度及α多样性在整个矿区内无显著性差异,大气PM_2.5颗粒物的细菌群落生态位宽度显著大于露天采坑区和粉煤灰区。矿区内的土壤和PM_2.5颗粒物样本中均发现了一些丰度差异显著的功能类群,真菌特征功能类群为腐生营养型类群,细菌特征功能类群主要包括甲烷营养型类群、几丁质酶类细菌类群等。【结论】露天煤矿区粉尘可能对区域内土壤和PM_2.5颗粒物的微生物群落结构产生重要影响,具有煤组分降解功能的特定微生物类群可能是维持矿区土壤生态安全的重要微生物学机制之一。     

黄土丘陵区氮磷添加对草地群落优势种养分利用特征的影响

为阐明黄土丘陵区氮磷添加对草地群落优势种养分利用特征的影响,探究群落结构和物种多样性的变化机制,选取5个典型优势种,即白羊草(Bothriochloa ischaemum)、长芒草(Stipa bungeana)、达乌里胡枝子(Lespedeza davurica)、铁杆蒿(Artemisia sacrorum)和猪毛蒿(Artemisia scoparia)为研究对象,采用裂区试验设计,以氮添加为主区处理, 包括:0(N0)、25(N25)、50(N50) 和100(N100) kg N hm^-2 a^-1;以磷添加为副区处理,包括:0(P0),20(P20),40(P40) 和80(P80) kg P₂O₅ hm^-2 a^-1,测定了各物种叶片氮磷比、氮磷重吸收效率、氮磷利用效率和相对生物量等参数。5种植物的氮和磷重吸收效率正相关,对氮磷添加量的响应具有耦合性。不同氮磷添加处理下,达乌里胡枝子叶片氮磷比最高,而氮磷重吸收效率最低;白羊草和长芒草的氮磷利用效率和重吸收效率高于其他物种。单施磷或N25与磷配施下,各物种相对生物量与氮磷比和磷利用效率呈正相关关系,与氮利用效率和氮磷重吸收效率呈负相关关系。单施氮、N50和N100与磷配施下,各物种相对生物量与氮磷利用效率和重吸收效率呈正相关,与氮磷比呈负相关。不施肥处理下,白羊草和长芒草相对生物量最高,低氮高磷下达乌里胡枝子相对生物量最高,高氮高磷下铁杆蒿和猪毛蒿相对生物量最高。不同优势种对氮磷添加的响应不同,生理生态过程各异,决定了其在群落中的优势度,这是氮磷添加后草地群落结构和物种多样性发生变化的关键机制。     

高通量测序分析冻融期碳源输入方式对土壤线虫群落的影响

植物碳源输入途径变化对土壤生物群落的影响研究是目前学术界关注的热点问题。为探究温带森林生态系统碳源输入方式对土壤线虫群落的影响,通过Illumina MiSeq技术分析了不同碳源输入方式下土壤线虫群落组成和多样性的变化。研究结果显示:所有处理(凋落物和根系同时输入;仅根系输入;仅凋落物输入;无碳源输入)中共发现土壤线虫68属,其中食细菌线虫的相对丰度最大;各碳源输入方式中仅凋落物输入处理对线虫群落组成的影响最为明显,表现为:与凋落物和根系同时输入处理相比,仅凋落物输入处理中食细菌线虫的相对丰度明显增加,食真菌线虫的相对丰度显著降低以及捕食杂食线虫的相对丰度显著增加。从线虫群落的多样性指数角度看,无碳源输入处理中土壤线虫群落的多样性指数(H'')下降,优势度指数(Dom)增高;仅凋落物输入处理中均匀度指数(J)最高。从线虫群落的生态指数角度看,仅凋落物输入处理的线虫群落成熟度指数(MI)最高;各碳源输入处理的分解过程均以细菌分解通道为主。研究表明,土壤线虫群落受到碳源输入变化的调节,仅凋落物输入处理比仅根系输入处理对土壤线虫群落的影响更大。无碳源输入处理的物种多样性明显下降,仅凋落物输入处理的土壤食物网更加稳定。研究结果丰富了森林土壤线虫多样性的研究内容,并为高通量测序技术在土壤线虫方面的研究提供方法和数据的支持。     

Interactions of Elevated CO2 Concentration and Drought Stress on Photosynthesis in Eucalyptus Cladocalyx F. Muell

Response of net photosynthetic rate (P _N), stomatal conductance (g _s), intercellular CO₂ concentration (c _i), and photosynthetic efficiency (F_v/F_m) of photosystem 2 (PS2) was assessed in Eucalyptus cladocalyx grown for long duration at 800 (C₈₀₀) or 380 (C₃₈₀) μmol mol^-1 CO₂ concentration under sufficient water supply or under water stress. The well-watered plants at C₈₀₀ showed a 2.2 fold enhancement of P _N without any change in g _s. Under both C₈₀₀ and C₃₈₀, water stress decreased P _N and g _s significantly without any substantial reduction of c _i, suggesting that both stomatal and non-stomatal factors regulated P _N. However, the photosynthetic efficiency of PS2 was not altered. This revised version was published online in June 2006 with corrections to the Cover Date.     

氮添加对樟子松人工林氮转化及相关功能基因丰度的影响

土壤氮(N)的有效性是影响土壤微生物群落结构以及土壤氮循环的重要因子。为探索N添加对樟子松人工林氮素转化及N功能基因(NFGs)表达的影响及其作用机制,该文以塞罕坝千层板林场的樟子松人工林为研究对象,进行了2年的氮添加处理,设置4个不同氮添加水平0、1、5、10 g N·m^-2·a^-1,分别记作N0、N1、N5、N10,采用功能基因微阵GeoChip 5.0系统及室内土壤培养法,探讨了土壤NFGs对氮添加的反应及其对氮转化过程的影响。结果表明:(1)与N0相比,中低N添加处理(N1、N5)促进了氨化(ureC、nirA、nrfA)、硝化(amoA)和反硝化(norB)相关基因的相对丰度,高N处理(N10)则抑制了所有NFGs的表达。(2)相关分析表明,N1、N5的促进作用与土壤有机碳(SOC)、硝态氮(NO₃^--N)和微生物生物量碳(MBC)显著相关,N10处理显著降低了所有氮转化过程NFGs的相对丰度,这种负面影响与溶解性有机碳(DOC)、MBC含量的减少有关。(3)与氮转化基因丰度规律趋势相似,N1和N5处理显著增加了净N硝化、净N矿化以及N₂O的排放速率,但N10促进作用不明显,表明氮添加对氮转化的促进作用存在阈值。(4)多元回归分析进一步表明,amoA-AOB和MBC是影响净N硝化的关键因素,ureC、nirK和MBC是影响净氮矿化的关键因素,narG、nirS是影响N₂O排放的关键因素。综上,N添加可提高促进樟子松人工林的氮转化及提高部分特定酶功能基因的相对丰度,但氮添加水平存在阈值,当施用10 g N·m^-2·a^-1时,氮转化受到抑制,添加5 g N·m^-2·a^-1是促进樟子松人工林土壤N转化的较佳水平。     

川西亚高山天然次生林不同演替阶段土壤-微生物生物量及其化学计量特征

开展不同恢复演替阶段天然次生林土壤-微生物生物量及其化学计量特征关系的研究,可为有效和持续管理川西亚高山次生林提供科学依据。以川西亚高山米亚罗林区20世纪60、70、80年代3种采伐迹地经自然恢复演替形成的次生林（SF60、SF70和SF80）和岷江冷杉（Abies faxoniana）原始林（PF）为研究对象,探讨了表层（0-20 cm）土壤有机碳（C_soil）、全氮（N_soil）、全磷（P_soil）含量及微生物生物量碳（C_mic）、氮（N_mic）、磷（P_mic）含量随自然恢复演替的变化特征,分析了它们的化学计量比与微生物熵（qMB）之间的相互关系。结果表明：（1）随着恢复演替年限的增加,C_soil和N_mic含量显著降低,N_soil和P_soil及C_mic和P_mic含量呈现先升后降的显著变化趋势,且3种次生林的表层土壤碳、氮、磷及其微生物生物量的含量均低于PF。（2）次生林恢复年限对土壤微生物熵C（qMBC）和P（qMBP）没有显著影响,但对土壤微生物熵N（qMBN）存在显著影响。（3）土壤-微生物化学计量不平衡性C_imb：N_imb随自然恢复演替进程呈先降后升的显著变化趋势,C_imb：P_imb呈不显著的降低趋势,N_imb：P_imb呈现显著降低趋势。冗余分析显示,N_imb：P_imb和C_mic：N_mic是影响qMB变化的主导因子,其中N_imb：P_imb解释了qMB变化的62.6%,说明土壤氮磷及其活性组分（N_mic和P_mic）含量变化可能会影响到qMB变化。综上可知,次生林近60 年的自然恢复演替引起了土壤碳氮磷含量的显著变化;天然次生林土壤-微生物生物量碳氮磷化学计量比主要受到氮磷的协同影响,且SF60土壤质量状况较差,为此,对SF60林分可适当增加氮素供给以促进其林木生长,进而提升土壤质量。     

麦田土壤真菌多样性对麦玉轮作长期秸秆还田和配施有机肥的响应

【背景】土壤真菌主导田间秸秆腐解的过程,秸秆还田配施有机肥可为真菌提供良好的营养物质。【目的】研究麦玉轮作模式下长期秸秆还田配施有机肥对麦田土壤真菌多样性的影响。【方法】依托山西南部麦玉轮作区长达14年的秸秆还田和施有机肥长期定位试验,采用高通量测序开展土壤真菌群落结构和多样性对不施肥+秸秆清茬(CK)、氮磷化肥+秸秆清茬(NP)、氮磷化肥+秸秆还田(SNP)、氮磷化肥+有机肥+秸秆清茬(NPM)及氮磷化肥+秸秆还田+有机肥(SNPM)的响应差异研究。【结果】秸秆还田和施有机肥处理组的物种丰富度指数、Chao1指数和ACE指数均高于CK。5个处理共产生953个分类操作单元(operational taxonomic units, OTU),CK、NP、NPM、SNP和SNPM分别具有398、451、472、462和440个OTU。在门水平上共检测出9个菌门,其中子囊菌门(Ascomycota)、毛霉门(Mucoromycota)和担子菌门(Basidiomycota)为3个主要菌门,各处理中所占丰度差异显著;在属水平上共检测出262个真菌属,其中CK丰度较高的3个属为柄孢壳菌属(Podospora) 18.85%、被孢霉属(Mortierella) 16.67%和镰刀菌属(Fusarium) 7.77%;NP、NPM、SNP和SNPM丰度较高的前3个相同属均为Dendrostilbella、毛葡孢属(Botryotrichum)和被孢霉属(Mortierella),但相对丰度值存在差异。由聚类分析可知,NPM和SNPM群落组成相似度高,归为一类,而CK、NP、SNP各独立为一类。与环境因子间冗余分析发现,TN含量是影响土壤真菌群落结构的关键因子,也受速效磷、pH、速效钾、碱解氮和全磷等环境指标影响。【结论】长期秸秆还田和施有机肥改变了小麦土壤真菌种群结构和多样性。     

黑曲霉菌剂不同处理对西瓜根际细菌群落及土壤理化性质的影响

【背景】针对我国设施栽培西瓜土传病害发生严重、土壤理化性质劣变等问题,探究微生物菌剂对西瓜根际土壤微生物群落调控及土壤营养改良的作用。【目的】研究黑曲霉菌剂不同处理方式对设施栽培西瓜根际细菌多样性、群落结构及土壤理化性质的影响。【方法】通过高通量测序分析黑曲霉菌剂不同处理对西瓜根际土壤细菌多样性和群落结构的影响;采用分析化学方法测定西瓜根际土壤理化性质并解析驱动西瓜根际细菌群落动态变化的主要理化因素。【结果】黑曲霉菌剂(Y)、氨基寡糖素水剂(A)及黑曲霉菌剂与氨基寡糖素水剂配施(YA)处理,细菌α多样性指数如Chao1、Ace和Shannon等较对照均有所增加;不同处理西瓜根际优势细菌在门水平包括变形菌门(Proteobacteria)、放线菌门(Actinobacteriota)、绿弯菌门(Chloroflexi)、酸杆菌门(Acidobacteriota)等,其中Proteobacteria相对丰度最高,依次为A (28.26%)>Y (26.74%)>YA (22.61%);黑曲霉菌剂处理西瓜根际土壤芽单胞菌科(Gemmatimonadaceae)和类诺卡氏菌科(Nocardioidaceae)相对丰度较对照明显提高到4.06%和2.43%,氨基寡糖素水剂处理中根际土壤假单胞菌属(Pseudomonas)丰度显著提高(P<0.05),不同处理组微枝形杆菌属(Microvirga)相对丰度较对照均有所提高;黑曲霉菌剂单独或与氨基寡糖素水剂配施处理,西瓜根际土壤全氮、全磷及速效磷含量明显提高;冗余分析(redundancy analysis, RDA)表明,土壤pH、全氮、速效磷、速效钾与西瓜根际细菌群落结构具有显著相关性(P<0.05);Spearman相关性分析表明,根际假单胞菌科相对丰度与土壤全氮、全磷、速效磷、速效钾呈显著或极显著正相关。【结论】黑曲霉菌剂在设施栽培西瓜种植中单独或与氨基寡糖素水剂配施处理,具有提高西瓜根际土壤细菌多样性、增加有益菌群相对丰度、改良土壤理化性质从而提高土壤肥力的作用,该结果为黑曲霉菌剂产品开发及在设施栽培西瓜种植中合理应用提供了科学依据。     

长期施用不同无机肥对旱地红壤线虫群落的影响

红壤生态系统中土壤生物群落对于维持土壤功能的正常发挥具有重要作用.本研究基于持续25年的红壤旱地化肥定位试验,研究不同无机肥组合,包括氮磷钾(NPK)、氮磷钾补充石膏(NPKCaS)、氮磷(NP)、氮钾(NK)和磷钾(PK)对花生生长季土壤线虫群落的影响.结果表明： 土壤线虫总数、营养类群以及各生态指数在处理间差异显著(P<0.01).线虫总数由高到低的顺序为PK>NPKCaS>NPK>NP>NK.除5月外,NPK、NP、NK处理的线虫总数均显著低于NPKCaS和PK处理.NPKCaS处理的优势类群为食细菌线虫,平均丰度为42.1%,其他处理均以植食性线虫为优势营养类群,其平均丰度为38%~65%.NPKCaS处理线虫群落较高的成熟度指数、瓦斯乐斯卡指数和结构指数说明土壤食物网结构较为成熟和稳定,同时表明氮磷钾补充石膏通过缓解土壤酸化创建了良好的土壤健康状况.仅施氮钾的处理则相反.本研究证实了施用石膏和磷肥是改善红壤质量的有效措施,土壤线虫群落分析能较好地反映不同无机肥对红壤旱地生态系统的影响.
     

氮磷钾添加对罗汉松土壤微生物功能多样性的影响

为揭示罗汉松土壤微生物对不同氮磷钾养分水平的响应及规律,该研究以两年生罗汉松(Podocarpus macrophyllus)幼苗为试验树种,采用L9正交试验控制盆栽土壤的氮磷钾养分水平梯度,使用稀释平板涂布法和Biolog-ECO微平板法探讨不同土壤氮磷钾养分水平对罗汉松土壤微生物量和群落多样性及其对6种碳源的利用特征。结果表明:(1)随氮添加量的增加,土壤细菌(P<0.05)和放线菌数量(P<0.001)减少,真菌(P<0.001)及固氮菌数量(P<0.01)显著增加,土壤微生物群落的Pielou 指数(P<0.001)降低,Simpson指数(P<0.05)和McIntosh指数(P<0.001)升高,从而降低了土壤微生物对6种碳源的利用强度,特别是对难利用碳源胺类(P<0.001)、羧酸(P<0.001)、聚合物(P<0.001)及其他化合物(P<0.001)的利用强度显著降低。(2)磷添加量的增加显著降低了土壤微生物群落的Shannon指数(P<0.05)。(3)钾添加量的增加显著降低了土壤微生物群落的Shannon指数和Pielou指数及微生物群落对碳水化合物和氨基酸(P<0.01)两类易利用碳源的强度。综上所述,氮添加和钾添加是影响罗汉松土壤微生物群落功能多样性的主要因素,在罗汉松培育时应注意少量多次施肥,降低氮和钾的添加量,适当提高磷添加量,以促进罗汉松的生长及其可持续培育。该研究从微生物的角度为罗汉松施肥及管护提供了理论依据。     

锦鸡儿属灌丛化对草原化荒漠区土壤线虫群落组成和代谢足迹的影响

调查了内蒙古草原化荒漠区3种锦鸡儿[垫状锦鸡儿(Caragana tibetica)、荒漠锦鸡儿(C.roborovskyi)和狭叶锦鸡儿(C.stenophylla)]灌丛内、外土壤线虫群落多样性、组成和代谢足迹,以及相关的土壤理化性质和植物群落特征,旨在探讨锦鸡儿属灌丛对土壤线虫群落的影响,并分析这种影响是否具有灌木种间差异,同时从线虫功能团水平上探究灌丛如何通过非生物因素和生物因素影响线虫群落组成。结果表明：锦鸡儿属灌丛对土壤线虫多度、丰富度和多样性无显著影响,但却显著影响土壤线虫群落组成。原因是灌丛对土壤线虫群落具有物种选择性;灌丛可能主要是通过根系分泌物、凋落物质量等因素,而不是通过土壤理化性质和林下植物影响线虫群落组成。土壤线虫组成的变化引起线虫代谢足迹发生明显变化。灌丛内土壤线虫功能代谢足迹大于灌丛外(除狭叶锦鸡儿外),说明灌丛内土壤线虫群落对碳的利用率更高。3种锦鸡儿属灌木中,狭叶锦鸡儿的结构代谢足迹最大,表明狭叶锦鸡儿对捕食杂食类线虫代谢活性的促进作用更强。土壤线虫组成的变化通过线虫代谢足迹导致土壤食物网结构发生显著性变化。狭叶锦鸡儿灌丛土壤干扰程度低,营养富集状况好...     

Six years of in situ CO2 enrichment evoke changes in soil structure and soil biota of nutrient-poor grassland

Nutrient‐poor grassland on a silty clay loam overlying calcareous debris was exposed to elevated CO₂ for six growing seasons. The CO₂ exchange and productivity were persistently increased throughout the experiment, suggesting increases in soil C inputs. At the same time, elevated CO₂ lead to increased soil moisture due to reduced evapotransporation. Measurements related to soil microflora did not indicate increased soil C fluxes under elevated CO₂. Microbial biomass, soil basal respiration, and the metabolic quotient for CO₂ (qCO₂) were not altered significantly. PLFA analysis indicated no significant shift in the ratio of fungi to bacteria. 0.5 m KCl extractable organic C and N, indicators of changed DOC and DON concentrations, also remained unaltered. Microbial grazer populations (protozoa, bacterivorous and fungivorous nematodes, acari and collembola) and root feeding nematodes were not affected by elevated CO₂. However, total nematode numbers averaged slightly lower under elevated CO₂ (?16%, ns) and nematode mass was significantly reduced (?43%, P = 0.06). This reduction reflected a reduction in large‐diameter nematodes classified as omnivorous and predacious. Elevated CO₂ resulted in a shift towards smaller aggregate sizes at both micro‐ and macro‐aggregate scales; this was caused by higher soil moisture under elevated CO₂. Reduced aggregate sizes result in reduced pore neck diameters. Locomotion of large‐diameter nematodes depends on the presence of large enough pores; the reduction in aggregate sizes under elevated CO₂ may therefore account for the decrease in large nematodes. These animals are relatively high up the soil food web; this decline could therefore trigger top‐down effects on the soil food web. The CO₂ enrichment also affected the nitrogen cycle. The N stocks in living plants and surface litter increased at elevated CO₂, but N in soil organic matter and microbes remained unaltered. Nitrogen mineralization increased markedly, but microbial N did not differ between CO₂ treatments, indicating that net N immobilization rates were unaltered. In summary, this study did not provide evidence that soils and soil microbial communities are affected by increased soil C inputs under elevated CO₂. On the contrary, available data (¹³C tracer data, minirhizotron observations, root ingrowth cores) suggests that soil C inputs did not increase substantially. However, we provide first evidence that elevated CO₂ can reduce soil aggregation at the scale from µ m to mm scale, and that this can affect soil microfaunal populations.     

根际效应对大豆田土壤线虫群落组成及多样性的影响

根际作为重要的环境界面是植物与环境之间物质能量交换的场所,关于根际效应的研究已成为土壤生态学的新兴热点领域,然而有关大豆根际效应对土壤动物多样性影响的研究报道并不多见。在三江平原选择连续耕作15a的大豆田,对大豆根际区与非根际区土壤线虫群落结构组成进行了对比分析。结果表明:大豆根际区土壤线虫总数、辛普森多样性指数(Dom)显著高于非根际区,根际区的物种数(S)、物种丰富度指数(SR)显著低于非根际区。说明大豆根际效应增加土壤线虫的丰度,但降低了线虫群落结构的复杂性。大豆根际区植物寄生线虫(PP)、食真菌线虫(FF)和食细菌线虫(BF)数量显著高于非根际区,而PP类群的比例在根际区却显著低于非根际区。这一研究结果表明食微线虫(FF和BF)类群在大豆根际区的比例增加更显著。食真菌与食细菌线虫数量比值(F/B)指示大豆根际区细菌生物量相对高于真菌生物量。研究结果丰富了农田土壤线虫多样性的研究内容,并为我国东北大豆田线虫病害的防治及定制相应的农业管理措施提供参考。     

线虫和蚯蚓对土壤微量气体排放的影响

线虫和蚯蚓是农业中广泛存在的土壤动物,由于它们与微生物的相互作用及对土壤生态系统能量传递和养分转化的影响,可能影响土壤微量气体代谢和温室气体的排放.通过在不同土壤线虫密度下接种蚯蚓的15d培养试验结果表明,土壤动物对土壤微量气体(CO2和N2O)代谢有显著促进作用.与灭线土相比,高密度线虫土壤处理与高密度线虫土壤加蚯蚓的处理导致CO2排放量分别增加了4.3倍和5.2倍,相应的N2O排放量增加了1.8倍和2.7倍.与低密度线虫土壤处理比较时,高密度线虫土壤处理导致CO2和N2O排放量分别增加了19%和21%.接种蚯蚓在高密度线虫土中较接种在低密度线虫土壤中的CO2和N2O排放量分别增加了12%和27%.5个处理中,除了低密度线虫加蚯蚓的处理和高密度线虫处理间差异不显著外,其余各处理间均达到极显著差异(P<0.01).两种气体的排放速率呈极显著正相关(R2=0.9414).高密度线虫土壤较低密度线虫土壤显著提高了土壤的DOC含量,不同线虫密度土壤中DOC显著性的差异与CO2和N2O排放密切相关(P<0.05).     

黄土高原半干旱区不同苜蓿-作物种植方式下土壤线虫群落组成及代谢足迹

线虫群落在土壤生态系统物质循环和能量流动过程中起着重要的作用。本研究以宁夏南部山区3种苜蓿-作物种植方式[苜蓿连作(A-A)、苜蓿-玉米轮作(A-C)、苜蓿-马铃薯轮作(A-P)]为对象,探讨不同种植方式下土壤理化性质、线虫群落组成结构及代谢足迹特征,评价黄土高原半干旱区苜蓿-作物种植方式对土壤食物网结构和功能的影响。结果表明: 1)与苜蓿连作相比,苜蓿-玉米和苜蓿-马铃薯轮作方式下土壤有机碳含量分别增加了4.6%、7.4%,全氮含量分别增加了4.0%、5.2%,土壤微生物生物量碳和氮也有显著提高;2)在苜蓿连作方式下,线虫总多度为211 条·100 g^-1干土,植食线虫为优势营养类群(35.7%),而在苜蓿-玉米和苜蓿-马铃薯轮作方式下,土壤线虫总多度较苜蓿连作有所增加(分别增加49.5%、93.7%),捕-杂食线虫成为优势营养类群(所占比例分别为45.7%、37.6%);3)相较于苜蓿连作,苜蓿-作物轮作方式下,植物寄生线虫指数(PPI)显著降低,表明植物寄生线虫在土壤食物网中的危害减轻;而线虫通路指数(NCR)有所增加,表明苜蓿-作物轮作方式下,土壤有机质分解过程中细菌分解作用进一步增强;4)苜蓿-作物轮作方式下,土壤线虫成熟度指数(MI)及其复合足迹、富集足迹、结构足迹均显著提高,土壤线虫的生产力和代谢活性显著增强,线虫群落的结构和功能更为成熟稳定。研究表明,相比苜蓿连作,苜蓿-作物轮作改善了土壤养分状况,使得土壤食物网的资源输入和能量利用效率均有所增加,受干扰程度显著降低,土壤生态系统更为稳定健康,因而有利于农业的可持续发展。     

The Response of Soil Nematode Community to Nitrogen, Water, and Grazing History in the Inner Mongolian Steppe, China

Nutrient nitrogen and water availability are co-limiting factors for grassland productivity in the Inner Mongolian steppe. The objective of this study was to evaluate the interactive effects of water and nitrogen (N) addition on soil abiotic factors and soil nematode community composition. A 3-year experiment with addition of water (with and without irrigation simulating wet year precipitation) and nitrogen (0, 25, and 50?kg?N?ha^?1) was conducted at two sites in Inner Mongolia with histories of heavy grazing (HG) and moderate grazing (MG). The results showed that HG had several lower nematode ecological indicators; namely, the Simpson index (P?<?0.01), maturity index (MI, including free-living nematodes), and plant parasite index (PPI, including plant-parasitic nematodes). In addition, HG had a lower proportion of omnivores–predators and higher proportion of bacterivores (P?<?0.01), with reduced soil moisture, total nitrogen and total carbon (C), and increased C/N ratio. A relatively low addition of N did not influence soil total carbon and total nitrogen and had only a slight effect on the composition and structure of the soil nematode community. Water addition increased the proportion of plant parasites, reduced the proportion of bacterivores and omnivores–predators and increased the soil total carbon and total nitrogen. Redundancy analysis revealed that grazing history alone explained more variation in nematode taxon composition (17.4%, P?<?0.01) and PPI (35.6%, P?<?0.01) and MI (17.5%, P?<?0.01) and Simpson index (10.5%, P?<?0.01). Water addition explained more variation in the nematode feeding group (24.4%, P?<?0.01), total nematodes (7.9%, P?<?0.01) and PPI (78.7%, P?<?0.01). Nitrogen addition explained variation in the nematode taxon composition (6.2%, P?<?0.01). These results suggested that HG caused soil degradation, and water addition facilitated plant parasites and enhanced soil properties, whereas application of small amounts of nitrogen to N-limited semiarid grasslands did not induce clear changes in this system in the short term.     

Free‐living nematodes as prey for higher trophic levels of forest soil food webs

Nematodes are the most abundant invertebrates in soils and are key prey in soil food webs. Uncovering their contribution to predator nutrition is essential for understanding the structure of soil food webs and the way energy channels through soil systems. Molecular gut content analysis of consumers of nematodes, such as soil microarthropods, using specific DNA markers is a novel approach for studying predator–prey interactions in soil. We designed new specific primer pairs (partial 18S rDNA) for individual soil‐living bacterial‐feeding nematode taxa (Acrobeloides buetschlii, Panagrellus redivivus, Plectus velox and Plectus minimus). Primer specificity was tested against more than 100 non‐target soil organisms. Further, we determined how long nematode DNA can be traced in the gut of predators. Potential predators were identified in laboratory experiments including nine soil mite (Oribatida, Gamasina and Uropodina) and ten springtail species (Collembola). Finally, the approach was tested under field conditions by analyzing five mite and three collembola species for feeding on the three target nematode species. The results proved the three primer sets to specifically amplify DNA of the respective nematode taxa. Detection time of nematode DNA in predators varied with time of prey exposure. Further, consumption of nematodes in the laboratory varied with microarthropod species. Our field study is the first definitive proof that free‐living nematodes are important prey for a wide range of soil microarthropods including those commonly regarded as detritivores. Overall, the results highlight the eminent role of nematodes as prey in soil food webs and for channelling bacterial carbon to higher trophic levels.     

Selective alteration of soil food web components by invasive giant goldenrod Solidago gigantea in two distinct habitat types

Apart from relatively well‐studied aboveground effects, invasive plant species will also impact the soil food web. So far, most research has been focusing on primary decomposers, while studies on effects at higher trophic levels are relatively scarce. Giant goldenrod Solidago gigantea, native to North America, is a widespread and common invasive species in most European countries. We investigated its impact on plant communities and on multiple trophic levels of the soil food web in two contrasting habitats: riparian zones and semi‐natural grasslands. In 30 pairs of invaded and uninvaded plots, floristic composition, pH, fungal biomass and the densities of 11 nematode taxa were determined by using a quantitative PCR‐based method. In the two habitats, the invader outcompeted both rare and dominant plant species. Belowground, S. gigantea invasion reduced pH, increased overall fungal biomass as well as the density of a single lineage of fungivorous nematodes, the family Aphelenchoididae. The densities of two other, phylogenetically distinct lineages of fungivorous nematodes, Aphelenchidae and Diphtherophoridae, were unaffected by the local increase in fungal biomass. Apparently this plant species induces a local asymmetric boost of the fungal community, and only Aphelenchoididae were able to benefit from this invader‐induced change. The alternative explanation – the results are explained by a subtle, S. gigantea‐induced 0.1–0.2 units decrease of pH – seems unlikely, as pH optima for nematode taxa are relatively broad. Thus, apart from readily observable aboveground effects, the invasive plant species S. gigantea affects fungal biomass as well as a specific part of the fungivorous nematode community in a soil type‐independent manner.     

Nitrogen mineralization by bacterial-feeding nematodes: verification and measurement

Bacterial feeding nematodes excrete N assimilated in excess of that required for growth. Because metabolic and developmental rates differ among nematode species, we hypothesized that their contribution to N mineralization in soil would differ. Sand-column microcosms amended with an organic substrate, bacteria, and with or without bacterial-feeding nematodes, were leached at 3-d intervals. Cumulative N, as NH ₄ ⁺ or NO ₃ ^- , leached from columns containing nematodes was consistently greater than from columns without nematodes. Maximum N-mineralization rates for populations of rhabditid nematodes, which predominated in field soils early in the summer were at lower temperatures than those for cephalobid nematodes, which predominated later in the summer. For an organic substrate with C-to-N ratio of 11:1, rates of N mineralization among species of different body size were similar, ranging between 0.0012 and 0.0058 g-N nematode^-1 d^-1, mainly as NH ₄ ⁺ . Smaller nematodes mineralized more N per unit of body weight than larger nematodes. We hypothesized that at low C-to-N ratios of the organic substrate, bacterial growth is C-limited and N-immobilization will be minimal; at high C-to-N ratios bacterial growth will be N-limited and there may be rapid immobilization of newly-mineralized N. Consequently, net N mineralization in the presence of nematodes will be lower when the organic substrate has a high C-to-N ratio. In experiments with different nematode species, net mineralization and the nematode contribution to mineralization generally decreased with increasing C-to-N ratio, consistent with the hypothesis; however, there were exceptions.     

Soil microbiota in two annual grasslands: responses to elevated atmospheric CO2

We measured soil bacteria, fungi, protozoa, nematodes, and biological activity in serpentine and sandstone annual grasslands after 4 years of exposure to elevated atmospheric CO₂. Measurements were made during the early part of the season, when plants were in vegetative growth, and later in the season, when plants were approaching their maximum biomass. In general, under ambient CO₂, bacterial biomass, total protozoan numbers, and numbers of bactivorous nematodes were similar in the two grasslands. Active and total fungal biomasses were higher on the more productive sandstone grassland compared to the serpentine. However, serpentine soils contained nearly twice the number of fungivorous nematodes compared to the sandstone, perhaps explaining the lower standing crop of fungal biomass in the serpentine and suggesting higher rates of energy flow through the fungal-based soil food web. Furthermore, root biomass in the surface soils of these grasslands is comparable, but the serpentine contains 6 times more phytophagous nematodes compared to the sandstone, indicating greater below-ground grazing pressure on plants in stressful serpentine soils. Elevated CO₂ increased the biomass of active fungi and the numbers of flagellates in both grasslands during the early part of the season and increased the number of phytophagous nematodes in the serpentine. Elevated CO₂ had no effect on the total numbers of bactivorous or fungivorous nematodes, but decreased the diversity of the nematode assemblage in the serpentine at both sampling dates. Excepting this reduction in nematode diversity, the effects of elevated CO₂ disappeared later in the season as plants approached their maximum biomass. Elevated CO₂ had no effect on total and active bacterial biomass, total fungal biomass, or the total numbers of amoebae and ciliates in either grassland during either sampling period. However, soil metabolic activity was higher in the sandstone grassland in the early season under elevated CO₂, and elevated CO₂ altered the patterns of use of individual carbon substrates in both grasslands at this time. Rates of substrate use were also significantly higher in the sandstone, indicating increased bacterial metabolic activity. These changes in soil microbiota are likely due to an increase in the flux of carbon from roots to soil in elevated CO₂, as has been previously reported for these grasslands. Results presented here suggest that some of the carbon distributed below ground in response to elevated CO₂ affects the soil microbial food web, but that these effects may be more pronounced during the early part of the growing season.