Tree-related microhabitats harbor distinct micro-invertebrate communities and support complex food webs.

ABSTRACT: Microscopic soil invertebrates are known to play an important role in forest ecosystems through their interactions with the rhizosphere and belowground food webs. However, little is known about the abundance, diversity, distribution, and ecological roles of micro-invertebrates above the forest floor, particularly within tree-related microhabitats (TreMs). In this study, we sampled 18 distinct types of TreMs in the UNESCO World Heritage old-growth beech forest of La Massane, located in the southeastern Pyrenees. We extracted and counted various groups of micro-invertebrates (nematodes, tardigrades, rotifers, and mites) associated with these TreMs, and identified nematodes to the species level. Additionally, we measured the stable isotopic signatures of carbon and nitrogen in various resourc

SUBMITTER: Majdi N 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC12370837 | biostudies-literature | 2025 Aug

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature