Changes in plant species richness induce functional shifts in soil nematode communities in experimental grassland.

ABSTRACT:

Background

Changes in plant diversity may induce distinct changes in soil food web structure and accompanying soil feedbacks to plants. However, knowledge of the long-term consequences of plant community simplification for soil animal food webs and functioning is scarce. Nematodes, the most abundant and diverse soil Metazoa, represent the complexity of soil food webs as they comprise all major trophic groups and allow calculation of a number of functional indices.

Methodology/principal findings

We studied the functional composition of nematode communities three and five years after establishment of a grassland plant diversity experiment (Jena Experiment). In response to plant community simplification common nematode species disappeared and pronounced functional shifts in com

SUBMITTER: Eisenhauer N 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC3164708 | biostudies-literature | 2011

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature