Exotic earthworms maintain soil biodiversity by altering bottom-up effects of plants on the composition of soil microbial groups and nematode communities.

ABSTRACT: Bottom-up effects of plants on soil communities can be modified by the activity of exotic earthworms, by altering resource availability for soil food webs through feeding, burrowing, and casting activities. The present study explored effects of plants (planting of shrubs) on soil micro-food webs (composition of soil microbial and nematode communities), and whether these effects were altered by the activity of exotic earthworms (exotic earthworms addition). Planted shrubs resulted in a non-significant increase of bacterial biomass and significantly increased the abundance of different nematode trophic groups and total nematode biomass, indicating that planted shrubs had significant bottom-up effects on soil bacteria and nematodes. Planted shrubs decreased nematode diversity, evenness, and r

SUBMITTER: Shao Y 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC7610695 | biostudies-literature | 2019 Apr

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature