Edaphic fauna play a key role in many soil functions such as organic matter decomposition, humus formation and nutrient elements cycling; moreover, they affect the porosity, aeration, infiltration and distribution of organic matter in soil horizons, modifying soil structure and improving soil fertility. In this study, six beech forests located in three areas of the centre of the Italian Apennine were studied to evaluate the microarthropod and ciliate communities, in order to evaluate their potential as a soil biodiversity reservoir. Microarthropod abundances, Acari/Collembola ratio, biodiversity indices and QBS-ar index were calculated. Microarthropod communities were found to be rich and well diversified in all of the six beech forests, characterized by typical groups generally present in woods with good natural conditions. The number of taxa ranged between 10 and 14 in the six forests and in all sites important groups such as Symphyla, Chilopoda, Pauropoda and Protura were present. Pseudoscorpiones were found in four forests while Isopoda were present only in two forests. Ciliate communities were investigated by means of qualitative and quantitative methods. Abundance, dominance, species diversity and C/P quotient (ratio of r-selected colpodean and kselected polyhymenophorean ciliates) were calculated. A total of 27 ciliate species belonging to 10 order, 14 families and 17 genera were recorded from three sites. Colpoda, Gonostomum and Spathidium were the dominant genus. Species richness ranged from 13 to 16 for all the sites. Biological quality and edaphic community composition highlighted the importance of beech forests in the protection policy of soil biodiversity.

MICROARTHROPOD AND CILIATED PROTOZOA SOIL COMMUNITIES IN SIX CENTRAL ITALIAN BEECH FORESTS

BHARTI, DAIZY;LA TERZA, Antonietta
2012-01-01

Abstract

Edaphic fauna play a key role in many soil functions such as organic matter decomposition, humus formation and nutrient elements cycling; moreover, they affect the porosity, aeration, infiltration and distribution of organic matter in soil horizons, modifying soil structure and improving soil fertility. In this study, six beech forests located in three areas of the centre of the Italian Apennine were studied to evaluate the microarthropod and ciliate communities, in order to evaluate their potential as a soil biodiversity reservoir. Microarthropod abundances, Acari/Collembola ratio, biodiversity indices and QBS-ar index were calculated. Microarthropod communities were found to be rich and well diversified in all of the six beech forests, characterized by typical groups generally present in woods with good natural conditions. The number of taxa ranged between 10 and 14 in the six forests and in all sites important groups such as Symphyla, Chilopoda, Pauropoda and Protura were present. Pseudoscorpiones were found in four forests while Isopoda were present only in two forests. Ciliate communities were investigated by means of qualitative and quantitative methods. Abundance, dominance, species diversity and C/P quotient (ratio of r-selected colpodean and kselected polyhymenophorean ciliates) were calculated. A total of 27 ciliate species belonging to 10 order, 14 families and 17 genera were recorded from three sites. Colpoda, Gonostomum and Spathidium were the dominant genus. Species richness ranged from 13 to 16 for all the sites. Biological quality and edaphic community composition highlighted the importance of beech forests in the protection policy of soil biodiversity.
2012
File in questo prodotto:
Non ci sono file associati a questo prodotto.

I documenti in IRIS sono protetti da copyright e tutti i diritti sono riservati, salvo diversa indicazione.

Utilizza questo identificativo per citare o creare un link a questo documento: https://hdl.handle.net/11581/370209
 Attenzione

Attenzione! I dati visualizzati non sono stati sottoposti a validazione da parte dell'ateneo

Citazioni
  • ???jsp.display-item.citation.pmc??? ND
  • Scopus ND
  • ???jsp.display-item.citation.isi??? ND
social impact