In the framework of the BioPrint Pilot Project and for the first time in Italy, we have investigated the community structure of soil ciliates from agroecosystems and natural sites of Marche Region. The aims were: i) to evaluate the capacity of ciliates to discriminate between different land uses; and ii) management practices; iii) to assess relationships among ciliate communities and abiotic parameters. Soil samples were collected twice from 10 sites (5 natural sites: FORest; and 5 arable field: 3 ORGanic and 2 CONventional). Ciliate communities were studied by means of qualitative and quantitative methods. Soil chemical-physical parameters were measured. Qualitative ciliate analysis allowed us to identify a total of 59 species. Multivariate analysis showed statistically significant differences between natural sites (FORest) and agricultural sites, as well as between the ORGanic and CONventional management farming systems. CCA analysis showed correlations between the distributions of species with environmental parameters indicating the importance of these parameters in shaping the ciliate communities in the different sites. Altogether, these results showed the bioindicative potential of ciliate communities in discriminating between natural sites and agroecosystems, as well as their capacity to discriminate, at least preliminary, between different management systems (ORG vs CON).
THE BIOPRINT PILOT PROJECT: CILIATED PROTOZOA COMMUNITIES AS A TOOL TO ASSESS SOIL QUALITY IN AGROECOSYSTEMS AND NATURAL SITES OF MARCHE REGION (ITALY)
LA TERZA, Antonietta;BHARTI, DAIZY;
2015-01-01
Abstract
In the framework of the BioPrint Pilot Project and for the first time in Italy, we have investigated the community structure of soil ciliates from agroecosystems and natural sites of Marche Region. The aims were: i) to evaluate the capacity of ciliates to discriminate between different land uses; and ii) management practices; iii) to assess relationships among ciliate communities and abiotic parameters. Soil samples were collected twice from 10 sites (5 natural sites: FORest; and 5 arable field: 3 ORGanic and 2 CONventional). Ciliate communities were studied by means of qualitative and quantitative methods. Soil chemical-physical parameters were measured. Qualitative ciliate analysis allowed us to identify a total of 59 species. Multivariate analysis showed statistically significant differences between natural sites (FORest) and agricultural sites, as well as between the ORGanic and CONventional management farming systems. CCA analysis showed correlations between the distributions of species with environmental parameters indicating the importance of these parameters in shaping the ciliate communities in the different sites. Altogether, these results showed the bioindicative potential of ciliate communities in discriminating between natural sites and agroecosystems, as well as their capacity to discriminate, at least preliminary, between different management systems (ORG vs CON).I documenti in IRIS sono protetti da copyright e tutti i diritti sono riservati, salvo diversa indicazione.
