| Title |
Copper effects on soil nematodes and their possible impact on leaf litter decomposition: A microcosm approach |
|
Authors |
Martinez, J.G., Paran, G.P., Rizon, R., De Meester, N. and Moens, T. |
|
Publication date |
2016 |
|
Journal |
European Journal of Soil Biology |
| Volume |
73 |
| Issue |
73 |
| Pages |
1-7 |
| Publisher |
Elsevier |
| Abstract |
Scientists and policy makers have to establish criteria to distinguish 脙垄脗聙脗聵acceptable脙垄脗聙脗聶 from 脙垄脗聙脗聵harmful脙垄脗聙脗聶 levels of
pollution. Earlier studies have shown that even amounts of heavy metal pollutants well below LC50 or
EC50 concentrations, can affect the fitness of individual bacterivorous nematode species, as well as the
balance of the horizontal interactions between them. Species interactions are critical in shaping community
structure and promoting ecosystem functions like organic matter decomposition - a key process
that drives the flow of energy and nutrients in ecosystems.
In this paper, we exposed two bacterial feeding soil nematodes, Plectus acuminatus and Acrobeloides
nanus, to different Cu concentrations in monospecific and two-species microcosms containing leaf litter
of the common grass species Urochloa mutica for a period of 60 days. We demonstrate that toxicant
concentrations well below LC50 not only impair the fitness of the nematodes, but may also affect the
interspecific interactions between them as a result of their differential sensitivity to Cu. Both Plectus and
Acrobeloides are bacterial feeders and may thus affect the decomposition of leaf litter by impacting on the
abundance and composition of bacteria. We observed Cu effects on the decomposition of Urochloa, but in
the absence of data on the microbial community, it is not possible to assign these to direct effects of Cu
on the bacteria or indirect effects through the Cu impacts on nematodes and their interactions. |
| Index terms / Keywords |
Bacterivorous nematode, Cu, Sublethal pollution, Decomposition, Mutual facilitation |
| URL |
|
Mindanao State
University - Iligan Institute of Technology