Functional traits in soil-living oribatid mites unveil trophic reorganization in belowground communities by introduced tree species
Jing-Zhong Lu,
Christian Bluhm,
Estela Foltran,
Carmen Alicia Rivera Pérez,
Christian Ammer,
Tancredi Caruso,
Jonas Glatthorn,
Norbert Lamersdorf,
Andrea Polle,
Dorothee Sandmann,
Ina Schaefer,
Andreas Schuldt,
Mark Maraun,
Stefan Scheu
Affiliations
Jing-Zhong Lu
J.F. Blumenbach Institute of Zoology and Anthropology, University of Göttingen, Untere Karspüle 2, 37073 Göttingen, Germany; Corresponding author.
Christian Bluhm
Dept. Soils and Environment, Forest Research Institute Baden-Württemberg, Wonnhaldestraße 4, 79100 Freiburg, Germany
Estela Foltran
Soil Science of Temperate Ecosystems, University of Göttingen, Büsgenweg 2, 37077 Göttingen, Germany; Bordeaux-Sciences-Agro, INRAE, UMR ISPA, Villenave d’Ornon 33140 France
Carmen Alicia Rivera Pérez
Forest Botany and Tree Physiology, University of Göttingen, Büsgenweg 2, 37077 Göttingen, Germany; Institute of Biology and Environmental Sciences, Carl von Ossietzky University of Oldenburg, Ammerländer Heerstr. 114-118 D-26129 Oldenburg, Germany
Christian Ammer
Silviculture and Forest Ecology of the Temperate Zones, University of Göttingen, Büsgenweg 1, 37077 Göttingen, Germany; Centre of Biodiversity and Sustainable Land Use, University of Göttingen, Büsgenweg 1, 37077 Göttingen, Germany
Tancredi Caruso
School of Biology & Environmental Science, University College Dublin, Dublin 4, Ireland
Jonas Glatthorn
Silviculture and Forest Ecology of the Temperate Zones, University of Göttingen, Büsgenweg 1, 37077 Göttingen, Germany; Swiss Federal Institute for Forest, Snow and Landscape Research WSL, Zürcherstrasse 111, 8903 Birmensdorf, Switzerland
Norbert Lamersdorf
Soil Science of Temperate Ecosystems, University of Göttingen, Büsgenweg 2, 37077 Göttingen, Germany
Andrea Polle
Forest Botany and Tree Physiology, University of Göttingen, Büsgenweg 2, 37077 Göttingen, Germany
Dorothee Sandmann
J.F. Blumenbach Institute of Zoology and Anthropology, University of Göttingen, Untere Karspüle 2, 37073 Göttingen, Germany
Ina Schaefer
J.F. Blumenbach Institute of Zoology and Anthropology, University of Göttingen, Untere Karspüle 2, 37073 Göttingen, Germany
Andreas Schuldt
Forest Nature Conservation, University of Göttingen, Büsgenweg 3, 37077 Göttingen, Germany; Centre of Biodiversity and Sustainable Land Use, University of Göttingen, Büsgenweg 1, 37077 Göttingen, Germany
Mark Maraun
J.F. Blumenbach Institute of Zoology and Anthropology, University of Göttingen, Untere Karspüle 2, 37073 Göttingen, Germany
Stefan Scheu
J.F. Blumenbach Institute of Zoology and Anthropology, University of Göttingen, Untere Karspüle 2, 37073 Göttingen, Germany; Centre of Biodiversity and Sustainable Land Use, University of Göttingen, Büsgenweg 1, 37077 Göttingen, Germany
Biodiversity loss and its potential threat on ecosystem functions call for a critical evaluation of human impacts on forest ecosystems. Management practices based on stand diversification offer a possible solution to biodiversity loss due to monoculture plantations, and these practices often involve planting introduced tree species. Although introduced non-native tree species may provide high economic returns, they may also form novel ecosystems and threaten local biodiversity, but this has been little studied. Here, we combined a taxonomic and trait-based approach and investigated communities of oribatid mites (Oribatida, Acari) across forest types of both native and introduced tree species in Northern Germany. Both trophic and life-history traits of oribatid mites were evaluated using native European beech (Fagus sylvatica) as reference, compared to native Norway spruce (Picea abies), introduced Douglas fir (Pseudotsuga menziesii) and beech-conifer mixtures. The abundance and diversity of oribatid mites were generally similar among monocultures of European beech, Norway spruce and Douglas fir. By contrast, species and trait compositions of oribatid mite communities were shifted to include more primary decomposers and more surface-living oribatid mites in Douglas fir, resulting in a trophic reorganization with less predators than in European beech forests. These results suggest that oribatid mites maintain a similar level of trait diversity regardless of forest type, but the changes in trophic guild composition and vertical distribution indicate greater availability of litter-based resources in Douglas fir than in European beech forests. The similar abundance and diversity of oribatid mite communities in Douglas fir mixed stands as in native European beech forests points to mixed forests as a promising management option for future forestry. Overall, our trait-based analyses provided insights into the changes of soil biota composition, revealing the impact of introduced tree species on the structure and functions of soil animal communities.
