Isotopic detection of recent photosynthate carbon flow into grassland rhizosphere fauna

Ostle, N.; Briones, M. J. I.; Ineson, P.; Cole, L.; Staddon, P.; Sleep, D. ORCID: https://orcid.org/0009-0002-1128-1883. 2007 Isotopic detection of recent photosynthate carbon flow into grassland rhizosphere fauna. Soil Biology and Biochemistry, 39 (3). 768-777. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.soilbio.2006.09.025

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Official URL: http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.soilbio.2006.09.025

Abstract/Summary

In this study, we measured the incorporation of recent photosynthate-C inputs into active rhizosphere fauna (earthworms, enchytraeids, mites and collembolans) in an upland grassland soil under natural environmental conditions. This was achieved by means of a 13CO2 pulse-chase experiment made during the growing season, followed by a 20-day dynamic sampling of soil fauna for 12C/13C analysis by IRMS. The effect of post-13C labelling defoliation (cutting) on fauna 12C/13C ratios was also examined. Results showed that earthworms made up over 93% of the extracted fauna biomass, while mites, collembolans and enchytraeids together accounted for less than 7%. All fauna groups showed evidence of tracer 13C in their tissues within a week of 13CO2 pulse labelling in both control and cut treatments. Cutting significantly increased the amount of tracer 13C entering the organisms (P=0.0002). Similarly, the fauna group also had a significant effect (P=0.0001). Time did not have any effect on fauna 13C content between groups as differences were only significant at the last sampling occasion. The interaction time×animal group, however, had a significant effect (P=0.0054). Collembolans accounted for most of the tracer 13C measured within the fauna biomass, i.e. mean±standard deviation of 44.78±12.75% and 44.29±14.69% of fauna 13C in control and cut treatments, respectively. Mites and earthworms contained between 22.13% and 28.45%, and enchytraeids less than 6% of the tracer 13C. We conclude that, during the growing season, there was a rapid incorporation of recent photosynthate-C into rhizosphere mesofauna. This carbon transfer was most significantly increased by defoliation in mites and collembolans (P<0.01). These results provide evidence that soil foodweb carbon dynamics are not solely underpinned by detrital decomposition but are also affected by short-term plant rhizodeposition patterns.

Item Type:	Publication - Article
Digital Object Identifier (DOI):	https://doi.org/10.1016/j.soilbio.2006.09.025
Programmes:	CEH Programmes pre-2009 publications > Biogeochemistry > BG01 Measuring and modelling trace gas, aerosol and carbon > BG01.2 Carbon
UKCEH and CEH Sections/Science Areas:	Shore
ISSN:	0038-0717
Additional Keywords:	Collembolans, 13C, Defoliation, Earthworms, Enchytraeids, Mites, Rhizosphere
NORA Subject Terms:	Agriculture and Soil Science Biology and Microbiology Ecology and Environment
Date made live:	26 Mar 2008 12:39 +0 (UTC)
URI:	https://nora.nerc.ac.uk/id/eprint/2441

Item Type:

Publication - Article

Digital Object Identifier (DOI):

https://doi.org/10.1016/j.soilbio.2006.09.025

Programmes:

CEH Programmes pre-2009 publications > Biogeochemistry > BG01 Measuring and modelling trace gas, aerosol and carbon > BG01.2 Carbon

UKCEH and CEH Sections/Science Areas:

Shore

ISSN:

0038-0717

Additional Keywords:

Collembolans, 13C, Defoliation, Earthworms, Enchytraeids, Mites, Rhizosphere