IDEAS home Printed from https://ideas.repec.org/a/eee/ecomod/v217y2008i1p87-94.html
   My bibliography  Save this article

Linking food webs to ecosystem processes: Piecewise linear models of soil microcosms

Author

Listed:
  • Nieminen, Jouni K.

Abstract

A piecewise linear approach to link decomposer biomass and soil nitrogen dynamics is proposed. Dynamics of a detritus–fungus–nematode food chain were studied in a microcosm experiment and modelled to evaluate the role of fungal-feeding nematodes in N mineralization. The nematode dynamics switched from exponential growth to a resource-limited phase. At the same time the amount of ammonium nitrogen in soil started to increase, following an initial immobilization phase. Both nematode and ammonium dynamics could be described by two-phase linear equations. Two nitrogen models were compared. A model in which the nematode accounted for all mineralization could be fitted to the ammonium data, but failed to predict nematode dynamics. In contrast, a model with no mineralization by the nematode explained both nematode and ammonium dynamics. Thus, the results support a view that despite their relatively high N output fungal-feeding nematodes are not quantitatively important in N mineralization. The biomass dynamics of pine seedlings and associated mycorrhizal fungi were modelled in a second experiment. A nutrient-limited model with constant plant growth rate described the plant–mycorrhiza system adequately. Together these models provide a theoretical basis for analyzing experimental model systems (microcosms).

Suggested Citation

  • Nieminen, Jouni K., 2008. "Linking food webs to ecosystem processes: Piecewise linear models of soil microcosms," Ecological Modelling, Elsevier, vol. 217(1), pages 87-94.
    • Handle: RePEc:eee:ecomod:v:217:y:2008:i:1:p:87-94
    DOI: 10.1016/j.ecolmodel.2008.06.010
    as

    Download full text from publisher

    File URL: http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0304380008002895
    Download Restriction: Full text for ScienceDirect subscribers only
    File URL: https://libkey.io/10.1016/j.ecolmodel.2008.06.010?utm_source=ideas
    LibKey link: if access is restricted and if your library uses this service, LibKey will redirect you to where you can use your library subscription to access this item
    ---><---

    As the access to this document is restricted, you may want to search for a different version of it.

    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Cambier, C. & Bousso, M. & Masse, D. & Perrier, E., 2007. "A new, offer versus demand, modelling approach to assess the impact of micro-organisms spatio-temporal population dynamics on soil organic matter decomposition rates," Ecological Modelling, Elsevier, vol. 209(2), pages 301-313.
    Full references (including those not matched with items on IDEAS)

    Most related items

    These are the items that most often cite the same works as this one and are cited by the same works as this one.
    1. da Cunha Santino, Marcela Bianchessi & Bianchini, Irineu, 2008. "Carbon cycling potential from Utricularia breviscapa decomposition in a tropical oxbow lake (São Paulo, Brazil)," Ecological Modelling, Elsevier, vol. 218(3), pages 375-382.
    2. Monga, Olivier & Bousso, Mamadou & Garnier, Patricia & Pot, Valérie, 2008. "3D geometric structures and biological activity: Application to microbial soil organic matter decomposition in pore space," Ecological Modelling, Elsevier, vol. 216(3), pages 291-302.

    Corrections

    All material on this site has been provided by the respective publishers and authors. You can help correct errors and omissions. When requesting a correction, please mention this item's handle: RePEc:eee:ecomod:v:217:y:2008:i:1:p:87-94. See general information about how to correct material in RePEc.

    If you have authored this item and are not yet registered with RePEc, we encourage you to do it here. This allows to link your profile to this item. It also allows you to accept potential citations to this item that we are uncertain about.

    If CitEc recognized a bibliographic reference but did not link an item in RePEc to it, you can help with this form .

    If you know of missing items citing this one, you can help us creating those links by adding the relevant references in the same way as above, for each refering item. If you are a registered author of this item, you may also want to check the "citations" tab in your RePEc Author Service profile, as there may be some citations waiting for confirmation.

    For technical questions regarding this item, or to correct its authors, title, abstract, bibliographic or download information, contact: Catherine Liu (email available below). General contact details of provider: http://www.journals.elsevier.com/ecological-modelling .

    Please note that corrections may take a couple of weeks to filter through the various RePEc services.

    IDEAS is a RePEc service. RePEc uses bibliographic data supplied by the respective publishers.