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Soil invertebrate fauna enhances grassland succession and diversity

Author

Listed:
  • Gerlinde B. De Deyn

    (Netherlands Institute of Ecology (NIOO-KNAW))

  • Ciska E. Raaijmakers

    (Netherlands Institute of Ecology (NIOO-KNAW))

  • H. Rik Zoomer

    (Institute of Ecological Science)

  • Matty P. Berg

    (Institute of Ecological Science)

  • Peter C. de Ruiter

    (Utrecht University)

  • Herman A. Verhoef

    (Institute of Ecological Science)

  • T. Martijn Bezemer

    (Netherlands Institute of Ecology (NIOO-KNAW))

  • Wim H. van der Putten

    (Netherlands Institute of Ecology (NIOO-KNAW))

Abstract

One of the most important areas in ecology is to elucidate the factors that drive succession in ecosystems and thus influence the diversity of species in natural vegetation. Significant mechanisms in this process are known to be resource limitation1,2,3 and the effects of aboveground vertebrate herbivores4,5. More recently, symbiotic and pathogenic soil microbes have been shown to exert a profound effect on the composition of vegetation6,7,8,9 and changes therein10,11. However, the influence of invertebrate soil fauna on succession has so far received little attention12,13. Here we report that invertebrate soil fauna might enhance both secondary succession and local plant species diversity. Soil fauna from a series of secondary grassland succession stages selectively suppress early successional dominant14 plant species, thereby enhancing the relative abundance of subordinate14 species and also that of species from later succession stages. Soil fauna from the mid-succession stage had the strongest effect. Our results clearly show that soil fauna strongly affects the composition of natural vegetation and we suggest that this knowledge might improve the restoration and conservation of plant species diversity.

Suggested Citation

  • Gerlinde B. De Deyn & Ciska E. Raaijmakers & H. Rik Zoomer & Matty P. Berg & Peter C. de Ruiter & Herman A. Verhoef & T. Martijn Bezemer & Wim H. van der Putten, 2003. "Soil invertebrate fauna enhances grassland succession and diversity," Nature, Nature, vol. 422(6933), pages 711-713, April.
    • Handle: RePEc:nat:nature:v:422:y:2003:i:6933:d:10.1038_nature01548
    DOI: 10.1038/nature01548
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    Cited by:

    1. Huayong Zhang & Qingxia Lin & Tousheng Huang & Yu Feng & Shijia Zhang, 2022. "Distribution Patterns of Soil Fauna in Different Forest Habitat Types of North Hebei Mountains, China," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 14(10), pages 1-14, May.
    2. Yongwei Zhou & Changhai Liu & Ning Ai & Xianghui Tuo & Zhiyong Zhang & Rui Gao & Jiafeng Qin & Caixia Yuan, 2022. "Characteristics of Soil Macrofauna and Its Coupling Relationship with Environmental Factors in the Loess Area of Northern Shaanxi," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 14(5), pages 1-14, February.
    3. Körner, Katrin & Pfestorf, Hans & May, Felix & Jeltsch, Florian, 2014. "Modelling the effect of belowground herbivory on grassland diversity," Ecological Modelling, Elsevier, vol. 273(C), pages 79-85.

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