How to translate text using browser tools
1 September 2015 Application of the Bait-Lamina Method to Measure the Feeding Activity of Soil Fauna in Temperate Forests
Beata Klimek, Maria Niklińska, Małgorzata Jaźwa, Marcin Chodak, Agata Tarasek
Author Affiliations +
Abstract

The aim of the study was to compare the feeding activity of soil fauna in seven temperate forests with the application of the bait-lamina method. Seven types of temperate forests located throughout Poland (East-Central Europe) were tested, ranging from dry pine forest with a typical poor quality soil to eutrophic riparian fresh deciduous forest. Each forest type was represented by five stands and all stands altogether represented natural gradient of soil fertility, texture and vegetation diversity. Despite clear diversification between the studied forest types according to a range of soil physicochemical properties and vegetation characteristics in addition to applying recommended measurement conditions for the method, we determined that the feeding activity of soil fauna did not differ between forest types. The activity of soil fauna did not depend on site botanical characteristics or any soil physical or chemical features, indicating that the bait lamina method was useless in measuring the feeding activity of soil fauna in temperate forest soils. Differences in the feeding activity of soil fauna might result from other environmental factors that influence soil fauna feeding activity in forest stands that were not measured here, i.e., soil temperature and humidity. The differences could also be attributable to the attractiveness of the bait substrate to soil fauna, which may be different in various soil conditions.

Beata Klimek, Maria Niklińska, Małgorzata Jaźwa, Marcin Chodak, and Agata Tarasek "Application of the Bait-Lamina Method to Measure the Feeding Activity of Soil Fauna in Temperate Forests," Polish Journal of Ecology 63(3), 414-423, (1 September 2015). https://doi.org/10.3161/15052249PJE2015.63.3.011
Published: 1 September 2015
KEYWORDS
bait-lamina strips
biodiversity
forest soils
soil fauna feeding activity
vascular plants
RIGHTS & PERMISSIONS
Get copyright permission
Back to Top