Summary
The data introduced here are part of a project lasting from 1976 to 1985 in an acid beech wood forest in the northern part of the Black Forst in Southern Germany. With Enchytraeidae (Oligochaeta) as an example, attempts were made to determine the part played by the mesofauna in the soil system. Parameters such as respiration, production, and consumption were estimated using abundance and biomass data as a basis. The results show that not only the Enchytraeidae but even single species like Cognettia sphagnetorum or Mesenchytraeus glandulosus contribute a measurable amount to the energy flow of the soil ecosystem. The respiration of the whole population, for example, corresponds to 3.4% of the total energy input via leaf litter, and consumption amounts to 8.1% of the total litter including twigs. It seems that the Enchytraeidae contribute around 60% of the total soil animal respiration in this acid beech wood, and thus play an important role in soil renewal.
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Römbke, J. Estimates of the Enchytraeidae (Oligochaeta, Annelida) contribution to energy flow in the soil system of an acid beech wood forest. Biol Fertil Soils 11, 255–260 (1991). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00335844
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00335844