Summary
We examined the number of enchytraeids and nematodes in the mor humus layer of polluted Scots pine (Pinus sylvestris L.) stands, located on a sulphur gradient from 1.2 to 2.8 mg g-1 in mor humus and up to a distance of 40 km from the centre of Oulu, an industrialized city in northern Finland, in autumn 1989 and spring 1990. The number of enchytraeids, dominated by one species, Cognettia sphagnetorum, showed a clear positive correlation with the soil respiration rate and the diversity and production of mycorrhizal fungi, and all these were negatively related with S and N concentrations in the soil, as measured in 1987 and 1988. This negative correlation may have been caused by an alteration in food supply of enchytraeids, owing to changes in litter quality and the amount and species composition of fungi and mycorrhizae. Nematode numbers showed a positive correlation with the activity of dehydrogenase enzymes mineral N, and soil pH. The feeding characteristics of nematodes as a group need further study. The numbers of both enchytraeids and nematodes were higher in the autumn than in the spring and in the case of nematodes this variation was related to soil moisture.
This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Abrahamsen G, Thompson WN (1979) A long term study of the enchytraeidae (Oligochaeta) fauna of a mixed coniferous forest and the effects of urea fertilization. Oikos 32:318–327
Bååth E, Berg B, Lohm U, Lundgren B, Lundkvist H Rosswall T, Söderström B, Wiren A (1980) Effects of experimental acidification and liming on soil organisms and decomposition in a Scots pine forest. Pedobiologia 20:85–100
Babich H, Stotzky G (1980) Environmental factors that influence the toxicity of heavy metal and gaseous pollutant to microorganisms. Crit Rev Microbiol 8:99–145
Bengtsson G, Rundgren S (1982) Population density and species number of enchytraeids in coniferous forest soils polluted by a brass mill. Pedobiologia 24:211–218
Hågvar S (1989) Effects of artificial acidification on soil fauna and decomposition rate. Medd Nor Skogforsoeksves 42:77–82
Hågvar S, Abrahamsen G (1980) Colonisation by Enchytraeidae, Collembola and Acari in sterile soil samples with adjusted pH levels. Oikos 34:245–258
Hartenstein R, Neuhauser EG, Collier J (1980) Accumulation of heavy metals in the earthworm Eisenia fetida. J Environ Qual 9:282–286
Heungens A (1981) Nematode population functuations in pine litter after treatment with pH changing compounds. Meded Fac Landbouwwet Rijksuniv Gent 46:1267–1281
Huhta V, Hyvönen R, Kaasalainen P, Koskenniemi A, Muona J, Mäkelä I, Sulander M, Vilkamaa P (1986a) Soil fauna of Finnish coniferous forest. Ann Zool Fenn 23:345–360
Huhta V, Hyvönen R, Koskenniemi A, Vilkamaa P, Kaasalainen P, Sulander M (1986b) Response, of soil fauna to fertilization and manipulation of pH in coniferous forest. Acta For Fenn 195:1–30
Hyvönen R, Persson T (1990) Effects of acidification and liming on feeding groups of nematodes in coniferous forest. Biol Fertil Soils 9:205–210
Markkola AM, Ohtonen R (1988) Mycorrhizal fungi and biological activity of humus layer in polluted pine forest in surroundings of Oulu. Karstenia 28:45–47
Municipality of Oulu (1989) Air quality in Oulu: Measurements in 1988. Municipality of Oulu publication 2
O'Connor FB (1962) The extraction of Enchytraeidae from soils. In: Murphy PW (ed) Progress in soil zoology. Butterworths, London, pp 279–285
Ohtonen R, Markkola AM (1989) Effect of local air pollution on the sporophore production of mycorrhizal fungi, mycorrhizae and microbial activity in Scots pine forests. Medd Nor Skogsforsoeksves 42:121–131
Ohtonen R, Markkola AM (1991) Biological activity and amount of FDA mycelium in mor humus of Scots pine stands (Pinus sylvestris L.) in relation to soil properties and degree of pollution. Biogeochemistry 13:1–26
Ohtonen R, Markkola AM, Torvela H (1989) Total sulphur content in the humus layer of urban polluted forests in the surrounding of Oulu. Water Air Soil Pollut 44:135–141
Ohtonen R, Markkola AM, Heinonen-Tanski H, Fritze H (1990) Soil biological parameters as indicators of changes in Scots pine forests (Pinus sylvestris L.) caused by air pollution. In: Kauppi P, Kenttämies K, Anttila P (eds) Acidification in Finland. Springer Verlag, Berlin Heidelberg, pp 373–393
Persson T, Bååth E, Clarholm M, Lundkvist H, Söderström BE, Sohlenius B (1980) Trophic structure, biomass dynamics and carbon metabolism of soil organisms in a Scots pine forest. In: Persson T (ed) Structure and function of Northern coniferous forest — an ecosystem study. Ecol Bull (Stockholm) 32:419–459
Persson T Lundkvist H, Wiren A, Hyvönen R, Wessen B (1989) Effects of acidification and liming on carbon and nitrogen mineralization and soil organism in mor humus. Water Air Soil Pollut 45:77–96
Ponge J-F (1985) Etude écologique d'un humus forestier par l'observation d'un petit volume: II. La couche L d'un moder sous Pinus sylvestris. Pedobiologia 28:73–114
SAS Institute (1988a) SAS procedures guide, release 6.03 edition. SAS Institute, Cary, North Carolina
SAS Institute (1988b) SAS/STAT user's guide, release 6.03 edition. SAS Institute, Cary, North Carolina
Setälä H, Huhta V (1990) Evaluation of the soil fauna impact on decomposition in a simulated coniferous forest soil. Biol Fertil Soils 10:163–169
Setälä H, Huhta V (1991) Soil fauna increases the growth of birch (Betula pendula): Laboratory experiments with coniferous forest floor. Ecology 72:665–671
Setälä H, Martikainen E, Tyynismaa M, Huhta V (1990a) Effects of soil fauna on leaching of nitrogen and phosphorus from experimental systems simulating coniferous forest floor. Biol Fertil soils 10:170–177
Setälä H, Tyynismaa M, Martikainen E, Huhta V (1990b) Mineralization of C, N and P in relation to decomposer community structure in coniferous forest soil. Pedobiologia 35:285–296
Söderström BE Bååth E, Lundgren B (1983) Decrease in soil microbial activity and biomasses owing to nitrogen amendments. Can J Microbiol 29:1500–1506
Sohlenius B (1979) A carbon budget for nematodes, rotifers and tardigrades in a Swedish coniferous forest soil. Holarct Ecol 2:30–40
Sohlenius B, Wasilewska L (1984) Influence of irrigation and fertilization in the nematode community in a Swedish pine forest floor. J Appl Ecol 21:327–342
Standen V (1978) The influence of soil fauna on decomposition by microorganisms in blanket bog litter. J Anim Ecol 47:25–38
Timans U (1986) Emfluss der sauren Beregnung und Kalkung auf die Nematodenfauna. Forstwiss Centralbl 105:335–337
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Additional information
The work was carried out in the Department of Botany, University of Oulu, Linnanmaa, SF-90570 Oulu, Finland, and in Forestry Canada, Petawawa National Forestry Institute, Chalk River, Ontario, K0J 1J0, Canada
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Ohtonen, R., Ohtonen, A., Luotonen, H. et al. Enchytraeid and nematode numbers in urban, polluted Scots pine (Pinus sylvestris) stands in relation to other soil biological parameters. Biol Fert Soils 13, 50–54 (1992). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00337238
Received:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00337238