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Earthworms, litter and soil carbon in a northern hardwood forest

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An Erratum to this article was published on 23 May 2013

Abstract

The important role of soil carbon (C) in the global C cycle has stimulated interest in better understanding the mechanisms regulating soil C storage and its stabilization. Exotic earthworm invasion of northern forest soils in North America can affect soil C pools, and we examined their effects on these mechanisms by adding 13C labeled leaf litter to adjacent northern hardwood forests with and without earthworms. Two types of labeled litter were produced, one with the 13C more concentrated in structural (S) components and the other in non-structural (NS) components, to evaluate the role of biochemical differences in soil C stabilization. Earthworm invasions have reduced soil C storage in the upper 20 cm of the soil profile by 37 %, mostly by eliminating surface organic horizons. Despite rapid mixing of litter into mineral soil and its incorporation into aggregates, mineral soil C has not increased in the presence of earthworms. Incorporation of litter C into soil and microbial biomass was not affected by biochemical differences between S versus NS labeled litter although NS litter C was assimilated more readily into earthworm biomass and S litter C into fungal hyphae. Apparently, the net effect of earthworm mixing of litter and forest floor C into mineral soil, plus stabilization of that C in aggregates, is counterbalanced by earthworm bioturbation and possible priming effects. Our results support recent arguments that biochemical recalcitrance is not a major contributor to the stabilization of soil C.

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Acknowledgments

For assistance in the field and laboratory, the authors thank J. Beem-Miller, F. Chen, M. Dempsey, T. Feldpausch, L. Martel, J. Milanovich, R. Schmidt, M. Spigler and L. Stoschek. This research was supported by a Grant from the Ecosystem Studies Program, National Science Foundation.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Natural Resources, Cornell University, 12 Fernow Hall, Ithaca, NY, 14853-3001, USA

    Timothy J. Fahey, Joseph B. Yavitt & Ruth E. Sherman

  2. Warnell School of Forestry and Natural Resources, University of Georgia, 180 E Green Street, Athens, GA, 30602-2152, USA

    John C. Maerz

  3. Cary Institute of Ecosystem Studies, Box AB, 2801 Sharon Turnpike, Millbrook, NY, 12545, USA

    Peter M. Groffman

  4. Department of Zoology, Miami University, 212 Pearson Hall, Oxford, OH, 45056, USA

    Melany C. Fisk

  5. Department of Biology, University of Central Florida, P.O. Box 162368, Orlando, FL, 32816-2368, USA

    Patrick J. Bohlen

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  1. Timothy J. Fahey
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Correspondence to Timothy J. Fahey.

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Fahey, T.J., Yavitt, J.B., Sherman, R.E. et al. Earthworms, litter and soil carbon in a northern hardwood forest. Biogeochemistry 114, 269–280 (2013). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10533-012-9808-y

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