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CO2 efflux from a Mediterranean semi-arid forest soil. II. Effects of soil fauna and surface stoniness

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Abstract

Many forest soils in the Mediterranean basin areshallow and contain high amounts of gravel in theorganic layers. Recent studies on soil organic matteraccumulation have shown high amounts of organic matteroccurring mainly in soils with high levels ofstoniness at the soil surface. The gravel layer mayaffect the microclimatic conditions of the soilsurface and probably the distribution and activity ofsoil fauna.

In order to quantify the combined effects soil fauna(epigeic macrofauna and earthworms) and stoniness onthe release of soil CO2, we performed a threefactor field experiment by using a series ofreconstructed soil profiles. Factors 1 and 2 consistedof the exclusion/presence of soil epigeic macrofaunaand earthworms, and factor 3 of the presence/absenceof a gravel layer intermingled with the H horizon. Weincubated 14C straw in the H horizon and carriedout three 40 mm rainfall simulations.

Soil respiration primarily depended on the season. Theeffects of soil fauna were generally small and did notcoincide with periods of high faunal activity. Thelargest effects of both earthworms and soil epigeicfauna were found after wetting the soil in summer. Theeffects of the earthworms were concentrated in themineral soil while the effects of the epigeic faunawere concentrated in the H horizon and mainly arosetowards the end of the experiment. This suggests thatthe effects of epigeic fauna may have beenunderestimated due to the length of the experiment.The gravel layer increased the effect of faunaprobably by creating more favorable microclimaticconditions. The accumulation of organic matter insoils with high levels of stoniness cannot beexplained by the effect of gravel on soil microclimatenor by its effect on the activity of soil fauna.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Plant Biology, Universitat de Barcelona. Avgda, Diagonal 645, E-08028, Barcelona, Spain

    Joan Romanyà, Pere Casals & V. Ramon Vallejo

  2. Department of Ecology, Universitat d'Alacant, Ap. Correus 99, E-03080, Alacant, Spain

    Jordi Cortina

  3. CEFE-CNRS, B.P. 5051, Route de Mende, 1919, Montpellier, F-33293 Cedex 5, France

    Pierre Bottner & Marie-Madeleine Coûteaux

  4. Parque Tecnológico c/4 sector oeste, CEAM, 46980, Paterna, Spain

    V. Ramon Vallejo

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  1. Joan Romanyà
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  2. Pere Casals
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  5. Marie-Madeleine Coûteaux
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  6. V. Ramon Vallejo
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Romanyà, J., Casals, P., Cortina, J. et al. CO2 efflux from a Mediterranean semi-arid forest soil. II. Effects of soil fauna and surface stoniness. Biogeochemistry 48, 283–306 (2000). https://doi.org/10.1023/A:1006208305082

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