Bioindicators of the Soil Food Web.ppt

Higher resolution References Bongers, T., M. Bongers. 1998. Functional diversity of nematodes. Applied Soil Ecology 10:239-251. Bongers, T., H. Ferris. 1999. Nematode community structure as a bioindicator in environmental monitoring. Trends in Ecology and Evolution 14:224-228. Ferris, H., T. Bongers, R. G. M. de Goede. 2001. A framework for soil food web diagnostics: extension of the nematode faunal analysis concept. Applied Soil Ecology 18:3-29. Ferris, H. and Bongers, T. 2009. Indices for analysis of nematode assemblages. Chapter 5 in: Nematodes as Environmental Bioindicators. Editors: M.J. Wilson and T. Kakouli-Duarte. CAB International, Wallingford, UK, pp 124-145. Ferris H. 2010. Form and function: metabolic footprints of nematodes in the soil food web. European Journal of Soil Biology 46:97-104. ? More information: /nemaplex Beneficial contributions of soil organisms may be due to keystone effects, but are more likely the result of then function of the soil food web with that organism as a participant. It is instructive to consider the effects of soil organisms within the context of the structure and function of the soil food web. Structural and Functional Resilience of the soil food web is determined by connectance redundant and resilience of the web. Guilds vary in their sensitivity to environmental disturbance.. Often guilds at higher trophic levels in the web are more sensitive than those at lower trophic levels. Disturbance of the web may result in reduction of abundance of predators of opportunistic species. Consequently, upon enrichment with organic matter or plant growth, opportunistic herbivore and decomposer species may increase unregulated resulting in damage to the primary producer (plant) or immobilization of nutrients or other examples of functional instability. Evaluation of the state of the soil food web may be accomplished by structural or functional analysis. Structural analysis of the web is very difficult if it requires inve