Experimental modifications of litter supplies in a forest mull and reaction of the nematode fauna

Pierre Arpin (1) , Jean-François Ponge (1) , Guy Vannier (1)

1 CESCO - Centre d'Ecologie et des Sciences de la COnservation

The reactions and behaviours of the nematode fauna in an acid mull of a deciduous forest (State Forest of Orleans, France) have been monitored for four years in the course of an experimental deprivation and doubling of annual litter supplies as well as of a deprivation of litter and rain-leaching arrivals. The deprivation of litter rapidly entails, from the year following the withholding, a regression in the density of the populations, firstly at surface (0-3 cm) then at depth (-3-10 cm), as well as a modification in the intensity of the two seasonal activity peaks. In contrast to the other trophic groups, the density of the plant feeder nematodes increases during the two years after the litter withholding. Furthermore, a different behaviour in the animal activity at the surface and at depth occurs. As part of the two-fold litter supply, in addition to a decrease of the density of the nematode fauna, we have observed an enhancement of the dominance of fungal feeder nematodes compared to bacterial feeder nematodes, a particular trend of the level (-1-3 cm) that behaves, in the beginning of the experiment, as a surface level (0-1 cm) then evolves like a depth level (- 3-6 cm and - 6-10 cm), thus emphasizing the surface-depth imbalance in the vertical animal distribution. Also we have pointed out an increase of the density of Cephalobidae and Plectidae contrarily to the other bacterial feeder nematodes. The experiment of litter and rain-leaching arrival deprivation has allowed us to give some elements of comparison in situ on the nematode resistance to a deficient soil hydric regime but also on the aptitude and rapidity of some species to react when the environmental conditions become favourable again; then the ecological significance of the behaviour of the colonizing bacterial feeder species is discussed. Referring to a previous experiment of litter supply withholding and literature data (clear-cutting soil acidification, nematode behaviour in desert soils) the authors draw attention to the role of the litter and the underground vegetative system on the maintenance of the biological activity and on the organization of the nematode populations. Furthermore the role of these animals as potential indicators of the environmental conditions is emphasized.

Mots clés: Nematoda; forest litter supplies; litter removal; hydric stress; biological indicators

Domaines: Science des sols

Pierre Arpin, Jean-François Ponge, Guy Vannier. Experimental modifications of litter supplies in a forest mull and reaction of the nematode fauna. Fundamental and Applied Nematology, 1995, 18 (4), pp.371-389. ⟨hal-00506002⟩