Decreased biodiversity in soil springtail communities: the importance of dispersal and landuse history in heterogeneous landscapes

Jean-François Ponge (1) , Florence Dubs (2) , Servane Gillet (1) , José Paulo Sousa (3) , Patrick Lavelle (2)

1 ECOTROP - Fonctionnement, évolution et mécanismes régulateurs des écosystèmes forestiers
2 UMR BIOSOL 137 - Biodiversité et fonctionnement des sols
3 Instituto do Ambiente e Vida

In previously published papers it had been demonstrated that at the local level the species richness of soil springtail communities was negatively influenced by landuse diversity. When the dispersal rate of soil animals was taken into account, quite opposite trends were displayed by species having poor or high dispersal capabilities. At the local level, species with short legs, non functional jumping apparatus and reduction of visual organs were distinguished against by landuse diversity, while species with long legs, functional jumping apparatus (furcula) and complete eyes, thus able to disperse at the soil surface, were not. It was verified, through aerial photographs taken 50 years ago, that landuse changes, expected to be more frequent in heterogeneous landscapes, may contribute to explain this phenomenon.

Mots clés: Landuse intensification; Springtails; Landuse diversity; Dispersal rate

Domaines: Science des sols

Jean-François Ponge, Florence Dubs, Servane Gillet, José Paulo Sousa, Patrick Lavelle. Decreased biodiversity in soil springtail communities: the importance of dispersal and landuse history in heterogeneous landscapes. Soil Biology and Biochemistry, 2006, 38 (5), pp.1158-1161. ⟨10.1016/j.soilbio.2005.09.004⟩. ⟨hal-00495402⟩