Mixed forests with native species mitigate impacts of introduced Douglas fir on soil decomposers (Collembola)

Research output: Contribution to journalResearch articleContributedpeer-review

Contributors

  • Jing Zhong Lu - , University of Göttingen, Senckenberg Museum of Natural History Görlitz (Author)
  • Junbo Yang - , University of Göttingen, CAS - Guangxi Institute of Botany (Author)
  • Christian Bluhm - , Forest Research Institute Baden-Württemberg (Author)
  • Estela Foltran - , University of Göttingen (Author)
  • Carmen Alicia Rivera Pérez - , University of Göttingen, University of Oldenburg (Author)
  • Jonas Glatthorn - , University of Göttingen (Author)
  • Christian Ammer - , University of Göttingen (Author)
  • Norbert Lamersdorf - , University of Göttingen (Author)
  • Andrea Polle - , University of Göttingen (Author)
  • Matty Berg - , Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam (VU), University of Groningen (Author)
  • Anton M. Potapov - , Chair of Functional Soil Biodiversity Research (gB/SMNG), University of Göttingen, Senckenberg Museum of Natural History Görlitz, German Centre for Integrative Biodiversity Research (iDiv) Halle—Jena—Leipzig (Author)
  • Stefan Scheu - , University of Göttingen (Author)

Abstract

Forest ecosystem management requires the conservation of associated biodiversity. Enriching native forests with economically valuable conifer species provides economic gains and meets the increasing societal demand for timber but may threaten biodiversity. Soil sustains most of forest biodiversity, but the impact of changes in tree species composition, including native and non-native species, on soil invertebrates remains little studied. We investigated the impact of different forest types on the taxonomic and functional composition of springtail communities (Collembola, Insecta), an abundant and diverse microarthropod group inhabiting litter and soil. Using native Fagus sylvatica (European beech) as reference, we compared Collembola communities with native but range-expanding Picea abies (Norway spruce) and non-native Pseudotsuga menziesii (Douglas fir) as well as beech–conifer mixtures. The abundance of Collembola was higher in Norway spruce than in European beech, with little difference among the other forest types. Further, the taxonomic and functional composition of Collembola was shifted to more parthenogenetic species at sandy sites, stressing the importance of regional factors such as soil type and climate in structuring Collembola communities. Collembola communities in Douglas fir were more pigmented and distributed to the surface, resulting in a lower proportion of euedaphic Collembola compared to European beech forests. In mixed forests, the impacts of Douglas fir on euedaphic Collembola were reduced, suggesting that negative effects of introduced tree species on soil animal communities might be alleviated by limiting Douglas fir to enrichment plantings only. Overall, the results indicate that vertical distribution in soil and morphological traits of Collembola help to better understand the changes in decomposer communities due to planting non-native tree species.

Details

Original languageEnglish
Article numbere70034
Number of pages14
JournalEcological Applications
Volume35
Issue number3
Publication statusPublished - Apr 2025
Peer-reviewedYes

External IDs

PubMed 40320667

Keywords

ASJC Scopus subject areas

Keywords

  • functional trait, life form, non-native plant, resource availability, springtail, trophic guild