Soil nematode community succession in stabilised sand dunes in the Tengger Desert, China
Dejuan Zhi A , Wenbin Nan A , Xiaoxia Ding A , Qinjian Xie A and Hongyu Li A BA MOE Key Laboratory of Arid and Grassland Ecology, School of Life Sciences, Lanzhou University, Lanzhou 730000, P.R. China.
B Corresponding author. Email: lihy@lzu.edu.cn
Australian Journal of Soil Research 47(5) 508-517 https://doi.org/10.1071/SR08196
Submitted: 28 August 2008 Accepted: 26 March 2009 Published: 18 August 2009
Abstract
In order to examine how nematodes respond to sand dune succession after stabilisation and reclamation techniques, nematode communities were investigated in sand dunes stabilised for 0, 16, 26, 43, and 51 years in the Tengger Desert, China. Our results revealed that the abundance of nematodes; the proportion of fungivores, omnivores, and predators; maturity index (MI); Shannon index; evenness; and structure index (SI) were affected significantly by the age of stabilised sand dunes, and were correlated with soil physical and chemical properties to different degrees. There were differences in nematode abundance, the proportion of fungivores, Shannon index, and evenness between the shifting dunes and the stabilised dunes, but not within the different succession stages of the stabilised dunes. MI showed a tendency to increase with dune age and SI increased significantly with dune age. MI, and especially SI, could act as robust indicators of stabilised sand dune succession. Redundancy analysis using data on nematode community composition showed that shifting sand dunes were clearly separated from stabilised sand dunes, and younger sand dunes stabilised for 16 and 26 years were also separated from older dunes stabilised for 43 and 51 years to a lesser degree. The results indicated that changes in nematode communities could predict initial sand dune stabilisation due to the planting of artificial vegetation, and clearly differentiate sand dune succession accompanied by vegetation succession and variation of soil properties.
Additional keywords: diversity, soil characteristic, trophic groups.
Acknowledgement
This work was supported by the Chunhui Plan and Program for Changjiang Scholars and Innovative Research Team at University. The authors are very grateful to the faculty of the Shapotou Station of Desert Research, Chinese Academy of Science, for their help in our sample collection. Special thanks to Dr Ni Yongqing and laboratory mate Liu Hetao for their assistance in collecting samples.
Bongers T
(1990) The maturity index: an ecological measure of environmental disturbance based on nematode species composition. Oecologia 83, 14–19.
| Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Darby BJ,
Neher DA, Belnap J
(2007) Soil nematode communities are ecologically more mature beneath late- than early-successional stage biological soil crusts. Applied Soil Ecology 35, 203–212.
| Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Dmowska E, Krassimira I
(2006) Secondary succession of nematodes in power plant ash dumps reclaimed by covering with turf. European Journal of Soil Biology 42, S164–S170.
| Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Ferris H,
Bongers T, De Goede RGM
(2001) A framework for soil food web diagnostics: extension of the nematode faunal analysis concept. Applied Soil Ecology 18, 13–29.
| Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Frouz J,
Prach K,
Pižl V,
Háněl L,
Srarý J,
Tajovský K,
Materna J,
Balík V,
Kalčík J, Řehounková K
(2008) Interactions between soil development, vegetation and soil fauna during spontaneous succession in post mining sites. European Journal of Soil Biology 44, 109–121.
| Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Fullen MA, Mitchell DJ
(1994) Desertification and reclamation in north-central China. Ambio 23, 131–135.
Goralczyk K
(1998) Nematodes in a coastal dune succession: indicators of soil properties? Applied Soil Ecology 9, 465–469.
| Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Görres JH,
Savin MC,
Neher DA,
Weicht TR, Amador JA
(1999) Grazing in a porous environment: 1. effect of soil pore structure on C and N mineralization. Plant and Soil 212, 75–83.
| Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Griffiths BS,
Wheatley RE,
Olesen T,
Henriksen K,
Ekelund F, Ronn R
(1998) Dynamics of nematodes and protozoa following the experimental addition of cattle or pig slurry to soil. Soil Biology & Biochemistry 30, 1379–1387.
| Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
CAS |
Háněl L
(2002) Development of soil nematode communities on coal-mining dumps in two different landscapes and reclamation practices. European Journal of Soil Biology 38, 167–171.
| Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Háněl L
(2003) Recovery of soil nematode populations from cropping stress by natural secondary succession to meadow land. Applied Soil Ecology 22, 255–270.
| Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Hohberg K
(2003) Soil nematode fauna of afforested mine sites: genera distribution, trophic structure and functional guilds. Applied Soil Ecology 22, 113–126.
| Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Holtkamp R,
Kardol P,
van der Wal A,
Dekker SC,
van der Putten WH, de Ruiter PC
(2008) Soil food web structure during ecosystem development after land abandonment. Applied Soil Ecology 39, 23–34.
| Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Jiang D,
Li Q,
Liu F,
Jiang Y, Liang W
(2007) Vertical distribution of soil nematodes in an age sequence of Caragana microphylla plantations in the Horqin Sandy Land, Northeast China. Ecological Research 22, 49–56.
| Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Kuai G, Liu X
(2004) The distribution features of araneid community under the conditions of artificial plants in Shapotou. Journal of Inner Mongolia Normal University 33, 304–307 [in Chinese, with English abstract].
Li XR,
He MZ,
Duan ZH,
Xiao HL, Jia XH
(2007) Recovery of topsoil physicochemical properties in revegetated sites in the sand-burial ecosystems of the Tengger Desert, northern China. Geomorphology 88, 254–265.
| Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Li XR,
Wang XP,
Li T, Zhang JG
(2002) Microbiotic soil crust and its effect on vegetation and habitat on artificially stabilized desert dunes in Tengger Desert, North China. Biology and Fertility of Soils 35, 147–154.
| Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Li XR,
Xiao HL,
Zhang JG, Wang XP
(2004) Long-term ecosystem effects of sand-binding vegetation in the Tengger Desert, northern China. Restoration Ecology 12, 376–390.
| Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Li XR,
Zhang JG,
Wang XP,
Liu LC, Xiao HL
(2000) Study on soil microbiotic crusts and its influences on sand-fixing vegetation in arid desert region. Acta Botanica Sinica 32, 965–970.
Li XR,
Zhou HY,
Wang XP,
Zhu YG, O’Conner PJ
(2003) The effects of sand stabilization and revegetation on cryptogam species diversity and soil fertility in the Tengger Desert, Northern China. Plant and Soil 251, 237–245.
| Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
CAS |
Liang W,
Mouratov S,
Pinhasi-Adiv Y,
Avigad P, Steinberger Y
(2002) Seasonal variations in the nematode communities associated with two halophytes in a desert ecosystem. Pedobiologia 46, 63–74.
| Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Liang W, Steinberger Y
(2001) Temporal changes in nematode community structure in a desert ecosystem. Journal of Arid Environments 48, 267–280.
| Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Liu X,
Chen HY,
Wu N, Guo L
(2002) Study on insect community niche under different desertification controlling approaches in Tengger Desert ecosystem. Journal of Desert Research 22, 566–570 [in Chinese, with English abstract].
Liu X,
Liu Y,
Guo L, Yong S
(1999) Study on the diversity of soil animal in Tengger Dersert ecosystem. Journal of Desert Research 19(suppl.), 180–184 [in Chinese, with English abstract].
|
CAS |
Liu X, Yang J
(2005) Application of macrofauna as bioindicators of artificial plant succession in Shapotou region. Journal of Desert Research 25, 40–44 [in Chinese, with English abstract].
McSorley R, Frederick J
(1996) Nematode community structure in rows and between rows of a soybean field. Fundamental and Applied Nematology 19, 251–261.
Mitchell DJ,
Fullen MA,
Trueman IC, Fearnehough W
(1998) Sustainability of reclaimed desertified land in Ningxia, China. Journal of Arid Environments 39, 239–251.
| Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Neher DA
(2001) Role of nematodes in soil health and their use as indicator. Journal of Nematology 33, 161–168.
|
CAS |
PubMed |
Neher DA,
Wu J,
Barbercheck ME, Anas O
(2005) Ecosystem type affects interpretation of soil nematode community measures. Applied Soil Ecology 30, 47–64.
| Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Neilson R,
Boag B, Palmer LF
(1996) The effect of environment on marine nematode assemblages as indicated by the maturity index. Nematologica 42, 233–242.
Pen-Mouratov S,
He XL, Steinberger Y
(2004a) Spatial distribution and trophic diversity of nematode population under Acacia raddiana along a temperature gradient in the Negev Desert ecosystem. Journal of Arid Environments 56, 339–355.
| Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Pen-Mouratov S,
Rakhimbaev M,
Barness G, Steinberger Y
(2004b) Spatial and temporal dynamics of nematode populations under Zygophyllum dumosum in arid environments. European Journal of Soil Biology 40, 31–46.
| Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Pen-Mouratov S,
Rakhimbaev M, Steinberger Y
(2003) Seasonal and spatial variation in nematode communities in a Negev desert ecosystem. Journal of Nematology 35, 157–166.
|
CAS |
PubMed |
Ritz K, Trudgill DL
(1999) Utility of nematode community analysis as an integrated measure of the function state of soils: perspectives and challenges. Plant and Soil 212, 1–11.
| Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
CAS |
Steinberger Y,
Liang WJ,
Savkina E,
Meshi T, Barness G
(2001) Nematode community composition and diversity associated with a topoclimatic transect in a rain shadow desert. European Journal of Soil Biology 37, 315–320.
| Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Steinberger Y, Loboda I
(1991) Nematode population dynamics and trophic structure in a soil profile under the canopy of the desert shrub Zygophyllum dumosum. Pedobiologia 35, 191–197.
Steinberger Y,
Loboda I, Garner W
(1989) The influence of autumn dewfall on spatial and temporal distribution of nematodes in the desert ecosystem. Journal of Arid Environments 16, 177–183.
Steinberger Y, Sarig S
(1993) Response by soil nematode populations and the soil microbial biomass to a rain episode in the hot, dry Negev Desert. Biology and Fertility of Soils 16, 188–192.
| Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Thornton CW, Matlack GR
(2002) Long-term disturbance effects in the nematode communities of South Mississippi Woodlands. Journal of Nematology 34, 88–97.
|
CAS |
PubMed |
Verhoeven R
(2002) The structure of the microtrophic system in a development series of dune soils. Pedobiologia 46, 75–89.
| Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Viketoft M,
Palmborg C,
Sohlenius B,
Kerstin HD, Bengtsson J
(2005) Plant species effects on soil nematode communities in experimental grasslands. Applied Soil Ecology 30, 90–103.
| Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Wall JW,
Skene KR, Neilson R
(2002) Nematode community and trophic structure along a sand dune succession. Biology and Fertility of Soils 35, 293–301.
| Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Wang XP,
Li XR, Xiao HL
(2006) Evolutionary characteristics of the artificially revegetated shrub ecosystem in the Tengger Desert, northern China. Ecological Research 21, 415–424.
| Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
CAS |
Wasilewska L
(1994) The effect of age of meadows on succession and diversity in soil nematode communities. Pedobiologia 38, 1–11.
Wasilewska L
(2006) Changes in the structure of the soil nematode community over long-term secondary grassland succession in drained fen peat. Applied Soil Ecology 32, 165–179.
| Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Whitehead AG, Hemming JR
(1965) A comparison of some quantitative methods of extracting small vermiform nematodes from soil. Annals of Applied Biology 55, 25–38.
| Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Wu JH,
Fu CZ,
Lu F, Chen JK
(2005) Changes in free-living nematode community structure in relation to progressive land reclamation at an intertidal marsh. Applied Soil Ecology 29, 47–58.
| Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Yeates GW
(2003) Nematodes as soil indicators: functional and biodiversity aspects. Biology and Fertility of Soils 37, 199–210.
Yeates GW,
Bongers T,
de Goede RGM,
Freckman DW, Georgieva SS
(1993) Feeding habit in soil nematode families and genera: an outline for soil ecologists. Journal of Nematology 25, 315–331.
|
CAS |
PubMed |
Young IM,
Griffiths BS,
Robertson WM, McNicol JW
(1998) Nematode (Caenorhabditis elegans) movement in sand as affected by particle size, moisture and the presence of bacteria (Escherichia coli). European Journal of Soil Science 49, 237–241.
| Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Yu YJ,
Lin QG,
Shi QH, Liu JQ
(2002) Changes of habitat and vegetation in man-made vegetation area of Shapotou section along Baotou-Lanzhou railway. Acta Ecologica Sinica 22, 433–437 [in Chinese, with English abstract].
Zou B,
Cong Z, Liu S
(1981) A preliminary observation on the basic characteristics of sand-carrying currents and the effects of adopted prevention and control measurement at Shapotou. Journal of Desert Research 1, 33–39 [in Chinese, with English abstract].
