Soil invertebrate diversity loss and functional changes in temperate forest soils replaced by exotic pine plantations.

ABSTRACT: The global expansion of tree plantations is often claimed to have positive effects for mitigating global warming, preventing soil erosion, and reducing biodiversity loss. However, questions remain unanswered about the impacts of plantations on belowground diversity and soil properties. Here, we examine how forestry plantations of exotic trees affect critical soil functions and the composition of invertebrate assemblages, by comparing invertebrate diversity and soil physico-chemical properties between non-native Pinus radiata plantations, and nearby native forests in a region of extensive plantation activity in south-central Chile. We quantified differences in diversity, abundance, and community composition of soil invertebrates, as well as fundamental soil properties such as soil water con

SUBMITTER: Cifuentes-Croquevielle C 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC7210289 | biostudies-literature | 2020 May

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature