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Effects of Understory or Overstory Removal on the Abundances of Soil Nematode Genera in a Eucalyptus Plantation.

ABSTRACT: In south China, eucalyptus plantations typically consist of a single-species overstory (a eucalyptus monoculture) and a dense understory of a dominant fern species. In the current study, we assessed the effects of four treatments [control (CK), understory removal (UR), tree removal (TR), and all-plant removal (PR)] on the abundances of soil nematode genera, which can provide insight into the ecological functions of understory plants and trees. Soil nematodes were sampled six times (once before and five times after treatments were implemented) at 0-5 and 5-10 cm soil depths. The temporal dynamics of nematode genera were analyzed by the principle response curves (PRC) method. At 0-5 cm depth, the abundances of most nematode genera rapidly increased shortly after vegetation removal but then gradually decreased; the effects of UR were stronger than the effects of TR. The results might be explained by the pulsed input of plant debris to soil and its subsequent depletion. At 5-10 cm depth, the nematode communities were relatively unaffected by vegetation removal within the first 162 days, but the abundances of most genera sharply decreased on day 258 and then sharply increased on day 379 (the last sampling time). The results indicated that most nematode genera, even r-selected genera, were sensitive to vegetation removal in the upper soil layer and that understory vegetation can greatly affect soil nematode communities and presumably soil food webs. The nematode genera Prismatolaimus and Diphtherophora may be good indicators of the effects of vegetation removal. The results increase our understanding of the relationships between soil nematode genera and forest plant communities and of how soil biota is affected by forest management practices.

SUBMITTER: Gao D

PROVIDER: S-EPMC8204015 | biostudies-literature |

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature

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Project description:Forest management practices play an important role in regulating the soil water-holding capacity of plantation. However, most studies focus on soil water dynamics present during large-scale forest loss and afforestation events, while little is known about how soil water under different forest management practices responds to rainfall events and which factors mainly regulate soil water-holding capacity. In this study, a stable hydrogen isotope was used to explore the contribution of three natural rainfall events (8.9, 13.3 and 67.7 mm) to soil water (CRSW) in a Pinus massoniana plantation under four forest management practices (no thinning (NTN), understory removal (USR), light-intensity thinning (LIT) and heavy-intensity thinning (HIT)) in the Three Gorges Reservoir Area of the Yangtze River Basin in China. Furthermore, a structural equation model was employed to determine the effects of vegetation biomass and soil properties on the CRSW. The results showed that plantation soil under different forest management practices exhibited different water-holding capacities. Following light (8.9 mm) and moderate (13.3 mm) rainfall events, the CRSW in the HIT stand was slightly higher than that in the other stands. Following heavy (66.7 mm) rainfall event, the CRSW of most layers in USR stand was not different from the other three stands, while the CRSW in the LIT and NTN stands was significantly higher than that in the HIT stand in the 0-100 cm soil layers, suggesting that soil in the LIT and NTN stands had a greater water-holding capacity than that in the HIT stand. In addition, soil properties were the main factors directly affecting the CRSW, explaining 60% and 37% of the variation in the CRSW on the first and seventh days after heavy rainfall, respectively. Overall, compared to the HIT stand, the LIT and NTN stands showed greater capacity in retaining rainwater. Therefore, under expected global changes with frequent occurrences of extreme precipitation events, methods involving light-intensity and no thinning should be employed to build up soil and water conservation functions, which will be critical for keeping water-holding capacity and moderating floods.

Dataset Information

Effects of Understory or Overstory Removal on the Abundances of Soil Nematode Genera in a Eucalyptus Plantation.

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