Ponds (dystrophic or not) were sampled in natural vs disturbed peatlands in Poland. • Vegetation ... more Ponds (dystrophic or not) were sampled in natural vs disturbed peatlands in Poland. • Vegetation communities were significantly associated with long-term precipitation. • Oribatida were associated with organic carbon in water, Mesostigmata with no factor. • Vegetation differed between natural and disturbed peatlands, but not mites. • Vegetation and mites are indicators of complimentary aspects of peatland condition.
Biodiversity of ecosystems is an important driver for the supply of ecosystem services to people.... more Biodiversity of ecosystems is an important driver for the supply of ecosystem services to people. Soils often have a larger biodiversity per unit surface area than what can be observed aboveground. Here, we present what is to our knowledge, the most extensive literature-based keyword assessment of the existing information about the relationships between belowground biodiversity and ecosystem services in European forests. The belowground diversity of plant roots, fungi, prokaryota, soil fauna, and protists was evaluated in relation to the supply of Provisioning, Regulating, Cultural, and Supporting Services. The soil biota were divided into 14 subgroups and the ecosystem services into 37 separate services. Out of the 518 possible combinations of biotic groups and ecosystem services, no published study was found for 374 combinations (72%). Of the remaining 144 combinations (28%) where relationships were found, the large majority (87%) showed a positive relationship between biodiversity of a belowground biotic group and an associated ecosystem service. However, for the majority of the combinations (102) there were only three or fewer studies. The percentage of cases for which a relationship was detected varied strongly between ecosystem service categories with 23% for Provisioning, 8% for Regulating, 40% for Cultural, and 48% for Supporting Services. We conclude that (1) soil biodiversity is generally positively related to ecosystem services in European forests; (2) the links between soil biodiversity and Cultural or Supporting services are better documented than those relating to Provisioning and Regulating services; (3) there is a huge knowledge gap for most possible combinations Bakker et al. Belowground Biodiversity and Ecosystem Services of soil biota and ecosystem services regarding how a more biodiverse soil biota is associated with a given ecosystem service. Given the drastically increasing societal demand for knowledge of the role of biodiversity in the functioning of ecosystems and the supply of ecosystem services, we strongly encourage the scientific community to conduct well-designed studies incorporating the belowground diversity and the functions and services associated with this diversity.
Ecologists are increasingly recognizing the importance of stochastic processes in generating spat... more Ecologists are increasingly recognizing the importance of stochastic processes in generating spatial and temporal variation in biological communities. This variation is very high in soil, which hosts not <¼ of all biodiversity on Earth and is central to how terrestrial ecosystems respond to perturbations. Measurement errors, demographic stochasticity (individual variability in traits such as birth and death rates), and environmental stochasticity (fluctuations in environmental properties) are the three main sources of stochasticity in ecology. Here, we synthesize how these three sources of stochasticity are quantified and incorporated in the study of soil biodiversity, highlighting current limits, possible solutions, and future research needs. We stress the relevance of all these factors to our future understanding of terrestrial ecosystems via plant-soil and soil-climate interactions and feedbacks. In soil, measurement errors are due to the small size, high abundance, and broad distributions of soil organisms, which limit sampling in space and especially over time. We argue that positive autocorrelation is a main characteristic of soil environmental properties, which may have important consequences on the response of soil biota to perturbations. At a local scale, large populations of soil organisms also imply a minor role of demographic stochasticity. Despite demographic stochasticity being a less significant source of variability than environmental stochasticity, we show that demographic stochasticity can be sizeable, but that within soil systems, stochasticity of environmental conditions must be accounted for. Explicit consideration of stochastic processes in soil biodiversity research is essential to our future understanding of the processes that control soil biodiversity. In classical ecology, stochasticity implies probabilistic predictions in terms of population growth, extinction, species coexistence, and community diversity. In soil, stochasticity implies very variable responses to climate change and the soil-climate feedback. Future studies will have to identify the major sources of environmental stochasticity with a particular focus on the interaction between multiple global change factors. KEYWORDS stochasticity, soil biodiversity, terrestrial ecology, global change, time serial data. Introduction Individuals, populations, and ecological communities display very large variability over space and time. Since a fully deterministic description of all the factors that control this variability is not feasible, ecologists have developed a large number of models that explicitly incorporate stochastic processes in modeling this variability (
Nutrient cycling is essential for the maintenance of forest productivity. Despite the low contrib... more Nutrient cycling is essential for the maintenance of forest productivity. Despite the low contribution of soil fauna to heterotrophic respiration, their impact on decomposition is now recognised as being substantial. The use of microcosms has given an insight into the complexity of the interactions involved (4). However, the phenomena observed in microcosms are often not seen in the field (1). Clarholm (3) suggests that the microcosm may be seen as a model for small volumes of soil. The conditions pertaining in the field will be an integration of events occurring at the microsite level (2). Thus, it is difficult to extrapolate from microcosm studies to field situations.
In studies of soil waters, several parameters are normally measured in each sample. The data are ... more In studies of soil waters, several parameters are normally measured in each sample. The data are thus multivariate and the detection and interpretation of patterns may be aided by the use of multivariate statistical techniques. In this investigation data from the CORE project are analysed, using correspondence analysis, to produce ordinations which would illustrate any changes in leachate chemistry that might occur in time or space.
Growth rates, podomere addition, and secondary production of Arcilalitrus dorrieni (Hunt, 1925) p... more Growth rates, podomere addition, and secondary production of Arcilalitrus dorrieni (Hunt, 1925) populations inhabiting two neighbouring woodland sites at Kylemore, Co. Galway, Ireland, were investigated. One site was a mixed deciduous woodland infested with Rhododendron ponticum. The other a pure coniferous stand of Pinus contorta var. latifolia S. Wats. Seasonal changes in biomass were recorded at the two sites. In both years of the study, maximum biomass was recorded in September. Females had a higher growth rate than males, but growth rates of both males and females were higher at the mixed deciduous site. The number of podomeres on the second antenna was correlated with the size of the animal. The average length of A. dorrieni at each podomere number appeared to change seasonally. Comparisons of mean spring values with mean summer values showed a statistically significant decrease in mean amphipod length for a given podomere number, though this was more marked at the mixed deciduous site. Annual secondary production rates ranged from 5.06 g dry wt m‐2 year‐1at the coniferous site to 14.55 g dry wt m‐2 year‐1 at the mixed deciduous site. P:B values ranged from 2.41 at the coniferous site to 3.01 at the mixed deciduous site. Results are compared between sites and with data from other relevant crustacean species.
Monthly samples were taken using a small-meshed beach seine. A total of 1092 sticklebacks were ca... more Monthly samples were taken using a small-meshed beach seine. A total of 1092 sticklebacks were captured, 725 fish were used to calculate the age distributions and 699 were examined for gut contents. The age data, determined from the otoliths, showed that there were four age classes present. The mean length of first year fish (O-Group fish) was 2.24cm, of second year fish (I-Group) 3.36 and 4.4 7cm and 5. 72cm for II-Group and III-Group fish respectively. The breeding season was June-July. Sex ratios were similar in both lakes and did not differ significantly from 1 : 1. Sexual maturity was reached by all fish above 3cm. The smallest maturing virgin was 2.6cm in length. Egg diameters varied between 1.0 and 1.5mm. The diet was similar in the two lakes studied. In the North Lake Cladocera, chironomid larvae, copepods and molluscs dominated while in the South Lake Cladocera, copepods, chironomid larvae and surface insects were dominant. Sticklebacks were extremely scarce in the Vartry River and feeder streams entering both lakes and would not pose a threat to egg production by trout and minnow in these streams. The influence of sticklebacks is discussed in relation to other fish species.
We provide a catalogue of the oribatid species (Arachnida, Acari, Oribatida) recorded from Irelan... more We provide a catalogue of the oribatid species (Arachnida, Acari, Oribatida) recorded from Ireland between the first records at the beginning of the 20 th century and 2015. The catalogue, which contains 246 named species includes information on the habitats and locations where the species were found in Ireland as well as the references (if the data were published) where these were recorded. In addition, we include information on the species authorship, together with comprehensive nomenclatural data on synonyms and combination/variations of the named species. This catalogue increases the number of oribatids species known in Ireland by 50% since the most recent catalogue published in 1998 by Malcom Luxton.
A catalogue of the species of Mesostigmata (Arachnida, Acari, Parasitiformes) recorded from Irela... more A catalogue of the species of Mesostigmata (Arachnida, Acari, Parasitiformes) recorded from Ireland including information on their geographical distribution and habitats (Zootaxa 4519) 220 pp.; 30 cm.
From April to October 1983 monthly samples, totalling 343 trout, were taken from the two reservoi... more From April to October 1983 monthly samples, totalling 343 trout, were taken from the two reservoirs at Roundwood, Co. Wicklow, using a range of gill nets. In 1984 an extensive electro-fishing programme was carried out in the Vartry River and three other feeder streams, in which 605 trout were obtained. The age data, determined from the scales, showed that there were six year classes in the South Lake and five in the North Lake. The fish from the river and feeder streams were less than 4 years old, 90% belonging to 0 + and 1 + age groups. Trout from the South Lake showed faster growth, attaining 28.7 em at year 5, compared to 23.2 em in the North Lake. Only six trout were over over five years old. Sexual maturity was reached during the third year. The dominant food organisms were trichopteran larvae and pupae (Umnephilus vittatus)' molluscs (Potamopyrgus jenkinsi and Sphaerium corneum) and chironomid larvae (Endochironomus sp. and Tanytarsus sp.). The species composition of the fauna of both lakes was almost identical, but biomass was greater in the South Lake where the trout populations appeared to be numerically smaller. The high female to male ratios in the lakes, varying between 1.37 and 1.67 to 1 did not appear to be age related. In the Vartry River and other feeder streams the fish were young, immature and predominantly male. These fish contained many more ephemeropteran nymphs than the lake trout. The oligotrophic state of the lakes, combined with the fluctuations in water level make it unlikely that any steps can be taken to improve the sport fishery using the native trout. Development of a put and take fishery is recommended.
Page 1. FUNGAL FRUITING BODIES AND THE STRUCTtRE OF FUNGUS -\MICRO-ARTHROPOD ASSEMBLAGES Tadhg O&... more Page 1. FUNGAL FRUITING BODIES AND THE STRUCTtRE OF FUNGUS -\MICRO-ARTHROPOD ASSEMBLAGES Tadhg O&amp;amp;#x27;Connell and Thomas Bolger ABSTRACT A unique dataset of the distribution and abundance of all ...
Land-use change is one of the major components of global change. In Ireland, this change is large... more Land-use change is one of the major components of global change. In Ireland, this change is largely due to the rapid expansion of the forestry sector at the present time. As much of the forest being planted comprises monocultures of exotic conifer species, this has led to concern about its effects on local biodiversity. In this study, the carabid fauna of forested and open habitats were sampled. The fauna of forested areas differed from that of open habitats both in terms of species composition and species diversity, but the forest carabid faunas also appeared to reflect the landscape in which they were found. In order to control for the effect of adjacent landscape and to verify and quantify the effects of afforestation on upland carabid faunas, a further sampling was carried out using a regime based on a matched pairs design using ten pairs of sites. Five of these sites were grasslands with adjacent forest plots and five were bogs with adjacent forests. This showed that species composition in forested areas was significantly different from that of open habitats but that species diversity did not differ significantly between open and closed habitats when differences in topography, altitude and other factors were eliminated.
Résumé/Abstract The preferences of 3 species of Collembola, Onychiurus furcifer, Hypogastrura den... more Résumé/Abstract The preferences of 3 species of Collembola, Onychiurus furcifer, Hypogastrura denticulata and Isotomina thermophila were tested for 9 species of soil fungi; Trichoderma vicide, Trichoderma polysporum, oidiodendron griseum, Oidiodendron ...
Ninety-one percent of Sulix aquatica cv. giganrea litter disappeared within 6 months from experim... more Ninety-one percent of Sulix aquatica cv. giganrea litter disappeared within 6 months from experimental cages containing Lumbricus terrestris L. in reclaimed peat, compared with only 28% when L. terrestris was absent. Litter consumption rate was 6-9 mg dry wt g-' fresh wt day _ ' in the field and IO-I 5 mg g-' fresh wt day-' in the laboratory at 15°C. Maximum growth rate in the field was 4 mg fresh wt gg ' day-' and 4.55 mg in the laboratory. Cocoon production in the field was 1.3 worn-' month-' and 2. I in the laboratory. Mean gut contents were 48-23 mg dry wt g-' fresh wt over the size range l-6 g fresh wt and gut transit time was 10 h. It was estimated that a Lumbricus biomass of lOC~grn-~ could consume 1.34 kg soil m-' yr _ ' .
Ponds (dystrophic or not) were sampled in natural vs disturbed peatlands in Poland. • Vegetation ... more Ponds (dystrophic or not) were sampled in natural vs disturbed peatlands in Poland. • Vegetation communities were significantly associated with long-term precipitation. • Oribatida were associated with organic carbon in water, Mesostigmata with no factor. • Vegetation differed between natural and disturbed peatlands, but not mites. • Vegetation and mites are indicators of complimentary aspects of peatland condition.
Biodiversity of ecosystems is an important driver for the supply of ecosystem services to people.... more Biodiversity of ecosystems is an important driver for the supply of ecosystem services to people. Soils often have a larger biodiversity per unit surface area than what can be observed aboveground. Here, we present what is to our knowledge, the most extensive literature-based keyword assessment of the existing information about the relationships between belowground biodiversity and ecosystem services in European forests. The belowground diversity of plant roots, fungi, prokaryota, soil fauna, and protists was evaluated in relation to the supply of Provisioning, Regulating, Cultural, and Supporting Services. The soil biota were divided into 14 subgroups and the ecosystem services into 37 separate services. Out of the 518 possible combinations of biotic groups and ecosystem services, no published study was found for 374 combinations (72%). Of the remaining 144 combinations (28%) where relationships were found, the large majority (87%) showed a positive relationship between biodiversity of a belowground biotic group and an associated ecosystem service. However, for the majority of the combinations (102) there were only three or fewer studies. The percentage of cases for which a relationship was detected varied strongly between ecosystem service categories with 23% for Provisioning, 8% for Regulating, 40% for Cultural, and 48% for Supporting Services. We conclude that (1) soil biodiversity is generally positively related to ecosystem services in European forests; (2) the links between soil biodiversity and Cultural or Supporting services are better documented than those relating to Provisioning and Regulating services; (3) there is a huge knowledge gap for most possible combinations Bakker et al. Belowground Biodiversity and Ecosystem Services of soil biota and ecosystem services regarding how a more biodiverse soil biota is associated with a given ecosystem service. Given the drastically increasing societal demand for knowledge of the role of biodiversity in the functioning of ecosystems and the supply of ecosystem services, we strongly encourage the scientific community to conduct well-designed studies incorporating the belowground diversity and the functions and services associated with this diversity.
Ecologists are increasingly recognizing the importance of stochastic processes in generating spat... more Ecologists are increasingly recognizing the importance of stochastic processes in generating spatial and temporal variation in biological communities. This variation is very high in soil, which hosts not <¼ of all biodiversity on Earth and is central to how terrestrial ecosystems respond to perturbations. Measurement errors, demographic stochasticity (individual variability in traits such as birth and death rates), and environmental stochasticity (fluctuations in environmental properties) are the three main sources of stochasticity in ecology. Here, we synthesize how these three sources of stochasticity are quantified and incorporated in the study of soil biodiversity, highlighting current limits, possible solutions, and future research needs. We stress the relevance of all these factors to our future understanding of terrestrial ecosystems via plant-soil and soil-climate interactions and feedbacks. In soil, measurement errors are due to the small size, high abundance, and broad distributions of soil organisms, which limit sampling in space and especially over time. We argue that positive autocorrelation is a main characteristic of soil environmental properties, which may have important consequences on the response of soil biota to perturbations. At a local scale, large populations of soil organisms also imply a minor role of demographic stochasticity. Despite demographic stochasticity being a less significant source of variability than environmental stochasticity, we show that demographic stochasticity can be sizeable, but that within soil systems, stochasticity of environmental conditions must be accounted for. Explicit consideration of stochastic processes in soil biodiversity research is essential to our future understanding of the processes that control soil biodiversity. In classical ecology, stochasticity implies probabilistic predictions in terms of population growth, extinction, species coexistence, and community diversity. In soil, stochasticity implies very variable responses to climate change and the soil-climate feedback. Future studies will have to identify the major sources of environmental stochasticity with a particular focus on the interaction between multiple global change factors. KEYWORDS stochasticity, soil biodiversity, terrestrial ecology, global change, time serial data. Introduction Individuals, populations, and ecological communities display very large variability over space and time. Since a fully deterministic description of all the factors that control this variability is not feasible, ecologists have developed a large number of models that explicitly incorporate stochastic processes in modeling this variability (
Nutrient cycling is essential for the maintenance of forest productivity. Despite the low contrib... more Nutrient cycling is essential for the maintenance of forest productivity. Despite the low contribution of soil fauna to heterotrophic respiration, their impact on decomposition is now recognised as being substantial. The use of microcosms has given an insight into the complexity of the interactions involved (4). However, the phenomena observed in microcosms are often not seen in the field (1). Clarholm (3) suggests that the microcosm may be seen as a model for small volumes of soil. The conditions pertaining in the field will be an integration of events occurring at the microsite level (2). Thus, it is difficult to extrapolate from microcosm studies to field situations.
In studies of soil waters, several parameters are normally measured in each sample. The data are ... more In studies of soil waters, several parameters are normally measured in each sample. The data are thus multivariate and the detection and interpretation of patterns may be aided by the use of multivariate statistical techniques. In this investigation data from the CORE project are analysed, using correspondence analysis, to produce ordinations which would illustrate any changes in leachate chemistry that might occur in time or space.
Growth rates, podomere addition, and secondary production of Arcilalitrus dorrieni (Hunt, 1925) p... more Growth rates, podomere addition, and secondary production of Arcilalitrus dorrieni (Hunt, 1925) populations inhabiting two neighbouring woodland sites at Kylemore, Co. Galway, Ireland, were investigated. One site was a mixed deciduous woodland infested with Rhododendron ponticum. The other a pure coniferous stand of Pinus contorta var. latifolia S. Wats. Seasonal changes in biomass were recorded at the two sites. In both years of the study, maximum biomass was recorded in September. Females had a higher growth rate than males, but growth rates of both males and females were higher at the mixed deciduous site. The number of podomeres on the second antenna was correlated with the size of the animal. The average length of A. dorrieni at each podomere number appeared to change seasonally. Comparisons of mean spring values with mean summer values showed a statistically significant decrease in mean amphipod length for a given podomere number, though this was more marked at the mixed deciduous site. Annual secondary production rates ranged from 5.06 g dry wt m‐2 year‐1at the coniferous site to 14.55 g dry wt m‐2 year‐1 at the mixed deciduous site. P:B values ranged from 2.41 at the coniferous site to 3.01 at the mixed deciduous site. Results are compared between sites and with data from other relevant crustacean species.
Monthly samples were taken using a small-meshed beach seine. A total of 1092 sticklebacks were ca... more Monthly samples were taken using a small-meshed beach seine. A total of 1092 sticklebacks were captured, 725 fish were used to calculate the age distributions and 699 were examined for gut contents. The age data, determined from the otoliths, showed that there were four age classes present. The mean length of first year fish (O-Group fish) was 2.24cm, of second year fish (I-Group) 3.36 and 4.4 7cm and 5. 72cm for II-Group and III-Group fish respectively. The breeding season was June-July. Sex ratios were similar in both lakes and did not differ significantly from 1 : 1. Sexual maturity was reached by all fish above 3cm. The smallest maturing virgin was 2.6cm in length. Egg diameters varied between 1.0 and 1.5mm. The diet was similar in the two lakes studied. In the North Lake Cladocera, chironomid larvae, copepods and molluscs dominated while in the South Lake Cladocera, copepods, chironomid larvae and surface insects were dominant. Sticklebacks were extremely scarce in the Vartry River and feeder streams entering both lakes and would not pose a threat to egg production by trout and minnow in these streams. The influence of sticklebacks is discussed in relation to other fish species.
We provide a catalogue of the oribatid species (Arachnida, Acari, Oribatida) recorded from Irelan... more We provide a catalogue of the oribatid species (Arachnida, Acari, Oribatida) recorded from Ireland between the first records at the beginning of the 20 th century and 2015. The catalogue, which contains 246 named species includes information on the habitats and locations where the species were found in Ireland as well as the references (if the data were published) where these were recorded. In addition, we include information on the species authorship, together with comprehensive nomenclatural data on synonyms and combination/variations of the named species. This catalogue increases the number of oribatids species known in Ireland by 50% since the most recent catalogue published in 1998 by Malcom Luxton.
A catalogue of the species of Mesostigmata (Arachnida, Acari, Parasitiformes) recorded from Irela... more A catalogue of the species of Mesostigmata (Arachnida, Acari, Parasitiformes) recorded from Ireland including information on their geographical distribution and habitats (Zootaxa 4519) 220 pp.; 30 cm.
From April to October 1983 monthly samples, totalling 343 trout, were taken from the two reservoi... more From April to October 1983 monthly samples, totalling 343 trout, were taken from the two reservoirs at Roundwood, Co. Wicklow, using a range of gill nets. In 1984 an extensive electro-fishing programme was carried out in the Vartry River and three other feeder streams, in which 605 trout were obtained. The age data, determined from the scales, showed that there were six year classes in the South Lake and five in the North Lake. The fish from the river and feeder streams were less than 4 years old, 90% belonging to 0 + and 1 + age groups. Trout from the South Lake showed faster growth, attaining 28.7 em at year 5, compared to 23.2 em in the North Lake. Only six trout were over over five years old. Sexual maturity was reached during the third year. The dominant food organisms were trichopteran larvae and pupae (Umnephilus vittatus)' molluscs (Potamopyrgus jenkinsi and Sphaerium corneum) and chironomid larvae (Endochironomus sp. and Tanytarsus sp.). The species composition of the fauna of both lakes was almost identical, but biomass was greater in the South Lake where the trout populations appeared to be numerically smaller. The high female to male ratios in the lakes, varying between 1.37 and 1.67 to 1 did not appear to be age related. In the Vartry River and other feeder streams the fish were young, immature and predominantly male. These fish contained many more ephemeropteran nymphs than the lake trout. The oligotrophic state of the lakes, combined with the fluctuations in water level make it unlikely that any steps can be taken to improve the sport fishery using the native trout. Development of a put and take fishery is recommended.
Page 1. FUNGAL FRUITING BODIES AND THE STRUCTtRE OF FUNGUS -\MICRO-ARTHROPOD ASSEMBLAGES Tadhg O&... more Page 1. FUNGAL FRUITING BODIES AND THE STRUCTtRE OF FUNGUS -\MICRO-ARTHROPOD ASSEMBLAGES Tadhg O&amp;amp;#x27;Connell and Thomas Bolger ABSTRACT A unique dataset of the distribution and abundance of all ...
Land-use change is one of the major components of global change. In Ireland, this change is large... more Land-use change is one of the major components of global change. In Ireland, this change is largely due to the rapid expansion of the forestry sector at the present time. As much of the forest being planted comprises monocultures of exotic conifer species, this has led to concern about its effects on local biodiversity. In this study, the carabid fauna of forested and open habitats were sampled. The fauna of forested areas differed from that of open habitats both in terms of species composition and species diversity, but the forest carabid faunas also appeared to reflect the landscape in which they were found. In order to control for the effect of adjacent landscape and to verify and quantify the effects of afforestation on upland carabid faunas, a further sampling was carried out using a regime based on a matched pairs design using ten pairs of sites. Five of these sites were grasslands with adjacent forest plots and five were bogs with adjacent forests. This showed that species composition in forested areas was significantly different from that of open habitats but that species diversity did not differ significantly between open and closed habitats when differences in topography, altitude and other factors were eliminated.
Résumé/Abstract The preferences of 3 species of Collembola, Onychiurus furcifer, Hypogastrura den... more Résumé/Abstract The preferences of 3 species of Collembola, Onychiurus furcifer, Hypogastrura denticulata and Isotomina thermophila were tested for 9 species of soil fungi; Trichoderma vicide, Trichoderma polysporum, oidiodendron griseum, Oidiodendron ...
Ninety-one percent of Sulix aquatica cv. giganrea litter disappeared within 6 months from experim... more Ninety-one percent of Sulix aquatica cv. giganrea litter disappeared within 6 months from experimental cages containing Lumbricus terrestris L. in reclaimed peat, compared with only 28% when L. terrestris was absent. Litter consumption rate was 6-9 mg dry wt g-' fresh wt day _ ' in the field and IO-I 5 mg g-' fresh wt day-' in the laboratory at 15°C. Maximum growth rate in the field was 4 mg fresh wt gg ' day-' and 4.55 mg in the laboratory. Cocoon production in the field was 1.3 worn-' month-' and 2. I in the laboratory. Mean gut contents were 48-23 mg dry wt g-' fresh wt over the size range l-6 g fresh wt and gut transit time was 10 h. It was estimated that a Lumbricus biomass of lOC~grn-~ could consume 1.34 kg soil m-' yr _ ' .
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