Effects of soil pollutants, biogeochemistry and microbiology on the distribution and composition of enchytraeid communities in urban and suburban holm oak stands
Title | Effects of soil pollutants, biogeochemistry and microbiology on the distribution and composition of enchytraeid communities in urban and suburban holm oak stands |
Publication Type | Journal Article |
Year of Publication | 2013 |
Authors | Rota, E., Caruso T., Monaci F., Baldantoni D., De Nicola F., Iovieno P., & Bargagli R. |
Journal | Environmental Pollution |
Volume | 179 |
Pagination | 268-276 |
Keywords | Enchytraeids, Mediterranean urban communities, Microbiology, Pollutants, Soil biogeochemistry, terrestrial annelids |
Abstract | Holm oaks form typical urban woodlands in the Mediterranean region. We aimed at characterizing the enchytraeid communities in these environments and searching for possible correlations with soil pa- rameters, including the traffic contamination. Samples of litter and topsoil were collected at different spatial scales and seasons in Naples and Siena cities and in two suburban stands. Only the co-variation between pollution and other soil chemico-physical factors showed significant effects, whereas no direct effect of soil microbiology was detected. Some thermophilous Fridericia and Achaeta tolerate high con- centrations of heavy metals and PAHs and their abundance was mainly determined by Ca bioavailability. Central-European mesophilous species increased significantly under more temperate environmental conditions. Different combinations of soil cohesiveness, grain size composition and moisture regime seem to select species of certain body sizes. |