The impact of pedestrian activity on soil annelids in urban greens

0092092 - BC 2008 RIV FR eng J - Journal Article
Pižl, Václav - Schlaghamerský, J.
The impact of pedestrian activity on soil annelids in urban greens.
[Dopad aktivity chodců na půdní kroužkovce v městských parcích.]
European Journal of Soil Biology. Roč. 43, Suppl. 1 (2007), S68-S71. ISSN 1164-5563. E-ISSN 1778-3615
R&D Projects: GA AV ČR IAA600660608
Institutional research plan: CEZ:AV0Z60660521
Keywords : earthworms * enchytraeids * pedestrian activity
Subject RIV: EH - Ecology, Behaviour
Impact factor: 0.500, year: 2007

The effects of pedestrian activity on soil annelid populations were investigated in two public parks in the city of Brno (Czech Republic). Simultaneous sampling in three pairs of sites, each consisting of unaffected lawn and unofficial pedestrian path, revealed that pedestrian activity reduced significantly the density (256 vs 121 ind.m^-2) and biomass (111 vs 51 g.m^-2) of earthworms and the density (9935 vs 2516 ind.m^-2) of enchytraeids. While the composition of the earthworm community was almost unaffected, pedestrian activity modified the communnity structure of enchytraeids. Negative effects of unofficial paths were more pronounced for enchytraeids than for earthworms, most probably due to the absence of the most sensitive epigeic earthworms in both lawns and paths of the studied greens. In general, the assemblages of soil annelids were mainly determined by soil compaction and moisture.

Porovnání společenstev kroužkovců v půdě pod trávníky a neoficiálními chodníčky ve veřejných parcích v Brně ukázalo, že nežádoucí aktivita chodců vede k redukci abundance i biomasy žížal (Lumbricidae) a redukci abundance roupic (Enchytraeidae). Složení společenstev žížal nebylo ovlivněno, struktura společenstev roupic však byla významně modifikována. Celkově byla společenstva kroužkovců determinována mírou utužení půdy a půdní vlhkostí, společenstva roupic byla navíc silně korelována s obsahem organické hmoty v půdě.
Permanent Link: http://hdl.handle.net/11104/0152513