Diversity and feeding strategies of soil microfauna along elevation gradients in Himalayan cold deserts

0481657 - BC 2018 RIV US eng J - Journal Article
Devetter, Miloslav - Háněl, Ladislav - Řeháková, Klára - Doležal, J.
Diversity and feeding strategies of soil microfauna along elevation gradients in Himalayan cold deserts.
PLoS ONE. Roč. 12, č. 11 (2017), č. článku e0187646. ISSN 1932-6203. E-ISSN 1932-6203
R&D Projects: GA MŠMT(CZ) LTC17019
Institutional support: RVO:60077344
Keywords : diversity * feeding strategies * soil microfauna * Himalayan cold deserts
OECD category: Ecology
Impact factor: 2.766, year: 2017

High-elevation cold deserts in Tibet and Himalaya are one of the most extreme environments. One consequence is that the diversity of macrofauna in this environment is often limited, and soil microorganisms have a more influential role in governing key surface and subsurface bioprocesses. High-elevation soil microfauna represent important components of cold ecosystems and dominant consumers of microbial communities. Still little is known about their diversity and distribution on the edge of their reproductive and metabolic abilities. In this study, we disentangle the impact of elevation and soil chemistry on diversity and distribution of rotifers, nematodes and tardigrades and their most frequent feeding strategies (microbial filter-feeders, bacterivores, fungivores, root-fungal feeders, omnivores) along two contrasting altitudinal gradients in Indian NW Himalaya (Zanskar transect from 3805 to 4714 m a.s.l.) and southwestern Tibet (Tso Moriri transect from 4477 to 6176 m a.s. l.), using a combination of multivariate analysis, variation partitioning and generalized additive models. Zanskar transect had higher precipitation, soil moisture, organic matter and
available nutrients than dry Tso Moriri transect. In total, 40 species of nematodes, 19 rotifers and 1 tardigrade were discovered. Species richness and total abundance of rotifers and nematodes showed mid-elevation peaks in both investigated transects. The optimum for rotifers was found at higher elevation than for nematodes. Diversity and distribution of soil microfauna was best explained by soil nitrogen, phosphorus and organic matter. More fertile soils hosted more diverse and abundant faunal communities. In Tso Moriri, bacterivores represented 60% of all nematodes, fungivores 35%, root-fungal feeders 1% and omnivores 3%. For Zanskar the respective proportions were 21%, 13%, 56% and 9%.
Permanent Link: http://hdl.handle.net/11104/0277656