Protozoan pulses unveil their pivotal position within the soil food web

Microb Ecol. 2012 May;63(4):905-18. doi: 10.1007/s00248-011-9956-y. Epub 2011 Oct 12.

Abstract

Protozoa are one of the most abundant groups of bacterivores within the soil and are responsible for mineralisation of bacterial biomass, having a large impact on C and N cycling. Little is known of their contribution to soil nutrient transfers or the identity of their consumers. Here, for the first time indigenous flagellates and ciliates, enriched to 83 atom% for (13)C and 10 atom% for (15)N, were introduced to soil cores from two different land managements, grassland and woodland with the same soil type, to trace the flow of protozoan C and N through the soil food web. Nematodes, Collembola, earthworms and insect larvae obtained the greatest amounts of C and N of protozoan origin, either through direct consumption or uptake of biomass post-cell death. Our results show that changes in management, affect the functioning of the soil food web and the utilisation of protozoa as a food source.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Arthropods / physiology
  • Ciliophora / physiology*
  • Ecosystem
  • Eukaryota / physiology*
  • Food Chain*
  • Insecta / physiology*
  • Nematoda / physiology*
  • Oligochaeta / physiology
  • Soil / parasitology*

Substances

  • Soil