02319nas a2200145 4500008004100000245018300041210006900224300001500293490000700308520174800315100001602063700001502079700001702094856006202111 2013 eng d00aHigh-throughput amplicon sequencing of rRNA genes requires a copy number correction to accurately reflect the effects of management practices on soil nematode community structure0 aHighthroughput amplicon sequencing of rRNA genes requires a copy a5456 -54710 v223 a
Nematodes are abundant consumers in grassland soils, but more sensitive and specific methods of enumeration are needed to improve our understanding of how different nematode species affect, and are affected by, ecosystem processes. High-throughput amplicon sequencing is used to enumerate microbial and invertebrate communities at a high level of taxonomic resolution, but the method requires validation against traditional specimen-based morphological identifications. To investigate the consistency between these approaches, we enumerated nematodes from a 25-year field experiment using both morphological and molecular identification techniques in order to determine the long-term effects of annual burning and nitrogen enrichment on soil nematode communities. Family-level frequencies based on amplicon sequencing were not initially consistent with specimen-based counts, but correction for differences in rRNA gene copy number using a genetic algorithm improved quantitative accuracy. Multivariate analysis of corrected sequence-based abundances of nematode families was consistent with, but not identical to, analysis of specimen-based counts. In both cases, herbivores, fungivores and predator/omnivores generally were more abundant in burned than nonburned plots, while bacterivores generally were more abundant in nonburned or nitrogen-enriched plots. Discriminate analysis of sequence-based abundances identified putative indicator species representing each trophic group. We conclude that high-throughput amplicon sequencing can be a valuable method for characterizing nematode communities at high taxonomic resolution as long as rRNA gene copy number variation is accounted for and accurate sequence databases are available.
1 aDarby, D.J.1 aTodd, T.C.1 aHerman, M.A. uhttps://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/abs/10.1111/mec.1248002899nas a2200265 4500008004100000245012000041210006900161300001200230490000600242520206400248653001302312653001702325653002602342653001502368653002502383653002202408653001802430653002202448100001702470700001602487700001502503700002002518700001702538856007802555 2013 eng d00aLong-term nitrogen amendment alters the diversity and assemblage of soil bacterial communities in tallgrass prairie0 aLongterm nitrogen amendment alters the diversity and assemblage a67884 -0 v83 aAnthropogenic changes are altering the environmental conditions and the biota of ecosystems worldwide. In many temperate grasslands, such as North American tallgrass prairie, these changes include alteration in historically important disturbance regimes (e.g., frequency of fires) and enhanced availability of potentially limiting nutrients, particularly nitrogen. Such anthropogenically-driven changes in the environment are known to elicit substantial changes in plant and consumer communities aboveground, but much less is known about their effects on soil microbial communities. Due to the high diversity of soil microbes and methodological challenges associated with assessing microbial community composition, relatively few studies have addressed specific taxonomic changes underlying microbial community-level responses to different fire regimes or nutrient amendments in tallgrass prairie. We used deep sequencing of the V3 region of the 16S rRNA gene to explore the effects of contrasting fire regimes and nutrient enrichment on soil bacterial communities in a long-term (20 yrs) experiment in native tallgrass prairie in the eastern Central Plains. We focused on responses to nutrient amendments coupled with two extreme fire regimes (annual prescribed spring burning and complete fire exclusion). The dominant bacterial phyla identified were Proteobacteria, Verrucomicrobia, Bacteriodetes, Acidobacteria, Firmicutes, and Actinobacteria and made up 80% of all taxa quantified. Chronic nitrogen enrichment significantly impacted bacterial community diversity and community structure varied according to nitrogen treatment, but not phosphorus enrichment or fire regime. We also found significant responses of individual bacterial groups including Nitrospira and Gammaproteobacteria to long-term nitrogen enrichment. Our results show that soil nitrogen enrichment can significantly alter bacterial community diversity, structure, and individual taxa abundance, which have important implications for both managed and natural grassland ecosystems.
10aBacteria10aBiodiversity10aEcosystem functioning10aGrasslands10aMicrobial ecosystems10aPlant communities10aRibosomal RNA10aSequence analysis1 aCoolon, J.D.1 aJones, K.L.1 aTodd, T.C.1 aBlair, John, M.1 aHerman, M.A. uhttps://journals.plos.org/plosone/article?id=10.1371/journal.pone.006788401579nas a2200157 4500008004100000245009000041210006900131300001200200490000700212520108000219100001601299700001601315700001501331700001701346856005801363 2012 eng d00aSeveral grassland soil nematodes species are insensitive to RNA-mediated interference0 aSeveral grassland soil nematodes species are insensitive to RNAm a92 -1010 v443 aPhenotypic analysis of defects caused by RNA mediated interference (RNAi) in Caenorhabditis elegans has proven to be a powerful tool for determining gene function. In this study we investigated the effectiveness of RNAi in four non-model grassland soil nematodes, Oscheius sp FVV-2., Rhabditis sp, Mesorhabditis sp., and Acrobeloides sp. In contrast to reference experiments performed using C. elegans and Caenorhabditis briggsae, feeding bacteria expressing dsRNA and injecting dsRNA into the gonad did not produce the expected RNAi knockdown phenotypes in any of the grassland nematodes. Quantitative reverse-transcribed PCR (qRT-PCR) assays did not detect a statistically significant reduction in the mRNA levels of endogenous genes targeted by RNAi in Oscheius sp., and Mesorhabditis sp. From these studies we conclude that due to low effectiveness and inconsistent reproducibility, RNAi knockdown phenotypes in non-Caenorhabditis nematodes should be interpreted cautiously.
1 aWheeler, D.1 aDarby, B.J.1 aTodd, T.C.1 aHerman, M.A. uhttps://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3593264/02523nas a2200193 4500008004100000245010500041210006900146300001100215490000700226520190200233100001602135700001602151700001502167700001802182700001702200700001702217700001802234856007702252 2010 eng d00aRelatedness of Macrophomina phaseolina isolates from tallgrass prairie, maize, soybean, and sorghum0 aRelatedness of Macrophomina phaseolina isolates from tallgrass p a79 -910 v193 aAgricultural and wild ecosystems may interact through shared pathogens such as Macrophomina phaseolina, a generalist clonal fungus with more than 284 plant hosts that is likely to become more important under climate change scenarios of increased heat and drought stress. To evaluate the degree of subdivision in populations of M. phaseolina in Kansas agriculture and wildlands, we compared 143 isolates from maize fields adjacent to tallgrass prairie, nearby sorghum fields, widely dispersed soybean fields and isolates from eight plant species in tallgrass prairie. Isolate growth phenotypes were evaluated on a medium containing chlorate. Genetic characteristics were analysed based on amplified fragment length polymorphisms and the sequence of the rDNA-internal transcribed spacer (ITS) region. The average genetic similarity was 58% among isolates in the tallgrass prairie, 71% in the maize fields, 75% in the sorghum fields and 80% in the dispersed soybean fields. The isolates were divided into four clusters: one containing most of the isolates from maize and soybean, two others containing isolates from wild plants and sorghum, and a fourth containing a single isolate recovered from Solidago canadensis in the tallgrass prairie. Most of the sorghum isolates had the dense phenotype on media containing chlorate, while those from other hosts had either feathery or restricted phenotypes. These results suggest that the tallgrass prairie supports a more diverse population of M. phaseolina per area than do any of the crop species. Subpopulations show incomplete specialization by host. These results also suggest that inoculum produced in agriculture may influence tallgrass prairie communities, and conversely that different pathogen subpopulations in tallgrass prairie can interact there to generate ‘hybrids’ with novel genetic profiles and pathogenic capabilities.
1 aSaleh, A.A.1 aAhmed, H.U.1 aTodd, T.C.1 aTravers, S.E.1 aZeller, K.A.1 aLeslie, J.F.1 aGarrett, K.A. uhttps://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/abs/10.1111/j.1365-294X.2009.04433.x01369nas a2200205 4500008004100000245010300041210006900144300001300213490000600226520067600232653001300908653002500921653001300946653001800959653001100977100001600988700001501004700001701019856012701036 2006 eng d00aDevelopment of taxon-specific markers for high-throughput screening of microbial-feeding nematodes0 aDevelopment of taxonspecific markers for highthroughput screenin a712 -7140 v63 aIn an effort to assess the taxonomic identity of large-scale samplings of nematodes from the Konza Tallgrass Prairie, we sequenced a portion of the 18S rRNA gene and its associated internally transcribed spacer (ITS1) from 74 nematodes encompassing four taxonomic families. From these sequences, we have developed a series of molecular probes to distinguish 16 distinct microbivorous nematode taxa. Using a combination of low power microscopy and taxon-specific real-time probes, the 74 nematodes were correctly assigned to their respective taxonomic groups. This optimized method provides a high-throughput assay to determine nematode identities across larger data sets.10a18S rRNA10a5′ nuclease assaym10aNematoda10areal-time PCR10aTaqman1 aJones, K.L.1 aTodd, T.C.1 aHerman, M.A. uhttp://lter.konza.ksu.edu/content/development-taxon-specific-markers-high-throughput-screening-microbial-feeding-nematodes02634nas a2200181 4500008004100000245014300041210006900184300001500253490000700268520194700275100001602222700001502238700002002253700001702273700002002290700001702310856012502327 2006 eng d00aMolecular approach for assessing responses of microbial-feeding nematodes to burning and chronic nitrogen enrichment in a native grassland0 aMolecular approach for assessing responses of microbialfeeding n a2601 -26090 v153 aA substantial proportion of the primary productivity in grassland ecosystems is allocated belowground, sustaining an abundant and diverse community of microbes and soil invertebrates. These belowground communities drive many important ecosystem functions and are responsive to a variety of environmental changes. Nematodes, an abundant and diverse component of grassland soil communities, are particularly responsive to altered environmental conditions, such as those associated with reduced fire frequency and nitrogen enrichment, with the most consistent responses displayed by microbial-feeding nematodes. However, much of the available research characterizing nematode responses to environmental change has been carried out at the taxonomic level of family or by broad trophic categories (e.g. fungivores, bacterivores). The extent to which differential responses to environmental change occurs at the genus level or below is unclear. Therefore, the objective of this study was to use molecular methods to quantify the response of microbial-feeding nematodes, at the lowest levels of taxonomic resolution, to nitrogen enrichment and changes in fire frequency. Using sequencing and quantitative polymerase chain reaction (PCR) probes for the 18S ribosomal RNA gene and the ITS1 region, we identified 19 microbial-feeding nematode taxa across four families. When nematodes were sampled across treatments, we found that some nematode taxa within a family responded similarly to nitrogen and burning treatments, while other taxa within the same family respond quite differently. Additionally, although nematodes from different families on average responded differently to nitrogen enrichment and burning, similar responses were seen in nematode taxa that span three taxonomic families. Thus, if nematodes are to be used as indicators of environmental change, care should be taken to assess the response at the lowest taxonomic level possible.1 aJones, K.L.1 aTodd, T.C.1 aWall-Beam, J.L.1 aCoolon, J.D.1 aBlair, John, M.1 aHerman, M.A. uhttp://lter.konza.ksu.edu/content/molecular-approach-assessing-responses-microbial-feeding-nematodes-burning-and-chronic01842nas a2200145 4500008004100000245007900041210006900120300001100189490000700200520139200207100001501599700001701614700001701631856004801648 2006 eng d00aSentinel nematodes of land-use change and restoration in tallgrass prairie0 aSentinel nematodes of landuse change and restoration in tallgras a20 -270 v383 aChanges in land use and the associated changes in land cover are recognized as the most important component of human-induced global change. Much attention has been focused on deforestation, but grasslands are among the most endangered ecosystems on Earth. The North American tallgrass prairie is a dramatic example, exhibiting a greater than 95% decline in historical area. Renewed interest in prairie conservation and restoration has highlighted the need for ecological indicators of disturbance and recovery in native systems, including the belowground component. The tallgrass prairie differs from the agricultural systems that have replaced it in having greater diversity and heterogeneity of resources, less physical soil disturbance (although other disturbances, such as fire and grazing, are prominent), and greater nitrogen limitation. Understanding the responses of nematode taxa to these characteristic differences is crucial to the development and improvement of community indices, but while knowledge of disturbance responses by individual taxa is accumulating, the level of necessary taxonomic resolution remains in question. Although nematode communities generally are better described for temperate grasslands than for other natural ecosystems, identification of sentinel taxa is further confounded by high levels of diversity, and both spatial and temporal heterogeneity.1 aTodd, T.C.1 aPowers, T.O.1 aMullin, P.G. uhttp://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/1925942602817nas a2200337 4500008004100000245014100041210006900182300001500251490000700266520177500273653001202048653001402060653001802074653001602092653001502108653001502123653001802138653001502156653000902171653001402180653002202194653001302216653001502229653001702244100001902261700002002280700001502300700001802315700001702333856012902350 2003 eng d00aEffects of fire, mowing and fertilization effects on density and biomass of macroinvertebrates in North American tallgrass prairie soils0 aEffects of fire mowing and fertilization effects on density and a1079 -10930 v353 aThe responses of tallgrass prairie plant communities and ecosystem processes to fire and grazing are well characterized. However, responses of invertebrate consumer groups, and particularly soil-dwelling organisms, to these disturbances are not well known. At Konza Prairie Biological Station, we sampled soil macroinvertebrates in 1994 and 1999 as part of a long-term experiment designed to examine the effects and interactions of annual fire, mowing, and fertilization (N and P) on prairie soil communities and processes. For nearly all taxa, in both years, responses were characterized by significant treatment interactions, but some general patterns were evident. Introduced European earthworms (Aporrectodea spp. and Octolasion spp.) were most abundant in plots where fire was excluded, and the proportion of the total earthworm community consisting of introduced earthworms was greater in unburned, unmowed, and fertilized plots. Nymphs of two Cicada genera were collected (Cicadetta spp. and Tibicen spp.). Cicadetta nymphs were more abundant in burned plots, but mowing reduced their abundance. Tibicen nymphs were collected almost exclusively from unburned plots. Treatment effects on herbivorous beetle larvae (Scarabaeidae, Elateridae, and Curculionidae) were variable, but nutrient additions (N or P) usually resulted in greater densities, whereas mowing usually resulted in lower densities. Our results suggest that departures from historical disturbance regimes (i.e. frequent fire and grazing) may render soils more susceptible to increased numbers of European earthworms, and that interactions between fire, aboveground biomass removal, and vegetation responses affect the structure and composition of invertebrate communities in tallgrass prairie soils.10abiomass10aCicadidae10aCurculionidae10adisturbance10aearthworms10aElateridae10aFertilization10aFertilizer10afire10agrassland10ainsect herbivores10anitrogen10aPhosphorus10aScarabaeidae1 aCallaham, M.A.1 aBlair, John, M.1 aTodd, T.C.1 aKitchen, D.J.1 aWhiles, M.R. uhttp://lter.konza.ksu.edu/content/effects-fire-mowing-and-fertilization-effects-density-and-biomass-macroinvertebrates-north01413nas a2200169 4500008004100000245008800041210006900129260004200198300001100240520078600251100002001037700001501057700001901072700001801091700001801109856011601127 2000 eng d00aResponses of grassland soil invertebrates to natural and anthropogenic disturbances0 aResponses of grassland soil invertebrates to natural and anthrop aNew York, NYbCAB International Press a43 -713 ahis chapter aims to (1) summarize the major factors influencing invertebrate abundance and distribution in tallgrass prairie soils, focusing on the responses of selected soil invertebrate groups to natural disturbances (such as fire, grazing and drought); (2) identify potential linkages between changes in soil communities and the effects of disturbances on key plant and soil characteristics or processes; and (3) to discuss potential effects of novel anthropogenic perturbations (altered amounts of precipitation, elevated CO2 and increased N inputs) on soil communities and processes. It focuses on North American tallgrass prairies and draws upon studies undertaken at the Konza Prairie Long-Term Ecological Research site, with results from other grasslands where appropriate.1 aBlair, John, M.1 aTodd, T.C.1 aCallaham, M.A.1 aColeman, D.C.1 aHendrix, P.F. uhttp://lter.konza.ksu.edu/content/responses-grassland-soil-invertebrates-natural-and-anthropogenic-disturbances02310nas a2200205 4500008004100000245008900041210006900130300001100199490000700210520162200217653001901839653002401858653001301882653001801895653002201913100001501935700002001950700001901970856011501989 1999 eng d00aEffects of altered soil water availability on a tallgrass prairie nematode community0 aEffects of altered soil water availability on a tallgrass prairi a45 -550 v133 aClimate change predictions for the Great Plains region of North America include reduced growing season precipitation. The consequence of this prediction for soil fauna and belowground processes was investigated at two spatial scales by integrating experimental manipulation of soil moisture levels with natural variation in soil-water availability. Experiments consisted of (1) reciprocal core transplants across a regional precipitation gradient and (2) supplemental irrigation applied across a local topographic gradient. This report examines functional-level responses by the tallgrass prairie nematode community to differences in soil moisture levels over a four-year period. Effects on nematode community structure were complex and dependent upon nematode trophic habit and depth in the soil profile. The strongest and most consistent responses to changes in soil-water availability were displayed by herbivorous taxa, with 71% higher densities observed under wetter soil conditions across experiments and years. Responses of microbial-feeding nematodes were more variable, with lower densities observed, in some cases, in the presence of experimentally-increased soil moisture levels. Effects of regional differences in soil-water availability on the nematode community were uniformly restricted to depths >20 cm. Community responses to short-term changes in soil moisture were not consistent with patterns in community structure developed under different natural moisture regimes, suggesting divergent short-term and long-term responses of belowground biota and processes to changes in soil-water availability.10aClimate change10acommunity structure10aNematode10asoil moisture10atallgrass prairie1 aTodd, T.C.1 aBlair, John, M.1 aMilliken, G.A. uhttp://lter.konza.ksu.edu/content/effects-altered-soil-water-availability-tallgrass-prairie-nematode-community00680nas a2200229 4500008004100000245003800041210003800079260003800117300001300155653002200168100001700190700001500207700002000222700001900242700001800261700001700279700002000296700001900316700001900335700002400354856007200378 1998 eng d00aBelowground biology and processes0 aBelowground biology and processes aNew YorkbOxford University Press a244 -26410atallgrass prairie1 aRice, C., W.1 aTodd, T.C.1 aBlair, John, M.1 aSeastedt, T.R.1 aRamundo, R.A.1 aWilson, G.T.1 aKnapp, Alan, K.1 aBriggs, J., M.1 aHartnett, D.C.1 aCollins, Scott., L. uhttp://lter.konza.ksu.edu/content/belowground-biology-and-processes00579nas a2200205 4500008004100000245002500041210002500066260003800091300001100129653002200140100001700162700001700179700001500196700002100211700002000232700001900252700001900271700002400290856005900314 1998 eng d00aSoils and soil biota0 aSoils and soil biota aNew YorkbOxford University Press a48 -6610atallgrass prairie1 aRansom, M.D.1 aRice, C., W.1 aTodd, T.C.1 aWehmueller, W.A.1 aKnapp, Alan, K.1 aBriggs, J., M.1 aHartnett, D.C.1 aCollins, Scott., L. uhttp://lter.konza.ksu.edu/content/soils-and-soil-biota02288nas a2200205 4500008004100000245008900041210006900130300001300199490000600212520162900218653001601847653000901863653001101872653001301883653001301896653002201909653002201931100001501953856011401968 1996 eng d00aEffects of management practices on nematode community structure in tallgrass prairie0 aEffects of management practices on nematode community structure a235 -2460 v33 aThe effects of burning, mowing, and nitrogen (N) and phosphorus (P) fertilization on the trophic structure of a tallgrass prairie nematode community were examined in a long-term field experiment established in 1986. Nematode densities and trophic composition were determined in October of 1987, 1989, and 1994 following 2, 4, and 9 years of treatment, respectively. Total populations of obligate herbivores tended to increase with annual burning and N fertilization but responses by individual taxa were relative to the structure and composition of vegetation as determined by management practice. In contrast, mowing resulted in consistent reductions in herbivore densities. The family Tylenchidae, with species classified as both root and fungal feeders, exhibited short-term decreases in numbers due to burning and long-term increases in numbers due to mowing. Treatment responses by this group were more consistent with the behavior of known fungal-feeding than root-feeding nematodes. Microbivore densities increased with burning and N fertilization, while numbers of omnivores and predators declined with chronic N additions. The effects of P fertilization on nematode population densities varied with management practice, primarily N fertilization. Canonical discriminant analysis differentiated trophic groups based on their responses to mowing and P-fertilization. Measurements of the trophic composition of the nematode community, particularly the relative abundance of individual herbivore taxa and the proportion of fungivores to microbivores, were good indicators of ecosystem responses to management practices.10adisturbance10afire10aMowing10aNematode10anitrogen10atallgrass prairie10aTrophic structure1 aTodd, T.C. uhttp://lter.konza.ksu.edu/content/effects-management-practices-nematode-community-structure-tallgrass-prairie00586nas a2200145 4500008004100000245010500041210006900146300001500215490000700230653002200237100002000259700001700279700001500296856012900311 1992 eng d00aRelationships of mycorrhizal symbiosis, rooting strategy and phenology among tallgrass prairie forbs0 aRelationships of mycorrhizal symbiosis rooting strategy and phen a1521 -15280 v7010atallgrass prairie1 aHetrick, B.A.D.1 aWilson, G.T.1 aTodd, T.C. uhttp://lter.konza.ksu.edu/content/relationships-mycorrhizal-symbiosis-rooting-strategy-and-phenology-among-tallgrass-prairie00591nas a2200145 4500008004100000245011700041210006900158300001300227490000800240653002200248100001500270700001600285700001900301856012500320 1992 eng d00aSoil invertebrate and plant responses to mowing and Carbofuran application in a North American tallgrass prairie0 aSoil invertebrate and plant responses to mowing and Carbofuran a a117 -1240 v14410atallgrass prairie1 aTodd, T.C.1 aJames, S.W.1 aSeastedt, T.R. uhttp://lter.konza.ksu.edu/content/soil-invertebrate-and-plant-responses-mowing-and-carbofuran-application-north-american02006nas a2200157 4500008004100000245012400041210006900165300001300234490000700247520139000254653002201644100002001666700001701686700001501703856013001718 1990 eng d00aDifferential responses of C3 and C4 grasses to mycorrhizal symbiosis, phosphorus fertilization, and soil microorganisms0 aDifferential responses of C3 and C4 grasses to mycorrhizal symbi a461 -4670 v683 aThe responses of five C4, warm-season and five C3, cool-season tallgrass prairie grasses to phosphorus (P) fertilization, mycorrhizae, and soil microorganisms were compared in greenhouse studies. The warm-season grasses responded positively to mycorrhizae and to P fertilization, but mycorrhizal plants did not respond to P. The soil microflora reduced mycorrhizal plant dry weight and root colonization. In contrast, cool-season grasses did not respond to mycorrhizae or P fertilization. Soil microorganisms did not suppress cool-season plant growth, but root colonization was reduced in nonsterile soil. For the warm-season grasses there was an inverse relationship between mycorrhizal root colonization and P fertilization and a positive relationship between root colonization and plant dry weight. For the cool-season grasses there was also an inverse relationship between root colonization and P fertilization, but the relationship between root colonization and plant dry weight was negative. In both the warm-season and cool-season grasses, low levels of mycorrhizal root colonization persisted even when P fertilization was sufficient to eliminate mycorrhizal effects on plant growth. Thus, warm-and cool-season grasses display profoundly different strategies for nutrient acquisition. Key words: cool-season grasses, warm-season grasses, vesicular-arbuscular mycorrhizae
10atallgrass prairie1 aHetrick, B.A.D.1 aWilson, G.T.1 aTodd, T.C. uhttp://lter.konza.ksu.edu/content/differential-responses-c3-and-c4-grasses-mycorrhizal-symbiosis-phosphorus-fertilization-and01454nas a2200157 4500008004100000245009000041210006900131300001300200490000700213520088400220653002201104100001901126700001601145700001501161856012001176 1988 eng d00aInteractions among soil invertebrates, microbes and plant growth in tallgrass prairie0 aInteractions among soil invertebrates microbes and plant growth a219 -2280 v243 aThe tallgrass prairie of North American contains a diverse and abundant soil fauna well represented by earthworms, macro- and microarthopods and nematodes. A portion of this fauna representing a large fraction of the animal biomass has been introduced in the last 200 years, and functional roles and regulatory mechanisms may have been altered because of these introductions. Four years of experimental manipulations of plant and fauna variables have failed to establish a definitive net effect of the soil fauna on primary productivity. However, measurable effects of the fauna on nutrient dynamics of the grassland ecosystem have been observed. Experimental manipulations of plant root dynamics and addition of inorganic nitrogen and fixed carbon have demonstrated that both resources quality and resource quantity are factors limiting the size of soil fauna populations
10atallgrass prairie1 aSeastedt, T.R.1 aJames, S.W.1 aTodd, T.C. uhttp://lter.konza.ksu.edu/content/interactions-among-soil-invertebrates-microbes-and-plant-growth-tallgrass-prairie01526nas a2200157 4500008004100000245012400041210006900165300001000234490000700244520091500251653002201166100001901188700001501207700001601222856013001238 1987 eng d00aExperimental manipulations of soil arthropod, nematode, and earthworm communities in a North American tallgrass prairie0 aExperimental manipulations of soil arthropod nematode and earthw a9 -170 v303 aAn insecticide was applied to foliage and an insecticide-nematicide was applied to the soil surface of a North American tallgrass prairie site in an attempt to manipulate population densities of invertebrate consumers. The objectives of this study included 1) measurement of impacts of the dominant root herbivores, June beetle larvae (Phyllophaga spp.: Scarabaeidae) on plant root biomass and production; 2) to evaluate nematode and earthworm response to the chemicals and to correlate changes in these groups with changes in living or dead plant mass, and 3) to test if differences in densities of aboveground invertebrate consumer groups directly or indirectly affected population densities of the belowground groups. The last question resulted from an observation by Seastedt (1985) that moderate aboveground herbivory appears to increase population densities of soil nematodes and certain arthropod groups10atallgrass prairie1 aSeastedt, T.R.1 aTodd, T.C.1 aJames, S.J. uhttp://lter.konza.ksu.edu/content/experimental-manipulations-soil-arthropod-nematode-and-earthworm-communities-north-american