Greenhouse-gas emissions from soils increased by earthworms
TL;DR: A review of the overall effect of earthworms on the greenhouse-gas balance of soils suggests that although beneficial to fertility, earthworms tend to increase the net soil emissions of such gases as discussed by the authors.
Abstract: Earthworms play an essential part in determining the greenhouse-gas balance of soils worldwide but whether their activity moves soils towards being a net source or sink remains controversial. This Review of the overall effect of earthworms on the greenhouse-gas balance of soils suggests that although beneficial to fertility, earthworms tend to increase the net soil emissions of such gases.
Citations
More filters
University of New South Wales1, Oregon State University2, Braunschweig University of Technology3, University of California, San Diego4, Norwegian University of Life Sciences5, University of Liverpool6, Max Planck Society7, University of Tasmania8, University of Vermont9, ETH Zurich10, Stazione Zoologica Anton Dohrn11, Montana State University12, University of Amsterdam13, University of Southern California14, Pacific Northwest National Laboratory15, University of Hawaii at Manoa16, University of California, Berkeley17, Marine Biological Laboratory18, University of California, Irvine19, University of Georgia20, California Institute of Technology21, University of Edinburgh22, Ohio State University23, University of Sydney24, University of Alberta25, Georgia Institute of Technology26, Australian Institute of Marine Science27, University of Melbourne28, University of Texas Medical Branch29, University of Queensland30
TL;DR: This Consensus Statement documents the central role and global importance of microorganisms in climate change biology and puts humanity on notice that the impact of climate change will depend heavily on responses of micro organisms, which are essential for achieving an environmentally sustainable future.
Abstract: In the Anthropocene, in which we now live, climate change is impacting most life on Earth. Microorganisms support the existence of all higher trophic life forms. To understand how humans and other life forms on Earth (including those we are yet to discover) can withstand anthropogenic climate change, it is vital to incorporate knowledge of the microbial 'unseen majority'. We must learn not just how microorganisms affect climate change (including production and consumption of greenhouse gases) but also how they will be affected by climate change and other human activities. This Consensus Statement documents the central role and global importance of microorganisms in climate change biology. It also puts humanity on notice that the impact of climate change will depend heavily on responses of microorganisms, which are essential for achieving an environmentally sustainable future.
963 citations
University of Paris1, University of York2, Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation3, Wageningen University and Research Centre4, University of Central Lancashire5, South China Agricultural University6, Instituto Politécnico Nacional7, University of Rennes8, International Center for Tropical Agriculture9
TL;DR: The contribution of earthworms to ecosystem services through pedogenesis, development of soil structure, water regulation, nutrient cycling, primary production, climate regulation, pollution remediation and cultural services is discussed in this article.
Abstract: Summary Biodiversity is responsible for the provision of many ecosystem services; human well-being is based on these services, and consequently on biodiversity. In soil, earthworms represent the largest component of the animal biomass and are commonly termed ‘ecosystem engineers’. This review considers the contribution of earthworms to ecosystem services through pedogenesis, development of soil structure, water regulation, nutrient cycling, primary production, climate regulation, pollution remediation and cultural services. Although there has been much research into the role of earthworms in soil ecology, this review demonstrates substantial gaps in our knowledge related in particular to difficulties in identifying the effects of species, land use and climate. The review aims to assist people involved in all aspects of land management, including conservation, agriculture, mining or other industries, to obtain a broad knowledge of earthworms and ecosystem services.
818 citations
TL;DR: In this paper, the authors identify measurable biotic or abiotic properties that control soil organic carbon (SOC) storage at different spatial scales and could serve as indicators for an efficient quantification of SOC.
784 citations
TL;DR: In this paper, a meta-analysis using published literature from 2007 to 2013 showed that biochar reduced soil N2O emissions by 54% in laboratory and field studies and that the biochar feedstock, pyrolysis conditions and C/N ratio were key factors influencing emissions.
754 citations
Aristotle University of Thessaloniki1, Centre national de la recherche scientifique2, Wageningen University and Research Centre3, Lund University4, University of Manchester5, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences6, University of Copenhagen7, University of Marburg8, University of Giessen9, Academy of Sciences of the Czech Republic10, University of Helsinki11, University of Reading12, University of Kent13, University of Vienna14
TL;DR: Intensive agriculture reduces soil biodiversity, making soil food webs less diverse and composed of smaller bodied organisms, and how changes in soil biodiversity due to land-use intensification may threaten the functioning of soil in agricultural production systems is discussed.
Abstract: Soil biodiversity plays a key role in regulating the processes that underpin the delivery of ecosystem goods and services in terrestrial ecosystems. Agricultural intensification is known to change the diversity of individual groups of soil biota, but less is known about how intensification affects biodiversity of the soil food web as a whole, and whether or not these effects may be generalized across regions. We examined biodiversity in soil food webs from grasslands, extensive, and intensive rotations in four agricultural regions across Europe: in Sweden, the UK, the Czech Republic and Greece. Effects of land-use intensity were quantified based on structure and diversity among functional groups in the soil food web, as well as on community-weighted mean body mass of soil fauna. We also elucidate land-use intensity effects on diversity of taxonomic units within taxonomic groups of soil fauna. We found that between regions soil food web diversity measures were variable, but that increasing land-use intensity caused highly consistent responses. In particular, land-use intensification reduced the complexity in the soil food webs, as well as the community-weighted mean body mass of soil fauna. In all regions across Europe, species richness of earthworms, Collembolans, and oribatid mites was negatively affected by increased land-use intensity. The taxonomic distinctness, which is a measure of taxonomic relatedness of species in a community that is independent of species richness, was also reduced by land-use intensification. We conclude that intensive agriculture reduces soil biodiversity, making soil food webs less diverse and composed of smaller bodied organisms. Land-use intensification results in fewer functional groups of soil biota with fewer and taxonomically more closely related species. We discuss how these changes in soil biodiversity due to land-use intensification may threaten the functioning of soil in agricultural production systems.
622 citations
Cites background from "Greenhouse-gas emissions from soils..."
..., 2014), and that earthworms play an important role in C and N cycling (Lubbers et al., 2013), this decrease in taxonomic differentiation can significantly affect the outcome or the rates of Table 2 Results of PERMANOVAS for the effect of region, land-use intensity (nested in region) and sampling season (nested in region and land-use intensity) on the diversity of earthworms, Collembolans, oribatid mites, and nematodes for the following sets of diversity measures: (a) richness, (b) Shannon index, (c) average taxonomic distinctness, and (d) average taxonomic breadth....
[...]
...…as a valid proxy for functional differentiation in the community (Gasc on et al., 2009; Birkhofer et al., 2014), and that earthworms play an important role in C and N cycling (Lubbers et al., 2013), this decrease in taxonomic differentiation can significantly affect the outcome or the rates of Fig....
[...]
References
More filters
Book•
01 Jan 1985
TL;DR: In this article, the authors present a model for estimating the effect size from a series of experiments using a fixed effect model and a general linear model, and combine these two models to estimate the effect magnitude.
Abstract: Preface. Introduction. Data Sets. Tests of Statistical Significance of Combined Results. Vote-Counting Methods. Estimation of a Single Effect Size: Parametric and Nonparametric Methods. Parametric Estimation of Effect Size from a Series of Experiments. Fitting Parametric Fixed Effect Models to Effect Sizes: Categorical Methods. Fitting Parametric Fixed Effect Models to Effect Sizes: General Linear Models. Random Effects Models for Effect Sizes. Multivariate Models for Effect Sizes. Combining Estimates of Correlation Coefficients. Diagnostic Procedures for Research Synthesis Models. Clustering Estimates of Effect Magnitude. Estimation of Effect Size When Not All Study Outcomes Are Observed. Meta-Analysis in the Physical and Biological Sciences. Appendix. References. Index.
9,769 citations
TL;DR: In this paper, the authors present a model for estimating the effect size from a series of experiments using a fixed effect model and a general linear model, and combine these two models to estimate the effect magnitude.
Abstract: Preface. Introduction. Data Sets. Tests of Statistical Significance of Combined Results. Vote-Counting Methods. Estimation of a Single Effect Size: Parametric and Nonparametric Methods. Parametric Estimation of Effect Size from a Series of Experiments. Fitting Parametric Fixed Effect Models to Effect Sizes: Categorical Methods. Fitting Parametric Fixed Effect Models to Effect Sizes: General Linear Models. Random Effects Models for Effect Sizes. Multivariate Models for Effect Sizes. Combining Estimates of Correlation Coefficients. Diagnostic Procedures for Research Synthesis Models. Clustering Estimates of Effect Magnitude. Estimation of Effect Size When Not All Study Outcomes Are Observed. Meta-Analysis in the Physical and Biological Sciences. Appendix. References. Index.
7,063 citations
TL;DR: In this article, Tisdall and Oades [J. Soil Sci. 62 (1982) 141] coined the aggregate hierarchy concept describing a spatial scale dependence of mechanisms involved in micro- and macroaggregate formation.
Abstract: Since the 1900s, the link between soil biotic activity, soil organic matter (SOM) decomposition and stabilization, and soil aggregate dynamics has been recognized and intensively been studied. By 1950, many studies had, mostly qualitatively, investigated the influence of the five major factors (i.e. soil fauna, microorganisms, roots, inorganics and physical processes) on this link. After 1950, four theoretical mile-stones related to this subject were realized. The first one was when Emerson [Nature 183 (1959) 538] proposed a model of a soil crumb consisting of domains of oriented clay and quartz particles. Next, Edwards and Bremner [J. Soil Sci. 18 (1967) 64] formulated a theory in which the solid-phase reaction between clay minerals, polyvalent cations and SOM is the main process leading to microaggregate formation. Based on this concept, Tisdall and Oades [J. Soil Sci. 62 (1982) 141] coined the aggregate hierarchy concept describing a spatial scale dependence of mechanisms involved in micro- and macroaggregate formation. Oades [Plant Soil 76 (1984) 319] suggested a small, but very important, modification to the aggregate hierarchy concept by theorizing the formation of microaggregates within macroaggregates. Recent research on aggregate formation and SOM stabilization extensively corroborate this modification and use it as the base for furthering the understanding of SOM dynamics. The major outcomes of adopting this modification are: (1) microaggregates, rather than macroaggregates protect SOM in the long term; and (2) macroaggregate turnover is a crucial process influencing the stabilization of SOM. Reviewing the progress made over the last 50 years in this area of research reveals that still very few studies are quantitative and/or consider interactive effects between the five factors. The quantification of these relationships is clearly needed to improve our ability to predict changes in soil ecosystems due to management and global change. This quantification can greatly benefit from viewing aggregates as dynamic rather than static entities and relating aggregate measurements with 2D and 3D quantitative spatial information.
3,134 citations
TL;DR: It is concluded that in order to reliably predict the effects of GEC on community and ecosystem processes, the greatest single challenge will be to determine how biotic and abiotic context alters the direction and magnitude of G EC effects on biotic interactions.
Abstract: The main drivers of global environmental change (CO2 enrichment, nitrogen deposition, climate, biotic invasions and land use) cause extinctions and alter species distributions, and recent evidence shows that they exert pervasive impacts on various antagonistic and mutualistic interactions among species. In this review, we synthesize data from 688 published studies to show that these drivers often alter competitive interactions among plants and animals, exert multitrophic effects on the decomposer food web, increase intensity of pathogen infection, weaken mutualisms involving plants, and enhance herbivory while having variable effects on predation. A recurrent finding is that there is substantial variability among studies in both the magnitude and direction of effects of any given GEC driver on any given type of biotic interaction. Further, we show that higher order effects among multiple drivers acting simultaneously create challenges in predicting future responses to global environmental change, and that extrapolating these complex impacts across entire networks of species interactions yields unanticipated effects on ecosystems. Finally, we conclude that in order to reliably predict the effects of GEC on community and ecosystem processes, the greatest single challenge will be to determine how biotic and abiotic context alters the direction and magnitude of GEC effects on biotic interactions.
2,070 citations
TL;DR: In this article, the anaerobic zones of submerged soils by methanogens and methanotrophs are oxidised into CO2 in the aerobic zones of wetland soils and in upland soils.
1,743 citations