Effects of heterogeneous habitat on soil nematode community characteristics in the Songnen Plain

doi:10.17520/biods.2023295

Abstract

Abstract:

Aims: Wetlands, as one of the three major ecosystem types, play a crucial role in buffering global climate change. Habitat heterogeneity is a dominant factor in the succession of plant communities and significantly influences the structure and composition of soil biological communities, thereby directly or indirectly enhancing the diversity of soil food webs.

Methods: To determine the impact of wetland habitat heterogeneity on the structure and function of soil nematode communities in the Songnen Plain, this study focused on five heterogeneous habitats in the region. These habitats were selected based on a preliminary investigation of plant community characteristics. In July 2022, soil nematode communities, vegetation, and soil environmental factors were surveyed within these habitats. Soil samples were collected using a five-point method and nematodes were extracted using an improved shallow dish separation-sucrose centrifugation technique, followed by morphological identification. The soil nematode community structure and diversity were analyzed based on species composition, individual density, diversity indices, and functional indices. Redundancy analysis and correlation analysis were employed to explore the relationship between nematode communities and soil physicochemical properties as well as vegetation characteristics.

Results: (1) Soil nematodes in the study area are mainly omnivores-predators and plant-parasites. The habitat of Leymus chinensis exhibits the highest number of soil nematode individuals, Shannon-Wiener diversity index (H'), and Margalef species richness index. The functional footprint of nematodes in the sample plot follows this order: Leymus chinensis > Carex schmidtii> Deyeuxia angustifolia > Puccinellia tenuiflora> alkali habitat. (2) The channel index of soil nematodes in the Deyeuxia angustifolia habitat is significantly lower compared to other habitats. Fungal channels dominate the soil decomposition process in this habitat while bacterial channels dominate in others. (3) The ANOSIM test results demonstrate that habitat heterogeneity significantly influence the composition of four nutrient groups and the overall nematode community. Pearson correlation and redundancy analysis reveal that total phosphorus, soil moisture content, soil pH, and the importance value of hygrophytes in vegetation are the primary environmental factors affecting the structure and composition of soil nematode communities.

Conclusions: Our research findings demonstrate that the habitat heterogeneity of the Songnen Plain has a significant impact on the community characteristics of soil nematodes. Specifically, the Leymus chinensis habitat stands out with the highest number of individuals, diversity, and richness of soil nematodes. Additionally, the stability of the Carex schmidtiiplot is expected to play a crucial role in enhancing the restoration and natural improvement of wetlands due to its stable food web. These findings contribute to a deeper understanding of the processes and functions of the underground ecosystem in the wetlands of the Songnen Plain.

Key words: soil nematode, vegetation type, community structure, Songnen Plain, habitat heterogeneity

Shuhan Yang, He Wang, Lei Chen, Yingfei Liao, Guang Yan, Yining Wu, Hongfei Zou. Effects of heterogeneous habitat on soil nematode community characteristics in the Songnen Plain[J]. Biodiv Sci, 2024, 32(1): 23295.

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URL: https://www.biodiversity-science.net/EN/10.17520/biods.2023295

https://www.biodiversity-science.net/EN/Y2024/V32/I1/23295

Figures/Tables 9

Fig. 1 Sampling plots and proportion of vegetation importance values in the Songnen Plain

Fig. 2 Soil physicochemical properties of five habitats in the Songnen Plain. PT, Puccinellia tenuiflora habitat; DA, Deyeuxia angustifolia habitat; CS, Carex schmidtii habitat; LC, Leymus chinensis habitat; AH, Alkali habitat. SOC, Soil organic carbon; TN, Total nitrogen; TP, Total phosphorus; TK, Total potassium; AN, Available nitrogen; AP, Available phosphorus; AK, Available potassium. Different lowercase letters indicate significant differences between habitat.

Fig. 3 Relative abundance and trophic groups of soil nematodes in various vegetation types in the Songnen Plain. PT, Puccinellia tenuiflora habitat; DA, Deyeuxia angustifolia habitat; CS, Carex schmidtii habitat; LC, Leymus chinensis habitat; AH, Alkali habitat. BF, Bacterivores; FF, Fungivores; PF, Plant-parasites; OP, Omnivores-predators. Different small letters mean significant difference at 0.05 level.

Fig. 4 Ecological index values of soil nematode communities in heterogeneous habitats in the Songnen Plain. PT, Puccinellia tenuiflora habitat; DA, Deyeuxia angustifolia habitat; CS, Carex schmidtii habitat; LC, Leymus chinensis habitat; AH, Alkali habitat. Different lowercase letters mean significant difference at 0.05 level.

Fig. 5 Faunal analysis of the food web in different habitats of Songnen Plain (Based on nematode metabolic footprint)

Fig. 6 RDA analysis of soil nematode communities in heterogeneous habitat types in Songnen Plain. Acr, Acrobeloides; All, Allodorylaimus; Apo1, Aporcelaimellus; Apo2, Aporcelaimus; Cri, Criconemaides; Dip1, Diphtherophora; Dip2, Diploscapter; Epi, Epidorylaimus; Euc, Eucephalobus; Eud, Eudorylaimus; Lai, Laimydorus; Lep, Leptolaimus; Mac, Macroposthonia; Mes, Mesodorylaimus; Nyg, Nygolaimus; Par, Pararotylenchus; Pra, Pratylenchus; Pro, Proleptonchus; Tho, Thonus; Tri, Tripyla; Tyl1, Tylencholaimus; Tyl2, Tylenchus. SOC, Soil organic carbon; SWC, Soil water content; TP, Total phosphorus; SBD, Soil bulk density; P1, Importance value of hygrophytes; P3, Importance value of swamp plant.

Table 1 Pearson correlation between nematode abundance, trophic groups, ecological indices and soil physicochemical parameters in the Songnen Plain

指标 Index	pH	土壤有机碳 SOC	全氮 TN	全磷 TP	全钾 TK	速效氮 AN	速效磷 AP	速效钾 AK
线虫多样性指数 H'	-0.527^*	0.100	0.105	-0.008	0.077	0.130	-0.459	0.496
线虫丰富度指数 SR	-0.616^*	0.157	0.170	-0.015	0.066	0.114	-0.644^**	0.642^**
结构指数 SI	-0.607^*	0.506	0.528^*	0.697^**	-0.548^*	0.502	-0.513	0.068
富集指数 EI	-0.446	0.801^**	0.813^**	0.686^**	-0.870^**	0.783^**	-0.200	-0.070
线虫个体数 N	-0.666^**	0.207	0.219	0.101	0.062	0.100	-0.729^**	0.767^**
自由生活线虫成熟度 MI	-0.282	-0.038	-0.036	0.268	-0.031	-0.084	-0.169	-0.062
植物-寄生线虫指数 PPI	-0.231	0.035	0.034	-0.165	0.043	-0.071	0.210	0.103
瓦斯乐斯卡指数 WI	-0.038	-0.004	0.014	0.240	-0.005	0.140	-0.006	-0.032
食细菌线虫多度 BF	-0.169	0.206	0.230	-0.131	-0.015	0.229	-0.354	0.551^*
食真菌线虫多度 FF	-0.520^*	0.305	0.268	0.339	-0.054	0.210	-0.299	0.281
植物寄生线虫多度 PF	-0.119	0.332	0.333	0.086	-0.239	0.212	-0.189	0.194
捕食-杂食线虫多度 OP	-0.514	0.110	0.124	0.326	-0.092	0.075	-0.392	0.216
线虫通道比 NCR	0.386	-0.185	-0.150	-0.428	0.184	-0.102	0.008	0.181

Table 2 Correlation coefficients between nematode abundance, trophic group, ecological index and plant physiological indicators in Songnen Plain

指标 Index	植物多样性指数 H₂'	平均高度 AH	平均生物量 AB	湿生植物重要值 P₁	中生植物重要值 P₂	沼生植物重要值 P₃	植被盖度 Coverage
线虫多样性指数 H'	0.366	0.199	-0.058	0.703^**	0.239	0.171	-0.058
线虫丰富度指数 SR	0.420	0.270	-0.103	0.752^**	0.341	0.200	-0.103
结构指数 SI	0.537^*	0.749^**	0.653^**	0.443	0.117	0.765^**	0.653^**
富集指数 EI	0.131	0.657^**	0.478	-0.507	0.534^*	0.508	0.478
线虫个体数 N	0.687^**	0.301	0.042	0.817^**	0.424	0.260	0.042
自由生活线虫成熟度 MI	0.314	0.232	0.200	0.599^*	-0.325	0.311	0.200
植物-寄生线虫指数 PPI	-0.228	-0.179	-0.548^*	0.124	0.245	-0.233	-0.548^*
瓦斯乐斯卡指数 WI	0.255	0.205	0.490	0.390	-0.255	0.250	0.490
食细菌线虫多度 BF	0.160	0.102	-0.015	-0.025	0.636^*	-0.067	-0.015
食真菌线虫多度 FF	0.613^*	0.211	0.186	0.447	-0.051	0.295	0.186
植物寄生线虫多度 PF	0.070	0.124	-0.031	-0.394	0.447	0.028	-0.031
捕食-杂食线虫多度 OP	0.455	0.368	0.264	0.764^**	-0.035	0.396	0.264
线虫通道比 NCR	-0.293	-0.202	-0.191	-0.248	0.336	-0.263	-0.191

Fig. 7 Non-metric multidimensional scale analysis (NMDS) and ANOSIM test of soil nematode and nematode communities in five habitats in Songnen Plain. BF, Bacterivores; FF, Fungivores; PF, Plant-parasites; OP, Omnivores-predators.

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