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The Chemical/Physical Characteristics And Microbial Diversity Among Nests Soil Of Two Ants In Qinling Mountains

Posted on:2012-04-16Degree:MasterType:Thesis
Country:ChinaCandidate:Y Y ChenFull Text:PDF
GTID:2213330344952052Subject:Forest Protection
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Ant is one of the animals with richest species and quantities in terrestrial ecosystem and plays a crucial role in the cycle of matter and energy in ecosystem. Especially, their nesting activity and feeding behavior can improve the aeration and chemical/physical characteristics of soil, and have an indirect effect on richness and diversity of soil microbe. In order to investigate the effect of nesting activity and feeding behavior of ants in Qinling mountain on the chemical/physical characteristics and fungi diversity of soil, the nest and bulk soil of two ant species (Camponotus japonicus Mayr and Pachycondyla astuta Smith) has been studied in forest ecosystems of Niubeiliang Nature Reserve in Qinling Mountains. The main results of the research were as follows.1. The comparison of chemical/physical characteristics and microbe diversity of soil among different nests in same ant species showed that there were significant differences among different nests of Camponotus japonicus Mayr. The variation range of nestⅢand nestⅣwas significantly greater than those of nestⅠand nestⅡ. While the different nests in Pachycondyla astuta Smith also existed significant differences and the variation range of nest soilⅠand nestⅣwere significantly greater than those of nestⅡand nestⅢ.2. The comparison of chemical/physical characteristics of nest soil between the two species showed that compared with bulk soil, the nest soil moisture of C. japonicus and P. astuta increased significantly (P<0. 05) and the content of soil nutrient (organic matter, total N, available N, and available K) were enriched in nest soils (P<0. 05). While the pH of nest soil declined by 9.33% and 6.26% in C. japonicus and P. astuta respectively, therefore the nest soil was more acidic than bulk soil (P<0.05). No significant differences were found in the content of available P (P>0. 05) in four microhabitats, however the content of available P in the nest soil of C. japonicus and P. astuta deceased by 16.94% and 11.78% respectively, which had positive relationship with the reduction of pH. Also, there were significant differences between the chemical/physical characteristics of soil and showed that P. astute > C. japonicus >bulk soil (P<0. 05).3. The comparison of microbial biomass in two species of ants'nest and bulk soil indicated that nesting activity had a significant effect on microbial biomass (P<0. 05). The cfu/g of bacteria, actinomycetes and fungi in two ant species were all significantly greater than those of the bulk soil (P<0. 05) and showed bacteria > fungi > actinomycetes. The soil microbial biomass of two ant species were also found to be significant different and showed: P. astute > C. japonicus >bulk soil (P<0. 05).4. Correlation Analysis of the chemical/physical characteristics and microbial biomass of nest soil of the two ant species showed that the content of soil organic matter, total N, available N, available K and total P have significantly positive correlation with the cfu/g of bacteria, fungi and actinomycetes, but the content of available P and pH have negative correlation with the cfu/g of microbe. The moisture content of nest soil in C. japonicus had significantly positive correlation with the cfu/g of bacteria, fungi and actinomycetes, but those of P. astute had much lower correlation with the cfu/g of microbe.5. Analysis of fungi diversity in nest soil showed that compared with bulk soil, the diversity and evenness index in the nest soil of C. japonicus and P. astute were lower, which was mainly because the fungi in nest soil concentrated on several dominant species, such as dominant fungi in nest soil of C. japonicus were Penicillium.incoloratum L.Q.Hong & Z.T.Qi (22.95%), Ozonium Lk. Ex Fr. (16.03%), Penicillium.dalea K.M.Zalessky (15.27%) and Saksenaea saksena (14.50%). While the dominant fungi species in nest soil of P. astute were Penicillium citreonigrum Dierckx (20%) and Penicillium donkii Stolk (60.93%). Additionally, for the same specie, the fungi composition was similar in nests and their bulk soil. However, for two ant species, the fungi composition were significantly different.In conclusion, the nesting activity and feeding behavior of two ants could significantly affect the chemical/physical characteristics, microbial biomass and fungi diversity of nest soil, and thereby this will enhance the soil heterogeneity and be helpful for the maintenance of substance and energy recycle in forest ecosystem...
Keywords/Search Tags:Camponotus japonicus Mayr, Pachycondyla astuta Smith, chemical/physical characteristics of soil, fungi diversity
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