High litter quality enhances plant energy channeling by soil macro‐detritivores and lowers their trophic position

• Published in: Ecology (Durham) Vol. 106; no. 2; pp. e70004 - n/a
• Main Authors: Zhong, Linlin, Larsen, Thomas, Lu, Jing‐Zhong, Scheu, Stefan, Pollierer, Melanie M.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Hoboken, USA John Wiley & Sons, Inc 01.02.2025
• Subjects: Animals; CSIA; earthworm ecological groups; energy channels; Energy Metabolism; Food Chain; microbial community composition; Oligochaeta - physiology; Plants - metabolism; resource quality; Soil - chemistry; Soil Microbiology; trophic position; earthworm ecological groups; microbial community composition; resource quality; trophic position; CSIA; energy channels

Detritus‐based resources, that is, plant litter, are a major energy source for many living organisms and are considered to be a key determinant of primary production and nutrient cycling. Earthworms are among the most important macro‐detritivores in terrestrial food webs and play a crucial role in f...