Effects of CO[sub 2] and climate change on forest trees: Soil biology and enzymology

• Published in: Bulletin of the Ecological Society of America; (United States) Vol. 75:2
• Main Authors: Moldenke, A.R., Baumeister, N., Caldwell, B.A., Griffith, R., Ingham, E.R., Wernz, J., Johnson, M.G., Rygiewicz, P.T., Tingey, D.T.
• Format: Conference Proceeding
• Language: English
• Published: United States 01.06.1994
• Subjects: 560400 > Other Environmental Pollutant Effects; ANIMALS; ARTHROPODS; ASCHELMINTHES; BACTERIA; BIOLOGICAL EFFECTS; BIOLOGY; CARBON COMPOUNDS; CARBON DIOXIDE; CARBON OXIDES; CHALCOGENIDES; CLIMATIC CHANGE; FUNGI; GROWTH; HELMINTHS; INVERTEBRATES; MICROORGANISMS; NEMATODES; OXIDES; OXYGEN COMPOUNDS; PARASITES; PLANTS 560300 > Chemicals Metabolism & Toxicology; PROTOZOA; RADIATION, THERMAL, AND OTHER ENVIRON. POLLUTANT EFFECTS ON LIVING ORGS. AND BIOL. MAT; SOILS; SPECIES DIVERSITY
• ISSN: 0012-9623; 2327-6096

Samples of Teracosm soils were analyzed shortly after initial setup to determine whether initial conditions were equivalent and matched expected values for local soils. Total and active fungal biomass, active bacterial biomass and protozoan numbers were reduced, with greatest decreases occurring in the A horizon. No effect was observed on total bacterial biomass, nematode or anthropod densities, but changes in nematode and arthropod species composition occurred. Significant differences in total density and species composition occurred between the enclosed Teracosms and the open controls. Arthropod and nematode community structure in the three altitudinal field sites had significantly diverged. No significant differences in activities of key soil enzymes in C- and N-cycling (acid phosphatase, protease, B-glucosidase, phenol oxidase and peroxidase) were found between initial samples relative to treatment, but all levels were significantly difference relative to depth in soil profile. Activities were within ranges previously observed in forests of the Pacific Northwest.