Soil arthropod diversity and quarry rehabilitation Results of the preliminary investigations Abstract. The main goal of the project was to investigate soil recovery processes on the reclaimed territories of Kavtiskhevi and Gardabani quarries by means of soil inhabiting invertebrates. Field investigations were provided on the territories of Kavtiskhevi limestone and Gardabani clay quarries. Soil samples were collected on quarries of different ages and adjacent natural ecosystems that were referred as control sites. Two replicates were taken at each site. Invertebrates were extracted from soil, slide mounted and identified. 22 species of oribatid mites were found in seven locations of Gardabani clay quarry with Phyllozetes tauricus Gordeeva, 1978 new for Caucasian fauna. 24 species are registered for four locations of Kavtiskhevi quarry with Simkinia schachthachtinskoi (Kulijev, 1961) and Laisobelba sp. new for Georgian fauna. Lasiobelba sp. is proposed as possible new species for science. All identified individuals are counted. Three forms of springtails were found on Gardabani with Pseudosinella octopunctata new for Georgian fauna; one form of springtails was found in Kavtiskhevi quarry. In Kavtiskhevi, springtails were found only on control site and were absent from quarries. Springtails are more sensitive to soil disturbance than oribatid mites. Punctoribates punctum (Oribatida) is a pioneer species of disturbed habitats. This species is abundant on quarries of different age in Kavtiskhevi and is less numerous on control sites. As for new for Georgia species, Phyllozetes tauricus was found on 15 years old quarry and Simkinia schachthachtinskoi – on oldest limestone quarry in Kavtiskhevi. Laisobelba sp. was registered on natural meadow. In general, abundance and species richness of soil invertebrates was low on active quarries and increased along the quarry age. Oribatid and springtail fauna on 40 years old quarries in Gardabani was surprisingly poor. Further investigations are needed to receive statistically significant data. Soil fauna on the reclaimed sites of Gardabani quarries shows increase of species richness that indicates on progress of soil formation processes ongoing at these sites. Similarly, diversity and abundance of soil invertebrates on oldest (from 1923) quarry in Kavtiskhevi indicates active soil formation processes supporting formation of soil fauna. However, soil fauna of old and reclaimed sites on both, Gardabani and Kavtiskhevi quarries is still far from those, found on natural sites. In all steps of provided activities actively was involved master student of the Agricultural University Georgia, Nino Todria. Based on provided investigations she is preparing master thesis that will be finished and presented in May 2015 Introduction. The main goal of the project is to investigate soil recovery processes on the reclaimed territories of Kavtiskhevi and Gardabani quarries by means of soil inhabiting invertebrates. Soil zoocenoses, microarthopods in particular, by their complex structure and species composition are widely reported bioindicators of the regeneration degree of the productive soil layer (Bielska, 1996; Hutson, 1980). Oribatid mites, in the Acarine suborder Oribatida, are associated with organic
18
Embed
Soil arthropod diversity and quarry rehabilitation by Maka Murvanidze (Georgia)
This document is posted to help you gain knowledge. Please leave a comment to let me know what you think about it! Share it to your friends and learn new things together.
Transcript
Soil arthropod diversity and quarry rehabilitation
Results of the preliminary investigations
Abstract.
The main goal of the project was to investigate soil recovery processes on the reclaimed territories
of Kavtiskhevi and Gardabani quarries by means of soil inhabiting invertebrates.
Field investigations were provided on the territories of Kavtiskhevi limestone and
Gardabani clay quarries. Soil samples were collected on quarries of different ages and adjacent
natural ecosystems that were referred as control sites. Two replicates were taken at each site.
Invertebrates were extracted from soil, slide mounted and identified. 22 species of oribatid mites
were found in seven locations of Gardabani clay quarry with Phyllozetes tauricus Gordeeva, 1978
new for Caucasian fauna. 24 species are registered for four locations of Kavtiskhevi quarry
with Simkinia schachthachtinskoi (Kulijev, 1961) and Laisobelba sp. new for Georgian
fauna. Lasiobelba sp. is proposed as possible new species for science. All identified individuals
are counted. Three forms of springtails were found on Gardabani with Pseudosinella octopunctata
new for Georgian fauna; one form of springtails was found in Kavtiskhevi quarry. In Kavtiskhevi,
springtails were found only on control site and were absent from quarries.
Springtails are more sensitive to soil disturbance than oribatid mites. Punctoribates
punctum (Oribatida) is a pioneer species of disturbed habitats. This species is abundant on quarries
of different age in Kavtiskhevi and is less numerous on control sites. As for new for Georgia
species, Phyllozetes tauricus was found on 15 years old quarry and Simkinia schachthachtinskoi –
on oldest limestone quarry in Kavtiskhevi. Laisobelba sp. was registered on natural meadow.
In general, abundance and species richness of soil invertebrates was low on active quarries
and increased along the quarry age. Oribatid and springtail fauna on 40 years old quarries in
Gardabani was surprisingly poor. Further investigations are needed to receive statistically
significant data.
Soil fauna on the reclaimed sites of Gardabani quarries shows increase of species richness
that indicates on progress of soil formation processes ongoing at these sites. Similarly, diversity
and abundance of soil invertebrates on oldest (from 1923) quarry in Kavtiskhevi indicates active
soil formation processes supporting formation of soil fauna. However, soil fauna of old and
reclaimed sites on both, Gardabani and Kavtiskhevi quarries is still far from those, found on natural
sites.
In all steps of provided activities actively was involved master student of the Agricultural
University Georgia, Nino Todria. Based on provided investigations she is preparing master thesis
that will be finished and presented in May 2015
Introduction.
The main goal of the project is to investigate soil recovery processes on the reclaimed territories
of Kavtiskhevi and Gardabani quarries by means of soil inhabiting invertebrates. Soil zoocenoses,
microarthopods in particular, by their complex structure and species composition are widely
reported bioindicators of the regeneration degree of the productive soil layer (Bielska, 1996;
Hutson, 1980). Oribatid mites, in the Acarine suborder Oribatida, are associated with organic
matter in most terrestrial ecosystems (Behan-Pelletier and Eamer, 2007; Maraun et al., 2007;
Norton and Behan-Pelletier, 2009). Their ability for dispersal is low and those that do disperse as
adults (Norton, 1994). As a result, oribatid mites cannot easily escape from stress conditions.
Population of oribatid mites decline rapidly when their habitat is damaged, that allows detection
of environmental degradation. So, they can be considered as «early warning» indicators of stress.
Appearance and dominance of oribatid mites in the microarthropod complex indicates the
beginning of soil and humus formation (Hutson, 1980; Dunger et al., 2001). Analyses of the
structure of their communities help to reveal the degree of soil stability and its formation trend.
Springtails (Collembola) are major components of terrestrial ecosystems, constituting a
substantial proportion of the soil animal biomass and diversity and are thus frequently and easily
found (Coleman et al., 2004). Like oribatids, they play an important role in plant litter
decomposition and in soil formation processes. They are known as one of the pioneers of early
stages of soil recovery processes and rapid colonizers of reclaimed waste sites (Hutson, 1980).
Collembolans are particularly sensitive to mechanical disturbances (Maraun, et al. 2003).
In provided investigation we investigated (1) the biodiversity of soil microarthropods
(Oribatida, Collembola), (2) the patterns of colonization of disturbed sites by oribatid mites and
springtails in the succession process of soil recovery and (3) the influence of soil mocroarthropods
on soil formation processes.
Objectives
The objectives of the provided preliminary investigations were to:
1. Provide the inventory of soil arthropods (oribatid mites, springtails);
2. Study biotic complexity of reclaimed and control sites using invertebrates as bioindicators;
3. Identify pioneer colonists species and species adapted to the anthropogenic pressure;
4. Reveal the effectiveness of provided reclamation activities
Background information
Field sampling was performed on 13.05.2014 and 10.06.2014. Description of visited sites is as
follows (Tables 1-2):
Table 1. Gardabani clay quarry (Fig. 1)
Abbreviation Site description GPS coordinates
G1 Active quarry (pic. 1) 41°30.640 45°05.695
G2 Nitrogen dump (pic. 2) 41°30.533 45°05.607
G3 40 years old quarry (pic. 3) 41°30.430 45°05.516
G4 15 years old quarry (pic. 4) 41°30.438 45°05.709
G5 Two years ago reclaimed site (pic 5) 41°30.135 45°05.866
G6 One year ago reclaimed site
G7 Control. Natural meadow (pic. 6)
Note: sites G5, G6 and G7 are located close to each other, so, the GPS coordinates are the
same.
Table 2. Kavtiskhevi limestone quarry (Fig. 2)
Abbreviation Site description GPS coordinates
K1 Oldest quarry of 1923 (pic. 7) 41°53.999 44°26.568
K2 Active quarry (pic. 8) 41°53.702 44°26.739
K3 20 years old quarry (pic. 9) 41°53.718 44°26.533