Brown G.G., Barois I., Lavelle P. (2000). Regulation of soil organic matter dynamics and microbial activity in the drilosphere and the role of interactions with other edaphic functional domains. European Journal of Soil Biology, 36 (3-4), p. 177-198. ISSN 1164-5563.
Titre du document
Regulation of soil organic matter dynamics and microbial activity in the drilosphere and the role of interactions with other edaphic functional domains
Année de publication
2000
Type de document
Article
Auteurs
Brown G.G., Barois I., Lavelle P.
Source
European Journal of Soil Biology, 2000,
36 (3-4), p. 177-198 ISSN 1164-5563
The moment the soil enters into contact with an earthworm, both superficially and internally, physicochemical and biological changes take place. The drilosphere represents the whole soil volume under earthworm influence. Thus it includes the body surfaces, the gut and all the internal features of the worm that are in contact with the ingested soil, as well as the external structures (casts, burrows, middens) created by earthworm activities. The extent of the drilosphere and its particular characteristics depend on the species and ecological categories of the earthworm community present as well as the spatial and temporal scale of interest. Spatially, the drilosphere can interact with other soil functional domains and lead to significant changes in the litter system or detritusphere (generally decreasing litter stocks) and the rhizosphere (affecting both root biomass and density), the two main sources of organic matter (OM) additions to the soil, as well as in the aggregatusphere and the porosphere. Drilosphere effects on microbial activity and OM decomposition can be completely different (and opposite) depending on the spatio-temporal scale of observation. At the level of the gut, microbial activity is dramatically stimulated in a matter of a few hours via a mutualistic observation. At the level of the gut, microbial activity is dramatically stimulated in a matter of a few hours via a mutualistic digestion system. In this process, water and soluble-C in the form of intestinal mucus (the Kiss) produced by the earthworm (Prince Charming) awakens the dormant microflora (Sleeping Beauties), thereby increasing decomposition of the stable forms of soil OM ingested. During gut passage populations of other organisms (e.g. protozoa, nematodes, fungi) may decline with digestion, although these organisms probably form a minor component of the earthworm's energy needs... (D'après résumé d'auteur)
Plan de classement
Constituants et propriétés des sols [068PROSOL]
;
Faune [074FAUSOL]
