Lu J. Z., Pfingstl T., Junker R. R., Maraun M., Erktan Amandine, Scheu S. (2025). Life history traits in microarthropods : evidence for a soil animal economics spectrum. Geoderma, 455, p. 117206 [8 p.]. ISSN 0016-7061.
Titre du document
Life history traits in microarthropods : evidence for a soil animal economics spectrum
Lu J. Z., Pfingstl T., Junker R. R., Maraun M., Erktan Amandine, Scheu S.
Source
Geoderma, 2025,
455, p. 117206 [8 p.] ISSN 0016-7061
Evolution optimizes the performance of living organisms through budgeting of limited resources, leading to life- history trade-offs. Many life-history traits are related to body size with larger species typically exhibiting a slower pace of life and lower fecundity. However, soil-living organisms may exhibit size-independent life-history strategies due to habitat space constraints, but this has never been tested. Here, we synthesize life-history traits in springtails (Insecta: Collembola) and mites (Acari: Oribatida, Astigmata, Mesostigmata), the most abundant microarthropods worldwide, living mainly in litter and the pore space of soil. We related life-history traits to body size and individual metabolic rate, and showed that life-history traits of soil microarthropods display a trade-off between lifespan and reproductive rate, spanning a continuum from fast to slow life-history strategies. Oribatida exhibit remarkably slow life-histories and long lifespans with lower reproductive rates than Collembola, Astigmata and Mesostigmata. Despite fresh body mass of soil microarthropods varying by three orders of magnitude, fast and slow life-history strategies occurred in all size classes suggesting largely size-independent life-history strategies. Overall, these findings indicate a soil animal economics spectrum that bears key implications for understanding local biodiversity and the coexistence of soil animal species, such as how Collembola and Oribatida coexist worldwide.
Plan de classement
Sciences fondamentales / Techniques d'analyse et de recherche [020]
;
Biologie du sol [074]
