@article{fdi:010094213,
  title = {{C}ushion plants in the {A}lps are swarming with invertebrate life},
  author = {{D}umas, {K}. and {M}arais, {G}. and {P}aitreault, {S}. and {A}vrillier, {J}. {N}. and {R}osa, {A}. and {H}edde, {M}. and {R}asplus, {J}. {Y}. and {C}h{\'e}rasse, {S}. and {O}uvrard, {D}. and {R}eynaud, {P}. and {T}rap, {J}ean and {F}ilali {A}laoui, {I}lyass and {N}o{\¨e}l, {F}. and {P}errier, {C}. and {Y}annic, {G}. and {G}allet, {C}. and {B}ernier, {N}. and {L}avergne, {S}. and {I}banez, {S}.},
  editor = {},
  language = {{ENG}},
  abstract = {{C}ushion plants, which dominate nival ecosystems, are known to host a large diversity of plant, microbe, and animal life. {H}owever, a comprehensive assessment of this diversity is still lacking, particularly with regard to invertebrate soil fauna. {I}n this study, we sampled soil beneath cushion plants in various climatic and geological conditions throughout the {F}rench {A}lps. {O}ur results demonstrate that cushion plants host a remarkably high abundance and diversity of invertebrates, with some individual cushions hosting nearly 400 specimens belonging to 15 different families. {A}cross all samples, 8845 specimens were found. {T}he taxonomic diversity is particularly notable, with groups such as {C}ollembola, {A}cari, and {N}ematoda, as well as {G}astropoda, {D}iptera, {C}oleoptera, {H}ymenoptera, and {H}emiptera. {I}n total, 44 different families were identified. {I}n particular, our findings show that cushion plants not only function as habitats for adult invertebrates, but also as site for the egg laying and larval development of several insect groups, including {D}iptera, {H}emiptera, and {L}epidoptera. {I}n addition, different species of cushion plant tend to host distinct invertebrate communities, which makes them a key driver spatial variation in invertebrate populations. {H}owever, the factors determining the alpha diversity of invertebrates assemblages in nival environments remain unclear. {O}verall, our results emphasize the key role of cushion plants in maintaining biodiversity in the nival vegetation belt.},
  keywords = {{A}lpine ecology ; {N}ival soil communities ; {P}lant-insect interactions ; {S}oil invertebrates ; {S}oil fauna ; {FRANCE} ; {ALPES}},
  booktitle = {},
  journal = {{A}lpine {B}otany},
  volume = {[{E}arly access]},
  numero = {},
  pages = {[12 p.]},
  ISSN = {1664-2201},
  year = {2025},
  DOI = {10.1007/s00035-025-00335-1},
  URL = {https://www.documentation.ird.fr/hor/fdi:010094213},
}