@article{fdi:010094241,
  title = {{T}rophic niche variation in springtails across soil depth},
  author = {{L}u, {J}. {Z}. and {J}üds, {M}. and {Z}hong, {L}. {L}. and {L}ux, {J}. and {S}cheu, {S}. and {E}rktan, {A}mandine},
  editor = {},
  language = {{ENG}},
  abstract = {{S}oil invertebrates move vertically through the soil to forage and avoid environmental stress. {H}owever, how their diet shifts with depth remains poorly understood, limiting our understanding of their trophic plasticity. {T}rophic consistency across depths could result from similar trophic niches existing at the microscale within different soil layers (the micro-scale feeding hypothesis). {T}o test this, we conducted a microcosm experiment incubating springtails ({C}eratophysella denticulata) in six separate forest soil layers ({OL}, and {OF}/{H}, and 0-3, 3-6, 6-9 and 9-12 cm depth of the mineral soil) and analysed changes in {C}ollembola stable isotope ratios (13{C}/12{C}, 15{N}/14{N}). {A}s expected, 13{C}/12{C} and 15{N}/14{N} ratios in litter and soil organic matter increased with depth, whereas 13{C}/12{C} ratios of {C}ollembola did not significantly differ across layers suggesting consistent basal resource use supporting the micro-scale feeding hypothesis. {B}y contrast, 15{N}/14{N} ratios of {C}ollembola increased with depth, following the trend of organic matter from {OL} to 0-3 cm soil, but not beyond. {T}hese results suggest that carbon and nitrogen nutrition of springtails is decoupled, and that the use of litter to calibrate 15{N}/14{N} values for estimating trophic positions of soil animals requires careful interpretation. {O}ur results highlight the importance of soil depth as determinant of trophic positions of soil animals and point to principle differences in nitrogen resource acquisition between litter and soil in soil animal decomposers. {O}verall, the vertical structure of soils and a microscale view of trophic interactions needs closer attention to better understand niche differentiation and resource acquisition of soil animals.},
  keywords = {{T}rophic plasticity ; {V}ertical stratification ; {S}oil fauna ; {S}pecies coexistence ; {D}etrital shift ; {M}icrohabitat ; {ALLEMAGNE}},
  booktitle = {},
  journal = {{E}uropean {J}ournal of {S}oil {B}iology},
  volume = {126},
  numero = {},
  pages = {103745 [5 p.]},
  ISSN = {1164-5563},
  year = {2025},
  DOI = {10.1016/j.ejsobi.2025.103745},
  URL = {https://www.documentation.ird.fr/hor/fdi:010094241},
}