Drought-induced reduction in uptake of recently photosynthesized carbon by springtails and mites in alpine grassland

• DOI: 10.1016/j.soilbio.2012.06.009
• Publication Date: 2012-06-27T21:42:10Z
• Authors: Julia Seeber; Alexander Rief; Andreas Richter; Michael Traugott; Michael Bahn
• Keywords: 0106 biological sciences; 2. Zero hunger; 106022 Mikrobiologie; Short Communication; Soil Science; 15. Life on land; Soil mesofauna; Microbiology; 01 natural sciences; 6. Clean water; 106001 General biology; 106026 Ökosystemforschung; 13. Climate action; 106022 Microbiology; Collembola; 106001 Allgemeine Biologie; 106026 Ecosystem research; 13C pulse labelling; Acari; Belowground herbivory; Global change

We tested whether experimental summer drought affects the transfer of recently photosynthesized carbon from plants to soil mesofauna in a subalpine meadow. From day one after (13)CO(2) pulse-labelling of the plant canopy, roots, collembolans and mites were enriched in δ(13)C in control, but not in drought plots. However, as the difference in δ(13)C between roots and soil animals was not affected by the drought treatment, we conclude that drought affects the tight linkage between photosynthesis and soil mesofauna primarily via functional responses of plants rather than via changes in the mesofauna.