The impact of Grey Heron (Ardea cinerea L.) colony on soil biogeochemistry and vegetation: a natural long-term in situ experiment in a planted pine forest

• DOI: 10.3389/fenvs.2023.1197657
• Publication Date: 2023-06-08T05:36:30Z
• Authors: Mikhail I. Bogachev; Denis V. Tishin; Artur M. Gafurov; Bulat I. Gareev; Rasul G. Imaev; Dmitrii I. Kaplun; Maria I. Markelova; Nikita S. Pyko; Svetlana A. Pyko; Valeria A. Romanova; Anastasiia N. Saf...; Aleksandr M. Sinitca; Bulat M. Usmanov; Airat R. Kayumov
• Keywords: Biogeochemistry; Ardea; Soil carbon

Increased anthropogenic pressure including intensification of agricultural activities leads to long-term decline natural biotopes, with planted forests often considered as promising compensatory response, although reduced biodiversity and ecosystem stability represent their common drawbacks. Here we present a complex investigation the impact large Grey Heron ( Ardea cinerea L.) colony on soil biogeochemistry vegetation in Scots pine forest representing situ experiment an engineered ecosystem. After settling around 2006, expanded for 15 years, leading intensive deposition nutrients feces, food remains feather thereby considerably altering local biogeochemistry. Thus, lower pH levels 4.5, 10- 2-fold higher concentrations phosphorous nitrogen, well 1.2-fold discrepancies K, Li, Mn, Zn Co., respectively, compared surrounding control area could be observed. Unaltered total organic carbon (C org ) suggests repressed vegetation, also reflected indices obtained by remote sensing. Moreover, microbial diversity considerable alternations relative abundance Proteobacteria, Firmicutes, Acidobacteriota, Actinobacteriota, Verrucomicrobiota, Gemmatimonadota, Chujaibacter, Rhodanobacter, Bacillus has been detected. The above alterations affected climate stress resilience trees indicated limited recovery from major 2010 drought stress, marked contrast p = 3∙10 −5 ). interplay between geographical, geochemical, microbiological dendrological characteristics, manifestation is explicitly Bayesian network model. Using inference approach, have confirmed predictability patterns growth dynamics given keynote biogeochemical correlations R > 0.8 observations predictions, indicating capability risk assessment that further employed informed management.