The soil animal community as indicator of changes in the structure and functioning of Andean ecosystems with altitude and nutrient input

拟议项目调查分解系统对主要气候变化因素的反应，在NUMEX实验的框架内，安第斯森林生态系统的温度升高（以海拔高度表示）和养分投入（N和P）。该项目侧重于分解过程的主要参与者，即，这些物种包括微生物（通过磷脂脂肪酸模式分析）和分解无脊椎动物的代表性分类群：有壳变形虫（“Testacea”）、线虫（Nematoda）和甲螨（Aribtida）。所选分类群代表了土壤食物网的主要组成部分，即，其中，微生物是主要的初级分解者，有壳变形虫和细菌摄食线虫是细菌能量通道的主要代表，真菌摄食线虫和甲螨是真菌能量通道的主要代表。这些群体中的每一个都对环境变化作出敏感的反应，预计它们对气候变化因素的反应敏感而不同，从而能够确定代表厄瓜多尔广大地区和整个安第斯山脉的指标。在密切合作，与其他研究小组的“氮循环”捆绑项目的15 N形式的矿物营养物质纳入土壤动物食物网进行了调查。此外，在这一系列项目的框架内，将调查土壤动物对凋落物分解和菌根真菌利用凋落物养分的作用。此外，重点类群的选定土壤动物的分子分析的目标是了解动物多样性的变化，沿着海拔梯度的研究地点和沿着世界范围内的纬度梯度，使更深入地了解热带生态系统中的土壤动物的多样性的演变。

The proposed project investigates the response of the decomposer system to major climate change factors i.e., increased temperature (as represented by altitude) and nutrient inputs (N and P) of Andean forest ecosystems in the framework of the NUMEX experiment. The project focuses on major players of decomposition processes i.e., microorganisms (as analysed by phospholipid fatty acid patterns) and representative taxa of decomposer invertebrates: testate amoebae ("Testacea"), nematodes (Nematoda) and oribatid mites (Oribtida). The selected taxa represent major soil food web components i.e., microorganisms as major primary decomposers, testate amoebae and bacterial feeding nematodes as major representatives of the bacterial energy channel and fungal feeding nematodes and oribatid mites as major representatives of the fungal energy channel. Each of these groups responds sensitively to environmental changes and it is expected that they sensitively and differentially respond to climate change factors allowing to identify indicators representative for large regions of Ecuador and the Andes in general. In close collaboration with other research groups of the "N-cycle" bundle of projects the incorporation of 15N form mineral nutrients into the soil animal food web is investigated. Also, in the framework of this bundle of projects the role of soil animals on litter decomposition and litter nutrient exploitation by mycorrhizal fungi will be investigated. Further, molecular analysis of focal taxa of the selected soil animal groups target at understanding changes in animal diversity along altitudinal gradients of the study sites and along worldwide latitudinal gradients allowing deeper understanding of the evolution of the diversity of soil animals in tropical ecosystems.