The soil fauna of a tropical montane rain forest: regulatory forces and functioning in the decomposer system

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The proposed project in large continues work established and started in the first phase of this Integrated Research Unit. Four topics are investigated: (1) The response of bacterial and fungal feeding soil invertebrates to increased nutrient (nitrogen and phosphorus) supply in a montane tropical rain forest in Ecuador along an elevation gradient from 1000 to 3000 m (‘Nutrient Manipulation Experiment’). As representatives of bacterial and fungal feeders Testacea and Oribatida will be investigated, but with less intensity also Nematoda and Collembola. (2) Effects of increased nutrient (nitrogen and phosphorus) supply on the decomposition of litter and roots of representative tree species along an elevation gradient from 1000 to 3000 m. (3) Recolonization of former pastureland reforested by native tree species by soil animals. (4) Genetic variation of representative species of bacterial (Testacea) and fungal (Oribatida and Collembola) feeding soil animal species with a temperate to tropical distribution.