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

拟议的项目在NUMEX试验框架内调查了分解者系统对主要气候变化因素的响应，即安第斯森林生态系统的温度升高（以海拔为代表）和养分输入（N和P）。该项目侧重于分解过程的主要参与者，即微生物（按磷脂脂肪酸模式分析）和分解无脊椎动物的代表性分类群：睾丸阿米巴虫（“睾丸”）、线虫（Nematoda）和甲螨（Oribtida）。所选择的分类群代表了土壤食物网的主要组成部分，即微生物是主要的初级分解者，无性系阿米巴虫和细菌取食线虫是细菌能量通道的主要代表，真菌取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群体对环境变化的反应都很敏感，预计他们对气候变化因素的反应也会很敏感和不同，从而能够确定厄瓜多尔和安第斯山脉大部分地区的代表性指标。在与“n循环”项目的其他研究小组的密切合作下，研究了将矿物营养物中的15N纳入土壤动物食物网。此外，在这一系列项目的框架内，将研究土壤动物对凋落物分解和菌根真菌对凋落物养分的利用的作用。此外，所选土壤动物类群焦点分类群的分子分析旨在了解动物多样性沿研究地点的海拔梯度和全球纬度梯度的变化，从而更深入地了解热带生态系统土壤动物多样性的演变。

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.