Elucidation of the role of soil animals on the process of decline in soil carbon sequestration caused by soil bioturbation

2023 Fiscal Year Final Research Report

• Project/Area Number: 19K06147
• Research Category: Grant-in-Aid for Scientific Research (C)
• Allocation Type: Multi-year Fund
• Section: 一般
• Review Section: Basic Section 40010:Forest science-related
• Research Institution: Kagawa University
• Principal Investigator: Toyota Ayu 香川大学, 農学部, 准教授 (50730800)
• Co-Investigator(Kenkyū-buntansha): 長谷川 元洋 同志社大学, 理工学部, 教授 (70343811)
• Project Period (FY): 2019-04-01 – 2024-03-31
• Keywords: 土壌動物 / 土壌炭素 / ニホンイノシシ

Outline of Final Research Achievements

We evaluated how wild boar rooting changes litter accumulation, soil carbon dynamics, and soil fauna abundance on an evergreen broad-leaved forest. Litter accumulation and soil fauna abundance were high inside the fences, where wild boars rooting was prevented. Soil carbon content tended to reduce outside the fences, where wild boar rooting occurred.

Free Research Field

土壌生態学

Academic Significance and Societal Importance of the Research Achievements

有機物に富み、生物活動の多い表土を保全することは生態系機能の維持に不可欠である。本研究では個体数が増加した哺乳類によって森林の表土を覆う堆積層の喪失が進行している地域において、土壌動物を考慮した土壌機能の維持プロセスの解明を試みた。この研究で得られた知見は土壌動物の機能を高めつつ、土壌炭素の貯留機能の大幅な損失を未然に防ぐ一助になると考えられる。