Below-ground biodiversity assessment using soil nematodes for conversion of cedar plantations into broad-leaved forests

2023 Fiscal Year Final Research Report

• Project/Area Number: 21K14876
• Research Category: Grant-in-Aid for Early-Career Scientists
• Allocation Type: Multi-year Fund
• Review Section: Basic Section 40010:Forest science-related
• Research Institution: Mie University
• Principal Investigator: Kitagami Yudai 三重大学, 生物資源学研究科, 助教 (40882684)
• Project Period (FY): 2021-04-01 – 2024-03-31
• Keywords: 生物指標 / スギ人工林 / 広葉樹林化 / 土壌線虫 / ポット実験

Outline of Final Research Achievements

The aim of this study was to establish nematodes as bio-indicator for evaluating changes in below-ground biodiversity by conversion of cedar plantations to broad-leaved forests. Soil nematode communities were different between cedar plantations and broad-leaved forests. Nematodes that feed on plant roots were dominant in the cedar plantations, and ones that eat fungal-mycelium were dominant in the broad-leaved forests. Moreover, nematode communities were affected by soil pH, carbon and nitrogen content. These results suggested that conversion of tree species alters the soil environment and affects below-ground nematode communities, and that nematodes respond sensitively to changes in the above-ground environment.

Free Research Field

森林微生物

Academic Significance and Societal Importance of the Research Achievements

森林の多面的機能を発揮するために，放棄されたスギ人工林を豊かな広葉樹林に誘導する試みがある．広葉樹林の多面的機能として生物多様性の保全が期待されるが，そのためには物質循環に寄与する地下部の生物群集をモニタリングする適切な生物指標が求められる．森林土壌において線虫は環境変化に鋭敏に応答し様々な生態系における生物指標になることから，線虫は広葉樹林化後の地下部多様性の変化を適切にモニタリングできる生物指標になると考えた．本研究において，土壌線虫が森林タイプの違いに応答したことから，地上部環境の改変に対して地下部多様性の変化を評価する生物指標としての利用可能性を示した．