Development of Methods for in situ Observation of Roots and Folsomia candida (Willem) (Collembola: Isotomidae) in Greenhouse Soil Columns
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Authors
Go, James
Issue Date
1997
Type
Thesis
Language
en_US
Keywords
Alternative Title
Abstract
Past investigations have suggested that roots, microbes, and Collembola within the
rhizosphere are functionally linked (reviews in Box and Hammond et. al. 1990; Edwards
et. a1. 1988; Fitter et. a1. 1985). However, these studies may not have fully assessed the
magnitude of collembolan activity because past techniques were often inadequate.
Recent advances in documenting root demographics in situ using minirhizotrons (MR.)
have led to new speculations regarding collembolan distribution. Collembola, originally
thought to populate only the upper 30 cm of the soil, were found by Snider et. al. (1990)
at depths of up to 1 m in the rhizospbere of deep-rooted crops; the dominant soil
arthropod in these Michigan agroecosystems was Foisomia candida (Willem)
(Collembola: Isotomidae). This was an important discovery in agricultural ecology
because it gave a new perspective on the actual size of collembolan populations and
possible root/collembolan interactions in below-ground system functioning. In the
present study, a method for observing roots and Collembola in situ was explored. It was
concluded that collembolan population studies in soil columns can be effective if the
following factors are taken into consideration:
1. Care must be taken in construction of the column; specifically, MR tube insertion
needs to be done in such a way that sufficient contact between the surface of
the tubes and soil is ensured.
2. Time Domain Reflectometry (IDR) measurements, which determine volumetric water
content (soil moisture), must be done at regular time intervals.
3. The age of the Collembola at the time of introduction to the soil columns needs to be
taken into account.
The baseline data obtained from this experiment concerned the potential effects of roots
and abiotic factors on collembolan distribution. The results led to the conclusion that
root systems may facilitate collembolan migration, but soil moisture was the primary
reason for the migration of collembolan populations.
Description
v, 28 p.
Citation
Publisher
Kalamazoo College
License
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