Carbon flux and diversity of nematodes and termites in Cameroon forest soils

✍ Scribed by J. H. Lawton; D. E. Bignell; G. F. Bloemers; P. Eggleton; M. E. Hodda

• Publisher: Springer
• Year: 1996
• Tongue: English
• Weight: 880 KB
• Volume: 5
• Category: Article
• ISSN: 0960-3115
• DOI: 10.1007/bf00055835

✦ Synopsis

Theoretically, there are three principal ways in which ecosystem processes might respond to reductions in species richness. These theories are reviewed, and then considered in the context of a study of the diversity of soil nematodes and termites in near-primary forest sites at Mbalmayo, Cameroon, and the contribution made by these two taxa to carbon fluxes (CO2 and CH4) from the forest floor. Nematode abundances average 2.04 × 106 m -z, and termites between 2933 and 6957 m -2. The site is the most species-rich yet investigated for both groups anywhere in the world, so that a very large number of species contribute to carbon fluxes. We speculate about how much 'redundancy' might be built into the functioning of both assemblages, and point out the enormous difficulties of resolving such questions, and of producing such detailed species-inventories.