Properties of the structures created by ecosystem engineers on the soil surface of a Colombian savanna

Fourteen types of physical structures produced on the soil surface by ecological engineers were sampled in the Eastern Plains of Colombia. The invertebrates creating these structures were identified. Some physical (aggregate size and stability, and bulk density) and chemical (C, N, and P contents, a...

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Autores principales: Decaëns, Thibaud, Galvis, JH, Amézquita Collazos, Edgar
Formato: Capítulo de libro
Lenguaje:Inglés
Publicado: International Center for Tropical Agriculture 2001
Materias:
Acceso en línea:https://hdl.handle.net/10568/55176
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author Decaëns, Thibaud
Galvis, JH
Amézquita Collazos, Edgar
author_browse Amézquita Collazos, Edgar
Decaëns, Thibaud
Galvis, JH
author_facet Decaëns, Thibaud
Galvis, JH
Amézquita Collazos, Edgar
author_sort Decaëns, Thibaud
collection Repository of Agricultural Research Outputs (CGSpace)
description Fourteen types of physical structures produced on the soil surface by ecological engineers were sampled in the Eastern Plains of Colombia. The invertebrates creating these structures were identified. Some physical (aggregate size and stability, and bulk density) and chemical (C, N, and P contents, and pH) properties of the structures were assessed. Three categories were also identified: (1) earthworm casts characterized by high bulk density (1.3-1.4 g/cm3), large aggregates (7-10 mm), high organic C contents (3%-4%), and assimilable nutrients; (2) termite mounds with low bulk density (0.6-0.9 g/cm3), large aggregates (8-9 mm), high organic C contents (3.5%-10%), and assimilable nutrients; and (3) slightly compact (0.4-0.7 g/cm3) and granular (aggregate size <1.5 mm) termite surface channels and ant nests, with low organic C contents (less than 1.5%) and assimilable nutrients. These results underline the diversity of biogenic structures produced by invertebrates on the surface of the studied soil, and suggest the feasibility of a functional classification of engineer organisms that would take into account the different functional attributes reflected by these structures.
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spelling CGSpace551762024-01-09T09:48:09Z Properties of the structures created by ecosystem engineers on the soil surface of a Colombian savanna Decaëns, Thibaud Galvis, JH Amézquita Collazos, Edgar formicidae lumbricidae savannas soil organic matter soil structure isoptera sabanas materia orgánica del suelo estructura del suelo Fourteen types of physical structures produced on the soil surface by ecological engineers were sampled in the Eastern Plains of Colombia. The invertebrates creating these structures were identified. Some physical (aggregate size and stability, and bulk density) and chemical (C, N, and P contents, and pH) properties of the structures were assessed. Three categories were also identified: (1) earthworm casts characterized by high bulk density (1.3-1.4 g/cm3), large aggregates (7-10 mm), high organic C contents (3%-4%), and assimilable nutrients; (2) termite mounds with low bulk density (0.6-0.9 g/cm3), large aggregates (8-9 mm), high organic C contents (3.5%-10%), and assimilable nutrients; and (3) slightly compact (0.4-0.7 g/cm3) and granular (aggregate size <1.5 mm) termite surface channels and ant nests, with low organic C contents (less than 1.5%) and assimilable nutrients. These results underline the diversity of biogenic structures produced by invertebrates on the surface of the studied soil, and suggest the feasibility of a functional classification of engineer organisms that would take into account the different functional attributes reflected by these structures. 2001 2015-01-28T14:17:31Z 2015-01-28T14:17:31Z Book Chapter https://hdl.handle.net/10568/55176 en Open Access International Center for Tropical Agriculture Decaëns, Thibaud; Galvis, J.H.; Amézquita Collazos, Edgar. 2001. Properties of the structures created by ecosystem engineers on the soil surface of a Colombian savanna. In: Jiménez Jaén, Juan José; Thomas, Richard J. (eds.). Nature`s plow: Soil macroinvertebrate communities in the neotropical savannas of Colombia. Centro Internacional de Agricultura Tropical (CIAT), Cali, CO. p. 151-175. (CIAT publication no. 324)
spellingShingle formicidae
lumbricidae
savannas
soil organic matter
soil structure
isoptera
sabanas
materia orgánica del suelo
estructura del suelo
Decaëns, Thibaud
Galvis, JH
Amézquita Collazos, Edgar
Properties of the structures created by ecosystem engineers on the soil surface of a Colombian savanna
title Properties of the structures created by ecosystem engineers on the soil surface of a Colombian savanna
title_full Properties of the structures created by ecosystem engineers on the soil surface of a Colombian savanna
title_fullStr Properties of the structures created by ecosystem engineers on the soil surface of a Colombian savanna
title_full_unstemmed Properties of the structures created by ecosystem engineers on the soil surface of a Colombian savanna
title_short Properties of the structures created by ecosystem engineers on the soil surface of a Colombian savanna
title_sort properties of the structures created by ecosystem engineers on the soil surface of a colombian savanna
topic formicidae
lumbricidae
savannas
soil organic matter
soil structure
isoptera
sabanas
materia orgánica del suelo
estructura del suelo
url https://hdl.handle.net/10568/55176
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