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Trophic interactions in soils as they affect energy and nutrient dynamics. III. Biotic interactions of bacteria, amoebae, and nematodes

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Abstract

Bacteria (Pseudomonas), amoebae (Acanthamoeba), and nematodes (Mesodiplogaster) were raised in soil microcosms with and without glucose additions. Nematode and amoebal grazing on bacteria significantly reduced bacterial populations by the end of a 24-day incubation period. Amoebal numbers decreased in the presence of nematodes with a corresponding increase in nematode numbers which reached a maximum of 230 nematodes/g of soil in the treatment with amoebae and glucose additions. After 24 days the nematode populations in the treatments without carbon additions were dominated by resistant dauer larvae indicating the unavailability of food. Although larval numbers were high in the treatments with glucose additions, the adult component of the population was still increasing at the end of the 24-day experiment. The effect of the presence of amoebae on nematode abundance was of the same magnitude as addition of 600Μg glucose-C.

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Author notes

  1. H. W. Hunt

    Present address: Biology Department, West Virginia University, 26506, Morgantown, West Virginia

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Natural Resource Ecology Laboratory, Colorado State University, 80523, Fort Collins, Colorado

    R. V. Anderson, E. T. Elliott & H. W. Hunt

  2. Department of Zoology and Entomology, Colorado State University, 80523, Fort Collins, Colorado

    J. F. McClellan

  3. Natural Resource Ecology Laboratory and Department of Zoology and Entomology, Colorado State University, 80523, Fort Collins, Colorado

    D. C. Coleman

  4. Phosphorus Laboratory, USDA, Science and Education Administration, 80521, Fort Collins, Colorado

    C. V. Cole

Authors
  1. R. V. Anderson
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  4. D. C. Coleman
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  5. C. V. Cole
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  6. H. W. Hunt
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Anderson, R.V., Elliott, E.T., McClellan, J.F. et al. Trophic interactions in soils as they affect energy and nutrient dynamics. III. Biotic interactions of bacteria, amoebae, and nematodes. Microb Ecol 4, 361–371 (1977). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02013279

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