Arctic Council Working Group Decomposers and nutrient cyclers
- Ecosystem: Terrestrial
- Species group: Invertebrates
- Publications: Arctic Terrestrial Biodiversity Monitoring Plan
Springtail
Jose Ortega
Jose Ortega
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| FECs Group | Parameter | Attributes | Priority | Extreme Events | Scale | Complexity | Recurrance | Method | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Decomposers and nutrient cyclers | Diversity | Species richness (estimates) | Essential | Local |
| Annually | Soil and turf cores, taken on site, returned to laboratory for extraction (i.e., Berlese funnels or MacFadyen high gradient extractors, O'Connor's funnel for wet extraction) | Sampling can be conducted over a short time should that be all that logistics allow. Collembolans are feasible to include concerning taxonomy. A trait-based (light-weight pseudotaxonomy shortcut) approach may be proposed in the future. Enchytraids and mites are difficult to identify. DNA barcoding will provide a solution to this obstacle and deliver presence/absence data (CBOL program). It is also possible to use higher level taxonomy instead of species to increase feasibility. | |
| Decomposers and nutrient cyclers | Abundance | Density estimates i.e., number per standard soil core | Essential | Local |
| Annually | Numbers calculated per sq. m at a specified depth | Abundance data (i.e., density) are collected with the same protocols as used for determining species richness; straight-forward | |
| Decomposers and nutrient cyclers | Spatial structure | Species presence/absence | Essential |
|
| Annually at first; 3-5 years afterwards | All collembolan life-forms (~4 types, representing the vertical stratification from epi-phytic to true soil-dwelling). The horizontal distribution is not included in environmental surveys, except for variance estimates between samples collected in a random but stratified manner. [Same species and target species/ groups. Consult historical collections/ experts] | For some taxa, getting presence/ absence is possible and high priority, given high feasibility (i.e. taking soil cores); DNA barcoding will facilitate this in the future | |
| Decomposers and nutrient cyclers | Demographics | Voltinism, population growth rate | Recommended | Local |
| Monthly | Repeated sampling | ||
| Decomposers and nutrient cyclers | Phenology | Phenology | Recommended | Local |
| Monthly | Repeated sampling | ||
| Decomposers and nutrient cyclers | Ecosystem functions and processes: Nutrient levels | NPK | Recommended | Local | Advanced | As required | Sampling nitrogen, phosphate, potassium: chemical analyses | These nutrients are a result of invertebrate activity within the soil/ tundra. | |
| Decomposers and nutrient cyclers | Ecosystem functions and processes: Decomposition | % mass loss | Recommended | Local |
| As required | Standard litter-bags used to assess % mass loss over time as a measure for decomposition rate | These nutrients are a result of invertebrate activity within the soil/ tundra. |