Effects of experimental liming on collembolan communities and soil microbial biomass in a southern Quebec sugar maple (Acer saccharum Marsh.) stand

The effects of corrective forest liming on collembolan communities, microbial biomass and chemical soil properties were examined in a sugar maple stand growing on an acidic Ferro Humic Podzol at the Duchesnay experimental forest station northwest of Quebec City (Canada). Three rates (0, 2, or 20 t ha(-1)) of Dolomite lime (CaCO3 + MgCO3) were applied in 1994 and Collembola were sampled in 1996. Each lime mix rate was applied to six sampling locations. Pit-light traps were used to capture epigeic species and endogeic species were extracted with Berlese-Tullgren funnels. At each of the 18 locations, pH, total C and N-1, extractable P. exchangeable cations (K-e, Ca-e, Mg-e, Mg-e, Al-e, Na-c1, and microbial C acid N were estimated. In response to liming treatments, significant increases in pH and in concentrations of Ca,, Mg,. microbial C and N, and Ca-e/Al-e were observed, while Al-e declined significantly. These changes in soil properties were accompanied by a decrease in abundance and dominance of the epigeic species Sminthurinus (Katiannina) macgillivrayi, Sminthurides (Sminthurides) lepus and Hypogastrura (Ceratophysella) sp. B and of the endogeic species Folsomia penicula, Micrisotoma achromata, and Dagamaea tenuis. These decreases caused an increase in dominance of the endogeic species Isotomiella minor, and Tullbergia (Tullbergia) silvicola. Results were consistent with those of a previous study relating collembolan species to chemical and biological soil parameters over several unamended sites covering a wide range of soil pH and a large territory. This confirmed the bioindicator value of collembolan communities for the assessment of soil acidity. Crown Copyright (C) 2001 Published by Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved.