Responses of grassland soil invertebrates to natural and anthropogenic disturbances.

Abstract

This chapter aims to (1) summarize the major factors influencing invertebrate abundance and distribution in tallgrass prairie soils, focusing on the responses of selected soil invertebrate groups to natural disturbances (such as fire, grazing and drought); (2) identify potential linkages between changes in soil communities and the effects of disturbances on key plant and soil characteristics or processes; and (3) to discuss potential effects of novel anthropogenic perturbations (altered amounts of precipitation, elevated CO₂ and increased N inputs) on soil communities and processes. It focuses on North American tallgrass prairies and draws upon studies undertaken at the Konza Prairie Long-Term Ecological Research site, with results from other grasslands where appropriate.