Junggebauer André, Jüds Melissa, Klarner Bernhard, Dyckmans Jens, Pollierer Melanie M, Scheu Stefan
Department of Animal Ecology, J.-F. Blumenbach Institute of Zoology and Anthropology, University of Göttingen, Göttingen, Germany.
Centre for Stable Isotope Research and Analysis, University of Göttingen, Göttingen, Germany.
Ecol Lett. 2025 May;28(5):e70122. doi: 10.1111/ele.70122.
Emerging evidence suggests that microbivory prevails in soil animal communities, yet the relative importance of bacteria, fungi and plants as basal resource energy channels across taxa and forest types remains unstudied. We developed a novel framework combining stable isotope analysis of essential amino acids (eAAs) and energy fluxes to quantify basal resource contributions and trophic positions of meso- and macrofauna detritivores (Collembola, Oribatida, Diplopoda, Isopoda, Lumbricidae) and predators (Mesostigmata, Chilopoda) in 48 forest sites of different management intensity across Germany. Fungal energy channelling dominated, with the highest energy fluxes and 73% fungal eAAs across forests and regions. Chilopoda, however, acquired more energy from bacteria and plants. Energy fluxes to Lumbricidae were highest, but decreased, alongside those to other macrofauna, in acidic forests. Trophic positions varied between regions, reflecting changes in community structure linked to regional factors. Our findings highlight the stability and pivotal role of fungal energy channelling for forest soil animal communities.
新出现的证据表明，微生物摄食在土壤动物群落中普遍存在，但细菌、真菌和植物作为跨分类群和森林类型的基础资源能量通道的相对重要性仍未得到研究。我们开发了一个新的框架，结合必需氨基酸（eAAs）的稳定同位素分析和能量通量，以量化德国48个不同管理强度的森林站点中小型和大型动物分解者（弹尾目、甲螨目、倍足纲、等足目、蚯蚓科）和捕食者（中气门目、唇足纲）的基础资源贡献和营养级。真菌能量通道占主导地位，在森林和地区中能量通量最高，且73%的能量来自真菌eAAs。然而，唇足纲从细菌和植物中获取了更多能量。蚯蚓科的能量通量最高，但在酸性森林中，与其他大型动物的能量通量一样减少。营养级在不同地区有所不同，反映了与区域因素相关的群落结构变化。我们的研究结果突出了真菌能量通道对森林土壤动物群落的稳定性和关键作用。
