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OverviewThe diversity of life in soils includes plant roots and litter, fungal hyphae and mycorrhizas, beetles, ants, and millipedes, mites and collembola, amoebae and protozoa, myriad bacteria and even viruses. Soil macrofauna are bigger than 2 mm in body width and are the most conspicuous animals within the soil ecosystem. Included in this group are ants, beetles, spiders, centipedes, millipedes, earthworms, and many others. Although generally less numerous than soil mesofauna, macrofauna can represent a significant proportion of the animal biomass in the soil and play an important role in soil ecosystem function. For example, millipedes and earthworms break up organic matter, increasing its surface area and thereby enhancing microbial activity and nutrient cycling. Soil macrofauna mix and redistribute mineral soil, organic material, and microorganisms within the soil profile. In contrast, soil mesofauna range in size from 0.1 - 2 mm wide and include mites, springtails, pseudoscorpions, and insect larvae. Via grazing, they control bacterial and fungal biomass thus liberating immobilized nutrients and stimulating further fungal and bacterial activity, as well as enhancing plant growth. Soil mesofauna also transport microbial propagules and spores into new substrates and contribute to the development of soil structure and humus formation through the deposition of fecal pellets. Fungi are another key component of the soil biological community. Fungi influence soil development through primary weathering and the establishment of soil aggregates held together by fungal mycelia, altering the ionic exchange and water-holding capacity of a soil, and producing humic substances. Decomposer fungi may release or immobilize nutrient elements during the breakdown of wood and dead organic matter. Ectomycorrhizal fungi profoundly affect forest ecosystems by mediating nutrient and water uptake of plants, protecting roots from pathogens and environmental extremes, maintaining soil structure and forest food webs, and perhaps regulating decomposition. In addition, the recreational and commercial harvesting of fungal fruiting bodies, inspired by their edibility and production of metabolites, is increasing. | |||
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Projects
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Recent Publications (link to all Soils Publications)Wright, S.H., S.M. Berch, and M.L. Berbee. 2009. The effect of fertilization on the below-ground diversity and community composition of ectomycorrhizal fungi associated with western hemlock (Tsuga heterophylla). Mycorrhiza 19(4):267-276. [Link] Berch, S.M., R.P. Brockley, J.P. Battigelli, and S. Hagerman. 2009. Impacts of repeated fertilization on fine roots, mycorrhizas, mesofauna, and soil chemistry under young interior spruce in central British Columbia. Can. J. For. Research. 39(5):889-896. [Link] Jones, M.D., B.D. Twieg, D.M. Durall, and S.M. Berch. 2008. Location relative to a retention patch affects the ECM fungal community more than patch size in the first season after timber harvesting on Vancouver Island, British Columbia. For. Ecol. Manage. 255(3/4):1342-1352. [Link] Berch, S.M., K-H. Ka, H. Park, and R. Winder. 2007. Development and potential of the cultivated and wild-harvested mushroom industries in the Republic of Korea and British Columbia. BC J. Ecosys. Manage. 8(3):53-75. [PDF 937KB] Ehlers, T., S. Fredrickson, and S.M. Berch. 2007. Pine mushroom habitat characteristics and management strategies in the West Kootenay region of British Columbia. BC J. Ecosys. Manage. 8(3):76-88. [PDF 452KB] | |||
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ContactShannon Berch, Forest Soils Ecologist Ministry contact: Evelyn Hamilton.
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