Effects of acidic and neutral sulfate salt solutions on forest floor arthropods

Journal Article · · J. Environ. Qual.; (United States)

OSTI ID:5381216

Craft, C B; Webb, J W

Acidic and neutral SO/sub 4//sup 2 -/ solutions were applied to a mixed oak (Quercus spp.) forest floor on Walker Branch Watershed in eastern Tennessee to study effects of increased acid deposition on decomposer arthropods and arthropod regulation of P cycling. Over a 14-month period, the number of forest floor macroarthropods averaged 19% lower in the high SO/sub 4//sup 2 -/ salt treatment compared with the control. Macroarthropod fungivores also were adversely affected by the high SO/sub 4//sup 2 -/ salt treatment and by the high and low KHSO/sub 4/ treatments. Microarthropod numbers increased significantly in response to low K/sub 2/SO/sub 4/ additions and to high and low KHSO/sub 4/ treatments. Microarthropod fungivores, predators, and detritivores responded similarly. Comparison of microarthropod densities and soil K/sup +/ concentrations suggested that the response resulted from a direct fertilizer effect of K/sup +/ on arthropods or indirectly from an effect on microorganisms. Although increased inputs of H/sup +/ appear to have little effect on decomposer arthropods, effects of nonacidic SO/sub 4//sup 2 -/ warrant further study. 39 references, 3 figures, 2 tables.

• Research Organization: Oak Ridge National Lab., TN
• DOE Contract Number: W-7405-ENG-26
• OSTI ID: 5381216
• Journal Information: J. Environ. Qual.; (United States), Journal Name: J. Environ. Qual.; (United States) Vol. 13:3; ISSN JEVQA
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

500200* -- Environment
Atmospheric-- Chemicals Monitoring & Transport-- (-1989)
510200 -- Environment
Terrestrial-- Chemicals Monitoring & Transport-- (-1989)
54 ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES
ACID RAIN
ALUMINIUM
ANIMALS
ARTHROPODS
ATMOSPHERIC PRECIPITATIONS
BIOLOGICAL EFFECTS
BIOLOGICAL MATERIALS
CHEMICAL REACTIONS
DECOMPOSITION
ELEMENTS
ENVIRONMENTAL EFFECTS
FOREST LITTER
INHIBITION
INVERTEBRATES
MATERIALS
METALS
MINERAL CYCLING
NONMETALS
NUTRIENTS
PH VALUE
PHOSPHORUS
POPULATIONS
RAIN
SIMULATION
SOILS