PARENT SESSION
Poster Session 30: Invertebrate Ecology
Thursday, August 11, 5:00 PM - 6:30 PM, Exhibit Hall 220 A-E, Level 2, Palais des congrès de Montréal
Diversity of Soil Invertebrates at The University Of Texas at Austin Campus: Comparison between Different Types of Human Disturbance and Vegetation.
Ramos, Jorge*,1, Wallace, Margaret2, Richardson, Richard2, Richardson, Patricia2, 1 University of Texas at El Paso, El Paso, TX2 University of Texas at Austin, El Paso, TX
ABSTRACT- Soil organisms play an important role in soil ecosystems. Soil arthropods are the base of many of the food webs above ground. They are involved in the decomposition and recycling of residues, and are important in the nutrient cycling. Our experiment consisted in comparing soil invertebrates between different types of human disturbance and vegetation at The University of Texas at Austin. We hypothesized that the greater the disturbance in an area, the less number of organisms present at the site. Contrasting sites based on human disturbances, such as presence of walking paths and trash disposals, were chosen. Sites were also analyzed based on the type of vegetation present and the effects on their surrounding soil. Factors such as temperature, moisture, and sunlight were also considered. The experiment took place during June and July 2004. Samples collected consisted of approximately 28oz. of soil. The samples were put in a Berlese funnel apparatus to extract the organisms and later examined under a microscope. The organisms were identified to the lowest taxonomic level possible using available identification keys. Our results showed that various types of vegetation, landscaping treatments, and different human disturbances can cause a difference on soil organism's diversity. The sites with unexpected diversity were in highly disturbed areas.
Key words: soil, invertebrates, vegetation, disturbance