title: Resource allocation of beech seedlings (Fagus sylvatica L.) -relationship to earthworm activity and soil conditions.
abstract: The physiological activity and C and N allocation of beech seedlings planted in two different beech forest soils (acid brown earth, rendzina) were studied over 80 days. One adult earthworm Octolasion lacteum (Örley) was placed in half of the containers. Transpiration, CO2, assimilation, chlorophyll synthesis and N incorporation were higher in the acid brown earth than in the rendzina. Fine root production was also higher in the acid brown earth. Production of stems and total N incorporation were higher in the O. lacteum treatments than in the controls. Burrowing activity of O. lacteum did not affect total root production but stimulated the transfer of C and N towards aboveground parts of the plants and shifted the large root to fine root ratio towards large roots. O. lacteum effects were similar in both soils. It is concluded that endogeic earthworms significantly affect resource allocation patterns of beech seedlings over a wide range of soils. This effect can be partly explained by an increased availability of N in soils worked by earth-worms.
authors.affiliation: Abteilung Ökologie, II. Zoologisches Institut der Universität Göttingen, Berliner Strasse 28, W-3400, Göttingen, Federal Republic of Germany.
authors.forename: Volkmar
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Wolters
authors.affiliation: Lehrstuhl für Geobotanik, Systematisch-Geobotanisches Institut der Universität Göttingen, Untere Karspüle 2, W-3400, Göttingen, Federal Republic of Germany.
authors.forename: Walter
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Stickan
keywords: Acid brown earth; Biomass production; CO2 assimilation; Fagus sylvatica; N incorporation; Octolasion lacteum; Rendzina; Resource allocation; Transpiration