title: Barley straw decomposition with varied levels of microbial grazing by Folsomia fimetaria (L.) (Collembola, Isotomidae).
abstract: Folsomia fimetaria (L.) were added (0, 5, 10, 20 animals) to 0.100 g barley straw which had been inoculated 10 days (244 h) earlier with a natural soil microflora. Respiration (CO2evolution) was monitored continuously. Mass loss, fungal standing crop (total and FDA-active), bacterial and protozoan biomass were estimated 42 days (1,000 h) after microbial inoculation. The degree of surface cover by hyphae was surveyed at regular intervals. No significant differences (P>0.05) were found in respiration, mass loss or microbial biomass, but the density of surface hyphae were reduced by addition of Collembola. Fungal production was low, less than 5% of the estimated microbial production, and could not account for all collembolan growth during incubation. F. fimetaria appeared to consume mainly bacteria and protozoa, and had little impact on carbon mineralization.
authors.affiliation: Department of Ecology and Environmental Research, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences, S-750 07, Uppsala, Sweden.
authors.forename: O
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Andrén
authors.affiliation: Department of Microbiology, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences, S-750 07, Uppsala, Sweden.
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Schnürer