Effects of Taiwan voles (Microtus kikuchii) feces on soil nitrogen at the He-huan area
Date Issued
2011
Date
2011
Author(s)
Hsu, Yuan-Chun
Abstract
Herbivore returns nitrogen to soil by defecating high-nitrogen wastes. The fast decomposition rates of feces provide a “fast cycle” for returning plant nitrogen to soil. The temporal production and spatial distribution of feces can affect the dynamics of nutrient availability in soil, and change plant community structures. The effects of feces were well-documented for large herbivores, but not herbivorous small mammals. The Taiwan vole (Microtus kikuchii) is the dominant herbivorous rodent in alpine meadow in Taiwan. They deposit large amount of feces at latrine sites. I want to investigate the effects of latrines on soil nitrogen. This thesis is divided into four aspects: (1) Nitrogen output of vole; (2) The temporal dynamics of vole latrines; (3) The effects of latrines on soil nitrogen; (4) The effects of latrines on plant litter decomposition. I conducted vole and latrine survey starting in 2007 at an alpine meadow in He-huan Mountain. Nitrogen output was acquired by rearing voles in the laboratory. I also conducted two field and one laboratory incubation experiments with latrines. The results showed that, annual nitrogen output of voles was 0.33~0.41 kg N ha-1 year-1. Vole latrines increased the extractable nitrogen in soil, especially inorganic nitrogen. The release of nutrients from liable part of feces to soil occurred within one month. Latrines also provided liable carbon to microbes, increasing microbial activities and decomposition rates of soil organic matters. The spatial patterns of vole and latrine abundances were highly heterogeneous in alpine meadow. The temporal dynamics of voles and latrines further increased the spatial heterogeneity of soil nitrogen. Alpine meadows had high soil organic matters, yet decomposition rates were low. Vole latrines not only quickly return nutrients back to soil, but also enhance decomposition rates of soil organic matters, thus play a crucial role in alpine ecosystems.
Subjects
decomposition
feces
latrine
Microtus kikuchii
nitrogen cycling
Taiwan voles
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