(SCE 3107)Biodiversity & Ecosystem

SCIENCE LABORATORY PRACTICAL 1 Understanding Population trends 1.0 TITLE 2.0 INTRODUCTION : Assessing macrofauna :

Food webs describe the transfer of energy between species in an ecosystem. While a food chain examines one, linear, energy pathway through an ecosystem, a food web is more complex and illustrates all of the potential pathways. Much of this transferred energy comes from the sun. Plants use the suns energy to convert inorganic compounds into energy-rich, organic compounds, turning carbon dioxide and minerals into plant material by photosynthesis. Plants are called autotrophs because they make their own energy; they are also called producers because they produce energy available for other organisms to eat. Heterotrophs are consumers that cannot make their own food. In order to obtain energy they eat plants or other heterotrophs. Above ground foodwebs In above ground food webs, energy moves from producers (plants) to primary consumers (herbivores) and then to secondary consumers (predators). The phrase, trophic level, refers to the different levels or steps in the energy pathway. In other words, the producers, consumers, and decomposers are the main trophic levels (DeAngelis 1992). This chain of energy transferring from one species to another can continue several more times, but eventually ends. At the end of the food chain, decomposers such as bacteria and fungi break down dead plant and animal material into simple nutrients.
Nurul Farhana Ariffin/ PISMP Januari 2007

(SCE 3107)Biodiversity & Ecosystem

Below ground foodwebs How are soil food webs different? The decomposers at the end of the surface food web are only the beginning below ground. While living plants are the largest source of energy above ground, the most abundant energy resource in the soil is detritus, or dead plant and animal matter. The primary consumers in soil are often microbes such as bacteria and fungi that consume detritus. There are at least 10,000 species and more than 1 billion individual bacteria in 1 gram of soil (Torsvik et al. 1990). These fast growing microbes act as a food base for many other soil organisms such as mites, collembolans, nematodes and enchytraeids. Underground herbivores can also get energy directly by grazing on or parasitizing plant roots (see root-knot nematode) and these herbivores have their own predators (such as entomopathogenic nematodes).

3.0 METHODOLOGY

1. Collect a sample of the leaf litter (O Horizon) and topsoil (A horizon- no deeper than about 3cm) from two different locations 2. Place the sample in plastic bags, seal them and label them with your name and the collection location. 3. On return to the lab, mix the soil and leaf litter sample from the same location thoroughly 4. Put a known volume of one sample in the Tulgren funnel. Leave it for about two days. Then remove the preserving beaker jar containing ethanol and screw on the lid. Place the sample from the second location in the Tulgren funnel, and remove after about two days, following the same procedure. 5. After 48 hours switch off the light and then count the numbers of individuals from each Order or Group (as far as possible)
Nurul Farhana Ariffin/ PISMP Januari 2007

(SCE 3107)Biodiversity & Ecosystem

4.0 RESULT No. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 Macrofauna / Mesofauna Ground ant sp.1 Ground ant sp.2 Ground ant sp.3 Ground ant sp.4 Ground ant sp.5 Termite sp.1 Termite sp.2 Termite sp.3 Macroarthropoda Earthworms Arthropoda* Collembola sp.1* Collembola sp.2* Collembola sp.3* Oil palm plantation 16 5 12 3 20 8 3 7 9 2 4 11 8 9 3 0 0 1 5 21 0 0 2 0 0 5 21 13 Field

5.0 DISCUSSION:

How

did the diversity (number of groups and number of individuals) of

macrofauna from the soils from the two locations differ ? Can you suggest why there might be differences. What soil parameters could you have measured which may help explain the differences ? The diversity (number of groups and number of individuals) of macrofauna from the soils from the two locations differ because the decomposers at the end of the surface food web are only the beginning below ground. While living plants are the largest source of energy above ground, the most abundant energy resource in the soil is detritus, or dead plant and animal matter. The primary consumers in soil are often microbes such as bacteria and fungi that consume detritus. There are at least 10,000 species and more than 1 billion individual bacteria in 1 gram of soil (Torsvik et al. 1990). These fast growing microbes act as a food base for many other soil organisms such as mites, collembolans, nematodes and enchytraeids. Underground herbivores can also get energy directly by grazing on or parasitizing
Nurul Farhana Ariffin/ PISMP Januari 2007

(SCE 3107)Biodiversity & Ecosystem

plant roots (see root-knot nematode) and these herbivores have their own predators (such as entomopathogenic nematodes).

Explain the role of macrofauna in the soil.

Soil macrofauna consists of a large number of different organisms that live on the soil surface, in the soil spaces (pores) and in the soil area near roots. Their way of living, their feedings habits, their movements into the soil, their excretions and their death have direct and indirect impacts on their habitat. The biological activities of soil macrofauna regulate soil processes and soil fertility to a significant extent.The effects of soil macrofauna on soil can be divided into three classes: physical, chemical and biological effects. These effects are determined by the functional group involved in the process. PHYSICAL ROLE OF SOIL MACROFAUNA Five main physical effects of soil macrofauna can be highlighted: macromixing, Ants, termites, earthworms and ground beetles can move an important quantity of soil, bringing back to the surface mineral matters from deeper horizons and burying the organic matter from the surface horizons, from litter and from excrements. micromixing, Other groups of soil macrofauna influence soil structure in a

Nurul Farhana Ariffin/ PISMP Januari 2007

(SCE 3107)Biodiversity & Ecosystem

less spectacular way, but the micromixing that they realize is as important as macromixing. gallery construction, Gallery (burrow) formation is very important for soil aeration and water flux. For example, earthworms and termites develop networks of galleries that improve large spaces in the soil macro-porosity by 20100 percent (Edwards and Bohlen, 1996). fragmentation, The fragmentation of dead wood (lignin material), carcass and litter is one of the most important activities of soil fauna. aggregate formation. After litter has been fragmented, it is easier for organic matter to be broken down into the stable form known as humus, and then to form soil aggregates the clumping together of soil particles forming a crumbly healthy structure.

On the food web diagram provided, label the type of biota (eg. fungi, nematode
etc.). what they do (predator, leaf shredder etc) and describe which way the energy flows eg. where does it first get captured and where does it finish (ie. the top of the food chain). What happens to the energy and nutrients when the organisms at the top of the food chain die? Include this diagram with your report. All food webs are fueled by the primary producers: the plants, lichens, moss, photosynthetic bacteria, and algae that use the suns energy to fix carbon dioxide from the atmosphere. Most other soil organisms get energy and carbon by consuming the organic compounds found in plants, other organisms, and waste by-products. A few bacteria, called chemoautotrophs,

Nurul Farhana Ariffin/ PISMP Januari 2007

(SCE 3107)Biodiversity & Ecosystem

get energy from nitrogen, sulfur, or iron compounds rather than carbon compounds or the sun. As organisms decompose complex materials, or consume other organisms, nutrients are converted from one form to another, and are made available to plants and to other soil organisms. All plants grass, trees, shrubs, agricultural crops depend on the food web for their nutrition.

What groups of organisms make up the mesofauna ? What groups make up

the microfauna? What are the main functions of these two main groups ?

Food webs can indicate the biological complexity, and therefore the health, of
the soil. Explain how our land management practices alter soil health.

Explain how the soil biota contribute to the functioning of the soil ecosystem.
What ecosystem services do they regulate ?

6.0 CONCLUSION

7.0 REFERENCES: 1. Kooi F. Y & Ponnampalam J (2006), Excel in STPM Biology, First Edition, Selangor Darul Ehsan: Penerbitan Pelangi Sdn. Bhd. 2. Wah M. C & Kim T. L. S (2007), Total Pro SPM Form 4 & 5 Biology, First Edition, Selangor Darul Ehsan: Sasbadi Sdn Bhd. 3. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Soil_food_web 4. ftp://ftp.fao.org/docrep/fao/011/i0211e/i0211e02.pdf 5. http://soils.usda.gov/SQI/concepts/soil_biology/images/ROSEP_LR.jpg 6. http://www.fao.org/docrep/011/i0211e/i0211e00.htm
Nurul Farhana Ariffin/ PISMP Januari 2007

(SCE 3107)Biodiversity & Ecosystem

Nurul Farhana Ariffin/ PISMP Januari 2007