Abundance and diversity of nematodes and microarthropods in established and newly converted agricultural soils in western Newfoundland and Labrador

Young, Erika H. (2019) Abundance and diversity of nematodes and microarthropods in established and newly converted agricultural soils in western Newfoundland and Labrador. Masters thesis, Memorial University of Newfoundland.

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Abstract

Nematodes and microarthropods are used as indicators of nutrient flow through complex soil food web interactions and thus are indicators of soil health. In this study, nematodes and microarthropods were extracted from natural and farmed land at two locations in Newfoundland and from biochar treated soil at one location in Labrador. Newfoundland soil had several combinations of crop and manure treatments. All soils were analysed for various abiotic soil fertility parameters. Farmed soil had a more stable and complex nematode community than adjacent natural soils. Manure application did not have an obvious impact on nematode composition but affected the microarthropod community. Biochar treatment resulted in changes to faunal composition and abundance though microarthropod populations were not well established in Labrador soils. Nematode and arthropod compositions were more strongly reflective of variations in soil pH than other measured parameters. All systems had bacterivore dominated nematode communities, an indication of bacterially driven soil metabolism.

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