Autores: Alfaro, F. D., Manzano, M., Abades, S., Trefault, N., Iglesia, R. de la, Gaxiola, A., Marquet, P., Gutierrez, J., Meserve, P., Kelt, D., Belnap, J., Armesto, J. J.
Revista: Soil Biology and Biochemistry (2018), 124, 1–10
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Abstract
Species losses and additions can disrupt the relationship between resident species and the structure and functioning of ecosystems. Persistent human-trampling, on the other hand, can have similar effects through the disruption of biocrusts on surface soils of semiarid systems, affecting soil stability and fixation of carbon and nitrogen. Here, we tested the interactive and synergistic impacts of the exclusion of native mammalian herbivores and the effects of introduced lagomorphs in a semiarid thorn scrub ecosystem, where soils were subjected to two different trampling intensities (i.e., trampled and non-trampled). We postulated that because of their differential habitat use and fossorial activities, with respect to native small mammals, lagomorphs would have strong negative effects on soil structure, biocrust cover, and biocrust bacterial community structure.