Nutrient composition of the manure of four pill millipedes （Arthrosphaera dalyi, ,4. davisoni, ,4. fumosa and,4, magna） inhabiting in semi-evergreen forests and plantations of the Western Ghats of Southwest India wa...Nutrient composition of the manure of four pill millipedes （Arthrosphaera dalyi, ,4. davisoni, ,4. fumosa and,4, magna） inhabiting in semi-evergreen forests and plantations of the Western Ghats of Southwest India was evaluated. The quantity and quality of fecal pellets differed between millipedes and their habitats （forest and plantation）. Organic carbon content in manure was lower in plantations than in forests, while nitrogen content was elevated in plantations. The carbon to nitrogen （C/N） ratio of manure was lower in plantations compared to forests. The phosphorus content in manure was elevated in plantations in all except for A. dalyi. Calcium content of manure was increased in plantations than in forests. The contents of magnesium, potassium and phenolics in manure showed varied results. The mass of fecal pellets was correlated only with volume in forests （r=0.882; p 〈0.01） and pH in plantations （r=0.616; p 〈0.05）, while the volume of fecal pellets was correlated with nitrogen content in forests （r=0.751; p 〈0.01） and cal- cium in plantations （=0.619; p 〈0.05）. The conductivity was positively correlated with phosphorus and potassium, while magnesium was negatively correlated in forests as well as plantations. Potassium and magnesium were negatively correlated in forests （r=0.920; p〈0.001） and plantations （t=0.692; p 〈0.05）. Overall, the physicochemical characteristics and nutrient composition of fecal pelets differed between millipedes as well as habitats. The low carbon to nitrogen ratio and the increased nitrogen, phosphorus and calcium content in the manure of millipedes inhabiting in plantations indicates possibilities for successfully employing them for in situ composting of forest or plantation residues.展开更多
Seven sampling sites in each of three biomes (Western Ghats, foothills of Western Ghats and west coast) of south- western India were investigated to study the distribution, abundance and ecology of pill millipedes (Ar...Seven sampling sites in each of three biomes (Western Ghats, foothills of Western Ghats and west coast) of south- western India were investigated to study the distribution, abundance and ecology of pill millipedes (Arthrosphaera) and associated fauna in relation to edaphic features. Abundance and biomass of Arthrosphaera and other millipedes were the highest in Western Ghats, while earthworms were in foothills. Arthrosphaera magna and Arthrosphaera spp. were common in Western Ghats and foothills respectively, while no Arthrosphaera were found in the west coast. None of the sampling sites consisted of more than one species of Arthrosphaera. Biomass of Arthrosphaera, other millipedes and earthworms significantly differed in Western Ghats (P = 9.48 × 10-7) and foothills (P = 1.35 × 10-8), as did the biomass of species of Arthrosphaera (P = 2.76 × 10-7) between Western Ghats and foothills. Correlation analysis revealed that biomass of Arthrosphaera was significantly (P = 0.01, r = 0.45) correlated with soil organic carbon rather than other edaphic fea- tures (pH, phosphate, calcium and magnesium). Distribution pattern, abundance, biomass and ecology of Arthrosphaera of Western Ghats in relation to soil qualities were compared with millipedes of other regions of the world.展开更多
Soil macroinvertebrates are highly diverse and their major ecological service include breakdown of organic matter and in turn improve soil fertility and pill-millipedes are well-known for their significant role in ing...Soil macroinvertebrates are highly diverse and their major ecological service include breakdown of organic matter and in turn improve soil fertility and pill-millipedes are well-known for their significant role in ingestion, disintegration and decomposition of organic matter in soil. This study characterized the feed, the decomposing leaf litter of coconut （Cocos nucifera）, and faeces of two endemic giant pill-millipedes Arthrosphaera disticta and A. fumosa collected from forests of the Western Ghats of India based on chemical features and microbial profile. In both millipedes, electric conductivity and total phosphorus were significantly increased in faeces, while the crude protein, organic carbon, total nitrogen and total phenolics were significantly decreased, as compared to those in feed. Heterotrophic bacteria, actinomycetes, rhizobia and phosphate-solubilizing bacteria were significantly higher in faeces than in feed, while filamentous fungi and yeast substantially decreased in faces compared to feed in both the millipedes. Spectrum of fatty acid methyl esters was considerably different between feed and faeces of both the millipedes. The total saturated fatty acids were higher than the total unsaturated fatty acids in feed as well as faeces, while the ratio of unsaturated/saturated fatty acids decreased from feed to faeces. Dodecanoic and tetradecanoic acids in A. disticta and octadecanoic acid in A. fumosa significantly increased, while （9Z）-octadec-9-enoic and （9E,12E）-octadeca-9,12-dienoic acids in A.. disticta and hexadecanoic, tetracosanoic and （9E,12E）- octadeca-9,12-dienoic acids in A. fumosa significantly decreased in faeces compared to feed, indicating millipede-dependent changes in fatty acids. Icosanoic acid was present in faeces of both the millipedes, and hexadec-9-enoic acid was confined to faeces of A disticta, while pentadecanoic, heneicosanoic, （9Z,12Z,15Z）-9,12,15-octadecatrienoic and eicosenoic acids were confined to faeces of A. fumosa. Pill-millipedes enrich the soil展开更多
文摘Nutrient composition of the manure of four pill millipedes （Arthrosphaera dalyi, ,4. davisoni, ,4. fumosa and,4, magna） inhabiting in semi-evergreen forests and plantations of the Western Ghats of Southwest India was evaluated. The quantity and quality of fecal pellets differed between millipedes and their habitats （forest and plantation）. Organic carbon content in manure was lower in plantations than in forests, while nitrogen content was elevated in plantations. The carbon to nitrogen （C/N） ratio of manure was lower in plantations compared to forests. The phosphorus content in manure was elevated in plantations in all except for A. dalyi. Calcium content of manure was increased in plantations than in forests. The contents of magnesium, potassium and phenolics in manure showed varied results. The mass of fecal pellets was correlated only with volume in forests （r=0.882; p 〈0.01） and pH in plantations （r=0.616; p 〈0.05）, while the volume of fecal pellets was correlated with nitrogen content in forests （r=0.751; p 〈0.01） and cal- cium in plantations （=0.619; p 〈0.05）. The conductivity was positively correlated with phosphorus and potassium, while magnesium was negatively correlated in forests as well as plantations. Potassium and magnesium were negatively correlated in forests （r=0.920; p〈0.001） and plantations （t=0.692; p 〈0.05）. Overall, the physicochemical characteristics and nutrient composition of fecal pelets differed between millipedes as well as habitats. The low carbon to nitrogen ratio and the increased nitrogen, phosphorus and calcium content in the manure of millipedes inhabiting in plantations indicates possibilities for successfully employing them for in situ composting of forest or plantation residues.
文摘Seven sampling sites in each of three biomes (Western Ghats, foothills of Western Ghats and west coast) of south- western India were investigated to study the distribution, abundance and ecology of pill millipedes (Arthrosphaera) and associated fauna in relation to edaphic features. Abundance and biomass of Arthrosphaera and other millipedes were the highest in Western Ghats, while earthworms were in foothills. Arthrosphaera magna and Arthrosphaera spp. were common in Western Ghats and foothills respectively, while no Arthrosphaera were found in the west coast. None of the sampling sites consisted of more than one species of Arthrosphaera. Biomass of Arthrosphaera, other millipedes and earthworms significantly differed in Western Ghats (P = 9.48 × 10-7) and foothills (P = 1.35 × 10-8), as did the biomass of species of Arthrosphaera (P = 2.76 × 10-7) between Western Ghats and foothills. Correlation analysis revealed that biomass of Arthrosphaera was significantly (P = 0.01, r = 0.45) correlated with soil organic carbon rather than other edaphic fea- tures (pH, phosphate, calcium and magnesium). Distribution pattern, abundance, biomass and ecology of Arthrosphaera of Western Ghats in relation to soil qualities were compared with millipedes of other regions of the world.
基金the award of Inspire Fellowship,Department of Science and Technology,New Delhi,India (No.IF110540)the award of UGCBSR Faculty Fellowship by the University Grants Commission,New Delhi,India
文摘Soil macroinvertebrates are highly diverse and their major ecological service include breakdown of organic matter and in turn improve soil fertility and pill-millipedes are well-known for their significant role in ingestion, disintegration and decomposition of organic matter in soil. This study characterized the feed, the decomposing leaf litter of coconut （Cocos nucifera）, and faeces of two endemic giant pill-millipedes Arthrosphaera disticta and A. fumosa collected from forests of the Western Ghats of India based on chemical features and microbial profile. In both millipedes, electric conductivity and total phosphorus were significantly increased in faeces, while the crude protein, organic carbon, total nitrogen and total phenolics were significantly decreased, as compared to those in feed. Heterotrophic bacteria, actinomycetes, rhizobia and phosphate-solubilizing bacteria were significantly higher in faeces than in feed, while filamentous fungi and yeast substantially decreased in faces compared to feed in both the millipedes. Spectrum of fatty acid methyl esters was considerably different between feed and faeces of both the millipedes. The total saturated fatty acids were higher than the total unsaturated fatty acids in feed as well as faeces, while the ratio of unsaturated/saturated fatty acids decreased from feed to faeces. Dodecanoic and tetradecanoic acids in A. disticta and octadecanoic acid in A. fumosa significantly increased, while （9Z）-octadec-9-enoic and （9E,12E）-octadeca-9,12-dienoic acids in A.. disticta and hexadecanoic, tetracosanoic and （9E,12E）- octadeca-9,12-dienoic acids in A. fumosa significantly decreased in faeces compared to feed, indicating millipede-dependent changes in fatty acids. Icosanoic acid was present in faeces of both the millipedes, and hexadec-9-enoic acid was confined to faeces of A disticta, while pentadecanoic, heneicosanoic, （9Z,12Z,15Z）-9,12,15-octadecatrienoic and eicosenoic acids were confined to faeces of A. fumosa. Pill-millipedes enrich the soil
