The role of Nyctelia dorsata Fairmaire, 1905 (Coleoptera: Tenebrionidae) on litter fragmentation processes and soil biogeochemical cycles in arid Patagonia.

CHELI G.H., BOSCO, T, FLORES G.E

ANNALES ZOOLOGICI

POLISH ACAD SCIENCES

Lugar: Bialowieza; Año: 2022 vol. 72 p. 129 - 134

0003-4541

Decomposition of organic matter and soil nitrogen (N) cycling is a key processin soil fertility. In arid ecosystems, plant litter remains intact for long periods and isgradually consumed by macrodetritivore arthropods. It is suggested that tenebrionidbeetles are responsible for most of nutrient cycling from accumulated litter in warm anddry seasons in arid ecosystems. The objective of this work was to extent the role on soilfertility and N cycling to Nyctelia dorsata Fairmaire (Coleoptera: Tenebrionidae)throughout litter fragmentation and consumption in a manipulative pot experiment.Our results showed that litter presence alone is not enough to incorporate N to the soil.N. dorsata consumed a significant fraction of litter and this activity was associated to anincrease in soil N contents in the experimental pots. These confirmed that severaltenebrionid species positively affects soil fertility in Northeastern Patagonia throughoutlitter fragmentation/consumption; and that these effects may vary with body size.Consequently, these beetles might be very important into the food/energy web from plantsto higher trophic levels in this region.