Change in land-use from natural forest impacts functional composition and metabolic footprint of soil nematode community in Western Himalayas

Abstract

Change in aboveground land-use confer many alterations in belowground soil ecology, which is a growing concern for the loss of biodiversity and the functioning of terrestrial ecosystems. Here, we studied nematodes - a key component and bioindicators of soil biodiversity in native temperate forests and its derived land-use (scrubland; SL, grassland; GL, cropland; CL) in western Himalayas. Five composite soil samples as replicates were collected from each land-use for analysis of soil properties and nematodes. Land-use change reduced the total nematode abundance. Contrary to our expectations, higher level of diversity was found in soils of SL while GL and CL had an overall lower level of diversity. Sigma maturity index and soil faunal profile suggested that replacement of natural forest with GL and CL was accompanied by disturbance, with lesser food web complexity and stability in the belowground soil food web. Metabolic footprint contributed through the structural component of nematode community decreased in GL and CL. Functional and trophic shifts in nematode metabolic footprint were recorded. Overall, we demonstrated that conversion lowered soil nematode abundance, altered soil nematode community structure, changed their stability and function and lowered their diversity. Moreover, this study have advantages for the sustainable management and restoration of native temperate forests in the region for the conservation of belowground biodiversity.