4. Discussion
4.1. Development of soil macrofauna in organic matter patches
No soil macrofauna was observed in the control soil without OM
inputs. This result can easily be explained by the low quality of the
study soil which results from its degradation after years of intensive
cultivation. In this environment, inappropriate cultivations and a
very low level of protection by vegetation led to erosion of the
upper soil layer. This led to impoverished soil quality with reduced
SOM stocks [42], thus making this environment inhospitable for
soil macro-fauna. Local environmental conditions limit the survivorship
and reproductive success of non-native species, an effect
termed “habitat filtering” [58]. In our case, regarding the absence of
soil macro-fauna and low soil quality, it is likely that organisms
were ‘filtered’ due to the soil acidity (pH < 5) and low C availability
(C:N ~10) in the field.
Although our study focused on the development and ecological
impact of D. bolaui, the incorporation of OM, either in the form of
compost or vermicompost, also led to the proliferation of the flatbacked
millipede A. coarctata. This millipede is widely distributed
throughout the tropics. Originating from Asia, it is considered as
invasive in Florida, Louisiana and the Galapagos Islands [40,49]. It is
usually observed foraging on the soil surface feeding on litter residues
but its capacity to feed on compost was also reported [12]. D.
bolaui is described as an epi-endogeic earthworm species [27,48].
However, with the exception of taxonomic details and collection
sites, very little information is available on the ecology of this
4. Discussion4.1. Development of soil macrofauna in organic matter patchesNo soil macrofauna was observed in the control soil without OMinputs. This result can easily be explained by the low quality of thestudy soil which results from its degradation after years of intensivecultivation. In this environment, inappropriate cultivations and avery low level of protection by vegetation led to erosion of theupper soil layer. This led to impoverished soil quality with reducedSOM stocks [42], thus making this environment inhospitable forsoil macro-fauna. Local environmental conditions limit the survivorshipand reproductive success of non-native species, an effecttermed “habitat filtering” [58]. In our case, regarding the absence ofsoil macro-fauna and low soil quality, it is likely that organismswere ‘filtered’ due to the soil acidity (pH < 5) and low C availability(C:N ~10) in the field.Although our study focused on the development and ecologicalimpact of D. bolaui, the incorporation of OM, either in the form ofcompost or vermicompost, also led to the proliferation of the flatbackedmillipede A. coarctata. This millipede is widely distributedthroughout the tropics. Originating from Asia, it is considered asinvasive in Florida, Louisiana and the Galapagos Islands [40,49]. It isusually observed foraging on the soil surface feeding on litter residuesbut its capacity to feed on compost was also reported [12]. D.bolaui is described as an epi-endogeic earthworm species [27,48].However, with the exception of taxonomic details and collectionsites, very little information is available on the ecology of this
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