Tomoki Oda

Nematomorph parasites indirectly alter the food web and ecosystem function of streams through behavioural manipulation of their cricket hosts

Nematomorph parasites manipulate crickets to enter streams where the parasites reproduce. These manipulated crickets become a substantial food subsidy for stream fishes. We used a field experiment to investigate how this subsidy affects the stream community and ecosystem function. When crickets were available, predatory fish ate fewer benthic invertebrates. The resulting release of the benthic invertebrate community from fish predation indirectly decreased the biomass of benthic algae and slightly increased leaf break-down rate. This is the first experimental demonstration that host manipulation by a parasite can reorganise a community and alter ecosystem function. Nematomorphs are common, and many other parasites have dramatic effects on host phenotypes, suggesting that similar effects of parasites on ecosystems might be widespread.

Microbial regulation of nitrogen dynamics along the hillslope of a natural forest

Topography affects the soil physicochemistry, soil N dynamics, and plant distribution and growth in forests. In Japan, many forests are found in mountainous areas and these traits are often highly variable along steep slopes. In this study, we investigated how the microbial population dynamics reflected the bioavailable N dynamics with the physicochemical gradient along the slope in soils of a natural forest in Japan. We measured the gross rates of NH4+ production, nitrification, and NH4+/ NO3− immobilization using the N isotope dilution method to analyze the N dynamics in the soils. We also determined the abundance of the bacterial 16S rRNA gene and bacterial and archaeal ammonia monooxygenase gene (amoA) using qPCR to assess the populations of total bacteria and nitrifiers. We found that gross rates of NH4+ production and nitrification were higher in the lower part of the slope, they were positively correlated with the abundance of the bacterial 16S rRNA gene and archaeal amoA, respectively; and the availability of N, particularly NO3−, for plants was higher in the lower part of the slope because of the higher microbial nitrification activity and low microbial NO3− immobilization activity. In addition, path analysis indicated that gross rates of NH4+ production and nitrification were regulated mainly by the substrate (dissolved organic N and NH4+) concentrations and population sizes of total bacteria and nitrifiers, respectively, and their population sizes were strongly affected by the soil physicochemistry such as pH and water content. Our results suggested that the soil physicochemical gradient along the slope caused the spatial gradient of gross rates of NH4+ production and nitrification by altering the communities of ammonifiers and nitrifiers in the forest slope, which also affected plant distribution and growth via the supply of bioavailable N to plants.

Nitrate isotopic composition reveals nitrogen deposition and transformation dynamics along the canopy-soil continuum of a suburban forest in Japan.

RATIONALE Heavy nitrogen (N) deposition often causes high nitrate (NO3(-)) accumulation in soils in temperate forested ecosystems. To clarify the sources and production pathways of this NO3(-), we investigated NO3(-) isotope signatures in deposition processes along the canopy-soil continuum of a suburban forest in Japan. METHODS The stable isotopes of N and oxygen (O) were used to trace the source and transformation dynamics of nitrate (NO3(-)) in two forest stands: a plantation of Cryptomeria japonica (coniferous tree; CJ) and a natural secondary forest of Quercus acutissima (broadleaf, deciduous tree; QA). The NO3(-) and ammonium (NH4(+)) concentrations were measured, as well as the δ(15)N and δ(18)O values of NO3(-), in rainfall, throughfall, stem flow, litter layer water, and soil water (10, 30, and 70 cm depths). RESULTS Seasonal variations were observed in the δ(15)N values of throughfall and stem flow NO3(-) at both sites, and in the δ(18)O values of throughfall and stem flow NO3(-) at the QA site. The range in the δ(18)O values of rainfall and throughfall NO3(-) was large (65-70‰) but decreased dramatically to 2-5‰ in soil water at both sites. At the QA site, the δ(18)O values of stem flow NO3(-) decreased to 40‰ during several rain events, especially in the growing season. CONCLUSIONS NO3(-) from atmospheric deposition was replaced by microbially generated NO3(-) mainly in the organic horizon and surface portion of the mineral soil under excess N deposition in this suburban forest. Microbial activity, including both immobilization and nitrification in organic-rich horizons near the surface, contributed to incorporating atmospheric NO3(-) quickly into the internal microbial N cycle. We also found evidence of microbial nitrification in the canopy of the QA stand during the growing season.

Ecosystem Monitoring of Radiocesium Redistribution Dynamics in a Forested Catchment in Fukushima After the Nuclear Power Plant Accident in March 2011

The accident at the Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Plant in March 2011 emitted 1.2 × 1016 Bq of cesium-137 (137Cs) into the surrounding environment. Radioactive substances, including 137Cs, were deposited onto forested areas in the northeastern region of Japan. 137Cs is easily adsorbed onto clay minerals in the soil; thus, a major portion of 137Cs can be transported as eroding soil and particulate organic matter in water discharge. Dissolved 137Cs can be taken up by microbes, algae, and plants in soil and aquatic systems. Eventually, 137Cs is introduced into insects, worms, fishes, and birds through the food web. To clarify the mechanisms of dispersion and export of 137Cs, within and from a forested ecosystem, we conducted intensive monitoring on the 137Cs movement and storage in a forested headwater catchment in an area approximately 50 km from the Nuclear Power Plant. Two major pathways of 137Cs transport are as follows: (1) by moving water via dissolved and particulate or colloidal forms and (2) by dispersion through the food web in the forest-stream ecological continuum. The 137Cs concentrations of stream waters were monitored. Various aquatic and terrestrial organisms were periodically sampled to measure their 137Cs concentrations. The results indicate that the major form of exported 137Cs is via suspended matter. Particulate organic matter may be the most important carrier of 137Cs. High water flows generated by a storm event accelerated the transportation of 137Cs from forested catchments. Estimation of 137Cs export from the forested catchments requires precise evaluation of the high water flow during storm events. The results also suggested that because the biggest pool of 137Cs in the forested ecosystem is the accumulated litter and detritus, 137Cs dispersion is quicker through the detritus food chain than through the grazing food chain.

Stream Runoff and Nitrate Recovery Times After Forest Disturbance in the USA and Japan

To understand mechanisms of long-term hydrological and biogeochemical recovery after forest disturbance, it is important to evaluate recovery times (i.e., time scales associated with the return to baseline or predisturbance conditions) of stream runoff and nitrate concentration. Previous studies have focused on either the response of runoff or nitrate concentration, and some have specifically addressed recovery times following disturbance. However, controlling factors have not yet been elucidated. Knowing these relationships will advance our understanding of each recovery process. The objectives of this study were to explore the relationship between runoff and nitrate recovery times and identify potential factors controlling each. We acquired long-term runoff and stream water nitrate concentration data from 20 sites in the USA and Japan. We then examined the relationship between runoff and nitrate recovery times at these multiple sites and use these relationships to discuss the ecosystem dynamics following forest disturbance. Nitrate response was detected at all study sites, while runoff responses were detected at all sites with disturbance intensities greater than 75% of the catchment area. The runoff recovery time was significantly correlated with the nitrate recovery time for catchments that had a runoff response. For these catchments, hydrological recovery times were slower than nitrate recovery times. The relationship between these two recovery times suggests that forest regeneration was a common control on both recovery times. However, the faster recovery time for nitrate suggests that nitrogen was less available or less mobile in these catchments than water.