1. Global Changes and the Worlds Mountains, Perth - (Scotland) - 26-30 September 2010Changes in composition of epigeic invertebratecommunities (with accent on spiders) in Carpathian alpine meadows influenced by added nitrogen and phosphorus Peter Gajdo, Stanislav DavidInstitute of Landscape Ecology Slovak Academy of Sciences Bratislava,Branch Nitra, Akademick 2, P.O.Box 23/B, 949 01 Nitra, Slovak RepublicGajdo, David: Changes in epigeic invertebrate communities of the alpine meadows influenced by nitrogen and phosphorus additions

2. Global Changes and the Worlds Mountains, Perth - (Scotland) - 26-30 September 2010Project motivation During recent decades, the global nitrogen (N) cycle has been affected by a range of human activities (as agricultural, industrial and dispersed suburban development), which have increased the input of biologically reactive forms of N (Nr) into the biosphere (Vitousek et al. 1997; Galloway et al. 1995 etc.) Effects of reactive nitrogen: 1.direct effect on human health 2.direct effect on ecosystems 3.indirect effect on social values 4.additional effects Gajdo, David: Changes in epigeic invertebrate communities of the alpine meadows influenced by nitrogen and phosphorus additions 3. Global Changes and the Worlds Mountains, Perth - (Scotland) - 26-30 September 2010 Direct effects of Nr on ecosystems include(Galloway and Cowling 2002): i.increased productivity of Nr-limited natural ecosystems ii. ozone-induced injury to crop, forests and natural ecosystems iii. predisposition to be attacked by pathogens and insects iv. acidification and eutrophication effects on forests, soils and freshwater aquatic ecosystems v. eutrophication and hypoxia in costal ecosystems vi. N saturation of soils in natural ecosystems vii. biodiversity losses in terrestrial and aquatic ecosystems andinvasion of N-loving weeds viii. changes in abundance of beneficial soil organisms that alter ecosystem functions Gajdo, David: Changes in epigeic invertebrate communities of the alpine meadows influenced by nitrogen and phosphorus additions 4. Global Changes and the Worlds Mountains, Perth - (Scotland) - 26-30 September 2010 The project history Project VEGA 2/4132/04 (2004-2006) Influence of increased inputs of nitrogen and phosphorus on alpine meadow ecosystemfollows-up a projekt of the National Science Foundation NSF-0112281 (2002- 2004) Responsiveness of Alpine Vegetation to N inputs - A Comparison Between Central European and North American Sites dealt with cooperation of the Institute of Arctic and Alpine Research, University of Colorado, Boulder, USA. Former and current partners of the projects are: Gajdo, David: Changes in epigeic invertebrate communities of the alpine meadows influenced by nitrogen and phosphorus additions 5. Global Changes and the Worlds Mountains, Perth - (Scotland) - 26-30 September 2010 Aims investigate qualitative and quantitative composition of the epigeic invertebrate communities with accent on spiders in the alpine grassland ecosystem investigate changes of epigeic of the epigeic invertebrate communities with accent on spiders which correspond to the nitrogen and phosphorus input influence Gajdo, David: Changes in epigeic invertebrate communities of the alpine meadows influenced by nitrogen and phosphorus additions 6. Global Changes and the Worlds Mountains, Perth - (Scotland) - 26-30 September 2010 Research site Gajdo, David: Changes in epigeic invertebrate communities of the alpine meadows influenced by nitrogen and phosphorus additions 7. Global Changes and the Worlds Mountains, Perth - (Scotland) - 26-30 September 2010 Research site in the West Tatra Mts. latitude: 49 12 N in the upper part of theJaloveck dolina the valley close to the peak Salatn on the range in altitude approx.1900 m a.s.l. mean annual temperature: -1.3 C mean annual precipitation: 1466mm N Deposition:~ 16 kg/ha/yr Gajdo, David: Changes in epigeic invertebrate communities of the alpine meadows influenced by nitrogen and phosphorus additions 8. Global Changes and the Worlds Mountains, Perth - (Scotland) - 26-30 September 2010 Vegetation on the site plots Soils: Species-poor plant communityferruginousof alliance Juncion trifidi.podsolsSpecies composition consists of soil pH: 3,81. grasses Oreochloa disticha (dominant), Festuca supina, Agrostis rupestris, Avenula flexuosa, Avenastrum versicolor; rush Juncus trifidus; sedge Carex bigelowii;2. herbs Campanula alpina, Hieracium alpinum, Homogyne alpina, Bistorta major, Vaccinium vitis-idaea.3. Cryptogams are represented by lichens Cetraria islandica (dominant), Cladonia sp., Alectoria ochroleuca andmosses Polytrichum alpinum, P. sexangulare. Gajdo, David: Changes in epigeic invertebrate communities of the alpine meadows influenced by nitrogen and phosphorus additions 9. Global Changes and the Worlds Mountains, Perth - (Scotland) - 26-30 September 2010 Experimental plots founded in May 2002 plot size: 2x2 m - the treatment solutions were applied to five replicate 2x2m plots for each treatment, for a total of 25 plots treatment solutions:Nitrogen (N): 2; 6; 15 g N.m2.year-1 in form of NH4NO3Phosphorus (P): 5 g P.m2.year-1 in form of KH2PO4Control (Cw/o): water of the same volume/without H2O application: in form of spraying 3-times per year in growing season Gajdo, David: Changes in epigeic invertebrate communities of the alpine meadows influenced by nitrogen and phosphorus additions 10. Global Changes and the Worlds Mountains, Perth - (Scotland) - 26-30 September 2010 Experimental plotsClimatic station Wescor EasyLogger 900 stationary data loggerIn 10 minutes time step measurements offollowing data and parameters: Precipitation (mm) near soil surface Precipitation (mm) at 1 m above surface Air temperature (C) and air humidity (%) Wind speed (m/s) and wind direction () Solar irradiance (W/m2) Net radiation (W/m2) Soil temperature (C) at 5 cm depth Soil temperature (C) at 20 cm depth Soil moisture (%) Soil water potential (bar) Gajdo, David: Changes in epigeic invertebrate communities of the alpine meadows influenced by nitrogen and phosphorus additions 11. Global Changes and the Worlds Mountains, Perth - (Scotland) - 26-30 September 2010Methods Period of research......................................................... 2004 - 2006 Number of research plots..................................5 (2004) and 6 (2006) For research of invertebrate fauna and communities we used methods of pitfall traps. Traps were situated on research plot in centre and in border (2 traps) during season (May October 2004) and June 2005 September 2006). They were emptied monthly, conservation liquid: 4% formaline solution and detergent (in winter antifreezinig liquid Gajdo, David: Changes in epigeic invertebrate communities of the alpine meadows influenced by nitrogen and phosphorus additions 12. Global Changes and the Worlds Mountains, Perth - (Scotland) - 26-30 September 2010 Results (1/8) In 2004 - 2006 we captured 47434 invertebrate specimens. In epigeic invertebrate communities of the alpine grassland ecosystem taxonomic groups Acarina, Collembola, Coleoptera, Araneae, Auchenorrhyncha and Diptera were dominant. Spiders are very important group in this ecosystem (represent about 15 % captured invertebrate specimens)Dominance in 2005-6 Dominance 2540 20 3530 15 2520 10 15 Dominance105 500 a inae raa ea ala raach laaaeraeaa erertech de eabo iner ar booid te teptyn pt an opptar yn oi Acanopmop Di m o linrhAr Ac Dilelinen lle rhlleAr leen or i CoOp pi Co mor Co Co m en OHyenHy ch chAuDominance in 2005-6 Au Gajdo, David: Changes in epigeic invertebrate communities of the alpine meadows influenced by nitrogen and phosphorus additions 13. Global Changes and the Worlds Mountains, Perth - (Scotland) - 26-30 September 2010Results (2/8) Epigeic spider communities Collected material of spiders..................................... 5564 ex Number of species......................................................... 38 Number of families....................................................... 7 Number of threatened species.......................................... 9 Gajdo, David: Changes in epigeic invertebrate communities of the alpine meadows influenced by nitrogen and phosphorus additions 14. Global Changes and the Worlds Mountains, Perth - (Scotland) - 26-30 September 2010 Results (3/8) D>1 100 Composition of the epigeic spider community 90 SpeciesDominance 80 Pardosa saltuaria91.03371619 No significant changes in species 70 Haplodrasus signifer 2.815857725 dominance (%) 60 Meioneta milleri 1.407928863 composition were recorded between 50Pardosa palustris1.259725824 2004 and 2006.40 30 20 10 Abundance and dominance dominant and 0 recendent species Pardosa saltuaria Haplodrasus signifer Meioneta rurestris Pardosa palustrisN2N6 N15PCw/CoTotalCategory SpeciesA D(%) A D(%) A D(%) A D(%) A D(%) A D(%)ED Pardosa saltuaria796 90,9 971 90,5 810 90 1319 91,7 1106 91,1 5002 90,9SD Haplodrasus signifer22 2,51 18 1,68 36 4 43 2,99 34 2,8 153 2,78R-SD Meioneta milleri 9 1,03 22 2,05 12 1,33 21 1,4614 1,15 78 1,42R-SD Pardosa palustris7 0,8 26 2,42 13 1,44 12 0,83 10 0,82 68 1,24SR-R Alopecosa aculeata13 1,484 0,37 5 0,56 14 0,97 16 1,32 52 0,95SR-R Walckenaria cuspidata9 1,034 0,37 5 0,56 10 0,69 11 0,91 39 0,71 Total856 97,7 1045 97,4 881 97,9 1419 98,6 1191 98,1 5392 98 Gajdo, David: Changes in epigeic invertebrate communities of the alpine meadows influenced by nitrogen and phosphorus additions 15. Global Changes and the Worlds Mountains, Perth - (Scotland) - 26-30 September 2010 Results (4/8) Composition of the epigeic spider community Abundance and dominance of subrecendent species (A>1 ex.)N2 N6N15PCw/CoTotalCategory Species A D(%) A D(%)A D(%) A D(%)A D(%)A D(%)SR Erigone atra 8 0,91 7 0,655 0,56 0 4 0,3324 0,44SR Pardosa pullata1 0,11 4 0,370 3 0,21 3 0,2511 0,2SR Centromerus pabulator1 0,11 2 0,190 4 0,28 2 0,16 9 0,16SR Rhaebothorax morulus0 3 0,283 0,331 0,07 2 0,16 9 0,16SR Xysticus bifasciatus 3 0,3400 4 0,28 1 0,08 8 0,15SR Xysticus cambridgei1 0,1101 0,111 0,070 3 0,05SR Alopecosa cuneata 0 1 0,091 0,11 00 2 0,04SR Xysticus cristatus002 0,22 00 2 0,04SR Oedothorax gibbosus 000 1 0,07 1 0,08 2 0,04SR Mughiphantes varians0 2 0,19000 2 0,04SR Xysticus luctuosus0 1 0,0900 1 0,08 2 0,04SR Pachygnatha degeeri 0 1 0,090 1 0,070 2 0,04SR Other 20 speciesonly 1 specimens Gajdo, David: Changes in epigeic invertebrate communities of the alpine meadows influenced by nitrogen and phosphorus additions 16. Global Changes and the Worlds Mountains, Perth - (Scotland) - 26-30 September 2010 Results (5/8) Composition of the epigeic spider communityNumber of speciesShannonEvennessTotal of Years/plotsin samples diversity (H)HmaxH/log(N) samples 2004/N2 110.51 2.40 0.21 328 2005/N2 110.46 2.40 0.19 451 2004/N680.56 2.08 0.27 319 2005/N6 130.47 2.56 0.18 464 2006/N690.38 2.20 0.17 287 2004/N15 90.53 2.20 0.24 272 2005/N15130.48 2.56 0.19 405 2006/N15 70.45 1.95 0.23 2212004/P 100.45 2.30 0.20 4772005/P 140.48 2.64 0.18 5272006/P80.37 2.08 0.18 4352004/C80.48 2.08 0.23 3942005/C 130.56 2.56 0.22 4282006/C 100.32 2.30 0.14 390 Gajdo, David: Changes in epigeic invertebrate communities of the alpine meadows influenced by nitrogen and phosphorus additions 17. Global Changes and the Worlds Mountains, Perth - (Scotland) - 26-30 September 2010Results (6/8) Proportion of the threatened a rare species Findings of threatened and rare spiders on researched plotsGajdo, P., Svato, J., 2002: Red List of Slovakian spiders IUCN categories: CR critically endangered, EN endangered, VU vulnerable, DD indeterminate, LR(lc) lower risk least concern, LR(nt) lower risk nearthreatenedN2N6 N15 PCw/Co Total Category SpeciesA D(%)A D(%) A D(%) A D(%) A D(%) A D(%) DD Micrargus georgescuae1 0,111 0,02 DD Meioneta milleri 71,58 222,02 12 1,32 21 1,47 141,12 761,41 LR(nt) Mughiphantes varians 2 0,192 0,04 LR(lc) Xysticus luctuosus 1 0,09 1 0,08 2 0,04 EN Mecynargus morulus 3 0,28 30,33 10,07 2 0,16 9 0,17 VU Talavera monticola 1 0,071 0,02 CR Diplocephalus permixtus1 0,091 0,02 CR Trichoncoides piscator1 0,08 1 0,02 CR Oreoneta tatrica 1 0,071 0,02Number of species (abundance)1(7)5(29)3(16)4(24)4(18)9(94) Gajdo, David: Changes in epigeic invertebrate communities of the alpine meadows influenced by nitrogen and phosphorus additions 18. Global Changes and the Worlds Mountains, Perth - (Scotland) - 26-30 September 2010 Results (7/8) Species richnessTotal number of species (2004-06)18 17,5 No significant changes in species composition17 16,5 were recorded between 2004 and 2006. 16 Number of species varied from to 6 to 14 species, 15,5 No of species15 Total numbers of species for individual plots were14,5 similar (15-18 species)14 13,5N2 N6N15P CNumber of species14121086420 2004/ 2005/ 2004/ 2005/ 2006/ 2004/ 2005/ 2006/ 2004/2005/ 2006/ 2004/2005/2006/N2N2N6N6N6N15 N15 N15PP P CCCNumb er of species1110 812 9 913 710 14 88 12 9 Gajdo, David: Changes in epigeic invertebrate communities of the alpine meadows influenced by nitrogen and phosphorus additions 19. Global Changes and the Worlds Mountains, Perth - (Scotland) - 26-30 September 2010Results (8/8)Abundance. Changes were recorded in abundance on plots affected by N15 and P.The total abundance and abundance in each study year on plot (N15) were lower andabundances on plot (P) were higher in comparison other study plots Total number of specimens (2004-06) N2N6N15PCw/Co-O62004329319272477394 1600 2005451466406527430 1400 2006 ? (Dist.) 288222435390 1200 Total 1073900 1439 1214 1000600800500600 4002004400 300 20052006200No of ex.. 2001000N2N6 N15P C0 N2 N6 N15P Cw/Co-O6 Gajdo, David: Changes in epigeic invertebrate communities of the alpine meadows influenced by nitrogen and phosphorus additions 20. Global Changes and the Worlds Mountains, Perth - (Scotland) - 26-30 September 2010Results (9/8)Analysis (DCA)1.0taxon plot with site plotSPECIESCw-05Walc cusXyst bif Alop acu SAMPLES Pard salCnep obs P-05 Robe tru0.5Hapl sigP-06 Xyst sp. Cent pab Zora spi Oedo gib Meio rur Euop mon Hila tatN2-04 Pach degRhae mor Micr nd N2-05Dras pub Xyst kocOzyp tru Cw-04Xyst lucXyst cam Gnat denCera breP-04Axis 20.0 Oedo api N6-05Meio bea Pard pulLept var Micr geo N15-05Meio mol Ther bimXyst criMini marErig den N15-04Erig atrCo-06Pard pal -0.5 Dipl perAlop cunN6-04N15-06 N6-06 -1.0-1.0-0.5 0.00.5 1.0Axis 1 Gajdo, David: Changes in epigeic invertebrate communities of the alpine meadows influenced by nitrogen and phosphorus additions 21. Global Changes and the Worlds Mountains, Perth - (Scotland) - 26-30 September 2010Results (10/8) Analysis (DCA) taxon plot with site plot-The positions of sites in the plot are very different and on base of thisanalysis no changes in spider community composition on the sitesaffected by N and P were proved.-The spacing of sites on the plot reflects the changes in communitiesthat are connected with different study year what is probably relatedwith weather conditions in individual studied years.-The composition of the spider communities studied in 2004 weremore different in comparing with the communities from next year. Gajdo, David: Changes in epigeic invertebrate communities of the alpine meadows influenced by nitrogen and phosphorus additions 22. Global Changes and the Worlds Mountains, Perth - (Scotland) - 26-30 September 2010Conclusion (1/2) In epigeic invertebrate communities of the alpine grassland ecosystem taxonomic groups Acarina, Collembola, Coleoptera and Araneae were dominant. Spiders are very important group in this ecosystem (represent about 15 % captured invertebrate specimens) During research period 2004-2006 totally 38 spider species belonging to 7 families were captured in the alpine grassland ecosystem Chacteristic and eudominant species for this habitat is Pardosa saltuaria (D>90%) Of the identified species, 9 species are listed in the Red List of Spiders of Slovakia in different category of threat (Diplocephalus permixtus, Mugiphantes varians, Meioneta milleri, Micrargus georgescuae, Oreoneta tatrica, Rhaebothorax morulus, Talavera monticola, Trichoncoides piscator and Xysticus luctuosus). Gajdo, David: Changes in epigeic invertebrate communities of the alpine meadows influenced by nitrogen and phosphorus additions 23. Global Changes and the Worlds Mountains, Perth - (Scotland) - 26-30 September 2010 Conclusion (2/2) No significant changes in species composition of spider community, in species richness and presence of the threatened species on plots affected by N and P were recorded between 2004 and 2006. The changes in spider communities were connected with different study years what is probably related with weather conditions in individual studied years. The total abundance and abundance in each study year on plot (N15) was lower in comparison with the background plot, plot with P input and plots with lower input of nitrogen (N2 and N6). This fact may indicate certain influence of high concentrations of N substances on epigeal spiders. The total abundance and abundance in each study on study plot affected by phosphorus (P) was higher in comparison with the background site and sites affected by N. Gajdo, David: Changes in epigeic invertebrate communities of the alpine meadows influenced by nitrogen and phosphorus additions 24. Global Changes and the Worlds Mountains, Perth - (Scotland) - 26-30 September 2010 Thank you for your attention Gajdo, David: Changes in epigeic invertebrate communities of the alpine meadows influenced by nitrogen and phosphorus additions