Changes in composition of epigeic invertebrate communities (with accent on spiders) in Carpathian alpine meadows influenced by added nitrogen and phosphorus. Presented by Peter Gajdos at the "Perth II: Global Change and the World's Mountains" conference in Perth, Scotland in September 2010.

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

2. Global Changes and the World's Mountains, Perth - (Scotland) - 26-30 September 2010
Project 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
Gajdoš, David: Changes in epigeic invertebrate communities of the alpine meadows influenced by nitrogen and phosphorus additions

3. Global Changes and the World's 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 and
invasion of N-loving weeds
viii. changes in abundance of beneficial soil organisms that alter
ecosystem functions
Gajdoš, David: Changes in epigeic invertebrate communities of the alpine meadows influenced by nitrogen and phosphorus additions

4. Global Changes and the World's 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 ecosystem“
follows-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:
Gajdoš, David: Changes in epigeic invertebrate communities of the alpine meadows influenced by nitrogen and phosphorus additions

5. Global Changes and the World's 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
Gajdoš, David: Changes in epigeic invertebrate communities of the alpine meadows influenced by nitrogen and phosphorus additions

6. Global Changes and the World's Mountains, Perth - (Scotland) - 26-30 September 2010
Research site
Gajdoš, David: Changes in epigeic invertebrate communities of the alpine meadows influenced by nitrogen and phosphorus additions

7. Global Changes and the World's Mountains, Perth - (Scotland) - 26-30 September 2010
Research site
 in the West Tatra Mts.
 latitude: 49 º 12’ N
 in the upper part of the
Jalovecká dolina the valley
 close to the peak Salatín
 on the range in altitude approx.
1900 m a.s.l.
 mean annual temperature: -
1.3º C
 mean annual precipitation: 1466
mm
 N Deposition: ~ 16 kg/ha/yr
Gajdoš, David: Changes in epigeic invertebrate communities of the alpine meadows influenced by nitrogen and phosphorus additions

8. Global Changes and the World's Mountains, Perth - (Scotland) - 26-30 September 2010
Vegetation on the site plots
 Soils: Species-poor plant community
ferruginous of alliance Juncion trifidi.
podsols
Species composition consists of
 soil pH: 3,8
1. 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 and mosses
Polytrichum alpinum, P. sexangulare.
Gajdoš, David: Changes in epigeic invertebrate communities of the alpine meadows influenced by nitrogen and phosphorus additions

9. Global Changes and the World's 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 NH4NO3
Phosphorus (P): 5 g P.m2.year-1 in form of KH2PO4
Control (Cw/o): water of the same volume/without H2O
application: in form of spraying 3-times per year in growing
season
Gajdoš, David: Changes in epigeic invertebrate communities of the alpine meadows influenced by nitrogen and phosphorus additions

10. Global Changes and the World's Mountains, Perth - (Scotland) - 26-30 September 2010
Experimental plots
Climatic station
Wescor EasyLogger 900 stationary data logger
In 10 minutes time step measurements of
following 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)
Gajdoš, David: Changes in epigeic invertebrate communities of the alpine meadows influenced by nitrogen and phosphorus additions

11. Global Changes and the World's Mountains, Perth - (Scotland) - 26-30 September 2010
Methods
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
Gajdoš, David: Changes in epigeic invertebrate communities of the alpine meadows influenced by nitrogen and phosphorus additions

12. Global Changes and the World's 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
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20 35
30
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Gajdoš, David: Changes in epigeic invertebrate communities of the alpine meadows influenced by nitrogen and phosphorus additions

13. Global Changes and the World's Mountains, Perth - (Scotland) - 26-30 September 2010
Results (2/8)
Epigeic spider communities
Collected material of spiders..................................... 5564 ex
Number of species.........................................................… 38
Number of families...................................................…..….. 7
Number of threatened species.......................................... 9
Gajdoš, David: Changes in epigeic invertebrate communities of the alpine meadows influenced by nitrogen and phosphorus additions

14. Global Changes and the World's Mountains, Perth - (Scotland) - 26-30 September 2010
Results (3/8) D>1
100
Composition of the epigeic spider community 90 Species Dominance
80 Pardosa saltuaria 91.03371619
No significant changes in species
70 Haplodrasus signifer 2.815857725
dominance (%)
60 Meioneta milleri 1.407928863
composition were recorded between 50
Pardosa palustris 1.259725824
2004 and 2006. 40
30
20
10
Abundance and dominance dominant and 0
recendent species Pardosa
saltuaria
Haplodrasus
signifer
Meioneta
rurestris
Pardosa
palustris
N2 N6 N15 P Cw/Co Total
Category Species A D(%) A D(%) A D(%) A D(%) A D(%) A D(%)
ED Pardosa saltuaria 796 90,9 971 90,5 810 90 1319 91,7 1106 91,1 5002 90,9
SD Haplodrasus signifer 22 2,51 18 1,68 36 4 43 2,99 34 2,8 153 2,78
R-SD Meioneta milleri 9 1,03 22 2,05 12 1,33 21 1,46 14 1,15 78 1,42
R-SD Pardosa palustris 7 0,8 26 2,42 13 1,44 12 0,83 10 0,82 68 1,24
SR-R Alopecosa aculeata 13 1,48 4 0,37 5 0,56 14 0,97 16 1,32 52 0,95
SR-R Walckenaria cuspidata 9 1,03 4 0,37 5 0,56 10 0,69 11 0,91 39 0,71
Total 856 97,7 1045 97,4 881 97,9 1419 98,6 1191 98,1 5392 98
Gajdoš, David: Changes in epigeic invertebrate communities of the alpine meadows influenced by nitrogen and phosphorus additions

15. Global Changes and the World's 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 N6 N15 P Cw/Co Total
Category Species A D(%) A D(%) A D(%) A D(%) A D(%) A D(%)
SR Erigone atra 8 0,91 7 0,65 5 0,56 0 4 0,33 24 0,44
SR Pardosa pullata 1 0,11 4 0,37 0 3 0,21 3 0,25 11 0,2
SR Centromerus pabulator 1 0,11 2 0,19 0 4 0,28 2 0,16 9 0,16
SR Rhaebothorax morulus 0 3 0,28 3 0,33 1 0,07 2 0,16 9 0,16
SR Xysticus bifasciatus 3 0,34 0 0 4 0,28 1 0,08 8 0,15
SR Xysticus cambridgei 1 0,11 0 1 0,11 1 0,07 0 3 0,05
SR Alopecosa cuneata 0 1 0,09 1 0,11 0 0 2 0,04
SR Xysticus cristatus 0 0 2 0,22 0 0 2 0,04
SR Oedothorax gibbosus 0 0 0 1 0,07 1 0,08 2 0,04
SR Mughiphantes varians 0 2 0,19 0 0 0 2 0,04
SR Xysticus luctuosus 0 1 0,09 0 0 1 0,08 2 0,04
SR Pachygnatha degeeri 0 1 0,09 0 1 0,07 0 2 0,04
SR Other 20 species only 1 specimens
Gajdoš, David: Changes in epigeic invertebrate communities of the alpine meadows influenced by nitrogen and phosphorus additions

16. Global Changes and the World's Mountains, Perth - (Scotland) - 26-30 September 2010
Results (5/8)
Composition of the epigeic spider community
Number of species Shannon' Evenness Total of
Years/plots in samples diversity (H) Hmax H/log(N) samples
2004/N2 11 0.51 2.40 0.21 328
2005/N2 11 0.46 2.40 0.19 451
2004/N6 8 0.56 2.08 0.27 319
2005/N6 13 0.47 2.56 0.18 464
2006/N6 9 0.38 2.20 0.17 287
2004/N15 9 0.53 2.20 0.24 272
2005/N15 13 0.48 2.56 0.19 405
2006/N15 7 0.45 1.95 0.23 221
2004/P 10 0.45 2.30 0.20 477
2005/P 14 0.48 2.64 0.18 527
2006/P 8 0.37 2.08 0.18 435
2004/C 8 0.48 2.08 0.23 394
2005/C 13 0.56 2.56 0.22 428
2006/C 10 0.32 2.30 0.14 390
Gajdoš, David: Changes in epigeic invertebrate communities of the alpine meadows influenced by nitrogen and phosphorus additions

17. Global Changes and the World's Mountains, Perth - (Scotland) - 26-30 September 2010
Results (6/8)
Proportion of the threatened a rare species
Findings of threatened and rare spiders on researched plots
Gajdoš, P., Svatoň, 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– near
threatened
N2 N6 N15 P Cw/Co Total
Category Species A D(%) A D(%) A D(%) A D(%) A D(%) A D(%)
DD Micrargus georgescuae 1 0,11 1 0,02
DD Meioneta milleri 7 1,58 22 2,02 12 1,32 21 1,47 14 1,12 76 1,41
LR(nt) Mughiphantes varians 2 0,19 2 0,04
LR(lc) Xysticus luctuosus 1 0,09 1 0,08 2 0,04
EN Mecynargus morulus 3 0,28 3 0,33 1 0,07 2 0,16 9 0,17
VU Talavera monticola 1 0,07 1 0,02
CR Diplocephalus permixtus 1 0,09 1 0,02
CR Trichoncoides piscator 1 0,08 1 0,02
CR Oreoneta tatrica 1 0,07 1 0,02
Number of species (abundance) 1(7) 5(29) 3(16) 4(24) 4(18) 9(94)
Gajdoš, David: Changes in epigeic invertebrate communities of the alpine meadows influenced by nitrogen and phosphorus additions

18. Global Changes and the World's Mountains, Perth - (Scotland) - 26-30 September 2010
Results (7/8)
Species richness
Total number of species (2004-06)
18
17,5
No significant changes in species composition 17
16,5
were recorded between 2004 and 2006. 16
Number of species varied from to 6 to 14 species, 15,5 No of species
15
Total numbers of species for individual plots were 14,5
similar (15-18 species) 14
13,5
N2 N6 N15 P C
Number of species
14
12
10
8
6
4
2
0
2004/ 2005/ 2004/ 2005/ 2006/ 2004/ 2005/ 2006/ 2004/ 2005/ 2006/ 2004/ 2005/ 2006/
N2 N2 N6 N6 N6 N15 N15 N15 P P P C C C
Numb er of species 11 10 8 12 9 9 13 7 10 14 8 8 12 9
Gajdoš, David: Changes in epigeic invertebrate communities of the alpine meadows influenced by nitrogen and phosphorus additions

19. Global Changes and the World's Mountains, Perth - (Scotland) - 26-30 September 2010
Results (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 and
abundances on plot (P) were higher in comparison other study plots
Total number of specimens (2004-06) N2 N6 N15 P Cw/Co-O6
2004 329 319 272 477 394
1600 2005 451 466 406 527 430
1400 2006 ? (Dist.) 288 222 435 390
1200 Total 1073 900 1439 1214
1000
600
800
500
600 400
2004
400 300 2005
2006
200 No of ex.. 200
100
0
N2 N6 N15 P C 0
N2 N6 N15 P Cw/Co-O6
Gajdoš, David: Changes in epigeic invertebrate communities of the alpine meadows influenced by nitrogen and phosphorus additions

20. Global Changes and the World's Mountains, Perth - (Scotland) - 26-30 September 2010
Results (9/8)
Analysis (DCA)
1.0
taxon plot with site plot
SPECIES
Cw-05
Walc cus
Xyst bif Alop acu SAMPLES
Pard sal
Cnep obs P-05
Robe tru
0.5
Hapl sig
P-06
Xyst sp. Cent pab
Zora spi Oedo gib
Meio rur
Euop mon Hila tat N2-04
Pach deg
Rhae mor
Micr nd N2-05 Dras pub
Xyst koc Ozyp tru Cw-04
Xyst luc Xyst cam
Gnat den Cera bre
P-04
Axis 2
0.0
Oedo api N6-05 Meio bea
Pard pul
Lept var Micr geo
N15-05 Meio mol
Ther bim
Xyst cri
Mini mar
Erig den
N15-04
Erig atr Co-06 Pard pal
-0.5
Dipl per Alop cun
N6-04
N15-06
N6-06
-1.0
-1.0 -0.5 0.0 0.5 1.0
Axis 1
Gajdoš, David: Changes in epigeic invertebrate communities of the alpine meadows influenced by nitrogen and phosphorus additions

21. Global Changes and the World's Mountains, Perth - (Scotland) - 26-30 September 2010
Results (10/8)
Analysis (DCA)
taxon plot with site plot
-The positions of sites in the plot are very different and on base of this
analysis no changes in spider community composition on the sites
affected by N and P were proved.
-The spacing of sites on the plot reflects the changes in communities
that are connected with different study year what is probably related
with weather conditions in individual studied years.
-The composition of the spider communities studied in 2004 were
more different in comparing with the communities from next year.
Gajdoš, David: Changes in epigeic invertebrate communities of the alpine meadows influenced by nitrogen and phosphorus additions

22. Global Changes and the World's Mountains, Perth - (Scotland) - 26-30 September 2010
Conclusion (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).
Gajdoš, David: Changes in epigeic invertebrate communities of the alpine meadows influenced by nitrogen and phosphorus additions

23. Global Changes and the World's 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.
Gajdoš, David: Changes in epigeic invertebrate communities of the alpine meadows influenced by nitrogen and phosphorus additions

24. Global Changes and the World's Mountains, Perth - (Scotland) - 26-30 September 2010
Thank you for your attention
Gajdoš, David: Changes in epigeic invertebrate communities of the alpine meadows influenced by nitrogen and phosphorus additions