Urban soils are soils located in cities, industrial, traffic, mining and military areas
. They are highly diverse varying in natural conditions being slightly or completely disturbed through human activities [1]. The main characteristics of urban soils are due to human influences such as mixing, sealing, filling, compaction and contamination. As a consequence, available habitats for soil organisms are often reduced that affect the whole soil functioning.
The recent emphasis on ecosystem services as a currency to value ecosystems and promote their sustainable use [2] has drawn attention to the ways in which different organisms contribute to the delivery of ecosystem services [3]. These services (i.e; water infiltration, thermal regulation) may be even more vital in stressed environments such as urban ecosystems. At different spatial and temporal scales, enchytraeids and earthworms are key actors of the soil processes. They provide essential ecosystem services such as organic matter decomposition by fragmenting organic debris, nutrient cycling [4], soil formation [5] [6], plant growth and regulating microbial processes [3].
- ^ Hazelton and Murphy (2011). From Understanding Soils in Urban Environments. CSIRO Publishing. p. 160. ISBN 9780643091740.
- ^ Millenium Ecosystem Assessment. Ecosystems and human well-being: biodiversity synthesis. World Resources Institute, Washington, DC. p. 86.
- ^
a
b Lavelle, Patrick (2006). "Soil invertebrates and ecosystem services". European Journal of Soil Biology. 42 (S3–S15): 13.
doi:
10.1016/j.ejsobi.2006.10.002.
{{ cite journal}}: Unknown parameter|coauthors=ignored (|author=suggested) ( help) - ^ Edwards and Bohlen (1996). Biology and Ecology of Earthworms. London: Chapman & Hall. p. 426.
-
^ Salomé (2011).
"Earthworm communities in alluvial forests: Influence of altitude, vegetation stages and soils parameters" (PDF). Pedobiologia. 54: 5–11.
doi:
10.1016/j.pedobi.2011.09.012.
{{ cite journal}}: Unknown parameter|coauthors=ignored (|author=suggested) ( help) -
^ Bullinger-Weber (2012).
"Impact of flood deposits on earthworm communities in alder forests from a subalpine floodplain (Kander, Switerzland)" (PDF). European Journal Soil of Biology. 49 (SI): 5–11.
doi:
10.1016/j.ejsobi.2011.08.001.
{{ cite journal}}: Unknown parameter|coauthors=ignored (|author=suggested) ( help)
Urban soils are soils located in cities, industrial, traffic, mining and military areas
. They are highly diverse varying in natural conditions being slightly or completely disturbed through human activities [1]. The main characteristics of urban soils are due to human influences such as mixing, sealing, filling, compaction and contamination. As a consequence, available habitats for soil organisms are often reduced that affect the whole soil functioning.
The recent emphasis on ecosystem services as a currency to value ecosystems and promote their sustainable use [2] has drawn attention to the ways in which different organisms contribute to the delivery of ecosystem services [3]. These services (i.e; water infiltration, thermal regulation) may be even more vital in stressed environments such as urban ecosystems. At different spatial and temporal scales, enchytraeids and earthworms are key actors of the soil processes. They provide essential ecosystem services such as organic matter decomposition by fragmenting organic debris, nutrient cycling [4], soil formation [5] [6], plant growth and regulating microbial processes [3].
- ^ Hazelton and Murphy (2011). From Understanding Soils in Urban Environments. CSIRO Publishing. p. 160. ISBN 9780643091740.
- ^ Millenium Ecosystem Assessment. Ecosystems and human well-being: biodiversity synthesis. World Resources Institute, Washington, DC. p. 86.
- ^
a
b Lavelle, Patrick (2006). "Soil invertebrates and ecosystem services". European Journal of Soil Biology. 42 (S3–S15): 13.
doi:
10.1016/j.ejsobi.2006.10.002.
{{ cite journal}}: Unknown parameter|coauthors=ignored (|author=suggested) ( help) - ^ Edwards and Bohlen (1996). Biology and Ecology of Earthworms. London: Chapman & Hall. p. 426.
-
^ Salomé (2011).
"Earthworm communities in alluvial forests: Influence of altitude, vegetation stages and soils parameters" (PDF). Pedobiologia. 54: 5–11.
doi:
10.1016/j.pedobi.2011.09.012.
{{ cite journal}}: Unknown parameter|coauthors=ignored (|author=suggested) ( help) -
^ Bullinger-Weber (2012).
"Impact of flood deposits on earthworm communities in alder forests from a subalpine floodplain (Kander, Switerzland)" (PDF). European Journal Soil of Biology. 49 (SI): 5–11.
doi:
10.1016/j.ejsobi.2011.08.001.
{{ cite journal}}: Unknown parameter|coauthors=ignored (|author=suggested) ( help)