Seasonal fluctuations attenuate stimulatory or inhibitory impacts of colonial birds on abundance, structure and diversity of soil biota.

Soil microorganisms and free-living nematodes were investigated in association with the nesting and roosting habitats of the following piscivorous and omnivorous colonial birds: black kite (), great cormorant (), black-crowned night heron () and little egret (), in Israel's Mediterranean region. Abiotic variables, abundance, trophic structure, sex ratio and genus diversity of soil free-living nematodes, and total abundance of bacteria and fungi, were measured during the wet season, following our previous study conducted during the dry season. The observed soil properties were important drivers of soil biota structure.

Vertical Distribution of Soil Free-living Nematode in a Playa Habitat in the North-Western Negev Desert, Israel.

In order to investigate the vertical distribution of soil nematode community under a playa area in the Nizzana inter-sand dune area in the north-western Negev Desert of Israel, soil samples were collected from 0 - 10, 10 - 20, 20 - 30, 30 - 40, and 40 - 50 cm depths in the playa and loessial plain area (as control) during the dry and wet seasons. Each of soil samples was determined for soil moisture, organic matter concentration, electrical conductivity, and nematode community structure and biodiversity. The results revealed that soil moisture, organic matter, electrical conductivity, total nematode abundance and trophic groups were significantly influenced by sampling positions ( < 0.

Successive development of soil ecosystems at abandoned coal-ash landfills.

The main goal of the present study was to determine the effect of the native vegetation on the successive development of the soil ecosystem at abandoned coal-ash landfills of the Angren coal-fired power plant in Uzbekistan. Two different landfills (one not in use for 3 years, termed newer, and the other not in use for 10 years, termed older) with different degrees of vegetation cover were chosen to assess the time and vegetation effects on soil biota and habitat development. The soil biotic structure, including soil microorganisms and soil free-living nematode communities, was investigated both at open plots and under different native plants at the coal-ash landfill area.

Coupling geochemical, mineralogical and microbiological approaches to assess the health of contaminated soil around the Almalyk mining and smelter complex, Uzbekistan.

This study describes the impact of airborne pollution resulting from mining and smelting activities on the soils of the Almalyk mining and industrial area (NE Uzbekistan). Samples were collected along a transect downwind of the industrial area. Enriched contents of some metals were found in the upper soil layers near the metallurgical complex (Zn≤3010 mg kg(-1), Pb≤630 mg kg(-1), Cd≤30 mg kg(-1)) which suggests that these metals were derived from local stack emissions.

Influence of industrial heavy metal pollution on soil free-living nematode population.

The effect of distance from a heavy metal pollution source on the soil nematode community (trophic structure, sex structure, and taxa composition) was investigated along a 15-km transect originating at the Almalyk Industrial Complex, Uzbekistan (pollution source). The soil nematode community was exposed to heavy metal influence both directly and through soil properties changes. Pollution effect on the density and biomass of soil free-living nematodes was found to be highest at pollution source, with fungivores and plant parasites dominating at the upper and deeper soil layers next to the pollution source.

The influence of soil pollution on soil microbial biomass and nematode community structure in Navoiy Industrial Park, Uzbekistan.

The effects of ammonium-rich and heavy-metal air pollution produced by the industrial enterprises at Navoiy (Uzbekistan) on soil free-living nematodes and microbial population activities was investigated in soil samples collected in a 5-km radius surrounding the industrial enterprises. At each location (n=4), soil samples were collected from the upper layer (0-10 cm) for determination of soil moisture (SM), total organic carbon (C(org)), total soluble nitrogen (TSN), soil electrical conductivity (EC) and cations (Ca(2+), K(+), Na(+)). Heavy metals (As, Cu, Pb, Zn), soil basal respiration (BR), microbial biomass (C(mic)) and nematode populations were determined.

The impact of the Almalyk Industrial Complex on soil chemical and biological properties.

The effect of heavy metals on soil free-living nematodes, microbial biomass (C mic) and basal respiration (BR) was studied along a 15 km downwind deposition gradient, originating at the Almalyk Industrial Complex. Soil samples from 0-10 and 10-20 cm layers were collected at 5 km intervals. A significant decrease in heavy metal deposition was found going from the source in the downwind direction and with depth.

Spatio-temporal Dynamic Heterogeneity of Nematode Abundance in a Desert Ecosystem.

The abundance and distribution of natural populations of soil organisms can be influenced greatly by the types and arrangement of habitat patchiness within a landscape. Most animal populations inhabit a variety of different habitats, even within a relatively small geographic region. The aim of our research was to determine how abiotic and biotic environmental factors, including small shrub canopy, influence patchiness and the alteration of nematode populations inhabiting a small plot in a desert ecosystem.

Seasonal and spatial variation in nematode communities in a negev desert ecosystem.

Seasonal and spatial variation in soil nematode communities was investigated in a field study conducted on a loessial plain in the northern Negev Desert, Israel. Soil samples from 0- to 50-cm depths were collected seasonally during 2001 under the canopy of Atriplex halimus and Hammada scoparia, and between shrubs (control). Total population abundance ranged from 8 to 887 individuals per 100 g soil, represented by 32 genera from 16 families.