Skip to main content
Springer Nature Link
Log in

Enzyme Diversity in Andosols of the Canary Islands (Spain)

  • Chapter
  • First Online:
Soil Enzymology in the Recycling of Organic Wastes and Environmental Restoration

Part of the book series: Environmental Science and Engineering ((ENVSCIENCE))

Abstract

The loss of biodiversity usually accompanies the degradation of the terrestrial ecosystems. Besides the loss of species, such a phenomenon affects the functional diversity of the ecosystem, that is, the diversity of the ecological processes taking place inside it, and the performance of the main soil functions. This work includes the results obtained at Andosols located at nine experimental plots in the National Parks of Garajonay and El Teide (Canary Islands, Spain). The measurement of the enzyme diversity by means of the Shannon seems to provide a good estimation of the variety of functions and ecological processes in which the soil microbiota is involved. Its temporal stability can allow obtaining a good approximation to its value from single measures, in contrast to the usual long monitoring time needed in the studies of the soil enzyme activities.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this chapter

Log in via an institution

Institutional subscriptions

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  • Achtman M, Wagner M (2008) Microbial diversity and the genetic nature of microbial species. Nat Rev Microbiol 6:431–440

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Andrén OJ, Bengtsson J, Clarholm M (1995) Biodiversity and species redundancy among litter decomposers. In: Collins HP, Robertson GP, Klug MJ (eds) The Significance and regulation of soil biodiversity. Kluwer, Dordrecht, The Netherlands, pp 141–151

    Chapter  Google Scholar 

  • Arbelo CD, Rodríguez Rodríguez A, Guerra JA, Mora JL (2002) Calidad del suelo y sucesión vegetal en Andosoles forestales de las Islas Canarias. Edafología 9:31–38

    Google Scholar 

  • Armas Herrera CM (2010) Caracterización físico-química y dinámica del carbono orgánico en los suelos de algunos ecosistemas de las Islas Canarias. Unpublished Ph.D. Thesis. Departamento de Edafología y Geología, Universidad de La Laguna, Tenerife, Spain

    Google Scholar 

  • Bending GD, Tuner MK, Jones JE (2002) Interactions between crop residue and soil organic matter quality and the functional diversity of soil microbial communities. Biol Fertil Soils 34:1073–1082

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Caldwell BA (2005) Enzyme activities as a component of soil biodiversity: a review. Pedobiologia 49:637–644

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Camiña F, Trasar-Cepeda C, Gil-Sotres F, Leirós C (1997) Measurement of dehydrogenase activity in acid soils rich in organic matter. Soil Biol Biochem 30:1005–1011

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Castroviejo M (1989) El parque nacional del teide. In: Araña V, Coello J (eds) Los volcanes y la caldera del parque nacional del teide (Tenerife, Islas Canarias). ICONA, Madrid, Spain, pp 13–36

    Google Scholar 

  • Chapin III FS, Zavaleta ES, Eviner VT, Naylor RL, Vitousek PM, Reynolds HL, Hooper DU, Lavorel S, Sala OE, Hobbie SE, Mack MC, Díaz S (2000) Consequences of changing biodiversity. Nature 405:234–242

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • del Arco Aguilar MJ, Wildpret de la Torre W, Pérez de Paz PL, Rodríguez Delgado O, Acebes Ginovés JR, García Gallo A, Martín Osorio MV, Reyes Betancort JA, Salas Pascual M, Díaz MA, Bermejo Domínguez JA, González González R, Cabrera Lacalzada MV, García Ávila S (2006) Mapa de vegetación de canarias. GRAFCAN, Santa Cruz de Tenerife, Spain

    Google Scholar 

  • Dick RP, Breakwell DP, Turco RF (1996) Soil enzyme activities and biodiversity. measurements as integrative microbiological indicators. In: Doran JW, Jones AJ (eds) Methods for assessing soil quality. Soil Science Society of America, Madison, WI, USA, pp 247–271

    Google Scholar 

  • Doran JW, Zeiss MR (2000) Soil health and sustainability: managing the biotic component of soil quality. Appl Soil Ecol 15:3–11

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Eivazi F, Tabatabai MA (1988) Glucosidases and galactosidases in soils. Soil Biol Biochem 20:601–606

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Emmerling C, Schloter M, Hartmann A, Kandeler E (2002) Functional diversity of soil organisms–a review of recent research activities in Germany. J Plant Nutr Soil Sci 165:408–420

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Gieger T, Leuschner C (2004) Altitudinal change in needle water relations of pinus canariensis and possible evidence of a drought-induced alpine timberline on mt. teide, tenerife. Flora 199:100–109

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Griffiths BS, Ritz K, Wheatley R, Kuan HL, Boag B, Christensen S, Ekelund F, Sørensen SJ, Muller S, Bloem J (2001) An examination of the biodiversity-ecosystem function relationship in arable soil microbial communities. Soil Biol Biochem 33:1713–1722

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Guitián F, Carballas T (1976) Técnicas de análisis de suelos. Pico Sacro Editorial, Santiago de Compostela, Spain

    Google Scholar 

  • Hättenschwiler S, Tiunov AV, Scheu S (2005) Biodiversity and litter decomposition in terrestrial ecosystems. Annu Rev Ecol Evol Syst 36:191–218

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Hunt HW, Wall DH (2002) Modelling the effects of loss of soil biodiversity on ecosystem function. Glob Change Biol 8:33–50

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • IUSS Working Group WRB (2006) World reference base for soil resources. 2nd edition. World Soil Resources Reports No. 103. FAO, Rome

    Google Scholar 

  • Landi L, Renella G, Moreno JL, Falchini L, Nannipieri P (2000) Influence of cadmium on the metabolic quotient, l-:d-glutamic acid respiration ratio and enzyme activity:microbial biomass ratio under laboratory conditions. Biol Fertil Soils 32:8–16

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Lawton JH, Brown VK (1994) Redundancy in ecosystems. In: Schulze E-D, Mooney HA (eds) Biodiversity and ecosystem function. Springer, New York, USA, pp 255–270

    Chapter  Google Scholar 

  • Lupwayi NZ, Hanson KG, Harker KN, Clayton GW, Blackshaw RE, O’Donovan JT, Johnson EN, Gan Y, Irvine RB, Monreal MA (2007) Soil microbial biomass, functional diversity and enzyme activity in glyphosate-resistant wheat-canola rotations under low-disturbance direct seeding and conventional tillage. Soil Biol Biochem 39:1418–1427

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Marx M-C, Wood M, Jarvis SC (2001) A microplate fluorometric assay for the study of enzyme diversity in soils. Soil Biol Biochem 33:1633–1640

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Mungai NW, Motavalli PP, Kremer RJ, Nelson KA (2005) Spatial variation of soil enzyme activities and microbial functional diversity in temperate alley cropping systems. Biol Fertil Soils 42:129–136

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Myers N (1996) Environmental services of biodiversity. Proc Natl Acad Sci USA 93:2764–2769

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Nannipieri P, Kandeler E, Ruggiero P (2002) Enzyme activities and microbiological and biochemical processes in soil. In: Burns RG, Dick R (eds) Enzymes in the environment: activity, ecology and applications. Marcel Dekker, New York, USA, pp 1–33

    Google Scholar 

  • Nannipieri P, Ascher J, Ceccherini MT, Landi L, Pietramellara G, Renella G (2003) Microbial diversity and soil functions. Eur J Soil Sci 54:655–670

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Ogunseitan O (2005) Microbial diversity: form and function in prokaryotes. Blackwell, Oxford, UK

    Google Scholar 

  • Óskarsson H, Arnalds Ó, Gunmundsson J, Gudbergsson G (2004) Organic carbon in icelandic andosols: geographical variation and impact of erosion. Catena 56:225–238

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Pankhurst CE, Doube BM, Gupta VVSR (1997) Biological indicators of soil health. CAB International, Wallingford, UK

    Google Scholar 

  • Rodríguez Rodríguez A, Fernández López AB, Arbelo CD, Notario JS, Vargas GE, Mora JL, Guerra JA, Armas CM, Amigó R (2002) Plan complementario edafológico del programa de seguimiento ecológico en el parque nacional de garajonay. Departamento de Edafología y Geología, Universidad de La Laguna, Tenerife, Spain

    Google Scholar 

  • Rodríguez Rodríguez A, Arbelo CD, Notario JS, Mora JL, Guerra JA, Armas CM (2004) Contenido y formas de carbono orgánico en Andosoles forestales: aproximación a su dinámica. Edafología 11:67–102

    Google Scholar 

  • Rodríguez-Loinaz G, Ornaindia M, Amezaga I, Mijangos I, Garbisu C (2008) Relationship between vegetation diversity and soil functional diversity in native mixed-oak forests. Soil Biol Biochem 40:49–60

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Schinner F, von Mersi W (1990) Xylanase, CM-cellulase and invertase activity in soil: an improved method. Soil Biol Biochem 22:511–515

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Schlapfer F, Schmid B (1999) Ecosystem effects of biodiversity: a classification of hypotheses and exploration of empirical results. Ecol Appl 9:893–912

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Shannon CE, Weaver W (1949) The mathematical theory of communication. University of Illinois Press, Urbana IL USA

    Google Scholar 

  • Tabatabai MA, Bremner JM (1969) Use of p-nitrophenyl phosphate for assay of soil phosphatase activity. Soil Biol Biochem 1:301–307

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Tabatabai MA, Bremner JM (1972) Assay of urease activity in soils. Soil Biol Biochem 4:479–487

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Ter Braak CFJ, Šmilauer P (2002) CANOCO reference manual and canodraw for windows user’s guide to canoco for windows. software for canonical community ordination (version 4.5). Centre for Biometry, Wageningen, The Netherlands

    Google Scholar 

  • Trasar-Cepeda C, Leirós MC, Gil-Sotres F, Seoane S (1998) Towards a biochemical quality index for soils: an expression relating several biological and biochemical properties. Biol Fertil Soils 26:100–106

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Tscherko D, Rustemeier J, Richter A, Wanek W, Kandeler E (2003) Functional diversity of the soil microflora in primary succession across two glacier forelands in the Central Alps. Eur J Soil Sci 54:685–696

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Vance ED, Brookes PC, Jenkinson DS (1987) An extraction method for measuring soil microbial biomass C. Soil Biol Biochem 19:703–707

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Walker BH (1992) Biodiversity and ecological redundancy. Conserv Biol 6:18–23

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Wardle DA, Huston MA, Grime JP, Berendse F, Garnier E, Lauenroth WK, Setala H, Wilson SD (2000) Biodiversity and ecosystem function: an issue in ecology. Bull Ecol Soc Am 81:235–239

    Google Scholar 

  • Zak JC, Willig MR, Moorhead DL, Wildman HG (1994) Functional diversity of microbial communities: a quantitative approach. Soil Biol Biochem 26:1101–1108

    Article  Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Departamento de Agricultura y Economía Agraria, Facultad de Veterinaria, Universidad de Zaragoza, Calle Miguel Servet 177, 50013, Zaragoza, Spain

    Juan Luis Mora Hernández

  2. Departamento de Edafología y Geología, Facultad de Biología, Universidad de La Laguna, Avda. Astrofísico Fco Sánchez s/n, 38204, La Laguna, Tenerife, Spain

    Cecilia María Armas Herrera, Antonio Rodríguez Rodríguez & Carmen Dolores Arbelo Rodríguez

  3. Gestión del Medio Rural de Canarias, Subida al Mayorazgo 24B Planta 2, 38110, Santa Cruz de Tenerife, Spain

    José Asterio Guerra García

Authors
  1. Juan Luis Mora Hernández
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Cecilia María Armas Herrera
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. José Asterio Guerra García
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  4. Antonio Rodríguez Rodríguez
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  5. Carmen Dolores Arbelo Rodríguez
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Juan Luis Mora Hernández .

Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

  1. Departamento de Bioquimica del Suelo, Investigac. Agrobiol. de, Universidade de Santiago de Compostela, Apartado 122, Santiago de Compostela, 15780, Spain

    Carmen Trasar-Cepeda

  2. , Department of Soil and Water Conservatio, CEBAS-CSIC, Espinardo, Spain

    Teresa Hernández

  3. , Department of Soil and Water Conservatio, CEBAS-CSIC, Espinardo, Spain

    Carlos García

  4. Fac. Ciencias, Depto. Microbiología, Universidad de Burgos, Plaza Misael Bañuelos s/n, Burgos, 09001, Spain

    Carlos Rad

  5. , Soil Science and Agricultural Chemistry, University of Burgos, Cantabria Av., Burgos, 09006, Spain

    Salvador González-Carcedo

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

Copyright information

© 2011 Springer-Verlag Berlin Heidelberg

About this chapter

Cite this chapter

Mora Hernández, J.L., Armas Herrera, C.M., Guerra García, J.A., Rodríguez Rodríguez, A., Arbelo Rodríguez, C.D. (2011). Enzyme Diversity in Andosols of the Canary Islands (Spain). In: Trasar-Cepeda, C., Hernández, T., García, C., Rad, C., González-Carcedo, S. (eds) Soil Enzymology in the Recycling of Organic Wastes and Environmental Restoration. Environmental Science and Engineering(). Springer, Berlin, Heidelberg. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-642-21162-1_5

Download citation

Publish with us

Policies and ethics