Climate warming can destabilize interactions between competitors as smaller organisms gain advantages in warmer environments. Whether and how warming-induced effects on competitive interactions are modified by predation remains unknown. We hypothesized that predation will offset the competitive advantage of smaller prey species in warmer environments because of their greater vulnerability to predation. To test this, we assembled a litter arthropod community with two Collembola species (Folsomia candidaandProisotoma minuta) of different body sizes across a temperature gradient (three thermal environments) and in the presence and absence of predatory mites. Predatory mites reduced Collembola coexistence with increasing temperatures. Contradicting our hypothesis, the larger prey species always outperformed the smaller prey species in warmer environments with predators. Larger prey probably benefited as they expressed a greater trait (body length) plasticity to warming. Warming can thus magnify predation effects and reduce the probability of prey coexistence.
", "keywords": ["0106 biological sciences", "Mites", "Food Chain", "13. Climate action", "Climate Change", "Predatory Behavior", "11. Sustainability", "Animals", "Body Size", "15. Life on land", "Arthropods", "Models", " Biological", "01 natural sciences"]}, "links": [{"href": "https://royalsocietypublishing.org/doi/pdf/10.1098/rspb.2016.2570"}, {"href": "https://doi.org/10.1098/rspb.2016.2570"}, {"rel": "related", "href": "https://repository.soilwise-he.eu/cat/collections/metadata:main/items/Proceedings%20of%20the%20Royal%20Society%20B%3A%20Biological%20Sciences", "name": "related record", "description": "related record", "type": "application/json"}, {"rel": "self", "type": "application/geo+json", "title": "10.1098/rspb.2016.2570", "name": "item", "description": "10.1098/rspb.2016.2570", "href": "https://repository.soilwise-he.eu/cat/collections/metadata:main/items/10.1098/rspb.2016.2570"}, {"rel": "collection", "type": "application/json", "title": "Collection", "name": "collection", "description": "Collection", "href": "https://repository.soilwise-he.eu/cat/collections/metadata:main"}], "time": {"date": "2017-03-29T00:00:00Z"}}, {"id": "10.1111/gcb.17305", "type": "Feature", "geometry": null, "properties": {"updated": "2026-08-24T16:17:21Z", "type": "Journal Article", "created": "2024-05-07", "title": "Meta\u2010analysis reveals that the effects of precipitation change on soil and litter fauna in forests depend on body size", "description": "AbstractAnthropogenic climate change is altering precipitation regimes at a global scale. While precipitation changes have been linked to changes in the abundance and diversity of soil and litter invertebrate fauna in forests, general trends have remained elusive due to mixed results from primary studies. We used a meta\uffe2\uff80\uff90analysis based on 430 comparisons from 38 primary studies to address associated knowledge gaps, (i) quantifying impacts of precipitation change on forest soil and litter fauna abundance and diversity, (ii) exploring reasons for variation in impacts and (iii) examining biases affecting the realism and accuracy of experimental studies. Precipitation reductions led to a decrease of 39% in soil and litter fauna abundance, with a 35% increase in abundance under precipitation increases, while diversity impacts were smaller. A statistical model containing an interaction between body size and the magnitude of precipitation change showed that mesofauna (e.g. mites, collembola) responded most to changes in precipitation. Changes in taxonomic richness were related solely to the magnitude of precipitation change. Our results suggest that body size is related to the ability of a taxon to survive under drought conditions, or to benefit from high precipitation. We also found that most experiments manipulated precipitation in a way that aligns better with predicted extreme climatic events than with predicted average annual changes in precipitation and that the experimental plots used in experiments were likely too small to accurately capture changes for mobile taxa. The relationship between body size and response to precipitation found here has far\uffe2\uff80\uff90reaching implications for our ability to predict future responses of soil biodiversity to climate change and will help to produce more realistic mechanistic soil models which aim to simulate the responses of soils to global change.Abstract.\uffe2\uff80\uff82 1.\uffe2\uff80\uff82Saltmarsh conservation management often involves livestock grazing to maximise plant diversity and provide suitable breeding habitat for over\uffe2\uff80\uff90wintering coastal birds. The effect of grazing on invertebrates is rarely quantified, but results from limited studies of terrestrial and coastal grasslands demonstrate greater abundance and species richness in un\uffe2\uff80\uff90grazed grassland.
2.\uffe2\uff80\uff82The impact of short sward (<8\uffe2\uff80\uff83cm) cattle grazing on the ground dwelling invertebrate community was assessed on an English inter\uffe2\uff80\uff90tidal upper salt marsh using pitfall traps. Abundance, species richness, functional group structure, abundance of coastal specialists, environmental factors that influence invertebrate habitat choice and food web composition were compared for grazed and un\uffe2\uff80\uff90grazed marsh.
3.\uffe2\uff80\uff82In total, 90\uffe2\uff80\uff83000 invertebrates were sampled. Predatory, zoophagus and detritivorous Coleoptera were significantly more abundant on the un\uffe2\uff80\uff90grazed marsh. In contrast, predatory Hemiptera and Araneae were significantly more abundant on the grazed marsh. Sheet weaver spiders were significantly more abundant on the grazed marsh, foliage running hunters and space web builders more abundant on the un\uffe2\uff80\uff90grazed marsh. Most inter\uffe2\uff80\uff90tidal coastal specialist species exhibited clear habitat preference for the grazed marsh. Total species richness was not significantly different between grazing treatments.
4.\uffe2\uff80\uff82Linear direct gradient analysis showed that two environmental variables influenced by grazing intensity, soil temperature and vegetation height, significantly explained the composition of invertebrate functional groups. Larger bodied invertebrates dominated the un\uffe2\uff80\uff90grazed food web.
5.\uffe2\uff80\uff82We conclude that both short sward cattle grazed and un\uffe2\uff80\uff90grazed saltmarsh habitat should be maintained to maximise invertebrate abundance and diversity and provide suitable habitat for coastal specialists.
", "keywords": ["0106 biological sciences", "food web", "grasslands", "prey capture method", "15. Life on land", "01 natural sciences", "Coleoptera", "Hemiptera", "spiders", "Araneae", "14. Life underwater", "insects", "body size", "biodiversity"]}, "links": [{"href": "https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1752-4598.2012.00202.x"}, {"rel": "related", "href": "https://repository.soilwise-he.eu/cat/collections/metadata:main/items/Insect%20Conservation%20and%20Diversity", "name": "related record", "description": "related record", "type": "application/json"}, {"rel": "self", "type": "application/geo+json", "title": "10.1111/j.1752-4598.2012.00202.x", "name": "item", "description": "10.1111/j.1752-4598.2012.00202.x", "href": "https://repository.soilwise-he.eu/cat/collections/metadata:main/items/10.1111/j.1752-4598.2012.00202.x"}, {"rel": "collection", "type": "application/json", "title": "Collection", "name": "collection", "description": "Collection", "href": "https://repository.soilwise-he.eu/cat/collections/metadata:main"}], "time": {"date": "2012-04-04T00:00:00Z"}}, {"id": "10.1371%2fjournal.pone.0043102", "type": "Feature", "geometry": null, "properties": {"license": "Open Access", "updated": "2026-08-24T16:18:02Z", "type": "Journal Article", "created": "2012-08-15", "title": "Seasonal Exposure To Drought And Air Warming Affects Soil Collembola And Mites", "description": "Open AccessGlobal environmental changes affect not only the aboveground but also the belowground components of ecosystems. The effects of seasonal drought and air warming on the genus level richness of Collembola, and on the abundance and biomass of the community of Collembola and mites were studied in an acidic and a calcareous forest soil in a model oak-ecosystem experiment (the Querco experiment) at the Swiss Federal Research Institute WSL in Birmensdorf. The experiment included four climate treatments: control, drought with a 60% reduction in rainfall, air warming with a seasonal temperature increase of 1.4\u00b0C, and air warming + drought. Soil water content was greatly reduced by drought. Soil surface temperature was slightly increased by both the air warming and the drought treatment. Soil mesofauna samples were taken at the end of the first experimental year. Drought was found to increase the abundance of the microarthropod fauna, but reduce the biomass of the community. The percentage of small mites (body length 0.20 mm) increased, but the percentage of large mites (body length >0.40 mm) decreased under drought. Air warming had only minor effects on the fauna. All climate treatments significantly reduced the richness of Collembola and the biomass of Collembola and mites in acidic soil, but not in calcareous soil. Drought appeared to have a negative impact on soil microarthropod fauna, but the effects of climate change on soil fauna may vary with the soil type.", "keywords": ["0106 biological sciences", "Science", "Climate", "Climate Change", "01 natural sciences", "Soil", "Animals", "Body Size", "Biomass", "Arthropods", "Ecosystem", "Mites", "Air", "Q", "R", "Temperature", "Water", "04 agricultural and veterinary sciences", "15. Life on land", "6. Clean water", "Droughts", "13. Climate action", "Medicine", "0401 agriculture", " forestry", " and fisheries", "Seasons", "Research Article"]}, "links": [{"href": "https://doi.org/10.1371%2fjournal.pone.0043102"}, {"rel": "related", "href": "https://repository.soilwise-he.eu/cat/collections/metadata:main/items/PLoS%20ONE", "name": "related record", "description": "related record", "type": "application/json"}, {"rel": "self", "type": "application/geo+json", "title": "10.1371%2fjournal.pone.0043102", "name": "item", "description": "10.1371%2fjournal.pone.0043102", "href": "https://repository.soilwise-he.eu/cat/collections/metadata:main/items/10.1371%2fjournal.pone.0043102"}, {"rel": "collection", "type": "application/json", "title": "Collection", "name": "collection", "description": "Collection", "href": "https://repository.soilwise-he.eu/cat/collections/metadata:main"}], "time": {"date": "2012-08-15T00:00:00Z"}}, {"id": "10.1371/journal.pone.0043102", "type": "Feature", "geometry": null, "properties": {"license": "Open Access", "updated": "2026-08-24T16:18:03Z", "type": "Journal Article", "created": "2012-08-15", "title": "Seasonal Exposure To Drought And Air Warming Affects Soil Collembola And Mites", "description": "Open AccessGlobal environmental changes affect not only the aboveground but also the belowground components of ecosystems. The effects of seasonal drought and air warming on the genus level richness of Collembola, and on the abundance and biomass of the community of Collembola and mites were studied in an acidic and a calcareous forest soil in a model oak-ecosystem experiment (the Querco experiment) at the Swiss Federal Research Institute WSL in Birmensdorf. The experiment included four climate treatments: control, drought with a 60% reduction in rainfall, air warming with a seasonal temperature increase of 1.4\u00b0C, and air warming + drought. Soil water content was greatly reduced by drought. Soil surface temperature was slightly increased by both the air warming and the drought treatment. Soil mesofauna samples were taken at the end of the first experimental year. Drought was found to increase the abundance of the microarthropod fauna, but reduce the biomass of the community. The percentage of small mites (body length 0.20 mm) increased, but the percentage of large mites (body length >0.40 mm) decreased under drought. Air warming had only minor effects on the fauna. All climate treatments significantly reduced the richness of Collembola and the biomass of Collembola and mites in acidic soil, but not in calcareous soil. Drought appeared to have a negative impact on soil microarthropod fauna, but the effects of climate change on soil fauna may vary with the soil type.", "keywords": ["0106 biological sciences", "Science", "Climate", "Climate Change", "01 natural sciences", "Soil", "Animals", "Body Size", "Biomass", "Arthropods", "Ecosystem", "Mites", "Air", "Q", "R", "Temperature", "Water", "04 agricultural and veterinary sciences", "15. Life on land", "6. Clean water", "Droughts", "13. Climate action", "Medicine", "0401 agriculture", " forestry", " and fisheries", "Seasons", "Research Article"]}, "links": [{"href": "https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0043102"}, {"rel": "related", "href": "https://repository.soilwise-he.eu/cat/collections/metadata:main/items/PLoS%20ONE", "name": "related record", "description": "related record", "type": "application/json"}, {"rel": "self", "type": "application/geo+json", "title": "10.1371/journal.pone.0043102", "name": "item", "description": "10.1371/journal.pone.0043102", "href": "https://repository.soilwise-he.eu/cat/collections/metadata:main/items/10.1371/journal.pone.0043102"}, {"rel": "collection", "type": "application/json", "title": "Collection", "name": "collection", "description": "Collection", "href": "https://repository.soilwise-he.eu/cat/collections/metadata:main"}], "time": {"date": "2012-08-15T00:00:00Z"}}, {"id": "1871.1/cb964ecd-1143-41f1-a24e-bba0bccf2ea8", "type": "Feature", "geometry": null, "properties": {"license": "Open Access", "updated": "2026-08-24T16:22:23Z", "type": "Journal Article", "created": "2024-05-07", "title": "Meta\u2010analysis reveals that the effects of precipitation change on soil and litter fauna in forests depend on body size", "description": "AbstractAnthropogenic climate change is altering precipitation regimes at a global scale. While precipitation changes have been linked to changes in the abundance and diversity of soil and litter invertebrate fauna in forests, general trends have remained elusive due to mixed results from primary studies. We used a meta\uffe2\uff80\uff90analysis based on 430 comparisons from 38 primary studies to address associated knowledge gaps, (i) quantifying impacts of precipitation change on forest soil and litter fauna abundance and diversity, (ii) exploring reasons for variation in impacts and (iii) examining biases affecting the realism and accuracy of experimental studies. Precipitation reductions led to a decrease of 39% in soil and litter fauna abundance, with a 35% increase in abundance under precipitation increases, while diversity impacts were smaller. A statistical model containing an interaction between body size and the magnitude of precipitation change showed that mesofauna (e.g. mites, collembola) responded most to changes in precipitation. Changes in taxonomic richness were related solely to the magnitude of precipitation change. Our results suggest that body size is related to the ability of a taxon to survive under drought conditions, or to benefit from high precipitation. We also found that most experiments manipulated precipitation in a way that aligns better with predicted extreme climatic events than with predicted average annual changes in precipitation and that the experimental plots used in experiments were likely too small to accurately capture changes for mobile taxa. The relationship between body size and response to precipitation found here has far\uffe2\uff80\uff90reaching implications for our ability to predict future responses of soil biodiversity to climate change and will help to produce more realistic mechanistic soil models which aim to simulate the responses of soils to global change.Global change drivers, such as climate change and land use, may profoundly influence body size, density, and biomass of soil organisms. However, it is still unclear how these concurrent drivers interact in affecting ecological communities. Here, we present the results of an experimental field study assessing the interactive effects of climate change and land-use intensification on body size, density, and biomass of soil microarthropods. We found that the projected climate change and intensive land use decreased their total biomass. Strikingly, this reduction was realized via two dissimilar pathways: climate change reduced mean body size and intensive land use decreased density. These findings highlight that two of the most pervasive global change drivers operate via different pathways when decreasing soil animal biomass. These shifts in soil communities may threaten essential ecosystem functions like organic matter turnover and nutrient cycling in future ecosystems.
", "keywords": ["QH301-705.5", "Science", "Climate Change", "land-use intensification", "Soil", "Germany", "Animals", "Biomass", "Biology (General)", "Arthropods", "global change", "Ecosystem", "2. Zero hunger", "Ecology", "Q", "R", "Biodiversity", "04 agricultural and veterinary sciences", "15. Life on land", "Biota", "future climate", "13. Climate action", "Medicine", "0401 agriculture", " forestry", " and fisheries", "body size", "soil fauna"]}, "links": [{"href": "https://doi.org/10.7554/elife.54749"}, {"rel": "related", "href": "https://repository.soilwise-he.eu/cat/collections/metadata:main/items/eLife", "name": "related record", "description": "related record", "type": "application/json"}, {"rel": "self", "type": "application/geo+json", "title": "10.7554/elife.54749", "name": "item", "description": "10.7554/elife.54749", "href": "https://repository.soilwise-he.eu/cat/collections/metadata:main/items/10.7554/elife.54749"}, {"rel": "collection", "type": "application/json", "title": "Collection", "name": "collection", "description": "Collection", "href": "https://repository.soilwise-he.eu/cat/collections/metadata:main"}], "time": {"date": "2020-07-28T00:00:00Z"}}], "links": [{"rel": "self", "type": "application/geo+json", "title": "This document as GeoJSON", "href": "https://repository.soilwise-he.eu/cat/collections/metadata:main/items?keywords=Body+Size&f=json", "hreflang": "en-US"}, {"rel": "alternate", "type": "text/html", "title": "This document as HTML", "href": "https://repository.soilwise-he.eu/cat/collections/metadata:main/items?keywords=Body+Size&f=html", "hreflang": "en-US"}, {"rel": "collection", "type": "application/json", "title": "Collection URL", "href": "https://repository.soilwise-he.eu/cat/collections/metadata:main", "hreflang": "en-US"}, {"type": "application/geo+json", "rel": "first", "title": "items (first)", "href": "https://repository.soilwise-he.eu/cat/collections/metadata:main/items?keywords=Body+Size&", "hreflang": "en-US"}, {"rel": "last", "type": "application/geo+json", "title": "items (last)", "href": "https://repository.soilwise-he.eu/cat/collections/metadata:main/items?keywords=Body+Size&offset=8", "hreflang": "en-US"}], "numberMatched": 8, "numberReturned": 8, "distributedFeatures": [], "timeStamp": "2026-08-25T01:30:30.048423Z"}