RA3 POSTER: Impact of pathogens on soil mesofauna

Soil invertebrate communities in kauri-dominated forests and the impact of tree pathogens

March 2023

Struijk M, Stavert J, Barnes A. 2023. Soil invertebrate communities in kauri-dominated forests and the impact of tree pathogens. The 3rd Global Soil Biodiversity Conference. Dublin, Ireland, 14/03/2023.

ABSTRACT

New Zealand kauri (Agathis australis) are ecologically dominant and culturally significant endemic conifers that likely exert great influence on belowground food webs. Kauri are threatened by the soil-borne root pathogen Phytophthora agathidicida (PA). Onset of visible symptoms –base bleeds, chlorosis, defoliation, dieback, and eventually, tree death– can take up to a decade. We are interested in characterising the ecological significance of kauri and identifying beyond-the-host impacts of PA on the soil food web.