Dear Readers,
This summer I'll be involved in a project to study the impact of
natural enemies on a pest (the jumping gall wasp, Neuroterus
saltatorius) of Garry oaks (Quercus garryana). In order to determine
the extent to which soil microflora and fauna impact this insect
(which pupates, in its leaf gall, after it drops into leaf duff or
onto soil) I intend to transplant a layer of soil from an area without
galls (an exposed area) to one where galls will fall (beneath an
infested oak). In that way, at the end of the season, all the galls
found in the transplanted soil will be from a single season and life-
table data can be more easily derived. DOES ANYONE KNOW OF ANY
ESTABLISHED TECHNIQUES OR PROTOCOLS TO TRANSPLANT SOIL WITHOUT
DISTURBING SOIL HORIZONS SIGNIFICANTLY? I am concerned about
differences in pH, organic matter and other factors that may detract
from the similarity between the transplanted soil and that around the
rest of the sampled trees (which could very easily influence soil
biota and therefore negate extrapolation). Any suggestions?
Thank you.
'\ /`
()() Conrad Berube
\/\\ ISLAND CROP MANAGEMENT
______ \\ 244 Linden Avenue
/ ; ; \ \\ ____________ Victoria, B.C.
/`\ \`-===========/~~\ V8V 4E5
/` `\/'\ -^\ /\____/^^^~> (604)480-0223
/` `' |/ '\ '\~~~~~~~~ email: uc779@freenet.victoria.bc.ca.
\ '\ '\
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p.s.
please reply directly to my e-mail address, thank you
--
uc779@freenet.victoria.bc.ca
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