Litter and soil arthropods diversity and density in a tropical dry forest ecosystem in Western Mexico

Abstract

The composition and temporal changes of edaphic microarthropods in both litter layer and soil were analyzed in a tropical dry forest ecosystem in Western Mexico. Sampling was carried out from June 1991 to July 1992 in two small watersheds at the Chamela Biological Station (Jalisco State, Mexico). At each watershed 10 random cores samples, 11 cm in diameter and 5 cm depth, were taken monthly from each biotope from an area of 100 m 2 . Fauna was extracted by Berlese-Tullgren funnels and preserved in 75% ethanol. The total abundance of arthropods was 96,338 specimens, belonging to 33 taxa. Numerically dominant groups were Prostigmata, Cryptostigmata, Collembola and Mesostigmata, which constituted 92.6% of the total abundance. The effect of current monthly precipitation and temperature on density of total Arthropoda and different Orders was also investigated. Precipitation and temperature were significantly correlated with Collembola and Mesostigmata densities and also with total arthropod. The seasonal variation in the amount of litterfall was also significantly related to the abundance of arthropod in the litter layer biotope.

Litter manipulation and the soil arthropod community in a lowland tropical rainforest

“…Relative proportions of taxa identified in this investigation were compared with those obtained by previous tropical studies (Buskirk and Buskirk, 1976;Leakey and Proctor, 1987;Atkin and Proctor, 1988;Paoletti et al, 1991;Wiwatwitaya and Takeda, 2004;Palacios-Vargas et al, 2007;De Morais et al, 2010) using NMDS based on BrayeCurtis dissimilarity.…”

Dynamics of leaf litter humidity, depth and quantity: two restoration strategies failed to mimic ground microhabitat conditions of a low montane and premontane forest in Costa Rica.

“…Cypresses needles were not considered in this methodology as they do not form layers. Leaf layers were analysed because they are useful structural elements for litter tropical dwellers (Naranjo-García 2003, Doblas 2007, Palacios-Vargas et al 2007, Eaton et al 2011.…”

“…A more complex litter layer has more species and organisms, probably because it provides more area to hide from predators, feed and lay eggs (Barrientos 2000, Sabo et al 2005, Palacios-Vargas et al 2007, Sabu et al 2008. In addition, the amount of litter defines the amount and rate of the interactions in the different trophic levels (Sabo et al 2005).…”

The Effects of Glyphosate and Multrazine on the Abundance and Diversity of Soil Microarthropods at the University Park, University of Port-Harcourt, Nigeria

“…They are known to improve soil quality and productivity by decreasing bulk density, increasing soil pore space, soil horizon mixing, increasing aeration and drainage, increasing water holding capacity, litter decomposition and improving soil aggregate structure [11,12]. They can respond sensitively to land management practices, integrate ecosystem processes which can be used as bio-indicators to quantify environmental degradation [13][14][15].…”