Cunninghamia lanceolata （Lamb.） Hook. is economically the most important tree species in southern China and has been cultivated in plantations on a large scale. This species is widely used in construction, furniture...Cunninghamia lanceolata （Lamb.） Hook. is economically the most important tree species in southern China and has been cultivated in plantations on a large scale. This species is widely used in construction, furniture, utensils and shipbuilding. Soil fertility of C. lanceolata stands affects soil structure, porosity and nutrient availability, which causes changes in fauna activity. During January to February 2008, an ice storm caused extensive damage to C. lanceolata stands. Despite the environmental importance of soil fauna, basic information on the distribution and diversity of soil fauna in C. lanceolata stands after ice storm damage is lacking. To assess the response of soil fauna diversity and distribution to forest gaps following the ice storm, five small gaps （each 30-40 m^2）, five large gaps （each 80-100 m^2） and five canopy cover plots were selected within a 2-ha C. lanceolata stand. Soil samples were collected from 0 to 10 cm depth in March 2011 to measure soil fauna diversity and abundance. The abundance and community composition of the soil fauna varied with gap size. In canopy cover sites, the number of individuals was 2.0 and 5.2 times greater than in the small gaps and large gaps. Three taxa （Nematoda, Oribatida and lnsecta） of soil inver- tebrates occurred commonly, and Nematoda dominated the communities in all three habitat types. The Shannon-Wiener diversity index, Margalef diversity index, and Pielou evenness index were high in the small gaps, indicating that they harbored the most species, with the most even distribution, and the highest diversity. Our results indicated that gap size apparently affected abundance and community composition of the soil fauna.展开更多
Soil fauna decompose litter, whereas land use changes may significantly alter the composition and structure of soil fauna assemblages. However, little is known of the effects of land-use on the contribution of soil fa...Soil fauna decompose litter, whereas land use changes may significantly alter the composition and structure of soil fauna assemblages. However, little is known of the effects of land-use on the contribution of soil fauna to litter decomposition. We studied the impacts of soil fauna on the decomposition of litter from poplar trees under three different land uses （i.e. poplar-crop integrated system, poplar plantation, and cropland）, from December 2013 to December 2014, in a coastal area of Northern Jiangsu Province. We collected litter samples in litterbags with three mesh sizes （5, 1 and 0. 01 mm, respectively） to quantify the contribution of various soil fauna to the decomposition of poplar leaf litter. Litter decomposition rates differed significantly by land use and were highest in the cropland, intermediate in the poplar-crop integrated system, and lowest in the poplar plantation. Soil fauna in the poplar-crop integrated system was characterized by the highest numbers of taxa and individuals, and highest Margalef＇s diversity, which suggested that agro-forestry ecosystems may support a greater quantity, distribution, and biodiversity of soil fauna than can single-species agriculture or plantation forestry. The individuals and groups of soil fauna in the macro-mesh litterbags were higher than in the meso-mesh litterbags underthe same land use types. The average contribution rate of meso- and micro-fauna to litter decomposition was 18.46%, which was higher than the contribution rate of macro-fauna （3.31%）. The percentage of remaining litter mass was inversely related to the density of the soil fauna （P 〈 0.05） in poplar plantations; however, was unrelated in the poplar-crop integrated system and cropland. This may have been the result of anthropogenic interference in poplar-crop integrated systems and croplands. Our study suggested that when land-use change alters vegetation types, it can affect species composition and the structure of soil fauna assemblages, which, in turn, affects litter decomposition.展开更多
Forest gaps are important in forest dynamics and management, but little is known about how soil fauna influence the degradation of recalcitrant litter components in different-sized forest gaps. This investigation uses...Forest gaps are important in forest dynamics and management, but little is known about how soil fauna influence the degradation of recalcitrant litter components in different-sized forest gaps. This investigation uses litterbags with two different mesh sizes (0.04 and 3 mm) to control the meso- and microfauna entering the bags to quantify the contribution of soil fauna to the degradation of recalcitrant components (including condensed tannins, total phenol, lignin and cellulose) during litter decomposition. The experiment was conducted in seven different forest gap sizes in Pinus massoniana plantations over 1 year. One closed-canopy site (CC) and forest gap sizes of 100, 225, 400, 625, 900, 1225 and 1600 m^2 were created in a P. massoniana plantation in the Sichuan basin of China;the CC was treated as the control. Cinnamomum camphora foliage from local native trees was used in all forest gap experiments. We found the following:(1) Gap size had significant effects on the degradation rates (E) of condensed tannins and lignin and on the contributions of soil fauna;medium-sized gaps also presented high degradation rates. Soil fauna obviously contributed to the degradation of recalcitrant foliar litter components in medium-sized gaps.(2) The highest contribution to degradation (40.98%) was recorded for lignin, and the lowest contribution (0.29%) was recorded for condensed tannins. The results indicate that medium-sized gaps (900 m^2) were conducive to the degradation of recalcitrant litter components by soil fauna.展开更多
The response of soil fauna to the litter decomposition process has received considerable attention,but this effect has not been fully examined in agroforestry systems.A 1-year in situ decomposition experiment was carr...The response of soil fauna to the litter decomposition process has received considerable attention,but this effect has not been fully examined in agroforestry systems.A 1-year in situ decomposition experiment was carried out in a pure ginkgo plantation and two ginkgo agroforestry systems using a litterbag method(11 different treatments were tested in three systems).We found that the application of different organic materials(crop residues)produced positive effects on the number of soil fauna in the ginkgo planting systems;the mixture of ginkgo leaves and corn leaves was the best performing treatment.Collembola and Acarina were the predominant groups in the litter bags and were mainly responsible for the differences among the treatments.Litter mixing promoted the abundance,richness,and diversity of soil fauna,and significant differences regarding the Shannon–Wiener index of the soil fauna were observed among the 11 treatments in July.Significantly higher soil MBC(microbial biomass carbon)and MBN(microbial biomass nitrogen)were observed in agroforestry systems than in pure ginkgo plantations.These results suggest that the practice of intercrop residue application plays an important role in enhancing soil ecosystem function in ginkgo agroforestry systems and may ultimately contribute to sustainable intercrop production,soil fertility,and local economic diversity.展开更多
The challenges of a changing climate have directed greater attention to afforestation,but the effects of afforestation on soil fertility and soil biota have not been fully clarified.To explore changes in the soil cond...The challenges of a changing climate have directed greater attention to afforestation,but the effects of afforestation on soil fertility and soil biota have not been fully clarified.To explore changes in the soil conditions in two 20-year-old forest plantations established in formerly intensively fertilized plots of agricultural land,we focused on the current developmental state of the sites that received the most fertilizer and evaluated soil properties and Collembola(springtails)communities.Sessile oak(Quercus petraea)and black locust(Robinia pseudoacacia)that had been planted in the afforestation sites were assessed for differences between plantations of native and invasive species.Five adjacent reference associations,including forests and open habitats,were also analyzed and compared.Results showed that the soils in the two afforested sites were similar in their properties and Collembola communities to those of the control cultivated forests,but differed from each other in pH,calcium,phosphorus,and ammonium content.The available potassium and phosphorus contents in the soil of the sessile oak plantation were still high,while the soil organic matter content was adequate(SOM>2.0%)in both plantations.Species richness of Collembola ranged from 18 in the cultivated arable land to 43 in the relict forest.Only a few species typical for forests(e.g.,Neanura muscorum,Isotomiella minor,Entomobrya muscorum)were detected in the young plantations,while species characteristic of open habitats(e.g.,Protaphorura campata,Lepidocyrtus cyaneus)occurred as well.Although more individuals and species of Collembola were present in the soil of young plantations than in arable fields,their community diversities were significantly lower compared to the control forest stands.Collembola community diversity differed significantly also between the two plantation types(with native and non-native tree species).Mean abundance in the afforested sites was about 2.5 times higher than in the cultivated arable land,yet far lower than the mean abundance in the control forests.展开更多
The underlying mechanisms of the relationships between tree species and the soil micro-food web in forest ecosystems remain uncertain,primarily ascribed to an insufficient understanding on how tree functional traits d...The underlying mechanisms of the relationships between tree species and the soil micro-food web in forest ecosystems remain uncertain,primarily ascribed to an insufficient understanding on how tree functional traits drive soil nematode communities,including in subtropical forests.We investigated the impacts of seven subtropical tree species(evergreen:Pinus massoniana,Mytilaria laosensis,Ilex chinensis,Michelia macclurei;and deciduous:Liquidambar formosana,Quercus acutissima,and Betula luminifera)on the soil nematode communities.We found that the abundance of soil nematodes was not affected by mycorrhizal types,but it was around 83%higher under the deciduous trees than the evergreen trees,indicating the importance of leaf phenology to the abundance of soil nematodes.Nonetheless,both the evergreen and the arbuscular mycorrhizal trees increased soil nematode diversity,resulting from changes in root traits and soil properties.Furthermore,root traits(root C,root N,and root C:N ratio),and soil properties(total C,total N,moisture content,and bulk density)were the best predictors of the community composition of soil nematodes,indicating a key role of resource quality and soil microhabitat in regulating soil nematodes.In contrast,the ectomycorrhizal trees had lower plant parasite and Wasilewska indices,and evenness,whereas the evergreen trees slightly improved the evenness of soil nematodes.This study suggests that tree species affect the soil food web through changes in soil conditions and plant functional traits in subtropical forests.展开更多
Vegetation types alter soil ecosystems by changing soil fauna community activities and soil physi-cal-chemical properties.However,it is unclear how tree species(natural forest,native and exotic tree plantations)promot...Vegetation types alter soil ecosystems by changing soil fauna community activities and soil physi-cal-chemical properties.However,it is unclear how tree species(natural forest,native and exotic tree plantations)promote changes in the soil ecosystem,and if these changes alter functional groups of soil fauna and ecosystem services.To determine the effects of five decades of old-field veg-etation on soil ecosystems in the Brazilian Atlantic Forest,field sampling of three ecosystems(exotic tree species Pinus elliottii Engelm.plantation,endangered tree species Arau-caria angustifolia(Bertol.)Kuntze plantation,and a natural ecosystem)were carried out,as well using bait-lamina tests and bioassays with collembolans,earthworms and seeds of Lactuca sativa L.Field sampling evaluated the soil fauna community and soil physical-chemical properties.The bait-lamina test in situ was carried out for 14-days to deter-mine fauna feeding activity,and the bioassays evaluated the reproduction of Folsomia candida,the avoidance of Eisenia andrei,and germination of L.sativa in the soil from each ecosystem.The results are:(1)vegetation type altered the soil fauna community composition;(2)soil fauna feeding was reduced in the plantations compared to the natural eco-system;(3)a physical barrier was created by recalcitrant litter that compromised fauna community structure and seed bank germination in situ;and,(4)changes in soil physical-chemical properties promoted decomposers.展开更多
The little layer of tree plantations provides primary nutrients for uptake,buff ers changes in soil moisture,and provides habitat and substrate to soil epigeic fauna.However,this layer in eucalypt plantations is often...The little layer of tree plantations provides primary nutrients for uptake,buff ers changes in soil moisture,and provides habitat and substrate to soil epigeic fauna.However,this layer in eucalypt plantations is often removed to reduce fuel load during the fi re season in the Brazilian savanna(Cerrado).Therefore,it is necessary to quantify the eff ects of changes in litter dynamics on the function of these plantations,on key nutrient cycling processes and on epigeic fauna diversity and abundance.In two adjacent stands(one juvenile and one mature),the consequences of two years of litter removal were quantifi ed as monthly litterfall,leaf and fi ne wood litter decomposition,epigeic fauna abundance and diversity,soil biogeochemical variables,and tree diameter and basal area increments.Monthly litterfall rates in juvenile and mature stands did not change with litter removal over the study period.Annual litterfall ranged from 4.1 to 4.9 Mg ha^(−1)a^(−1)in litter removal plots and from 3.9 to 4.8 Mg ha^(−1)a^(−1)in control plots.Fine wood litter decomposition was slower in litter removal plots compared to controls,while leaf decomposition rates were similar in both.Two years of litter removal in the juvenile stand did not aff ect topsoil biogeochemical parameters but decreased available phosphorus at 20–40 cm depth relative to controls.In the mature stand,total cation exchange capacity(0–20 cm)was higher in controls(6.4 cmol c dm^(−3))relative to litter removal plots(6.3 cmol c dm^(−3)),while soil moisture(0–40 cm depth)was lower in litter removal(25.45 m 3 m^(−3))compared to control plots(26 m^(3)m^(−3))in the dry season.A non-metric multidimensional scaling ordination revealed an increased homogeneity in epigeic fauna where litter was removed.Litterfall,decomposition,diameter increment,four soil physical parameters and fourteen chemical parameters at 0–20 and 20–40 cm depth explained the diff erences in soil epigeic fauna composition between litter removal and control plots.Diameter increment decreased with litter removal only in the juvenile stand,which had reached its growth peak.The results indicate that removing excess litter to decrease fuel volume can alter soil biodiversity and edaphic conditions that negatively aff ect nutrient cycling and tree growth.展开更多
基金supported by the Shenzhen Strategic Emerging Industrial Development Funds(GCZX20120618100801416)from Shenzhen Municipal People’s Government,China
文摘Cunninghamia lanceolata （Lamb.） Hook. is economically the most important tree species in southern China and has been cultivated in plantations on a large scale. This species is widely used in construction, furniture, utensils and shipbuilding. Soil fertility of C. lanceolata stands affects soil structure, porosity and nutrient availability, which causes changes in fauna activity. During January to February 2008, an ice storm caused extensive damage to C. lanceolata stands. Despite the environmental importance of soil fauna, basic information on the distribution and diversity of soil fauna in C. lanceolata stands after ice storm damage is lacking. To assess the response of soil fauna diversity and distribution to forest gaps following the ice storm, five small gaps （each 30-40 m^2）, five large gaps （each 80-100 m^2） and five canopy cover plots were selected within a 2-ha C. lanceolata stand. Soil samples were collected from 0 to 10 cm depth in March 2011 to measure soil fauna diversity and abundance. The abundance and community composition of the soil fauna varied with gap size. In canopy cover sites, the number of individuals was 2.0 and 5.2 times greater than in the small gaps and large gaps. Three taxa （Nematoda, Oribatida and lnsecta） of soil inver- tebrates occurred commonly, and Nematoda dominated the communities in all three habitat types. The Shannon-Wiener diversity index, Margalef diversity index, and Pielou evenness index were high in the small gaps, indicating that they harbored the most species, with the most even distribution, and the highest diversity. Our results indicated that gap size apparently affected abundance and community composition of the soil fauna.
基金supported by the National Basic Research Program of China(973 Program,2012CB416904)partially supported by the Priority Academic Program Development of Jiangsu Higher Education Institutions(PAPD)
文摘Soil fauna decompose litter, whereas land use changes may significantly alter the composition and structure of soil fauna assemblages. However, little is known of the effects of land-use on the contribution of soil fauna to litter decomposition. We studied the impacts of soil fauna on the decomposition of litter from poplar trees under three different land uses （i.e. poplar-crop integrated system, poplar plantation, and cropland）, from December 2013 to December 2014, in a coastal area of Northern Jiangsu Province. We collected litter samples in litterbags with three mesh sizes （5, 1 and 0. 01 mm, respectively） to quantify the contribution of various soil fauna to the decomposition of poplar leaf litter. Litter decomposition rates differed significantly by land use and were highest in the cropland, intermediate in the poplar-crop integrated system, and lowest in the poplar plantation. Soil fauna in the poplar-crop integrated system was characterized by the highest numbers of taxa and individuals, and highest Margalef＇s diversity, which suggested that agro-forestry ecosystems may support a greater quantity, distribution, and biodiversity of soil fauna than can single-species agriculture or plantation forestry. The individuals and groups of soil fauna in the macro-mesh litterbags were higher than in the meso-mesh litterbags underthe same land use types. The average contribution rate of meso- and micro-fauna to litter decomposition was 18.46%, which was higher than the contribution rate of macro-fauna （3.31%）. The percentage of remaining litter mass was inversely related to the density of the soil fauna （P 〈 0.05） in poplar plantations; however, was unrelated in the poplar-crop integrated system and cropland. This may have been the result of anthropogenic interference in poplar-crop integrated systems and croplands. Our study suggested that when land-use change alters vegetation types, it can affect species composition and the structure of soil fauna assemblages, which, in turn, affects litter decomposition.
基金supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China(Grant Number 31370628)the National Science and Technology Support Project of China(Grant Number2011BAC09B05)the Sichuan Provincial Science and Technology Support Project(Grant Number 12ZC0017)
文摘Forest gaps are important in forest dynamics and management, but little is known about how soil fauna influence the degradation of recalcitrant litter components in different-sized forest gaps. This investigation uses litterbags with two different mesh sizes (0.04 and 3 mm) to control the meso- and microfauna entering the bags to quantify the contribution of soil fauna to the degradation of recalcitrant components (including condensed tannins, total phenol, lignin and cellulose) during litter decomposition. The experiment was conducted in seven different forest gap sizes in Pinus massoniana plantations over 1 year. One closed-canopy site (CC) and forest gap sizes of 100, 225, 400, 625, 900, 1225 and 1600 m^2 were created in a P. massoniana plantation in the Sichuan basin of China;the CC was treated as the control. Cinnamomum camphora foliage from local native trees was used in all forest gap experiments. We found the following:(1) Gap size had significant effects on the degradation rates (E) of condensed tannins and lignin and on the contributions of soil fauna;medium-sized gaps also presented high degradation rates. Soil fauna obviously contributed to the degradation of recalcitrant foliar litter components in medium-sized gaps.(2) The highest contribution to degradation (40.98%) was recorded for lignin, and the lowest contribution (0.29%) was recorded for condensed tannins. The results indicate that medium-sized gaps (900 m^2) were conducive to the degradation of recalcitrant litter components by soil fauna.
基金supported by the Agricultural Science and Technology Independent Innovation Funds of Jiangsu Province(CX(16)1005)the National Key Research and Development Program of China(2017YFD0600700)
文摘The response of soil fauna to the litter decomposition process has received considerable attention,but this effect has not been fully examined in agroforestry systems.A 1-year in situ decomposition experiment was carried out in a pure ginkgo plantation and two ginkgo agroforestry systems using a litterbag method(11 different treatments were tested in three systems).We found that the application of different organic materials(crop residues)produced positive effects on the number of soil fauna in the ginkgo planting systems;the mixture of ginkgo leaves and corn leaves was the best performing treatment.Collembola and Acarina were the predominant groups in the litter bags and were mainly responsible for the differences among the treatments.Litter mixing promoted the abundance,richness,and diversity of soil fauna,and significant differences regarding the Shannon–Wiener index of the soil fauna were observed among the 11 treatments in July.Significantly higher soil MBC(microbial biomass carbon)and MBN(microbial biomass nitrogen)were observed in agroforestry systems than in pure ginkgo plantations.These results suggest that the practice of intercrop residue application plays an important role in enhancing soil ecosystem function in ginkgo agroforestry systems and may ultimately contribute to sustainable intercrop production,soil fertility,and local economic diversity.
基金supported financially by the project (EFOP-3.6.1–16-2016–00,018)
文摘The challenges of a changing climate have directed greater attention to afforestation,but the effects of afforestation on soil fertility and soil biota have not been fully clarified.To explore changes in the soil conditions in two 20-year-old forest plantations established in formerly intensively fertilized plots of agricultural land,we focused on the current developmental state of the sites that received the most fertilizer and evaluated soil properties and Collembola(springtails)communities.Sessile oak(Quercus petraea)and black locust(Robinia pseudoacacia)that had been planted in the afforestation sites were assessed for differences between plantations of native and invasive species.Five adjacent reference associations,including forests and open habitats,were also analyzed and compared.Results showed that the soils in the two afforested sites were similar in their properties and Collembola communities to those of the control cultivated forests,but differed from each other in pH,calcium,phosphorus,and ammonium content.The available potassium and phosphorus contents in the soil of the sessile oak plantation were still high,while the soil organic matter content was adequate(SOM>2.0%)in both plantations.Species richness of Collembola ranged from 18 in the cultivated arable land to 43 in the relict forest.Only a few species typical for forests(e.g.,Neanura muscorum,Isotomiella minor,Entomobrya muscorum)were detected in the young plantations,while species characteristic of open habitats(e.g.,Protaphorura campata,Lepidocyrtus cyaneus)occurred as well.Although more individuals and species of Collembola were present in the soil of young plantations than in arable fields,their community diversities were significantly lower compared to the control forest stands.Collembola community diversity differed significantly also between the two plantation types(with native and non-native tree species).Mean abundance in the afforested sites was about 2.5 times higher than in the cultivated arable land,yet far lower than the mean abundance in the control forests.
基金financially supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China(Nos.32271679,32071631,41907022,31901165)the Natural Science Foundation of Fujian Province(Nos.2020J01138,2020J01186)。
文摘The underlying mechanisms of the relationships between tree species and the soil micro-food web in forest ecosystems remain uncertain,primarily ascribed to an insufficient understanding on how tree functional traits drive soil nematode communities,including in subtropical forests.We investigated the impacts of seven subtropical tree species(evergreen:Pinus massoniana,Mytilaria laosensis,Ilex chinensis,Michelia macclurei;and deciduous:Liquidambar formosana,Quercus acutissima,and Betula luminifera)on the soil nematode communities.We found that the abundance of soil nematodes was not affected by mycorrhizal types,but it was around 83%higher under the deciduous trees than the evergreen trees,indicating the importance of leaf phenology to the abundance of soil nematodes.Nonetheless,both the evergreen and the arbuscular mycorrhizal trees increased soil nematode diversity,resulting from changes in root traits and soil properties.Furthermore,root traits(root C,root N,and root C:N ratio),and soil properties(total C,total N,moisture content,and bulk density)were the best predictors of the community composition of soil nematodes,indicating a key role of resource quality and soil microhabitat in regulating soil nematodes.In contrast,the ectomycorrhizal trees had lower plant parasite and Wasilewska indices,and evenness,whereas the evergreen trees slightly improved the evenness of soil nematodes.This study suggests that tree species affect the soil food web through changes in soil conditions and plant functional traits in subtropical forests.
文摘Vegetation types alter soil ecosystems by changing soil fauna community activities and soil physi-cal-chemical properties.However,it is unclear how tree species(natural forest,native and exotic tree plantations)promote changes in the soil ecosystem,and if these changes alter functional groups of soil fauna and ecosystem services.To determine the effects of five decades of old-field veg-etation on soil ecosystems in the Brazilian Atlantic Forest,field sampling of three ecosystems(exotic tree species Pinus elliottii Engelm.plantation,endangered tree species Arau-caria angustifolia(Bertol.)Kuntze plantation,and a natural ecosystem)were carried out,as well using bait-lamina tests and bioassays with collembolans,earthworms and seeds of Lactuca sativa L.Field sampling evaluated the soil fauna community and soil physical-chemical properties.The bait-lamina test in situ was carried out for 14-days to deter-mine fauna feeding activity,and the bioassays evaluated the reproduction of Folsomia candida,the avoidance of Eisenia andrei,and germination of L.sativa in the soil from each ecosystem.The results are:(1)vegetation type altered the soil fauna community composition;(2)soil fauna feeding was reduced in the plantations compared to the natural eco-system;(3)a physical barrier was created by recalcitrant litter that compromised fauna community structure and seed bank germination in situ;and,(4)changes in soil physical-chemical properties promoted decomposers.
基金supported by the Coordination for the Improvement of Higher Education Personnel(CAPES)the research funding of the University of Brasília。
文摘The little layer of tree plantations provides primary nutrients for uptake,buff ers changes in soil moisture,and provides habitat and substrate to soil epigeic fauna.However,this layer in eucalypt plantations is often removed to reduce fuel load during the fi re season in the Brazilian savanna(Cerrado).Therefore,it is necessary to quantify the eff ects of changes in litter dynamics on the function of these plantations,on key nutrient cycling processes and on epigeic fauna diversity and abundance.In two adjacent stands(one juvenile and one mature),the consequences of two years of litter removal were quantifi ed as monthly litterfall,leaf and fi ne wood litter decomposition,epigeic fauna abundance and diversity,soil biogeochemical variables,and tree diameter and basal area increments.Monthly litterfall rates in juvenile and mature stands did not change with litter removal over the study period.Annual litterfall ranged from 4.1 to 4.9 Mg ha^(−1)a^(−1)in litter removal plots and from 3.9 to 4.8 Mg ha^(−1)a^(−1)in control plots.Fine wood litter decomposition was slower in litter removal plots compared to controls,while leaf decomposition rates were similar in both.Two years of litter removal in the juvenile stand did not aff ect topsoil biogeochemical parameters but decreased available phosphorus at 20–40 cm depth relative to controls.In the mature stand,total cation exchange capacity(0–20 cm)was higher in controls(6.4 cmol c dm^(−3))relative to litter removal plots(6.3 cmol c dm^(−3)),while soil moisture(0–40 cm depth)was lower in litter removal(25.45 m 3 m^(−3))compared to control plots(26 m^(3)m^(−3))in the dry season.A non-metric multidimensional scaling ordination revealed an increased homogeneity in epigeic fauna where litter was removed.Litterfall,decomposition,diameter increment,four soil physical parameters and fourteen chemical parameters at 0–20 and 20–40 cm depth explained the diff erences in soil epigeic fauna composition between litter removal and control plots.Diameter increment decreased with litter removal only in the juvenile stand,which had reached its growth peak.The results indicate that removing excess litter to decrease fuel volume can alter soil biodiversity and edaphic conditions that negatively aff ect nutrient cycling and tree growth.
