24 Soil Arthropods
Pilar Andres, Eduardo Mateos and Carlos Ascaso
24.1 Introduction
The Mediterranean soil fauna is mainly composed of mites (Acari) and
springtails (Collembola) (Lossaint and Rapp 1978), with mites being usually
more abundant than springtails (Poinsot-Balaguer 1988). The greatest arthropod diversity is often found in the litter layer, where the arthropods
closely depend on climatic factors, with Collembola being strongly influenced by water deficits (Poinsot 1971). Most of the hypogeal groups inhabiting the Mediterranean soil face the seasonal climatic pattern by adjusting the
timing of their life cycle or by migrating through the soil layers (Sgardelis
et al. 1993). Life in the depths of the soil habitat has to be considered as a
mechanism of avoidance related to the fluctuations of the Mediterranean
climate, particularly to the summer drought (Di Castri 1973).
Information about the soil fauna of holm oak (Quercus ilex 1.) forests is
scant, and differences in sampling systems or in taxonomic levels of approach impede a consistent interpretation of the available data. Results offered in this chapter come from our studies (Ascaso 1986; Andres 1990;
Espuny 1992; Mateos 199~) conducted in the experimental areas of Montseny
and Prades (NE Spain; Chap. 2). We deal successively with (1) the characteristics of the hypogeal arthropod mesofauna of recently undisturbed holm
oak forests, (2) the effects of an experimental fire on this fauna, and (3) the
epigeal soil arthropods.
24.2 Hypogeal Arthropods
24.2.1 Density, Abundance and Trophic Characteristics
Soil mesofauna (body width < 2 mm) was collected by Berlese-Tullgren funnels. The mean density of the hypogeal arthropods in the upper 15 cm of the
soil in Prades and in Montseny (Table 24.1) is within the normal range in
Ecological Studies, Vol. 137
Ferran Roda et al. (eds) Ecology of Mediterranean
Evergreen Oak Forests
© Springer-Verlag, Berlin Heidelberg 1999
Pilar Andres, Eduardo Mateos and Carlos Ascaso
24.1 Introduction
The Mediterranean soil fauna is mainly composed of mites (Acari) and
springtails (Collembola) (Lossaint and Rapp 1978), with mites being usually
more abundant than springtails (Poinsot-Balaguer 1988). The greatest arthropod diversity is often found in the litter layer, where the arthropods
closely depend on climatic factors, with Collembola being strongly influenced by water deficits (Poinsot 1971). Most of the hypogeal groups inhabiting the Mediterranean soil face the seasonal climatic pattern by adjusting the
timing of their life cycle or by migrating through the soil layers (Sgardelis
et al. 1993). Life in the depths of the soil habitat has to be considered as a
mechanism of avoidance related to the fluctuations of the Mediterranean
climate, particularly to the summer drought (Di Castri 1973).
Information about the soil fauna of holm oak (Quercus ilex 1.) forests is
scant, and differences in sampling systems or in taxonomic levels of approach impede a consistent interpretation of the available data. Results offered in this chapter come from our studies (Ascaso 1986; Andres 1990;
Espuny 1992; Mateos 199~) conducted in the experimental areas of Montseny
and Prades (NE Spain; Chap. 2). We deal successively with (1) the characteristics of the hypogeal arthropod mesofauna of recently undisturbed holm
oak forests, (2) the effects of an experimental fire on this fauna, and (3) the
epigeal soil arthropods.
24.2 Hypogeal Arthropods
24.2.1 Density, Abundance and Trophic Characteristics
Soil mesofauna (body width < 2 mm) was collected by Berlese-Tullgren funnels. The mean density of the hypogeal arthropods in the upper 15 cm of the
soil in Prades and in Montseny (Table 24.1) is within the normal range in
Ecological Studies, Vol. 137
Ferran Roda et al. (eds) Ecology of Mediterranean
Evergreen Oak Forests
© Springer-Verlag, Berlin Heidelberg 1999