Comparison of Soil Macro Fauna Biodiversity in Broad Leaf and Needle Leaf Afforested Stands

Abstract

This study evaluated the macro fauna diversity in 20 years Cypress, Poplar, Maple and Alder plantation and also adjacent Natural forest likewise relation with some soil characteristics in shast kela forest that is located in golestan province, northern Iran. Soil sampling performed using core soil sampler 81 cm 2 areas in bottom from 0~10 and 10~20 cm soil depth in May 2012. 5 samples randomly selected in each plantation and totally 50 samples were taken then soil macro fauna segregated with hand and were collected in bags. Then number and fresh weight were measured with 0.01 g accuracy in laboratory. Shannon diversity, Simpson evenness and margalef richness indices were used for comparing diversity. Data showed that afforested stands significantly affected macrofauna biodiversity and soil characteristics. The average of soil macrofauna abundance and biomass were consistently higher in Alder stand than in the other tree plantations, while they were lowest in Cypress plantation. In general, soil macrofauna biodiversity (for both of abundance and biomass) were decreased in Alder, Maple, Natural forest, Poplar and Cypress, respectively. Most of biodiversity indices were significantly higher in 0~10 cm than in 10~20 cm depth for abundance and biomass of soil macrofauna. The Principal Component Analysis (PCA) results suggest that the macrofauna distribution is regulated by total nitrogen and bulk density. In general, it can be pointed out that soil habitants play a significant role in reviving and rebuilding destructed forests and accelerating and reinforcing growth in natural forests. This interacts with the genus type and, hence, species must be planted and reinforced in forest habitats which positively affect biomass and activity of soil habitants and improve habitat conditions and productivity.