Efficiency of extracting microarthropods from the canopy litter in a Japanese cedar (Cryptomeria japonica D. Don) plantation: a comparison between the washing and Tullgren methods

Abstract

We compared the efficiency of washing versus the Tullgren method for extracting microarthropods from dead leaves and branches in the canopy of Cryptomeria japonica trees. Oribatida and Collembola were consistently the numerically dominant taxa of microarthropods, but the relative abundance differed between the two extraction methods. Oribatida accounted for more than 70% of all the microarthropods collected by the washing method but less than 30% by the Tullgren method. Collembola accounted for less than 10% collected by the washing method but about 60% by the Tullgren method. The density of Oribatida was higher when collected by the washing method than by the Tullgren method, and vice versa for the density of Collembola. Our results suggest that the washing method is appropriate for collecting Oribatida and other microarthropods, whereas the Tullgren method is better for collecting Collembola from the canopy litter of C. japonica trees.