The effects of anthropogenic disturbances and hydrological activity of a river on soil Collembola communities in an urbanized zone

Abstract

Soil Collembola communities inhabiting urban zones are highly modified by anthropogenic disturbances. This effect has not yet been studied along an urban river, where hydrological processes play an important role. The main objective of the present study was to test the hypothesis that the impact of anthropogenic disturbances on the variation in Collembola communities is distinctly different in the riparian area of a river and in nearby area not influenced by processes associated with river activity, i.e. exposed only to urbanization. The study was performed in Warsaw and surroundings (Poland) along the Vistula River. Sampling was conducted in three locations, varying with respect to the level of anthropogenic disturbances – in the city center (high level of anthropogenic disturbances), at the edge of city (moderate level of anthropogenic disturbances) and outside of the city (low level of anthropogenic disturbances), each in the area located in front of the levee (prevalent influence of hydrological processes) and behind the levee (lack of river influence), in spring and autumn. The level of anthropogenic disturbances was associated with a significant variation in the Collembola communities only in the area located behind the levee. Season was associated with significant community variation only in the area located in front of the levee, which can be induced by variable hydrological processes. It can be concluded that anthropogenic disturbances do not affect Collembola communities in the riparian area of an urban river, which reflects the high resistance of communities associated with inundated soils to disturbances in a city.