Soil Animal Communities Research Articles

Soil animal communities at five succession stages in the litter of the evergreen broad-leaved forest in Tiantong, China

Soil animals are abundant in forest litter layer, but little attention has been paid to the vertical distribution of community structure of soil animals in the layers at different plant community succession stages. The forest litter layer can be divided into fresh litter layer (L), fermentation layer (F) and humus layer (H), which may represent different litter decomposition stages. The aim of the study is to ascertain the vertical distribution features of soil animal communities among the three litter layers and the change in the succession process of the Evergreen Broad-Leaved Forest (EBLF) in Tiantong, Zhejiang Province, China. Soil animal communities in the five plant communities at different succession stages were investigated during the 2003 winter. Soil animals, which were collected by using Tullgren funnels, amounted to a total of 13 381 individuals falling into 2 phyla, 8 classes and 20 orders. The dominant groups were Acarina and Collembola, accounting for 94.24% of the total individuals, with the number of Acarina individuals 7.66 times than that of Collembola. The common group was Diptera. The results indicated that there was a distinctive vertical distribution of the soil animal communities in the forest litter layer, but it differed from that in soil below the litter layer. In contrast to those in the soil, the soil animals in the litter layer generally tended to increase in both group abundance and density from the top fresh litter layer to the bottom humus layer. Altogether 19 groups and 59.03% of total individuals were found in the bottom layer, while only 8 groups and 5.35% of the total individuals in the top. Moreover, there were some variations in the distribution of the soil animals at different plant succession stages. 85.19% of Homoptera and 100% of Symphyla were found in the litter layer at the climax succession stage, while 75.61% of Thysanoptera at the intermediate succession stage. Therefore, these groups might be seen as indicative groups. The total numbers of soil animal groups and individuals in the litter layers greatly changed in the succession process of the EBLF. They both were greatest at the climax, moderate at the intermediate and smallest at the primary succession stage. However, the main soil animal groups in the litter at the different succession stages were essentially the same. They were Acarina, Collembola, Diptera and Lepidoptera. Although similarity analysis revealed that the soil animal communities in the litter at the intermediate succession stage were most similar to those at the climax succession stage, they differed greatly from each other in the Shannon-Wiener diversity index. The Shannon-Wiener index was highest at the climax succession stage and lowest at the intermediate succession stage. Finally, the paper discusses the following three questions: the role of soil animals as indicators for plant community succession; the role of different soil animal groups in the litter decomposition at different stages; and the major factors affecting the composition and distribution of soil animals in the litter. This paper provides a new perspective for the research on the succession mechanism of plant communities and the decomposition functions of soil animals.

Changes in diversity, protein content, and amino acid composition of earthworms from a paddy soil under different long-term fertilizations in the Tai Lake Region, China

Abstract Influence of the agricultural management practices on soil quality and the ecosystem functioning has been an increasing concern in soil science and ecology with sustainable agriculture. This study deals with the changes of soil earthworm communityfrom a paddy soil under different long-term fertilizations. The soil earthworms were collected and counted from different fertilizer treated plots in the field after the rape harvest in May 2004, and their taxonomic groups were determined under a binocular stereoscope at the laboratory. The body of the earthworm ( Metaphire californica) was crushed by a cell crusher to collect protein, and the protein molecules with different sizes were analyzed by electrophoresis. Furthermore, the Metaphire californica collected was hydrolyzed and the aliquots were subject to an amino acid auto-analyzer. The results showed that totally seven species of earthworms were recognized in the paddy field with the number varying with different fertilization treatments. The structure of earthworm communities was dramatically affected by the fertilization practice. Under chemical fertilization only, both the number of earthworm species and the quantity of individuals were significantly smaller than those under other treatments, or even than those under no fertilization. Furthermore, there was an obvious decrease in the total amino acid and the contents of most individual amino acids of Metaphire californica under chemical fertilization only, compared with those under the combined fertilization of chemical and organic fertilizers. Although chemical fertilizers in combination with rice straw return increased earthworm amino acid content, long-term pig manure application tended to increase earthworm protein content. As a molecular footprint, long-term chemical fertilization caused a reduction in the content of protein with MW less than 25 kd, but a significant increase in that of protein with molecule size around 33 kd. Our study demonstrated that different fertilizations affected not only earthworm population but also diversity and richness in the paddy soil after 16 years of treatment, and that long-term chemical fertilization may impact the soil animal community and, thus, influence the paddy ecosystem functioning for yield stability. This study implicated that not only the community structure but also the amino acid metabolism for life functioning of earthworms in cropland soils may pose significant responses to the agricultural management practices.

Characteristics of soil fauna community in the Dongjiao coconut plantation ecosystem in Hainan, China

From July 2002 to July 2004, we investigated the soil fauna in the Dongjiao coconut plantation of Hainan Island. A total of 5,378 specimens were obtained. These species represented 4 phyla, 12 classes and 27 genera. The soil animal clusters are as follows: All major animal groups presented in a tropical rain forest are present in Dongjiao coconut plantation's soil community. The Dongjiao coconut plantation demonstrated the typical characteristics of a tropical soil animal community. The number of species and the diversity index ( H) increase from the high latitude areas toward the equator; The dominance index ( C) decreased from the high latitude areas toward the equator; the ratio of Acarina/Collembola and the percentage occurrence of increase along the declination of latitude; the occurrence of termites, a typical member of tropical community, varies from absent to present and a dramatic increase along the declination of latitude. Compared to primary tropical rainforests, the Dongjian coconut plantation community is relatively low in species diversity, and has a high dominance index and low diversity index. This may partially due to some characters of the plantation: singular tree species, monsoon climate, seashore location, high pH and salinity of the soil, soil moisture and other environmental factors. A seasonal change occurs in the community structure but is not obvious. Soil around human residences has a higher organic material content, and has higher counts of specimens and numbers of species, compared to other three sampling sites. Coconut production at locations around human residences is higher than at any other microhabitats. The high production is positively correlated with the richness of animal community in the soil.

Oribatid mite community structure and tree species diversity: A link?

Differences in tree species may lead to contrasting soil environments via differences in litter chemical quality and physical environmental factors, such as soil type and soil moisture. However, separating the effects of litter quality and physical environment is difficult under field conditions. Both litter quality and soil environment affect the species composition of the soil animal community. A diversity gradient of canopy tree species (11–25 species) located on homogeneous soil substrate at Tomakomai Experimental Forest of Hokkaido University was used to analyse the relationship between tree species diversity and oribatid mite community structure. Soil samples were collected from three levels of tree species richness (high, intermediate and low) with three replicates each, in July 2000. Leaf area index (LAI) was positively correlated with tree species diversity suggesting higher litter input into the soils with increasing tree diversity. However, the tree species diversity gradient affected neither accumulation of litter on the forest floor nor abundance and species richness of oribatid mites. Canopy and understory plant species richness, LAI, total soil carbon and biomass of epigeic and endogeic earthworms did not significantly affect mite community structure as indicated by redundancy analysis (RDA). The results suggest that oribatid mite community structure is minimally affected by tree species diversity and associated changes in litter diversity.

Soil animal communities of planted birch stands in central Finland

The aim of this study was to compare soil animal communities in planted birch (Betula pendula) stands of different origin with each other and with natural forests. Six 30-year-old birch stands were investigated, three planted after clear-cutting of spruce stands, and three planted on cultivated soil. The faunal communities were markedly different in plantations established on spruce forest soil and on arable soil. “Birch after Spruce” communities were relatively similar to those of coniferous forests, though the population densities were generally lower. “Birch after Field” communities were sparse and could be characterised as “impoverished forest communities”, except in Lumbricidae and Enchytraeidae that have affinities with deciduous forests and cultural landscapes. Soil conditions are not sufficient to explain the differences between the forests. Colonisation and transport by man may determine the presence of certain species, especially earthworms. These in turn affect soil properties, and compete with or otherwise have negative effects on other soil fauna. Thus the community differences between different forests are an outcome of several factors: soil characteristics, site history, colonisation ability and interspecific interactions.

Microscale distribution patterns in high Arctic soil microarthropod communities: the influence of plant species within the vegetation mosaic

We tested the hypothesis that within a relatively homogeneous vegetation type the spatial configuration of different plant species may be a determining factor in the composition of the soil animal communities. Six vascular plant species (Luzula confusa, Dryas octopetala, Cassiope tetragona, Salix polaris, Silene acaulis and Saxifraga opposigifolia), growing within high Arctic Saxifraga‐lichen heath vegetation, showed different distributional patterns. Luzula confusa and S. polaris were ubiquitous throughout while D. octopetala and C. tetragona had the most scattered distributions. Soil microarthropod density varied significantly among plant species from 18 000 (S. polaris) to 42 000 m−2 (S. acaulis). Few significant numerical interrelationships were found between the population densities of the different Collembola or cryptostigmatic mite species or between microarthropod densities and variation in the physical properties of the soil associated with each plant species. However, despite the high similarity of species present, Discriminant Analysis idengified distinct microarthropod assemblages associated with each plant species. Over 70% of microarthropod samples taken from soil beneath S. polaris or L. confusa were correctly classified. Rank order of animal species abundance, however, varied among plant species. The collembolan Folsomia quadrioculata ranked first in five of the six plant species but the mite Camisia anomia was numerically dominant under S. polaris. The second most abundant species was much more variable. Despite these variations, the shape of the species rank abundance curve for microarthropods was remarkably similar for all plant species, with rank one and two species comprising ca 55 and 27% of the fauna respectively. These conclusions were reinforced by χ2 analysis which idengified significantly distinct faunal communities between each plant species. Those microarthropod species contributing most to these between‐plant differences, as measured by higher or lower than expected populations, were idengified and were shown to be not always the most abundant species. Thus, on a local scale plants of different species were shown to act as useful proxy indicators of soil conditions that affect the soil microarthropod community. This should be taken into account when designing sampling programmes for soil invertebrates.

Soil animal communities in holm oak forests: influence of horizon, altitude and year

Soil animals (macro and microarthropods, annelids, nematodes) were sampled along an altitudinal gradient and over 2 years in holm oak ( Quercus rotundifolia) forests of the Moroccan Atlas. We studied the influence of elevation and year on the vertical distribution of soil fauna. Whatever the elevation (1500, 1700 and 1900 m), the humus form was a Dysmull, with a thick litter horizon and a fine crumb A horizon. Thirty-six categories of fauna were found and classified at the group level. The influence of horizon, altitude and year was analysed by analyses of variance (ANOVA, on seven broad zoological groups and on total fauna) and correspondence analysis (on 36 zoological groups). There was a decrease in the population size of most zoological groups from organic (OL, OF) to mineral horizons (A, S), but OL and OF horizons varied as the most populated horizon according to years and animal groups. More animals and more animal groups were present at higher elevation, following an increase in food and habitat availability.

Collembolan communities as bioindicators of land use intensification

Springtail communities (Hexapoda: Collembola) were sampled in the Morvan Nature Regional Park (Burgundy, France) in six land use units (LUUs) 1 km 2 each, which had been selected in order to cover a range of increasing intensity of land use. Human influence increased from LUU 1 (old deciduous forest) to LUU 6 (agricultural land mainly devoted to cereal crops), passing by planted coniferous forests (LUU 2) and variegated landscapes made of cereal crops, pastures, hay meadows, conifer plantations and small relict deciduous groves in varying proportion (LUUs 3–5). Sixteen core samples were taken inside each LUU, at intersections of a regular grid. Species composition, species richness and total abundance of collembolan communities varied according to land use and landscape properties. Land use types affected these communities through changes in the degree of opening of woody landscape (woodland opposed to grassland) and changes in humus forms (measured by the Humus Index). A decrease in species richness and total abundance was observed from old deciduous forests to cereal crops. Although the regional species richness was not affected by the intensification gradient (40–50 species were recorded in every LUU), a marked decrease in local biodiversity was observed when the variety of land use types increased. In variegated landscapes the observed collapse in local species richness was not due to a different distribution of land use types, since it affected mainly woodland areas. Results indicated the detrimental influence of the rapid afforestation of previous agricultural land, which did not afford time for the development of better adapted soil animal communities.

New Approaches to the Assessment of Structural Organization of Communities in Springtails (Hexapoda: Collembola)

Trends in the diversity of structural organization of soil animal communities are analyzed using an example of the taxocenes of springtails, small soil arthropods. Different methods for describing the structure of communities are considered. On the basis of parameters characterizing specialization and stability of communities, several patterns of their organization in springtails are distinguished. It is shown that the new approach offers new opportunities in forecasting community dynamics under the effects of natural and anthropogenic factors.

Disturbance and resilience in soil animal communities

I discuss basic ecological concepts on disturbance and resilience, and give examples from forest soils. There are basically three types of disturbances: (i) pulse disturbances that are parts of ecosystem dynamics and to which most organisms are adapted, (ii) large infrequent disturbances, and (iii) press disturbances, which are usually anthropogenic and to which organisms are seldom pre-adapted. Resilience has two meanings, engineering resilience and ecological resilience. Ecological resilience recognizes that ecosystems have several stability domains and no fixed global equilibria. It is often the most relevant in ecology, and is defined as the magnitude of disturbance that can be absorbed by an ecosystem before its structure and the processes controlling its behaviour change, and it moves into another stability domain. Diversity and heterogeneity are necessary for long-term ecological resilience. I propose that reorganization of soil communities usually takes a long time and involves dynamic interactions between many species. Single snapshots are insufficient to examine resilience. Small-scale studies and experiments are not necessarily relevant for large-scale landscape changes. Key questions deal with the ability of species to recolonize disturbed areas by dispersal, the survival of species and structures in disturbed areas, and how these processes contribute to ecological resilience.

Diversity of soil macro-invertebrates in grasslands under restoration succession

In grasslands under restoration succession, the effect of nutrient impoverishment on the vegetation has been intensively studied. The invertebrate soil animal community has, however, rarely been studied under such conditions. We hypothesised that a plant community in nutrient-poor grasslands supports fewer macro-invertebrate individuals than richer grasslands. We also hypothesised that the composition of the macro-arthropod community is specific for a certain stage of vegetation succession, i.e. nutrient impoverishment. A detailed sampling programme was carried out in four grasslands under restoration succession. The time since last fertilisation differed for these four grasslands (7, 11, 24 and 29 years). The lowest total number of individuals in different taxonomic groups of macro-invertebrates was found in the most impoverished field in the majority of cases. Analysis of the data set for all specimens identified to order or family level with a canonical correspondence analysis resulted in a pattern not related to successional stage. The same holds when the species composition of the ground beetles was analysed separately. Short-term abiotic factors explained a significant part of the variation in both analyses. With the same multivariate analysis, however, the adult weevils, identified to species level, showed a clear relation with nutrient status of the grasslands.

Nutritional biology: the basic step in the autecological studies (multi-methodical approach)

Studies of soil animal communities should be based on the autecology of at least dominant species. For these model studies, some species of Oribatida and Acaridida were tested by several methods. Their nutritional biology, indeed, consists of several phenomena of varying nature: searching for food, testing of it, consumption, digestion, transport of nutrients through body, content of faecal pellets, interaction with external or internal microorganisms. Moreover, each named phenomenon exhibits its own intrinsic variability in expression resulting in the mutual relations, influences and synergisms of such ‘subphenomena’ to each other. For example, i) Food can be consumed by various patterns according to its mechanical and chemical characteristics, although the food type appears to be uniform. ii) Some types of gulped food can be digested thoroughly, but others only partially, although animals graze intensively on them. iii) The term ‘palatability’ consists of several parameters and, in many cases, ‘palatable’ food is not synonymous with high nutritional content or optimum food as a whole. iv) Animals are able to survive on food of lower quality or lower nutrient content (in extreme cases, on their own excrements). v) Many bacteria can be very scarce in the soil, but they dominate within the animal body. vi) Type of cuticle and motility of species can be correlated with the food selection or, directly specialization. vii) Through consumption and digestion, some soil animals are able to affect some abiotic parameters in soil (e.g. pH) with consequences for nutritional biology.

Templates of food–habitat resources for the organization of soil animals in temperate and tropical forests

The functioning and structure of terrestrial ecosystems are shaped and maintained by plant–decomposer interactions. The food and habitat of animal populations are biogenic and are mainly of plant origin (plant litter) in terrestrial ecosystems. Primary resources of the food‐habitat template for the organization of soil animals are provided by the primary production of plants, and are then modified through decomposition processes by microbial populations. In the microbial decomposition system, the efficiency of carbon utilization by microbial decomposers characterizes the decomposition processes between tropical and temperate forest ecosystems. Tropical forests show poor development of soil reservoir systems because of the high efficiency of lignin decomposition by microbial populations. The decomposition processes of leaf litter are described briefly for the understanding of organization of soil animal communities in tropical and temperate forests. A comparison of decomposition processes shows qualitative differences in decomposition between temperate and tropical forests. The composition of functional groups of soil animals is well explained by the decomposition processes in both forests.

Humus Forms in Mediterranean Scrublands with Aleppo Pine

Commonly reported effects of pine on topsoil include acidification, a decrease in biological activity, and an accumulation of surface organic matter. Such effects have not been documented for Mediterranean woodland and scrubland areas. This research evaluated humus profiles beneath pine and adjacent vegetation on the basis of previous knowledge on soil animal communities and vegetation. Two Mediterranean sites with aleppo pine (Pinus halepensis P. Mill.) and scrubland vegetation were compared, one in Spain (Navarre), the other in Italy (Sicily). Humus profiles were sampled under main vegetation types, comprising aleppo pine, rosemary (Rosmarinus officinalis L.), and bare ground in both sites, along transects with increasing pine influence. Quantitative morphological methods were used to analyze and compare humus profiles, and data were analyzed using correspondence analysis. In both sites the influence of aleppo pine on humus forms was well‐defined but minor, increasing the appearance of an Oe horizon characterized by intense activity of litter‐dwelling fauna and fungi. Under all vegetation types, and in both sites, the organo‐mineral A horizon was of the mull type, although the composition of the soil‐building fauna varied between Navarre and Sicily. There was more heterogeneity among vegetation types in Navarre, where aleppo pine was planted on derelict land, than in Sicily where aleppo pine was a component of natural vegetation (maquis). A decreasing influence of pine was perceptible in the inner edge of the pine plantation in Navarre, or under the crown of individual trees in Sicily.

Impacts of Airborne Pollutants on Soil Fauna

▪ Abstract The impacts of airborne pollutants have been studied in only a few groups of soil animals, notably protozoans, nematodes, potworms, earthworms, mites, and collembolans. Pollutants in the form of acid depositions, which contain SO42−, NOx, H+, heavy metals, and some organic compounds, are not homogeneously distributed on the landscape. Deposition patterns depend mainly on landscape configuration and plant cover. Airborne pollutants affect soil animals both directly and indirectly. Direct toxic effects are associated with uptake of free acidic water from the environment by some soil animals and with consumption of polluted food by others. Indirect effects are mediated primarily through disappearance or reduction of the food resources (microflora and microfauna) of soil animals, changes in organic matter content, and modification of microclimate. In the field, changes in competition among species are probably important factors that influence the soil animal community structure as well as the reactions of individual species to soil acidification or liming. The overall effect is a depauperation of soil with an attendant reduction in the rate of organic matter decomposition. We have provided five hypotheses, using soil fauna as indicators, to allow for quick evaluation of environmental changes caused by airborne pollutants.

Studies on the diversity of soil animals in Taishan Mountain

Taishan Mountain has diverse habitats and abundant groups of soil animals. Five habitats, Platycladus orientalis forest, Pinus densiflora forest, Robinia pseudoacacia forest, Pinus tablaerormis forest and Grassland, were selected and the diversity of soil animals in different habitats in Mt. Taishan were investigated and studied in 1997-1999. Totally 52 groups of soil animals were found, belonging separately to 7 Phyla, 11 Classes, 25 Orders and 28 suborders or families. There exists remarkable difference in groups, quantity and diversity of soil animals among the five habitats. Grassland habitat was the highest and Pinus densiflora forest was the lowest in groups, quantities, Density-group index (DG) and Diversity index of comparing many communities (D/C) of soil animals. Shannon-Wiener's diversity index (H') for soil animals of different habitats was in order of Platycladus orientalis forest＞Pinus densiflora forest＞Pinus tablaerormis forests＞Grassland＞Robinia pseudoacacia forest, Pielou's equality index (J') was Plalycladus orientalis forest＞Pinus densiflora forest＞Grassland＞Pinus tablaerormis forest＞Robinia pseudoacacia forest, and Simposn's dominant index (C) was Grassland＞Robinia pseudoacacia forests＞Pinus tablaerormis forest＞Pinus densiflora forest＞Platyciadus orientalis forest. The H' index and J index of macro-soil animal all were larger than that of mid-small soil animal. Clustering analysis for five soil animal communities and ordination analysis for community structure by multidimensional scaling (MDS) were made and completely identical results were obtained. Soil animal communities of five habitats were divided into 3 groups.

Influence of decomposer food web structure and nitrogen availability on plant growth

We studied the sensitivity of soil microbial communities and ecosystem processes to variation in the vertical and horizontal structure of decomposer food web under nitrogen poor and N-enriched conditions. Microcosms with humus and litter layer of boreal forest floor, birch seedlings infected with mycorrhizal fungi, and decomposer food webs with differing trophic group and species composition of soil fauna were constructed. During the second growing period for the birch, we irrigated half of the microcosms with urea solution, and the other half with de-ionised water to create two levels of N concentration in the substrate. During the experiment night time respirations of the microcosms were measured, and the water leached through the microcosms was analysed for concentration of mineral N, and nematode numbers. The microcosms were destructively sampled after 37 weeks for plant biomass and N uptake, structure of soil animal and microbial community (indicated by PLFA profiles), and physical and chemical properties of the humus and litter materials. Predatory mites and nematodes had a negative influence on the biomass of their microbivorous and microbi-detritivorous prey, and microbi-detritivores affected the biomass and community structure of microbes (indicated by PLFA-analysis). Moreover, predatory mites and nematodes increased microbial biomass and changed the microbial community structure. The decomposer food web structure affected also N uptake and growth of plants. Microbi-detritivorous fauna had a positive effect, whereas predators of microbial and detritus feeding fauna exerted a negative influence on plant N uptake and biomass production. The impact of a trophic group on the microbes and plant was also strongly dependent on species composition within the group. Nitrogen addition magnified the influence of food web structure on microbial biomass and plant N uptake. We suggest that addition of urea-N to the soil modified the animal-microbe interaction by increasing microbial growth and altering community structure of microbes. The presence of microbi-detritivores and predators reduced loss of carbon from the microcosms, and the food web structure influenced also water holding capacity of the materials. The changes in plant growth, nutrient cycling, size of N and C pools, and in the physical properties of the soil emphasize the importance and diversity of indirect consequences of decomposer food web structure.

A preliminary study on diversity of soil animal communities in the forest of Badagong Mountain Nature Reserve

A preliminary study on diversity of soil animal communities in the forest of Badagong Mountain Nature Reserve

Sensitivity of Primary Production to Changes in the Architecture of Belowground Food Webs

The proposed mechanisms for the species diversity-function relationship in plant communities stress the recognition of functional properties of species, and interactions between plants and soil processes. As resource availability to plants is influenced by the architecture of decomposer food webs, it has been hypothesised that the diversity of decomposers can also control ecosystem processes, including primary production. We manipulated the complexity of soil animal communities in a miniecosysten experiment in which a boreal forest floor with birch seedlings infected with mycorrhizal fungi was created. The soil animal diversity ranged from zero to typical species richness of soil fauna (approximately 50 taxa) in coniferous forests. Between these extremes was a nested factorial design with manually assembled communities consisting of two sets of one-species, and two sets of five-species animal communities within fungivorous and microbi-detritivorous trophic groups. To investigate the role of predators in system functioning, the miniecosystems with fungivorous and microbidetritivorous fauna were established either with or without mesostigmatid mites as top predators. The miniecosystems were incubated in a climate chamber with varying illumination and temperature regimes for 40 weeks. Our experiment provides evidence that primary productivity is generally insensitive to variation at the species level or even at the level of trophic groups. Although top predators generally reduced prey population size, no effect was found on systen functioning. However, the removal of microbe- or detritus-feeding fauna, especially the microbi-detritivore Cognettia sphagnetorum reduced plant N uptake and accumulation of plant biomass. The functional importance of soil fauna was inversely related to the trophic position of the group. Our results suggest that ecosystem functioning is robust against species extinctions in belowground food webs, and that primary production is predominantly controlled by organisms at low trophic positions in the decomposer food web.

Composition and ecological distribution of forest soil animal in Confucian graveyard of Qufu

Soil animal communities of Secondary forest,Platycladus forest andQuercus acutissima forest in Confucian graveyard of Qufu were investigated. 3583 specimens were collected, belonging separately to 5 Phylums, 11 Classes and 23 Orders. Two dominant groups and 9 common groups account for 94.45% of the total numbers. The soil animals in these three forest habitats differ in composition, ecological distribution and important indices. The dominant groups of soil animals in the three forests were the same, but other groups differ more greatly. Diversity index (H′) and evenness index (E) of soil animal in Secondary forest are the highest, and yet dominance index (C) inQuercus acutissima forest is the highest. Most soil animals in each forest habitats congregate to the surface soil layer. Their sorts and individual numbers are all layer I>II>III. It is very similar for composition of soil animals in the three forests.