Soil Macroarthropods Research Articles

Diversity of Soil Macro Arthropods in the Arable Land of Cotton Zone, North Cameroon

Arthropods constitute the most diverse and dominant species of biodiversity in terrestrial ecosystems. Despite this great abundance, our understanding of their ecological organization and diversity remains unknown in certain habitats. The present study aimed to evaluate the diversity of soil macro-arthropods in the arable land of six localities in the arable land of cotton zone of Cameroon. For this purpose, collections of soil macro-arthropods were carried out using Barber traps and subpots for two consecutive years 2018-2019. During the entire duration of the study, nearly 33.423 soil macro-arthropods were collected belonging to 67 species divided into 11 orders and 27 families. After classification, the most abundant insect groups were Coleoptera (36.9%), Hymenoptera (33.5%), and Orthoptera (22.9%), while the groups of Neuroptera, Hemiptera and Isoptera practically a low level of relative abundance. The proportions of the different families of soil macro-arthropods sampled varies from one locality to another and three large families were in the majority: Formicidae (32.4%), Acrididae (19.5%) and Tenobrionidae (15.7%). Soil macro-arthropod samples collected in Kodek, Sanguere Njoï and Gashiga, respectively recorded the highest species richness as well as the Shanon-Weaver Diversity and Evenness index. In all the arable soils of the localities studied, the soil arthropods tend to have an Equidistribution of individuals and Equitability varies from 0.5 to 0.8. The soil macro-arthropods collected in the arable land of the cotton zone of North Cameroon were mainly phytophagous and saprophagous with a strong beneficial potential in these different ecosystems.

Functional group diversity of soil macroarthropods in tropical rainforest areas of Bukit Pinang-Pinang Padang, Indonesia: implications for ecosystem balance

Functional group diversity of soil macroarthropods in tropical rainforest areas of Bukit Pinang-Pinang Padang, Indonesia: implications for ecosystem balance

Diversity and distribution patterns of soil macroarthropod communities in the Nianchu River Basin, Tibet, China

IntroductionThe study of how soil fauna interact with soil ecosystems is an important research field. At present, there has been little research on the diversity and distribution patterns of soil macroarthropods and on the relationship between soil fauna and environmental factors in Tibet.MethodsThe data collection for soil macroarthropods and soil samples was conducted using the plum blossom five-point sampling method. Subsequently, the gathered data were meticulously organized and analyzed through a blend of ecological and statistical approaches.ResultsIn total, 2880 soil macroarthropods were captured from 19 plots in the Nianchu River Basin, and the soil macroarthropod Hill numbers was at its lowest in spring. Sea buckthorn forest habitats had the highest Hill numbers. We found that Carabidae, Lycosidae, and Formicidae were always dominant species during seasonal changes in the Nianchu River Basin. Among the four different habitat types studied, Carabidae always appeared across the four studied habitat types and was one of the most significant taxa. The niche range of soil macroarthropods was wetland habitat > farmland habitat > sea buckthorn forest habitat > grassland habitat, and their community within sea buckthorn forest habitats was stable. The niche breadth of soil macroarthropods was the largest in summer, and the community was stable. Soil temperature and soil water content were the most important factors affecting the alpha diversity of soil macroarthropods, while altitude and soil temperature were the most important factors affecting their beta diversity.DiscussionIn summary, the results provide a comprehensive overview of the seasonal and habitat dynamics of soil macroarthropods in the Nianchu River Basin; it is strongly believed that the research carried out in this paper can contribute valuable information toward further research on the soil fauna diversity and ecological functions in this area and provide a strong scientific basis for the protection and sustainable development of the Nianchu River Basin ecosystem.

Abundance and Diversity of Soil Macroarthropods in Qena Governorate, Upper Egypt

Abundance and Diversity of Soil Macroarthropods in Qena Governorate, Upper Egypt

Glyphosate reduces the biodiversity of soil macrofauna and benefits exotic over native species in a tropical agroecosystem

Herbicides are the most applied pesticides in the world. Despite numerous laboratory studies demonstrating the toxic effect of herbicides on non-target organisms, the effect of herbicides on soil organisms in the field remains complex to understand and is still controversial. In order to understand how changes in agricultural practices aiming to reduce herbicide use could impact soil biodiversity, we studied the effect of the frequency of herbicide application on soil biodiversity in a tropical agroecosystem.Our study was conducted on banana farms in Martinique, an island with a humid tropical climate belonging to the Caribbean biodiversity hotspot. Thirteen banana plots from five different farms were selected, ranging from plots receiving no herbicides to plots receiving 4–5 applications per year. Soil macro-arthropods were sampled using pitfall traps resulting in the collection of over 6,200 individuals. Of the 100 taxa that were differentiated, 75 could be identified to species level which allowed to assign each taxon to a trophic group and when possible to classify them according to whether they were introduced or native.Macro-arthropod mean species richness was 21% lower in plots with the highest frequency of herbicide application. However, no conclusive effect of herbicides on macro-arthropod abundance was demonstrated. Mean species richness for different trophic groups also decreased with herbicide applications with decreases of 22% for predators, 17% for omnivores, 55% for herbivores, and 55% for decomposers in plots with 4–5 herbicide applications per year compared to plots with no herbicide use. Species composition of macro-arthropod communities varied significantly with herbicide applications. More specifically, we found that native species represented a higher proportion of individuals captured in plots where no herbicides were used; suggesting that agroecological practices implemented at the field level to reduce the frequency of herbicide use potentially play a relevant role in soil biodiversity conservation.

Distribution of soil macroarthropods in differently using land parts of tropical rainforest Padang, Indonesia

Distribution of soil macroarthropods in differently using land parts of tropical rainforest Padang, Indonesia

Soil macroarthropod community and soil biological quality index in a green manure farming system of the Brazilian semi-arid

Soil macroarthropods are organisms considered as key factors to sustain soil quality and sustainability due to their services to soil ecosystem. The community structure and seasonal variation of soil macroarthropods in 5-year cultivation of green manure plant species in the Brazilian semi-arid, Areia, Paraiba, Brazil were investigated between June and December 2018. Soil samples and macroarthropod specimens were collected using soil cores and Provid-type traps, respectively, during rainy and dry seasons. We characterized both soil chemical properties and macroarthropod community under ten green manure plant species: Brachiaria decumbens Stapf. cv. Basilisk, Canavalia ensiformis (L.) DC, Crotalaria juncea L., Crotalaria ochroleuca G. Don, Crotalaria spectabilis Roth, Lablab purpureus (L.) Sweet, Mucuna pruriens (L.) DC., Neonotonia wightii (Wight & Arn.) J.A. Lackey, Pennisetum glaucum L., and Stilozobium aterrimum Piper & Tracy. The highest values of richness, diversity and dominance in the macroarthropod community during the rainy season were found on the plots where C. spectabilis and M. pruriens were cultivated, whereas during the dry season the highest values were found in the plots where C. ochroleuca, C. spectabilis, and S. aterrimum were cultivated. In the plots where B. decumbens and P. glaucum where cultivated, we found lower values of richness, diversity, and dominance in the macroarthropod community compared to the leguminous plant species during rainy and dry seasons. Our findings suggest that: 1) green manure practice and seasonality changed soil macroarthropod community, trophic structure, and ecological processes in semi-arid conditions; and 2) abundance of predators, ecosystem engineers, decomposers and herbivores was promoted by plant species from Fabaceae family. The results highlight the importance to consider plant species from Fabaceae family as habitat and food resources for soil fauna community.

Vegetation Heterogeneity Effects on Soil Macro-Arthropods in an Alpine Tundra of the Changbai Mountains, China.

The harsh environmental conditions in alpine tundra exert a significant influence on soil macro-arthropod communities, yet few studies have been performed regarding the effects of vegetation heterogeneity on these communities. In order to better understand this question, a total of 96 soil macro-arthropod samples were collected from four habitats in the Changbai Mountains in China, namely, the Vaccinium uliginosum habitat, Sanguisorba sitchensis habitat, Rhododendron aureum habitat, and Deyeuxia angustifolia habitat. The results revealed that the taxonomic composition of the soil macro-arthropods varied among the habitats, and that dissimilarities existed in these communities. The abundance, richness and diversity in the D. angustifolia habitat were all at their maximum during the sampling period. The vegetation heterogeneity affected the different taxa of the soil macro-arthropods at various levels. In addition, the vegetation heterogeneity had direct effects not only on soil macro-arthropod communities, but also indirectly impacted the abundance, richness and diversity by altering the soil fertility and soil texture. Overall, our results provide experimental evidence that vegetation heterogeneity can promote the abundance, richness and diversity of soil macro-arthropods, yet the responses of soil macro-arthropods to vegetation heterogeneity differed among their taxa.

Diversity of soil macroarthropods in shifting cultivation and forest ecosystem of Mizoram, Northeast India

Soil organisms are an integral part of agricultural ecosystems and are essential for the maintenance of healthy productive soils. Little is known about soil arthropods assemblages in shifting cultivation system. Therefore, we compared the diversity of soil macroarthropods in shifting cultivation (EXPTL) system and its adjacent natural forest (CTRL) ecosystem in Mizoram, northeast India and assessed the impact of shifting cultivation on the diversity. The study was conducted from 2013 to 2015, and the period was divided as pre-cultivation, cultivation and post-cultivation phases. Traditional shifting cultivation was practised in EXPTL site in the year 2014. Sampling was done by handpicking and digging from a quadrat (25×25×30 cm) located at least 10 m apart at monthly intervals. Specimens were preserved in 4% formalin and were identified up to the lowest possible taxa. A total of 97 taxa of arthropods belonging to five classes were recorded. 88 taxa and 48 taxa were recorded in CTRL and EXPTL respectively. Order-wise Shannon diversity index was significantly higher (p < .001) in CTRL as compared to EXPTL site. There were significant differences in both cultivation (p <.001) and post-cultivation (p <.001) phases between CTRL and EXPTL sites. There was a significant effect of shifting cultivation on the diversity of soil macroarthropods at the p <.05 level for the three cultivation phases in EXPTL site. Therefore, it was concluded that shifting cultivation system negatively affected soil macroarthropod diversity at least for a short duration. This study provided the first baseline data of soil macroarthropod diversity and its interaction with land-use system from Mizoram, northeast India.

Diversity of soil macro-arthropods correlates to the richness of plant species in traditional agroforestry systems in the humid tropics of Mexico

A change in land use from forest to livestock and agriculture is generally linked to a potentially devastating effect on communities of flora and fauna. Tabasco is a state with the highest deforestation rate in the humid tropics of Mexico; more than 66% of its territory is currently occupied by livestock farming. Here, we evaluated the diversity of soil macro-arthropods and plant species richness in eight different, traditional agroforestry systems (AFS): family garden (FG), shade trees in plantations (ShTP), scattered trees in pastures (ScTP), living fences (LF), alley farming (AF), taungya systems (TG), slash and burn agriculture (SBA) and grazing plantations (GP). First, we recorded the biophysical information of the AFS, age and management of the system, richness of the plant community, and other general characteristics. Then, we collected of macro-arthropods in 49 plots of land in five sub-regions of Tabasco. We established ten pitfall traps in each plot during the dry season (March–May 2009). To compare the diversity of soil macro-arthropods among the AFS, we computed the species accumulation curves and calculated the diversity indexes. We found that the total plant richness varied among the AFS and ordered as FG (108), ShTP (106), ScTP (32), LF (38), AF (30), TG (16), SBA (0) and GP (2). We collected 42,269 individuals of arthropods, belonging to 15 orders in the eight AFS. The most abundant orders were Hymenoptera and Coleoptera, while the least abundant was Dermaptera. The SBA, FG, ShTP, and ScTP systems presented the higher diversity of macro-arthropods as shown by Shannon-Wiener index (H’) values. We also found a significant positive correlation (rs = 0.84) between macro-arthropod order diversity (H’) and plant species richness in the most common AFS. The study showed that the AFS with greater plant species richness are important agricultural production strategies that increase the diversity and conservation of soil macro-arthropods.

Woodlice and their parasitoid flies: revision of Isopoda (Crustacea, Oniscidea) - Rhinophoridae (Insecta, Diptera) interaction and first record of a parasitized Neotropical woodlouse species.

Terrestrial isopods are soil macroarthropods that have few known parasites and parasitoids. All known parasitoids are from the family Rhinophoridae (Insecta: Diptera). The present article reviews the known biology of Rhinophoridae flies and presents the first record of Rhinophoridae larvae on a Neotropical woodlouse species. We also compile and update all published interaction records. The Neotropical woodlouse Balloniscusglaber was parasitized by two different larval morphotypes of Rhinophoridae. Including this new record, there are 18 Isopoda species known to be parasitized and 13 Rhinophoridae species with known hosts, resulting in 35 interactions. There are a total of 53 interaction records from Holarctic and Neotropical countries. Of the 18 known isopod hosts, only five species have more than one parasitoid, including the new Neotropical host record presented in this work.

A comparison of pitfall traps and hand-picking techniques for studying macroathropods abundance in vegetable plots and the influence of abiotic factors on their abundance in Jos, Nigeria

Soil macroarthropods are important components that sustain the health and quality of agro-ecosystems for improved agricultural productions though are influenced by abiotic components of the environment. Macroarthropod collections vary across traps due to the fact that some traps can stand for a long time while others such as handpicking cannot. However, traps may be used as a rapid assessment tool to generate checklists for macroarthropod species present in an area within a very short time. To this end, a study on the comparison of pitfall traps and hand-picking techniques for studying macroathropods abundance in vegetable plots and the influence of abiotic factors (temperature and pH) on their abundance in Jos, Nigeria was carried out from August to October, 2014. Pitfall traps and hand-picking techniques were used to collect macroarthropods from six different vegetable plots in three selected villages in Jos North Local Government Area of Plateau State, Nigeria. Soil temperature was recorded in the field while soil samples were obtained from a 7.5 cm depth for measurement of soil pH in the laboratory. A total of 3,346 macroarthropods were collected and pitfall traps had 2,780 (83.08%) while handpicking technique recorded 566 (16.92%). There was a significant difference (P = 0.0076) in the mean abundance of macroarthropods between sampling techniques. Macroarthropods abundance and species richness in relation to vegetable plots varied significantly (P < 0.0001). There was a positive association between pH and macroarthropod abundance (r = 0.13) while temperature did not influence the abundance (r = -0.08). Although, pitfall trap is a passive collector of macroarthropods, it is still a more efficient and preferred sampling techniques for ground crawling arthropods. Farmers should ensure that their soil pH is well maintained at alkaline level so as to influence macroathropods abundance in vegetable plots and ensure robust productivity.

Characteristics of ground-dwelling soil macro-arthropod communities in a biodiversity monitoring plot of black soil cropland, northeastern China

Agro-ecosystem is an important component of terrestrial ecosystems and it is one of the key areas of global ecological and environmental studies. A 16 hm2 permanent plot in black soil cropland was built to study the community structure of soil biodiversity in typical black soil region in Northeast China. Pitfall trap was used to investigate the ground-dwelling soil macro-arthropods from August to October 2015 in accordance with the three crop growth stages: whirling stage, silking stage, and milk stage. A total of 5284 ground-dwelling soil macro-arthropods belonging to 47 species were captured sorted into 3 classes, 12 orders, 32 families. 3 dominant groups and 11 common groups were found. Phytophages and Omnivores were dominant groups. The individuals and species numbers of ground-dwelling soil macro-arthropods had significant changes with the vegetative growth period. The maximum values of the Shannon index, Margalef index, Pielou index of soil macro-arthropods all appeared in September, but the maximum dominant index appeared in August. From the variation coefficient (CV) and spatial interpolation of different species, it could be seen that there was heterogeneity in the horizontal direction of the ground-dwelling soil macro-arthropod communities. Regarding the relationships between the ground-dwelling soil macro-arthropod communities and soil environmental factors including soil pH, soil organic matter, total nitrogen and soil water content, the bivariate correlation analysis showed there was no significant correlation between them. Results of canonical correspondence analysis (CCA) further indicated that the dominant and common groups were adaptable to environmental factors and widely distributed in the study area. The results showed that the species richness of ground-dwelling soil macro-arthropods was very high in cropland, and the dynamic of soil arthropod's composition and spatial distribution pattern in diffe-rent crop growth stages were significantly changed. It was indicated that biodiversity plot monitoring of black soil cropland had become important means to solve the formation and maintenance mechanism of soil fauna community through large-scale and long-term investigation.

Keanekaragaman Makroarthropoda Tanah di Lahan Persawahan Padi Organik dan Anorganik, Desa Bakalrejo Kecamatan Susukan Kabupaten Semarang

Inorganic paddies system has a negative impact as pests become resistant, environmental pollution and residual hazard. People who are aware of the impact of the application of synthetic chemicals have been applying organic farming. This research aimed to compare the abundance, diversity and dominance of soil macroarthropods in the organic and inorganic paddies field in Village Bakalrejo, Susukan District of Kabupaten Semarang. Sampling of soil macroarthropods method used pit fall traps . Fifteen pit fall traps were set up in the research area and they were divided into three line whith respective line are 5 pit fall traps. Soil macroarthropods which has been found were identified up to family taxon. The results of the research shows abundance of soil macroarthropods organic rice in paddy fields higher (297) than in inorganic paddy fields (236). Diversity of soil macroarthropods in every phase of rice growth (vegetative, reproductive, ripening and post-harvest) was higher in organic paddy fields (1,479; 1,644; 1,561; 1,019) than inorganic paddy fields (1.391; 0.595; 1.286; 1.002). Based on the relative abundance index, soil macroarthropods family dominated organic paddy fields in every phase of rice growth (vegetative, reproductive, ripening, and post-harvest) was lower (Gryllidae: 39.4%; Carabidae: 46.7%; Formicidae: 44.1 %; Formicidae: 48.8%) than in the inorganic paddy fields (Carabidae: 35.5%; Carabidae: 57.4%; Formicidae: 56.3%; Formicidae: 77.6%). Key words : biodiversity, soil macroarthropods, organic farming.

Artrópodos del suelo: Relaciones entre la composición faunística y la intensificación agropecuaria

(Palabras clave: macroartropodos edaficos, variables fisicas y quimicas del suelo, cultivos anuales, pastoreo intensivo) ABSTRACT. Soils arthropods: Relationships between faunal composition and agricultural intensification: This paper establishes and shows the relationships between the presence and density of different soil macroarthropods and some physical and chemical soil properties. Also, it shows and discus the differences between soil macroarthropods communities in sites under different uses (agriculture, livestock and naturalized grassland). The contents of organic matter and total nitrogen showed significant differences between treatments (uses). Results show that the intensity of land use affects the abundance of several groups and the community composition; the total density of organisms and their richness declined significantly in agricultural systems and both variables were higher in naturalized sites. The C/N ratio and the percentage of organic matter were the variables that best explained the distribution of macroarthropods in different uses. The canonical correlation analysis indicates that the composition and density of macroarthropods are determined by the availability of food (in a positive way) and by agricultural intensification (negatively). We postulate that a higher complexity of the herbaceous layer favors macroarthropods while a lower complexity and the soil compaction favor the surface-walkers groups. We propose a conceptual model that could be used to predict the behavior of macroarthropods assemblages under other soil conditions.

Artrópodos del suelo: Relaciones entre la composición faunística y la intensificación agropecuaria

Ecología Austral, 24:327-334 (2014)This paper establishes and shows the relationships between the presence and density of different soil macroarthropods and some physical and chemical soil properties. Also, it shows and discus the differences between soil macroarthropods communities in sites under different uses (agriculture, livestock and naturalized grassland). The contents of organic matter and total nitrogen showed significant differences between treatments (uses). Results show that the intensity of land use affects the abundance of several groups and the community composition; the total density of organisms and their richness declined significantly in agricultural systems and both variables were higher in naturalized sites. The C/N ratio and the percentage of organic matter were the variables that best explained the distribution of macroarthropods in different uses. The canonical correlation analysis indicates that the composition and density of macroarthropods are determined by the availability of food (in a positive way) and by agricultural intensification (negatively). We postulate that a higher complexity of the herbaceous layer favors macroarthropods while a lower complexity and the soil compaction favor the surface-walkers groups. We propose a conceptual model that could be used to predict the behavior of macroarthropods assemblages under other soil conditions.

Relationships between the diversity patterns of vascular plants, lichens and invertebrates in the Central Asian forest-steppe ecotone

The Central Asian forest-steppe ecotone has been exposed to large alterations in grazing pressure in the last two decades, but the consequences for biodiversity have not been studied so far. We analyzed the biodiversity of the edges and the interior of Siberian larch forests in the forest-steppes of eastern Kazakhstan (Saur, Kazakh Altai) and western Mongolia (Mongolian Altai, Khangai) across different groups of organisms (vascular plants, epiphytic lichens, soil macroarthropods, oribatid mites, moths). The species richness of these groups was related to each other only at the forest edge, but not in the interior. Species richness of vascular plants, soil macroarthropods and oribatid mites at the forest edges was positively correlated. This indicates that these ground-inhabiting groups of organisms responded similarly to the variation in the grazing pressure of livestock, which is kept at spatially varying densities by mostly nomadic or transhumant herders. The species richness of epiphytic lichens was only positively correlated with that of vascular plants, and the richness of the (volant) moths was not correlated with that of any other group. The complete lack of correlation between the diversity of groups of organisms in the forest interior suggests that the diversity of the five studied groups is controlled by specific environmental factors, including light and moisture. Except for the Mongolian Altai, which was subjected to the highest grazing pressure, vascular plants, lichens, soil macroarthropods, and moths had a higher diversity at the edges than in the interior; the opposite was true for the oribatid mites. The latter probably benefit from the higher soil moisture inside the forest, whereas the other four groups are favored by increased availability of light, the proximity to the steppe with a partial mixing of species pools, and the soil macroarthropods also by increased dung abundance.

Effects of desertification on temporal and spatial distribution of soil macro-arthropods in Horqin sandy grassland, Inner Mongolia

The richness and density of soil macro-arthropods in 0–30cm soil were investigated by a method of space-for-time substitution from spring to autumn of 2008–2009 in Horqin Sand Land, Inner Mongolia, to understand the effects of grassland desertification on the temporal and spatial distribution of the soil macro-arthropod community. The results showed that: 1) grassland desertification had a serious damage to the soil macro-arthropod community, more serious in the summer than in the spring and autumn, and resulting in obvious change on seasonal distribution pattern of the soil macro-arthropod community; 2) the effects of desertification on trophic groups differed among seasons, with greater effects on predators in spring, phytozoa in summer, and omnivores in autumn; 3) from large to small, the order of richness and density was 0–10cm soil>10–20cm soil>20–30cm soil and 10–20cm>0–10cm soil>20–30cm in non-desertified grassland, respectively, and both changed gradually to 0–10cm soil≥20–30cm soil>10–20cm soil with desertification development; 4) with desertification development, the richness and density of phytozoa, predators, and omnivores all decreased significantly in different soil layers, with the magnitude of the decrease being lower for predators in 0–10cm soil and omnivores in 10–20cm and 20–30cm soil and greatest for phytozoa in all three soil layers; 5) with desertification development, the dominant family in the community changed gradually and the dominance of the dominant family intensified significantly; and 6) changes in the soil macro-arthropod community were attributed to the degradation of vegetation and deterioration of the soil environment in the desertification process, including notable decreases in vegetation cover, litter, soil clay and silt, soil organic carbon, and soil N and P.

Soil Insect Diversity and Abundance Following Different Fertilizer Treatments on the Loess Plateau of China

The presence of abundant and diverse communities of macro-arthropods is considered an indicator of sustainability in agroecosystems. This study was designed to investigate the effects of different fertilizer treatments on abundance and diversity of insects of arable loess soil on the Loess Plateau of China. These regimes included a control with no fertilizer addition or manure, treatments with application of mineral fertilizers (N, NK, NP, PK, NPK), treatments with NPK in combination with organic materials such as wheat straw or maize stalk, treatments with two rates of organic manure application; and different crop rotations (Rot.1: winter wheat summer maize; Rot.2: winter wheat summer maize soybean intercropping; and Rot.3: winter wheat or rapeseed summer maize soybean intercropping). Soil macro-arthropods were collected from the plough layer (0-20 cm) and sorted by hand after each harvest in June and October 2001 and 2002. A total of 3 132 individuals were collected, from 7 orders and 55 families, dominated by Formicidae (61.72%) and Staphylinidae (14.24%). The results showed that individuals and groups were significantly influenced by sampling dates, while groups were significantly influenced by the fertilization treatments. Soil insect biodiversity, as determined by the Shannon index, was significantly influenced by fertilization and sampling dates. The abundance of soil insects was positively and significantly correlated with soil moisture content in October 2002. Nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium fertilizers and incorporation of organic materials were favorable factors for abundance and diversity in arable loess soil.

The “bug island” effect of shrubs and its formation mechanism in Horqin Sand Land, Inner Mongolia

Abstract In the moving sand dune of Horqin Sand Land (Inner Mongolia), the diversity of the soil macro-arthropod communities beneath the canopies of two shrub species (Caragana microphylla and Salix gordejevii) and in open areas was investigated in order to determine the effect of shrubs on these soil communities. The results showed that the shrubs facilitated the aggregation of soil macro-arthropods, resulting in significantly higher diversity and individual density of macro-arthropods in the soil beneath the shrub canopy compared to the open areas. This is known as the “bug island” effect. Although the dominant families in these three soil macro-arthropod communities were the same beneath the shrub canopy compared to open areas, many new macro-arthropod families also occurred in the shrub canopy communities, resulting in significant changes in the composition and structure of these soil communities. The “bug island” effect of the shrubs resulted from the “fertile island” effect generated by these shrubs, i.e., reduced wind velocity, retained dust and sand, increased soil litter biomass and soil moisture, improved soil texture and soil fertility. Between the two shrub species investigated C. microphylla had a greater “bug island” effect than S. gordejevii, as C. microphylla had a higher “fertile island” effect than S. gordejevii.