Soil Mesofauna Research Articles

Agroecological urban agriculture areas are remnants of biodiversity and provide ecosystem services for urbanized areas, as well as being important alternatives for food security and income generation. The aim of this work was to assess the capacity of these areas to shelter soil fauna, contributing to their conservation in the urban environment. It also aimed to assess which soil attributes and landscape features most interfere with the occurrence and abundance of these soil invertebrates. Fifteen areas were selected in the neighborhoods of Campo Grande and Vargem Grande, in the West Zone of the municipality of Rio de Janeiro, making up a gradient of different plantations and forest areas. In each area, a transect was established with three sampling points 5 m apart, where the soil mesofauna was sampled with a specific auger, collecting litter and soil up to 10cm. Earthworms were sampled using the TSBF method at a depth of 0-10cm. Soil samples were collected at each fauna sampling point, at the same depth, for routine analysis of soil fertility and texture. The data was analyzed using multivariate techniques, first using principal component analysis (PCA) to select soil attributes representing the local scale of influence and percentages of landscape features. The percentages of landscape features were measured using two buffers around the sampling area, 500m and 250m. A multidimensional scaling (NMDS) analysis was carried out to select the fauna groups with the greatest representativeness and degree of response to environmental factors. Environmental factors at the local scale and at the 500m and 250m scales were determined using generalized linear model (GLM) analysis, through which it was possible to select models composed of variables that determine the occurrence and density of the different groups of fauna selected. The most abundant groups were Acari, Collembola Entomobryomorpha, and Formicidae. In the crop areas, Acari was dominant, while in the forest area used as a reference Entomobryomorpha was more abundant. On a local scale, pH was the most common factor in the models, often with a negative sign, showing an inverse relationship between the pH value and the density of the fauna group. This result suggests that pH is a good indicator for correlations with soil mesofauna and earthworms. The 250m models were able to select groups with a greater affinity for crops and highly anthropized areas. In conclusion, it was observed that these areas are capable of maintaining an abundant and diverse community of soil fauna.

Looking underground: How urban lawn mowing frequency affects soil mesofauna feeding activity

Changes in soil mesofauna communities with increasing proportions of Douglas-fir and silver fir in European beech forests

The role of local environmental heterogeneity in shaping soil mesofauna communities of Argentine high Andean wetlands

Background: The diversity and dominance of soil mesofauna are influenced by environmental factors such as soil temperature, pH, humidity, and texture. This study aims to analyze the soil mesofauna community, including species count, diversity, and dominance, and evaluate the environmental quality of rice fields in Pliken Village, Kembaran District, Banyumas Regency. Methods: The research was conducted using a survey method from January to June 2023. Soil samples were collected from three different locations (west, north, and south) with a one-month interval. Sampling was carried out twice a day, in the morning (06:00-08:00) and evening (18:00-20:00). Findings: A total of 820 individuals from 13 species, 11 families, and 9 orders of soil mesofauna were recorded. *Solenopsis invicta* (red ant) had the highest count (332 individuals), while *Cimex sp.* and *Pulex sp.* had the lowest (2 individuals each). The Shannon-Wiener diversity index ranged from 1.19 to 1.86, averaging 1.52, indicating moderate diversity. The Simpson dominance index ranged from 0.150 to 0.531, averaging 0.300, suggesting no species dominance. Environmental factors such as air temperature (22-28°C), soil temperature (23-28°C), and soil pH (6.1) were within optimal ranges for mesofauna life. However, humidity levels varied between 20-65%, with lower values in the dry season, potentially affecting mesofauna survival. Conclusion: The rice fields of Pliken Village support a moderately diverse soil mesofauna community with no dominant species. The environmental conditions are generally favorable, except for humidity fluctuations, which may impact mesofauna populations. Sustainable land management practices, such as reducing excessive pesticide use, are recommended to maintain soil fertility and biodiversity. Novelty/Originality of this article: This study provides a comprehensive assessment of soil mesofauna diversity and environmental quality in rice fields, offering valuable insights into the impact of agricultural practices on soil ecosystems. The findings highlight the need for sustainable land management to preserve soil biodiversity and fertility.

Abstract The ecotoxicological effects of microplastics in soil ecosystems are complex, particularly in areas of intensive agriculture and livestock production, where plant protection products and veterinary drugs commonly coexist with plastic residues. In this study, we investigated the impact, under laboratory conditions, of 3 MP types (non-biodegradable low-density polyethylene (LDPE) and biodegradable polybutylene adipate terephthalate-based (PBAT-based) and a starch-based polymer) on the soil-dwelling species Folsomia candida (Willem, 1902) in soils contaminated with the anthelmintic albendazole and the fungicide pyraclostrobin. These organic pollutants (OPs) are frequently found in areas of intensive agriculture and livestock production. F. candida individuals were exposed for 28 days to soils contaminated by the OPs at 0.0001 w/w% (1 mg/kg), with and without MPs at 0.01 and 0.1 w/w% concentrations (100 and 1000 mg/kg respectively), under laboratory conditions (21 ± 1 C°, 80% ± 1 RH). Adults’ survival, egg production, and juveniles’ occurrence were recorded as endpoints. Our findings indicate that microplastics alone did not significantly affect the survival and reproductive outcomes of F. candida. However, in soils contaminated with albendazole and pyraclostrobin, the presence of biodegradable MPs resulted in significant effects compared to the control and the treatment with only microplastics. Specifically, PBAT-based MPs significantly impacted adult survival, juvenile occurrence, and egg counts, while starch-based MPs primarily affected egg counts. On the contrary, co-exposure to OPs and LDPE MPs did not show significant effects. These results suggest that different MPs influence the bioavailability and toxicity of co-occurring fungicides and veterinary drug in soil ecosystems in different ways, with implications for assessing the ecological risks of biodegradable and non-biodegradable plastics in contaminated soils. The potential of MPs to influence the spatial distribution and bioavailability of organic pollutants for soil mesofauna needs further investigation.

Abstract Cryptic species lacking distinct morphological features are widespread among soil fauna, including such functionally significant groups as springtails, mites and enchytraeids. Their presence, diversity and biomass may impact ecosystem services provided by belowground ecosystems. However, traditionally, the potential effects of cryptic diversity in explaining the functional significance of different mesofauna species have been overlooked due to the widespread practice of morphology‐based species identification. This review synthesizes the current state of knowledge on soil fauna cryptic species identification, emphasizing specific molecular techniques as the most reliable and precise method currently available for detecting and unravelling cryptic diversity. We analysed 326 scientific contributions available via Scopus or Web of Science, compiling information on genetic markers used to study cryptic diversity, including targeted gene regions, PCR primers and methods for estimating genetic distances. For comprehensive genetic analysis, combinations of mitochondrial Cytochrome c Oxidase subunit I (COI) and 16S ribosomal RNA (16S rRNA) genes, together with nuclear markers such as 28S ribosomal RNA (28S rRNA) or Histone H3 (H3), are most commonly used. Our analysis revealed taxon‐specific thresholds: while COI divergences greater than 3% typically indicate cryptic species in collembolans, higher thresholds appear justified for mites (up to 17%) and enchytraeids (up to 5%) when supported by conserved nuclear markers (28S/H3), ecological or geographic coherence and the absence of intermediate forms. Advances in molecular research have also facilitated the analysis of cryptic diversity within morphospecies an—approach widely applied in soil ecology, especially when species‐level identification is hindered by limited taxonomic literature or expertise. However, our findings also demonstrated that it is a long way before methodological development in molecular approaches would ensure reliable cryptic species identifications in soil mesofauna. Even more should be done in linking the revealed cryptic diversity with its functional implications and possible differences in responding to environmental change. Besides these current limitations, we are positive that deeper integration of cryptic diversity knowledge into soil ecological research will significantly increase the reliability and precision of soil functions and services assessment.

Wariness is increasing about resident times of microplastics (MPs) in soils; however, limited knowledge is available on ultraviolet (UV) light exposure of MPs to soil fauna. This study investigated the effects of virgin and photoaged polyethylene microplastics (PE MPs) on soil mesofauna (enchytraeids and collembolans) at environmentally relevant concentrations in a microcosm incubation experiment. Ten individuals of each Enchytraeus crypticus and Folsomia candida and twenty Proisotoma minuta were exposed separately to virgin and photoaged PE MPs (40–48 μm) admixed in agricultural soil (0.2–2000 mg/kg) to evaluate reproduction and survival. After 28 d of exposure to photoaged PE MPs, there was a moderate survival reduction but reproduction promotion of E. crypticus. Contrastingly, F. candida exhibited an opposite trend, with survival enhancement and reproduction depression rates when exposed to both PE MP contaminated soils. However, P. minuta was the only species with significant apical endpoint changes after PE MP exposure; at 20 mg/kg photoaged and 2000 mg/kg virgin PE MP exposure, there was a 34% and 31% decrease in survival, respectively, and at 200 mg/kg photoaged PE MP exposure, an increase of 39% for reproduction. PE MPs had contrasting impacts on soil mesofauna species, which highlights the need to account for these variable results when understanding the repercussions of MP pollution on community assemblage and population dynamics in soils.

ABSTRACT Alpine ecosystems are vulnerable to the warming climate, yet alpine soil mesofauna remains the less studied part of NZ biodiversity. Here we present a survey of soil mesofauna communities of three mountain peaks in the Nelson-Tasman and Marlborough regions of the South Island of New Zealand. We assessed changes in abundance, diversity and trophic composition along the elevational gradient from subalpine forests to alpine herb fields (800–1600 m a.s.l.) and analysed the influence of selected environmental factors on mesofauna. Taxon richness was expected to decrease and the proportion of predators to increase in alpine habitats, as has been observed elsewhere. Sub-alpine beech forests harboured a high diversity of soil mesofauna, many of which are Gondwanan relics. There was a decline in abundance and taxonomic richness of mesofauna with increasing elevation. However, no proportional increase in predators with increasing elevation was seen – alpine mesofauna assemblages had lower predator-to-herbivore ratios than upland forests. Several interesting taxa – harpacticoid copepods, moss bugs (Hemiptera: Peloridiidae), unique-headed bugs (Hemiptera: Enicocephalomorpha), micro-spiders, mite harvestmen, Neelidae springtails and acarifauna are discussed in more detail. Baseline data such as these advance the knowledge of native fauna and provide a baseline for ecological monitoring in the alpine zone.

Climate change can significantly affect the below and above-ground ecosystems. This study aimed to test the effects of induced climate change on the composition of soil mesofauna and vascular plant species in semi-natural grasslands. Open-top chambers (OTCs) were used to manipulate climatic conditions. The research was carried out over three years in two semi-natural grasslands in south-west Poland (Central Europe). Changes in soil mesofauna (Collembola and Acari) and vegetation characteristics under OTC treatment were evaluated and compared to untreated control sites. Treatment with OTC significantly increased the abundance of Oribatida mites (up to 42%) but decreased the abundance of Gamasida (by 21%), indicating contrasting responses of the Acari subgroups to warming. Collembola diversity was significantly reduced under OTC conditions, as reflected in the lower Margalef, Simpson, and Shannon–Wiener indices. Furthermore, the abundance of epigeic Collembola increased under OTC. Redundancy analysis (RDA) revealed that plant traits explained 37.91% of the variation in mesofauna structure. Structural Equation Modelling (SEM) further supported these findings, showing that climate exerted a strong negative effect on soil quality, which in turn had a pronounced positive influence on plant quality (total effect = 0.678). Plant quality significantly enhanced soil fauna abundance (total effect = 0.264), while the overall impact of climate on soil fauna was negative (– 0.231), primarily via indirect pathways. These findings suggest that climate change in grassland ecosystems can disrupt the ecological balance of soil fauna by modifying their responses to environmental variables. The SEM results emphasise the cascading nature of these effects, from climate to soil, vegetation, and ultimately soil fauna, highlighting the importance of indirect environmental pressures. Conserving plant diversity remains essential to buffer against climate-driven disruptions and maintain ecosystem stability.

The present field experiment focused on the effects of applying inorganic fertilizers and farm yard manure based on soil testing and crop response (STCR) on the introduced native soil mesofauna in the cabbage cropping system. The mean abundance of soil mesofauna was significantly high in STCR 30q ha-1 integrated with 59:74:109 Kg NPK/ha +25t FYM/ha +2 kg/plot mesofauna rich soil treatment (17.67 mesofauna /400 g soil) and was on par with rest of the treatments except LMH (167:100:163KgNPK/ha +25t FYM/ha) +no mesofauna rich soil (13.00 mesofauna/400 g soil), Control +2kg/plot mesofauna rich soil (11.89 mesofauna /400g soil) and STCR 30q ha-1 Integrated (59:74:109 Kg NPK/ha +25 t FYM/ha) + no mesofauna rich soil (11.33 mesofauna/ 400 g soil). The latter treatment recorded the least soil mesofauna. The introduced native soil mesofauna multiplied more in reduced fertilizer doses with the addition of FYM treatments compared to only fertilizer-applied treatment. Soil mesofauna was significantly more during 45 days after treatment and reduced significantly at the harvesting stage. Key words: STCR, fertilizer, farm yard manure, introduced native soil mesofauna, cabbage

This study evaluated the effects of various NPK fertilizer doses on soil mesofauna abundance in rainfed maize cropswith and without farmyard manure (FYM). The combination of 123.74:48.91:55.59 kg N:P:K/ha and 20.76 tonnes of FYM/ha resulted in the highest soil mesofauna abundance (26.88/400g soil). In contrast, the recommended fertilizer alone (251.17:113.31:114.35 kg N:P:K/ha) showed the lowest abundance (13.81/400g soil). In the cropping season, mesofauna abundance ranged from 5.95/400g soil before treatments to 31.85/400g soil at its peak. In the non-cropping season, it varied from 2.85/400g soil to 10.85/400g soil. The soil mesofauna demonstrated a significant relationship with abiotic factors. Maximum atmospheric temperature, sunshine duration, and soil moisture negatively correlated with soil mesofaunal abundance, while minimum relative humidity and soil temperature positively correlated. A positive link was also found between minimum temperature, maximum relative humidity, and total rainfall, but in-situ soil temperature negatively affected soil mesofauna. Overall, abiotic factors accounted for 70% of the variation in soil mesofaunal abundance. Multiple linear regression analysis indicated that soil moisture influenced soil mesofauna abundance by 51%, with each unit change in soil moisture resulting in a decrease of 3.637 units in abundance. Key words: Soil mesofauna, Fertilizers, Abiotic factors, Soil moisture, Maize

The present field experiment, with potential implications for agricultural practices, focused on the effect of different Bt cotton varieties on the soil and litter mesofauna in the farmer's fields around Chamarajnagar, Southern Karnataka, India. The mean abundance of soil mesofauna varied from 9.00(PCH888 Bt) to 116.67 (tank bed soil) mesofauna /400 g soil. However, the mean litter mesofauna ranged from 13.00(PCH 888) to 40.67 (Mahyco 7351Bt) mesofauna /400 g litter. The undisturbed tank bed soil possessed significantly higher soil mesofauna (116.67 mesofauna /400 g soil) and was on par with the long-term cropping system, viz., Areca nut soil (71.00 mesofauna /400 g soil). However, the latter ecosystem was on par with the litter of Mahyco-7351 Bt (40.67 mesofauna /400 g). The mesofauna abundance in the litter of Mahyco-7351Bt showed no difference with natural forest litter, maize soil, suraj non-Bt litter, sugarcane field soil, Suraj non-Bt soil, MRC-7351Bt litter, Mahyco-7351Bt soil, PCH-888Bt litter and natural forest soil. However, MRC-7351 Bt soil registered significantly least mesofauna (8.67 mesofauna /400g). However, it was on par with the rest of the treatments except Tank bed soil, areca nut garden soil and Mahyco-7351 Bt litter. Key words: Bt cotton, Non-Bt cotton, Litter and soil mesofauna, Traditional crops.

Soil cryptostimata are essential components of the soil biota, contributing to various functions and processes. The field experiment was conducted to know the impact of fertilizer application based on soil testing and crop response and introduced soil mesofauna of undisturbed ecosystem on the soil cryptostimatids during the Kharif season under the sunflower cropping system. Soil biota consortia were introduced to four treatments, viz. (Package of practice (POP) 62.50:90:62.50 kg NPK/ha+ 7.5 t of FYM /ha, FYM alone (15 t/ha), Soil test crop response integrated practices (STCR) - 24.22:56.64 kg NK/ha +2.5 t of FYM/ha and STCR inorganic alone (110.46:133.04) kg NK/ha) and remaining four treatments were without introduction of soil biota consortia. Cryptostigmatid abundance was significantly higher in the 15 tonnes of FYM ha-1 applied treatment and the treatment with STCR inorganic with introduced consortia of soil fauna harvested the minor cryptostigmatid abundance. Cryptostigmatid abundance exhibited a significant positive relationship with minimum relative humidity. However, multiple linear regression analysis results indicated that the impact of minimum relative humidity on the activity of cryptostigmatids was up to 24.9 per cent. Key words: Cryptostigmata, introduced native soil biota, STCR, Farm yard manure, Relative humidity

The present field experiment, a culmination of fifteen years of dedicated research at GKVK, UAS, Bengaluru, during the Kharif season, has yielded significant insights with practical implications. The experiment, which focused on the effects of applying different doses of farm yard manure (FYM) and fertilizers and introduced native soil mesofauna in the soybean cropping system, has provided valuable data. The soil application of 20.0 tonnes of FYM/ha recorded a significantly higher (3885.73 µg /g soil) soil MBC carbon (SMBC) than the other treatments evaluated. The subsequent best treatment was soil application of 17.5 tonnes of FYM/ha + 25 per cent of recommended fertilizer, which registered 3647,97 µg /g SMBC, significantly higher than the remaining treatments. The treatment with recommended fertilizers (25:60:25 NPK Kg per ha) + recommended FYM (10 tonnes per ha) + Phorate 10 G @ l kg a.i. per ha + herbicide (Lasso 50 EC @ 2.5 l per ha) + fungicide seed treatment (Thiram + Bavistin- each 2g/kg of seeds), a part of the University package practice for soybean, has led to a significant increase in soil MBC carbon (MBC). This finding is particularly significant compared to the treatment with 10 tonnes of partially decomposed FYM/ha and 5 tonnes of fully decomposed FYM/ha application alone. However, applying recommended fertilizers (25:60:25 NPK Kg per ha) alone possessed significantly less SMBC than the rest of the treatments. Keywords: FYM, Fertilizers, Soil MBC carbon, Introduced native soil mesofauna

Soil mesofauna critically support organic matter decomposition and nutrient cycling, as well as regulating pests and diseases. Agricultural activities can physically and chemically influence soil mesofauna communities, thereby impacting the ecosystem services they provide. Conserving natural features in agricultural environments is well known to support biodiversity and associated ecosystem services, yet soil mesofauna communities and their functions in such features require further study. We sampled the soil mesofaunal communities (focusing on Acari [mites] and Collembola [springtails]) in agriculturally-dominated landscapes in southeastern Ontario, Canada. Semi-natural features were represented by drainage ditch banks with varying amounts of woody vegetation to different kinds of forested blocks. Specimens were extracted using Berlese funnels, and COI metabarcoding was conducted on the bulk specimen samples. A total of 585 operational taxonomic units (OTUs; a proxy for species) were identifiable based on DNA sequences, 390 of which belonged to either Acari (273) or Collembola (117); however, it was rarely possible to identify specimens to species-level. Mesofaunal richness did not differ among habitat types but community composition varied between low woody-vegetation drainage bank sites and forested blocks. Maintaining heterogeneous natural and semi-natural features appears to increase the overall diversity of mesofauna on the landscape, and even small forest patches support forest-associated soil biodiversity in this agricultural region.

A field mesocosm method for manipulation of soil mesofauna communities and repeated measurement of their ecological functions over months to years

Soil mesofauna plays a key role in maintaining soil health by supporting the decomposition of organic matter, nutrient cycling and the maintenance of soil structure. In this study of Slovenian agricultural ecosystems, we used four modifications of the QBS index, a soil biological quality index based on soil mesofauna. We compared diversity in arable fields under different tillage intensities, a strawberry field and an orchard, managed with either organic or integrated pest management methods (IPM). The results show significant differences in the mesofaunal communities in the soil. Minimum tillage promoted higher biodiversity, especially of Collembola, compared to conventional tillage. In fruit production systems, the ratio of Collembola to Acarina differed from that of arable fields, skewing in favour of Collembola, possibly related to the use of copper-containing pesticides in organic orchards and systemic herbicides in IPM systems. The QBS index values for soil health varied considerably between systems. Only QBS modifications considering the abundances of organisms (QBS-ab and QBS-a) were able to distinguish between different system-management groups. This study provides insights into the limitations of the originally proposed QBS-ar index to discern the effects of farming intensity on the soil mesofaunal community. Results suggest that minimum tillage and organic management practices can promote healthier soil ecosystems, emphasizing the importance of sustainable soil management for the promotion of soil biodiversity. Future research should aim to incorporate a broader range of agricultural practices and assign fauna to a higher taxonomic rank to further explain the effects on soil mesofauna diversity.

Microbial mechanisms of mesofauna pattern changes affecting soil greenhouse gas emissions and ecosystem multifunctionality.

Mesofauna soil plays an important role for balancing soil ecosystem and its abundance is influenced by soil environment. This study aims to reveal and compare soil mesofauna communities based on H', E, R, IVI, litter decomposition rate and the relationship of physico-chemical factors to the number of species and abundance of individuals in protected forest areas and production forests of Pesanggrahan Beach. In each forest type, 50 samples were taken at depths of 10 cm from the soil surface using line transect method, then soil samples were extracted using Barlese set method. The study found 44 species in protected forests and 37 species in production forests. The diversity index of soil mesofauna in protected forests was 3.134 (high), while production forests it was 2.971 (medium). The evenness index in both types of high forest, namely protected forest at 0.830 and production forest at 0.823. The richness index was, in protected forest at 6.082 and production forest at 5.714. The average decomposition rate in protected forests was 0.043 g/day, while production forests it was 0.025 g/day. Multiple linear regression tests showed that physico-chemical factors affect the abundance of individuals and the total number of mesofauna species.