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Abundance patterns of soil micro‐arthropods at a Pinus pumila scrub in an alpine range of central Japan
Author(s) -
Hijii Naoki
Publication year - 1994
Publication title -
ecological research
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.628
H-Index - 68
eISSN - 1440-1703
pISSN - 0912-3814
DOI - 10.1007/bf02347493
Subject(s) - evergreen , litter , plant litter , abundance (ecology) , acari , range (aeronautics) , alpine climate , environmental science , organic matter , temperate climate , ecology , biology , botany , agronomy , ecosystem , materials science , composite material
Seasonal changes in abundances of major soil micro‐arthropods were assessed at a Pinus pumila scrub in an alpine range of central Japan during a period with no snow coverage. The total abundance showed a peak in late August, reaching no less than 140 000 m −2 , which was comparable to that in an evergreen coniferous plantation in the cool‐temperate zone. Collembola was the most dominant group of soil micro‐arthropods, comprising about 50% of the total, followed by oribatid mites (Acari [O]) occupying 20%. Annual mean air temperature was no more than 2.1 °C and the daily fluctuation in temperature was less in soil layers. The thickness of the A 0 layer reached 9–10 cm and soil organic matter accumulation was estimated to be 45–58 ton dry weight ha −1 . The large amount of litterfall and organic matter accumulation in the soil, comparable to those of sub‐alpine evergreen coniferous forests, and a lower decomposition rate due to severe environmental conditions, suggest the relative importance of litter processing by soil micro‐arthropods such as Collembola and Acari, especially in alpine regions.