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Soil microarthropods from the Chihuahuan Desert of New Mexico
Author(s) -
Kamill Bernardette W.,
Steinberger Y.,
Whitford W. G.
Publication year - 1985
Publication title -
journal of zoology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.915
H-Index - 96
eISSN - 1469-7998
pISSN - 0952-8369
DOI - 10.1111/j.1469-7998.1985.tb03534.x
Subject(s) - biology , fauna , litter , ecology , soil biology , shrub , water content , desert (philosophy) , ecosystem , soil water , philosophy , geotechnical engineering , epistemology , engineering
An account is given of the soil‐ and litter‐dwelling microarthropods collected under three species of desert shrub in southern New Mexico. Particular attention is paid to the acarine component which represents 80% of the microarthropod fauna. Comparisons made with samples collected one hour after wetting show that only the Collembola respond rapidly to changes in the moisture content of the soil. The results of the study suggest that the depth and stability of the surface litter determine the degree to which microarthropod activity is affected by the application of water.