Journal article

Publication year: 2002

Pages: 301-304

Journal: European Journal of Soil Biology

Volume number: 38

Issue number: 3-4

ISSN: 1164-5563

DOI Link: https://doi.org/10.1016/S1164-5563(02)01163-9

Publisher: Elsevier

Abstract: 
The impact of changing environmental factors on Collembola communities was studied using a N-S transect formed by four European coniferous forests: Aheden (northern Sweden), Skogaby (southern Sweden), Waldstein (Germany) and Aubure (France). The similarity between Collembola communities gradually decreased with increasing distance suggesting a significant impact of geographical factors on species composition. While the data show a northward decrease of collembolan abundance, no consistent trend in species richness, diversity, and evenness was detected. However, the dominance of Collembola life forms (eu-, hemi-, epedaphic) markedly changed along the transect, with euedaphic species dominating at the southernmost site and epedaphic species dominating at the northernmost site. In addition, the share of detritivorous species increased and that of fungivorous species decreased from south to north. It is concluded that latitudinal changes in environmental conditions have a strong impact on both abundance and functional structure of collembolan communities, but act within a framework set of geographical and historical impacts on the species composition.

Harvard Citation style: Pflug, A. and Wolters, V. (2002) Collembola communities along a European transect, European Journal of Soil Biology, 38(3-4), pp. 301-304. https://doi.org/10.1016/S1164-5563(02)01163-9

APA Citation style: Pflug, A., & Wolters, V. (2002). Collembola communities along a European transect. European Journal of Soil Biology. 38(3-4), 301-304. https://doi.org/10.1016/S1164-5563(02)01163-9