Collembolan communities in deciduous forests of different origin in Finland

The aim of the study was to compare the collembolan communities in anthropogenous birch stands of different origin with each other and with natural forests at the same latitude. Nine sites were investigated: three birch stands (Betula pendula) planted ca. 30 years prior to the study after clear-cutting of spruce stands, three birch stands planted ca. 30 years earlier on arable soil that had been under cultivation until reforestation, and three natural deciduous forests. These were sampled in August and October 1998, and microarthropods were extracted, counted and identified. Thirty years after reforestation, the collembolan communities of “Birch after Spruce” and “Birch after Field” differe…