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RESEARCH PRODUCT

Long-term dynamics of Collembola in a pine forest ecosystemProceedings of the Xth international Colloquium on Apterygota, České Budějovice 2000: Apterygota at the Beginning of the Third Millennium

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Summary Biomonitoring data on soil Collembola collected over a six year period (1992-1997) in Scots pine ( Pinus sylvestris L.) forest in the Northern Vidzeme Biosphere Reserve, northern Latvia, are analysed. Monitoring was conducted in three plots: young (30-40 years), middle-aged (50—70 years), and old (150—200 years) pine stands. Sampling was performed once a year, in late August or early September, according to a systematic sampling scheme. One hundred soil cores (5 cm 2 × 10 cm) were taken within each plot every year, Collembola were extracted from the cores by using a modified high gradient extractor. During the monitoring period, there was a tendency of climate warming between 1992 and 1997. A decrease of precipitation resulted in decrease of soil moisture in the studied plots. Species richness S and Shannon's index H' within almost all plots showed significant linear decreasing trends, while no trends were found in total density of Collembola. Several species ( Sphaeridia pumilis, Sminthurinus aureus, Pseudanurophorus binoculatus, Anurophorus septentrionalis, Arrhopalites spp.) decreased in density during the period of investigation. The possible reasons for the changes in the collembolan community are discussed.