Edaphic Invertebrates as Indicators of Soil Integrity Quality

Abstract

Bioindicator organisms, such as edaphic invertebrates, are constantly used to assess disturbance, as they exhibit responses such as reduced community and changes in diversity, affecting the local ecosystem. The aim of this study was to compare the impacts of disturbance on the edaphic invertebrate community in both a pasture area and a native forest area, during summer and winter. Samplings were conducted for nine days using pitfalls. Bray-Curtis analyses, NMDS, ANOSIM, and SIMPER were applied. There was difference in richness and diversity between areas and seasons. Native forest pitfalls had higher similarity in abundance and diversity in both seasons than pasture pitfalls. Specimens belonging to 20 orders were collected; of those, Collembola, Hymenoptera, Diptera, and Hemiptera had the highest number of individuals. Seasonal influence on the organisms was evident. The impact on edaphic invertebrate community located in the pasture area showed that native forest has higher complexity and structural stability.