Please use this identifier to cite or link to this item: https://hdl.handle.net/1959.11/21511
Title: Defining Soil Macrofauna Composition and Activity for Biopedological Studies: a Case Study on Two Soils in the Western Australian Wheatbelt
Contributor(s): Lobry De Bruyn, Lisa  (author)orcid 
Publication Date: 1993
DOI: 10.1071/SR9930083
Handle Link: https://hdl.handle.net/1959.11/21511
Abstract: In Durokoppin reserve and surrounding farmland, part of the central wheatbelt region, pitfall trapping and mapping of soil macrofauna activity were used to define the extent of soil maerofauna activity in these two environments. This type of study is a necessary precursor to determining the significance of certain invertebrate activity in soil modification in these habitats. The relative merits of the two techniques in determining the extent of soil maerofauna activity is assessed. The soil maerofauna groups identified by mapping and pitfall trapping as making a substantial contribution (in terms of relative abundance and activity) in all habitats were, in descending order, ants, spiders and scorpions (wandoo woodland only). In general there was good agreement between the two techniques in identifying the major species and trends in species composition between habitats, but mapping failed to identify the rare or cryptic species. Mapping more accurately identified the resident species in each habitat compared with pitfall trapping. Pitfall trapping data indicated that foraging activity of most soil maerofauna was depressed over winter, except for beetles, and was higher in the spring and summer sampling periods. However, mapping revealed a more constant level of soil maerofauna activity, especially for ant nests. It is argued that the two approaches complement one another and that each has value in interpreting the effects of soil maerofauna activity on soil properties in further studies. The discussion is based on the results of a study carried out in the Kellerberrin area of Western Australia.
Publication Type: Journal Article
Source of Publication: Australian Journal of Soil Research, 31(1), p. 83-95
Publisher: CSIRO Publishing
Place of Publication: Australia
ISSN: 0004-9573
1446-568X
1838-6768
1838-675X
Fields of Research (FoR) 2008: 050304 Soil Chemistry (excl. Carbon Sequestration Science)
050303 Soil Biology
050305 Soil Physics
Socio-Economic Objective (SEO) 2008: 960904 Farmland, Arable Cropland and Permanent Cropland Land Management
961402 Farmland, Arable Cropland and Permanent Cropland Soils
970104 Expanding Knowledge in the Earth Sciences
Peer Reviewed: Yes
HERDC Category Description: C1 Refereed Article in a Scholarly Journal
Appears in Collections:Journal Article
School of Environmental and Rural Science

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