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STUDIES ON SOIL MICROFLORA AND MICROARTHROPOD COMMUNITIES AS SOIL HEALTH AND QUALITY INDICATORS IN URBAN FORESTS IN R?GA, LATVIA
Abstract
Urban forests play an important role in ecology of human habitats and provide various eco-services. Urban forests improve and maintain air and water quality, act as local refugia for plant and animal communities, hold populations of economically important species (such as pollinators), and act as recreational areas for people and pets. All urban forest organisms are directly or indirectly affected by human activities often leading to changes in biodiversity. The aim of our study was to determine soil microbial biomass and soil microflora differences and biodiversity of soil microarthropod communities in urban forests with various grade of anthropogenic load in Riga city. Seven urban forest sampling plots in Riga were selected. Soil quality of urban forests in Riga was investigated in 2014-15. The abundance of soil fungi and bacteria was estimated by plate count method. The fungi: bacteria ratio and total number of culturable bacteria and fungi varied among sampling sites. The substrate-induced respiration method was used for determination of soil microbial biomass. About 40 000 soil microarthropod specimens were processed during our study. Collembola and Oribatida mites were the most numerous in the habitats with relatively well decomposed moder or mull humus type, and well developed herbaceous and/or moss layer. Predatory Mesostigmata mites were the most abundant in mor or moder humus type with abundant herbaceous and moss layer.
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