The use of inert pads to study the Collembola of suspended soils

Abstract

A simple, cheap and non-destructive technique is introduced for the collection of micro-arthropods in sensitive habitats, focussing on suspended soils (accumulations of humus and organic detritus in trees, elevated above soil level). These habitats contain distinctive communities of soil fauna, but in most European forests suspended soil volumes are so small and slow to regenerate that systematic collections can destroy much of the suspended soil resource in a woodland, requiring years to recover. Here I calibrate a non-destructive collection technique based on inserting a pad of inert material with a wide pore space, allowing the material to be colonised then removing the pad for Tullgren extraction. Standard domestic scouring pads are ideal for this purpose and extract quickly in high gradient extractors. This method has the potential to become a standard non-destructive collection technique for suspended soils as well as in other sensitive habitats such as caves. It is also a suitable platform for a wide variety of small-scale projects involving experimental manipulations.