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Soil arthropods (Arthropoda) in forest ecosystems play an important role as primary and secondary consumers in the process of litter fragmentation and decomposition. Amount, diversity, and community structure of arthropods in the soil ecosystem reacts very quickly to changes in habitat characteristics. In this study, it was aimed to reveal the seasonal changes, diversity, and effects of soil biological quality of soil-dwelling arthropods in Taurus Fir (Abies cilicica (Antoine & Kotschy) Carrière) ecosystem at different altitudes. The study was carried out in pure fir stands between 1600-1730 meters (3 different altitudes) in Berçin highland (Tomarza-Kayseri) forests. Sampling made from the litter using a cylinder core 10 cm diameter and height was performed in winter, spring, summer, and autumn seasons. The amount, diversity, trophic structure, and soil biological quality (QBS) values of arthropods were determined in seasonal and different altitudes. QBS abbreviations for soil biological quality based on arthropod (arthropoda; QBS-ar) and Collembola (Collembola; QBS-C) communities. As a result of the study, in the distribution of arthropods according to the seasons, the highest number of individuals was found in summer, and in the distribution depending on altitude, the highest number of individuals was found at an altitude of 1613 m. No statistical difference was found between elevations in terms of diversity index. Soil biological quality both QBS-ar and QBS-C value decrease along an elevation gradient. Identified Collembola species are new records for Kayseri/ Berçin Highland while Protaphorura microsellata species are new records for Turkey. |
