Effects of different forestry management practices on soil mesofauna in the regeneration phase

Abstract

Forests hold both ecological and economic value, but as the majority are now under human management, there is an increasing need for silvicultural strategies that support biodiversity and ecosystem functioning alongside timber production. Soil mesofauna, which comprise a substantial proportion of forest biodiversity, play vital roles in maintaining soil processes and overall ecosystem health. This study assessed the long-term effects of four forest management treatments, preparation cutting (partial cutting), retention tree group, gap-cutting, and clear-cutting, on various soil mesofauna groups (Acari, Collembola, Protura, Diplura, Symphyla, Pauropoda) in a managed oak forest in Hungary, sampled six and nine years after intervention. The treatments significantly influenced mesofaunal communities, although responses varied by taxon. Acari and Protura displayed the clearest gradients, with densities declining from control plots to more intensively disturbed treatments. Other groups showed more variable patterns, often shaped by seasonal dynamics. Retention tree group and preparation cutting were the most successful at maintaining mesofaunal densities at levels comparable to, or even exceeding, those in undisturbed sites. In contrast, clear-cutting and gap-cutting were associated with lower densities in several taxa, although some recovery was evident due to vegetation regrowth over time. The findings highlight the importance of seasonal timing in ecological assessments, with treatment effects most pronounced in spring and autumn. Taxon-specific responses, particularly those of Protura, Acari, and Collembola, demonstrate the potential of soil mesofauna as sensitive indicators of ecological change and recovery following forest management.