Centipedes, millipedes, terrestrial isopods and their relationships to physical and chemical properties of forest soils

Abstract

The quality of soil environment in forest ecosystems of mountain zones was characterised by skeleton content and particle size as well as soil moisture and chemistry and used for deepening the knowledge of ecological requirements of centipedes, millipedes and terrestrial isopods. Soil skeleton and size of the particles were significant environmental factors, with Lithobius austriacus, Lithobius erythrocephalus and Lithobius nodulipes preferring stony soils. The isopods Ligidium hypnorum and Hyloniscus riparius were closely bound to heavy soils with a high clay content, which was related to increased soil moisture and indication ofwaterlogged soils. Soil reaction (pH/KCl) was less associated with the occurrence of the studied invertebrates. The soils with higher skeleton content and a favourable moisture regime containing more Ca2+ and Mg2+ were more attractive to some centipedes (Strigamia acuminata, Lithobius microps) and isopods (Trachelipus ratzebargii, Oniscus asellus, Porcellio scaber).