Rybalov L.B., Kamayev I.O. 2012. Comparative analysis and long-term dynamics of soil macrofauna in forest-tundra ecotone of the Khibiny mountains // Russian Entomol. J. Vol.21. No.2: 179–183 [in English].
Institute of Ecology and Evolution, Russian Academy of Science, Leninsky Prospect 33, Moscow 119071, Russia.
KEY WORDS: Soil macrofauna, forest-tundra ecotone, north taiga, The Khibiny mountains.
ABSTRACT. Clear soil macrofauna dynamics in forest-tundra ecotones of the Khibiny mountains haven’t been found over 23 year’s period. But abundance of macrofauna in two forest types significantly increased in 2009–2010 when compared to 1986. There are three types of macrofauna complexes: forest with higher earthworms densities, tundric with macrofauna of low diversity and high abundance, and ecotone. Increasing densities and numbers of all macrofauna and dominant taxa weren’t recorded in forest-tundra ecotone. Green moss covering determines the affinity of macrofauna in both spruce forest and tundra. For north forest-tundra ecotone the distribution of earthworms depends on winter minimal temperature of soil.