Species diversity and spatial distribution of enchytraeid communities in forest soils: effects of habitat characteristics and heavy metal contamination

Species diversity of enchytraeid communities was determined in soils of the Niepołomice Forest (southern Poland) in relation to habitat characteristics (forest type, soil chemistry: pH, organic matter content, moisture, mineral elements Ca, K, Na, N–NH4, N–NO3, Ntotal) and xenobiotics (Zn, Pb, Cu, Cd) and humus respiration rate. Altogether 30 enchytraeid species were identified, forming assemblages of 7–29 species, 2.6 × 103 to 132 × 103 individuals (0.01–3.75 g dry mass) per m2. The dominating species in pine forest was Cognettia sphagnetorum. These communities were ordinated using multivariate statistics and compared with similarly ordinated forest/soil habitats. The ordination of habitats according to soil chemistry matched exactly the forest habitat typology based on vegetation, whereas the pattern of similarities between enchytraeid communities was less clearly connected with abiotic and/or biotic (vegetational) multidimensional habitat characteristics. In general, the distribution of enchytraeids in the Niepołomice Forest reflects habitat characteristics but was not influenced by heavy metal content in soil. © 2003 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved.