Loss of soil fauna following conversion of subtropical natural forests

Abstract

The increasing global demand for timber and forest products has triggered the widespread conversion of subtropical forests into secondary forests and plantations. Soil fauna, the active angel in material cycling, are sensitive to changes in food resources and soil environments. However, the impact of forest conversion on soil fauna abundance and diversity remains insufficiently understood. To address this, we conducted seasonal soil fauna sampling in a subtropical region of China during July and November 2022, as well as January and March 2023. The sampling covered secondary forests, Castanopsis carlesii (broadleaved) plantations, and Cunninghamia lanceolata (fir) plantations, with natural forests serving as the control. We assessed soil fauna diversity including taxonomic and functional composition, along with soil physicochemical properties. Overall, forest conversion led to a decline in soil fauna abundance and biodiversity, with litter quality and soil moisture emerging as primary drivers according to Post hoc Least Significant Difference tests. Macrofauna demonstrated higher sensitivity to forest conversion than meso- and microfauna, with their abundance decreasing by 10% in secondary forests, 18% in broadleaved plantations, and 27% in fir plantations. Moreover, the number of predator and saprophage groups declined more significantly when natural forests were converted into fir plantations (by 24% and 15%, respectively) than into broadleaved plantations (by 16% and 10%, respectively). Additionally, soil fauna showed more sensitive responses to forest conversion in spring and summer, especially in the case of the conversion into fir plantations. Our findings underscore the negative impacts of forest conversion on soil fauna biodiversity, particularly the reduction in predators and saprophages, which may disrupt the food web and increase ecosystem vulnerability to pests and diseases, thereby indicating potential risks to the stability of forest ecosystems.

Graphical abstract

Keywords

biodiversity / subtropical forests / soil fauna abundance / taxonomic groups / functional groups / forest conversion

Highlight

	● Compared to secondary forests and broadleaved plantations, the conversion of natural forests into fir plantations results in a more significant reduction in the abundance and diversity of soil fauna.
	● Macrofauna, predators, and saprophages exhibited a decreasing trend from natural forests into both plantations, demonstrating greater sensitivity to forest conversion than meso- and microfauna and herbivores.
	● The changed litter quality and soil moisture could be the primary reasons for biodiversity reduction after forest conversion.

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