Gutiérrez López, MónicaJesús Lidón, Juan BautistaTrigo Aza, María DoloresFernández, Rosa M.Novo Rodríguez, MartaDíaz Cosín, Darío2025-01-152025-01-152010-10-10Gutiérrez-López, M., Jesús, J. B., Trigo, D., Fernández, R., Novo, M., & Díaz-Cosín, D. J. (2010). Relationships among spatial distribution of soil microarthropods, earthworm species and soil properties. Pedobiologia, 53(6), 381-389. https://doi.org/10.1016/J.PEDOBI.2010.07.0030031-405610.1016/j.pedobi.2010.07.003https://hdl.handle.net/20.500.14352/114427This paper examines the spatial distribution pattern of earthworm species and microarthropod groups, with the aim of detecting and explaining the relationships between them. Microarthropods and earthworms were sampled at 42 uniformly distributed points, with physical and chemical analyses performed at each site as well. Distribution patterns were described using geostatistical tools. Aggregation of populations, determined using a dispersion index, showed that all soil groups presented clumped distributions. Geostatistical analysis indicated that soil groups were spatially auto-correlated and facilitated a description of the spatial pattern of each group. Cross-semivariograms showed cross-correlation of different types (either negative or positive) between various groups of microarthropods and some earthworm species. Mantel tests were used to assess these correlations and to determine whether the relationships were true or spurious. Partial Mantel tests confirmed positive relationships between H. elisae – Isotomidae and A. trapezoides – Entomobryidae and negative relationships between H. elisae – Poduromorpha, H. elisae – other arthropods and A. rosea – Gamasida. No true relationships were found between fauna distribution and soil physical/chemical properties. Different earthworm species influenced each microarthropod group in diverse ways showing complex relationships between them. Additional manipulative experiments are necessary to unravel the processes affecting the specific patterns observed in the present study.engjournal article1873-1511https://doi.org/10.1016/j.pedobi.2010.07.003https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0031405610000661?via%3Dihubrestricted access595.14595.2/.7631.467591.556MicroarthropodsEarthwormsSpatial distributionGeostatisticsEdaphic factorsInterspecific relationshipsZoologíaInvertebradosEdafología (Biología)2401 Biología Animal (Zoología)2401.17 Invertebrados2511.02 Biología de Suelos2401.06 Ecología Animal