Biodiversity in a soil sequence under different use in an area in the interior of the , () M.D. Soriano Soto Universitat Politecnica de , Spain

ABSTRACT METHODOLOGY CONCLUSIONS Abstract Methods based on the study of Soil sampling was carried out in a study area In the Mediterranean Region, climatic and microfauna are useful for assessing soil quality located in the north of the . lithological conditions together with relief and and studying the effect of degradation of Units were selected based on geological anthropic activity increase soil degradation biological and chemical properties. The area material; and in turn, each unit was subdivided processes due to loss of organic matter, and it used for the study is a rural area of the according to vegetation, type and land use. The is essential to determine qualitatively and Valencian Community that presents an area study area presents a dry-sub-humid quantitatively parameters that are indicators of with natural forest soils, and another with soils , Systematic sampling the effects on soil loss of quality and affected by agricultural uses. Soils with was performed. Two subunits were sampled in biodiversity. The study of the content of different degradation states (natural soils with each unit: Climax vegetation (C1, and T1), and organic matter, humic substances, the potential vegetation, and cultivated soils cereal crops (C3) and almond and vine (T3). breathing rate of the soil microbiota and the without irrigation) were included on different Table 1 number of microarthropods in Mediterranean parental materials. soil systems in an area of the province of Soil properties were characterized by Valencia, comparing them on different classifying the different soils. The sampled soils lithologies climax soils versus agricultural soils are representative of the Mediterranean area of emphasized that the parameters used function the Iberian Peninsula and correspond to the as good indicators of soil degradation. following soil subunits (WRB-FAO): Molic and Assuming the degradation of potential rendzinic Leptosoils, and calcareous Regosoils. vegetation as a loss of biodiversity, the results Moreover, the aspects involved in the biological showed that its loss influenced the biological activity of the soil were studied determining: properties of the soil rather than variations due the organic matter content of the soil, degree of to bioclimate or source material, with a humification, breathing rate and populations of gradient negative of the soils of the most microarthropods. The results showed preserved ecosystems towards those in significant variations in the organic matter deforested and cultivated areas. content of the soil, with high values of the degree of humification. It is obtained that soil Table 2 chemical characteristics and biological properties are related to microarthropod populations indicating that the effects of potential vegetation degradation, and inappropriate land use are a direct cause of decrease in organic matter, degree of humification, breathing rate, and decreased populations of microarthromerates in soils.

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