跳虫是土壤生态系统中分布极广的一类小型至微型节肢动物。它们在土壤物质循环、土壤的发育及其微团聚体的形成、土壤理化特性和土壤生物群落的维护等诸多方面都发挥了重要作用。土壤中跳虫的多样性以及群落结构、物种组成都反映了土壤的质量和污染状况。本文介绍了跳虫在土壤生态系统的作用、生态学应用价值以及研究的现状和展望。

The springtails are widespread small to tiny arthropods in soil ecosystem. They play important roles in the circulation of soil materials, development of soil, formation of soil micro-structure, improvement of soil physical and chemical properties, and the maintenance of soil living community. The diversity, community structure, and species composition of springtails in the soil reflect the status of soil quality and con-tamination. The important roles of springtails in the soil ecosystem, their potential values in the ecological practices and the recent advances and prospects are introduced in the present paper.