Abstract:

Background & Aims: With the continuous acceleration of urbanization, large areas of forest and farmland are being occupied by urban buildings, roads and other infrastructures. These land use changes caused by urbanization may lead to soil biodiversity loss. However, research on soil biodiversity is still insufficient. As an important component of soil biodiversity, soil eukaryotes play a key role in maintaining soil health. The purpose of this study is to explore the diversity characteristics of eukaryotes in urban soil and their environmental drivers. 

Method: We selected two types of non-urban land (forest and farmland) and five types of urban green spaces (park, greenbelt, industrial area, residential area, and hospital) in Ningbo City. The diversity of soil eukaryotes (including fungi, Protozoa, Nematoda, Arthropoda and Annelida) was analyzed in response to urbanization and land use types. 

Results: The richness of eukaryotes in urban greenspaces was significantly lower than that in farmland, and the richness of Arthropoda in urban greenspaces soil was significantly lower than that in forest land, and the decline in the richness of Protozoa in the soil of urban greenbelt is most pronounced. The β diversity of soil eukaryotes was significantly different between forest, farmland, and urban greenspaces. There was no significant difference in β diversity of soil eukaryotes among the five urban greenspaces, except for the Annelida. The differences among all soil eukaryotic groups at different land use types were mainly driven by β turnover components. Soil pH and total phosphorus content may be the main driving factors affecting the diversity of soil eukaryotic community. Among them, the richness of fungi and Annelida were negatively correlated with soil pH, texture and water content also decreased the Protozoa richness, while the increase of total phosphorus content was positively correlated with the Protozoa richness. 

Perspectives: In general, urban greenspaces will lead to the homogenization of eukaryotic groups, and enhance the spatial heterogeneity of soil physical and chemical properties through soil improvement and other means, thus creating possibilities for the improvement of urban soil eukaryotic biodiversity.

Key words: urbanization, land use, urban greenspaces, soil eukaryotes, soil pH, soil total phosphorus content