Abstract:

Aims: Microtopography is a key driver regulating species distribution patterns and community structure at the local scale. However, existing studies have largely focused on plants and microorganisms, while soil fauna remain comparatively understudied. Collembola, as soil indicator organisms highly sensitive to environmental changes, can effectively reflect microenvironmental heterogeneity through variations in their community composition and diversity. 

Methods: This study was conducted in the western Tianshan Mountains of Xinjiang. Three representative microtopographic habitats—shady slopes, sunny slopes, and ravines—were selected for investigation. In each habitat, soil Collembola communities and associated environmental variables were systematically surveyed to evaluate the effects of microtopography on community structure and diversity, and to identify the key environmental drivers shaping these patterns. 

Results: A total of 1,548 Collembola individuals were collected, belonging to six families, twelve genera, and 19 species. Significant differences in soil temperature, total phosphorus content, and canopy cover were observed among microtopographic types. Collembola community composition also differed significantly among habitats. Although differences in diversity indices were not statistically significant, clear spatial trends were observed: diversity was highest on shady slopes, intermediate on sunny slopes, and lowest in ravines. At the genus level, distinct distribution patterns were detected: Willowsia, Entomobrya, and Homidia occurred exclusively on shady slopes, whereas Xenylla was restricted to sunny slopes. Redundancy analysis (RDA) indicated that soil temperature and ammonium nitrogen (NH₄⁺-N) were the primary factors influencing community composition. Collembola abundance was significantly negatively correlated with soil moisture, and hydrothermal conditions were closely coupled with soil nutrient availability. 

Conclusion: The study revealed that microtopography shapes heterogeneous microenvironmental conditions through the coupled effects of vegetation structure, microclimate, and soil properties, thereby driving spatial differentiation of soil Collembola communities.

Key words: habitat heterogeneity, Collembola, temperate forest, soil fauna diversity, microhabitat, microclimate