Abstract:

Aim: As ecological indicator organisms, Collembola effectively reflect the health of soil ecosystems, and their functional traits are closely related to the soil environment and ecosystem functions. 

Method: This study focused on Collembola in the Yanghu Forest ecosystem of Guandi Mountain. Plots were established at 200-meter intervals between 1,600 and 2,200 meters above sea level. Collembola were collected using the dry funnel method, counted species numbers, and measured their functional traits. This was combined with an analysis of soil physicochemical properties to elucidate the characteristics of the Collembola community and the spatiotemporal distribution patterns of their functional traits along the elevation gradient. Redundancy analysis was also conducted to assess the effects of soil environmental factors on Collembola functional traits. 

Result: The results indicate that Collembola abundance gradually decreases with increasing elevation and exhibits a distinct “epiphanal” distribution pattern. Functional diversity indices showed significant differences at both the elevation and seasonal levels. The community-weighted mean (CWM) of Collembola body length exhibited significant variations across soil layers, while the CWMs for body length, pigmentation, furca, and scales showed significant differences in seasonal dynamics. Redundancy analysis revealed significant positive correlations between soil temperature, pH, and bulk density, on one hand, and Collembola body length, pigmentation, and the number of furcas and ocelli, on the other. 

Conclusion: This study clarifies the spatiotemporal distribution patterns of functional traits in Collembola on Guandi Mountain and identifies their primary environmental drivers, thereby providing a theoretical basis for the conservation of soil fauna diversity in the poplar-birch forest ecosystem of Guandi Mountain.

Key words: poplar-birch forest, Collembola, functional traits, elevational gradient