Response of Soil Fauna to the Shift in a Riparian Landscape along an Urban–Rural Habitat Gradient

Yumei Huang, Qian Zeng, Chunlan Luo, Danju Zhang, Wenfeng Xie, Jiujin Xiao, Yang Liu, Yushi Liu and Juan Du
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Yumei Huang: College of Landscape Architecture, Sichuan Agricultural University, Chengdu 611130, China
Qian Zeng: College of Landscape Architecture, Sichuan Agricultural University, Chengdu 611130, China
Chunlan Luo: College of Landscape Architecture, Sichuan Agricultural University, Chengdu 611130, China
Danju Zhang: Key Laboratory of Ecological Forestry Engineering of Sichuan Province, College of Forestry, Sichuan Agricultural University, Chengdu 611130, China
Wenfeng Xie: College of Landscape Architecture, Sichuan Agricultural University, Chengdu 611130, China
Jiujin Xiao: Key Laboratory of Ecological Forestry Engineering of Sichuan Province, College of Forestry, Sichuan Agricultural University, Chengdu 611130, China
Yang Liu: Key Laboratory of Ecological Forestry Engineering of Sichuan Province, College of Forestry, Sichuan Agricultural University, Chengdu 611130, China
Yushi Liu: College of Landscape Architecture, Sichuan Agricultural University, Chengdu 611130, China
Juan Du: College of Landscape Architecture, Sichuan Agricultural University, Chengdu 611130, China

IJERPH, 2022, vol. 19, issue 14, 1-34

Abstract: Urbanization is accelerating worldwide, resulting in drastic alterations of natural riverbanks, which seriously affects the ecological functions and services of riparian landscapes. Our understanding of how anthropogenic activities influence soil animal communities within riparian zones is scarce. The soil fauna represents an important biotic component of the soil ecosystem and greatly contributes to soil structure and fertility formation. We investigated the richness, abundance, diversity, and distribution of soil animal groups, including macro- and mesofauna, in different riparian landscapes along an urban–rural habitat gradient. In natural riparian zones with permeable revetments, the soil fauna was richest and most abundant, mainly because of the low levels of human disturbance and the more suitable habitat conditions. Different soil animal groups responded differently to revetment type and distance from the water flow. The hygrophilous soil mesofauna, requiring a more humid environment, was more sensitive to shifts in revetment types, the location on the riverbank, and the seasons. In summer, when precipitation in the study area was highest, the abundance of the hygrophilous soil mesofauna was significantly higher than in autumn. Distance from the water flow significantly affected the abundance of the hygrophilous soil mesofauna. Our results demonstrated that hygrophilous soil mesofauna can serve as a good indicator in riparian zones, reflecting the hydrological conditions. We also observed interactions between revetment type and distance from the water flow; the distance effect was stronger in the natural riparian zone with a permeable revetment type. Our results highlight the importance of anthropogenic effects on soil ecosystem processes and functions in riparian landscapes, and the necessity of protecting and retaining the natural riverbank and native vegetation patches in riparian landscape planning and construction.

Keywords: anthropogenic effect; revetment type; riverbank; hygrophilous soil mesofauna; urbanization (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: I I1 I3 Q Q5 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2022
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