A recent study has found that soil microfauna diversity and community composition change with latitude. Researchers from the Institute of Soil Science and Plant Cultivation in Poland used earthworms, springtails, and mites as indicators of soil microfauna in order to measure the diversity and composition of soil microfauna communities at different latitudes. They found that diversity and composition of soil microfauna decreased as latitude increased. Interestingly, the differences in soil microfauna diversity and composition between latitudes were greater in forests than in grasslands. This study highlights the importance of soil microfauna in maintaining a healthy ecosystem, as they play a major role in soil nutrient cycling and soil fertility. Understanding the relationships between soil microfauna diversity and latitude will help inform conservation efforts to protect soil microfauna communities around the world.

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source: Phys.org