Revista Chilena de Historia Natural 85 (2): 219-226, 2012
RESEARCH ARTICLE
Communities of soil macrofauna in green spaces of an urbanizing city at east
China
We evaluated the diversity of soil macrofauna communities inhabiting urban
green spaces in Yancheng City, an urbanizing city located east of China. In the end of April 2011, the taxonomic richness,
abundance and composition of soil macrofauna communities were assessed and compared among five types of green
space (poplar forest, rapeseed farm, grassland in park, lawn and nursery garden) and three depth layers in the soil, with
taxonomic resolution attained at the order level. Taxonomic richness (orders) and abundance were significantly different
among green spaces. Diversity indices (Margalef’s taxonomic richness R and Shannon-Weaver diversity index H’) were
higher in poplar forest, grassland in park and nursery garden than in rapeseed farm and lawn. Taxonomic richness (Chao 2)
showed a similar trend. There were significant effects of green space type and soil layer, which showed a significant
interaction affecting macrofauna composition. We recommend that urban green spaces can be used for maintaining
biodiversity, not only for landscape purposes.
Key words:
China,
diversity, soil layer, urbanization, Yancheng City
