Soil invertebrates are concentrated on roots

Abstract

The density of invertebrates on roots and in soil was determined. This is the first time such observations have been reported; they were made by direct observation through windows of the Soil Biotron at the University of Michigan Biological Station, Pellston, MI. The Soil Biotron is located in a Bigtooth Aspen-mixed hardwood stand on a sandy podzol. Horizontal transects in the top eight cm of soil were censused through a 50 power dissecting microscope mounted on a trolley. Light from the microscope did not affect behavior of the invertebrates. The roots were principally Bigtooth Aspen (Populus grandidentata) and Bracken (Pteridium aqualinum). Total area of soil censused in July was 262 cm², 3037 cm² in August, and 446 cm² in October, 1988.