Spatial distribution of soil animals: a geostatistical approach

• Published in: Žurnal obŝej biologii Vol. 70; no. 6; p. 484
• Main Authors: Gongal'skiĭ, K B, Zaĭtsev, A S, Savin, F A
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: Russian
• Published: Russia (Federation) 01-11-2009
• Subjects: Animals; Biodiversity; Geological Phenomena; Invertebrates - growth & development; Models, Biological; Models, Statistical; Population Dynamics; Soil
• ISSN: 0044-4596

Spatial distribution is one of the main parameters of populations of soil animals. Spatial soil ecology having been developing during last decades bases animal distribution estimates on the geostatistic approach. A simple principle underlying the latter's methodology is that samples placed close to each other have more similarity than those distantly placed, it is usually called autocorrelation. The principles of basic statistics cannot be applied to autocorrelated data. Apiplying variograms, Mantel test, Moran index, and SADIE statistics enables to reveal the size of clusters of both soil parameters and soil animal aggregations. This direction of investigations quite popular in the western literature is just rarely employed by Russian soil ecologists. Statistically correct procedures allow developing field sampling methodology that is vital in applied studies of soil ecology, namely, in bioindication and ecotoxicology of soils, in the assessment of biological resources in terms of abundance and biomass of soil animals. This methodology has a decisive importance in the development of soil biogeography.