SOIL, VEGETATION AND SPACE - AN ANALYSIS OF THEIR EFFECTS ON THE INVERTEBRATE COMMUNITIES OF A MOORLAND IN NORTHEAST ENGLAND

1. The role of spatial factors in determining the structure and functi on of plant and invertebrate communities on a 117 ha upland moor in no rth-east England was investigated using ordination and Mantel tests. 2 . The vegetation species composition was spatially autocorrelated and associated with the soil conditions. The species composition of Auchen orrhyncha (Hemiptera) communities appeared to be determined by both th e soil conditions and vegetation species composition, whereas Heteropt era (Hemiptera) were associated primarily with the vegetation. Araneae were not found to be directly related with either the soil conditions or vegetation, but were linked to the spatial location of the sample. Carabidae (Coleoptera) were associated with variation in soil conditi ons, but not directly to spatial location or vegetation. 3. The implic ations of these results for the management of vegetation in upland lan dscapes are discussed.