STUDY OF A SOIL JULIDAE COMMUNITY IN MEDITERRANEAN FOREST (DIPLOPODA,JULIDA)

This work is part of a larger study on the communities of epigean and edaphic arthropods from the Pare Natural de Sant Llorenc de Munt (Barc elona, Spain). The study was performed in an experimental plot in a sc lerophyllous forest of Mediterranean climate, consisting mainly of Que rcus ilex and Pinus halepensis. Field sampling was performed during 25 consecutive months in order to quantify the density of Julidae. In th e experimental plot (40 x 40 m), three horizons were sampled: L+F (lea f litter fall), H (humus), and A (the first five cm oft he mineral lay er). Among the studied material, we found four species of Julidae: Cyl indroiulus punctatus (Leach, 1815), Cylindroiulus sanctimichaelis Atte ms, 1927, Leptoiulus belgicus (Latzel, 1884), and Ommatoiulus sabulosu s (Linnaeus, 1758), with mean densities of 39.45, 35.22, 3.79 and 0.77 ind./m(2), respectively. We didn't find significant differences in me an density between months during the study period for any of these fou r species. The vertical distribution along the edaphic profile was eva luated using the index of Usher. All species showed a preference for h orizon H, with occasional migrations towards the deeper level A, or th e shallower level L/F. The analysis of the distribution of juvenile an d adult specimens indicated that the reproductive periods occurred mos tly in late winter or spring, while the recruitment occurred in spring -early summer.