FACTORS INFLUENCING SOIL MACROFAUNAL COMMUNITIES IN POST-PASTORAL SUCCESSIONS OF WESTERN FRANCE

The soil macrofaunal communities (Lumbricidae, Formicidae, Coleoptera, Chilopoda, Diplopoda, Isopoda, Arachnida, Gastropoda) were studied in six plots representing different stages in a theoretical post-pastora l succession on chalk grassland. Macrofaunal biomass was high in all t he plots (70.2-140.3 g m(-2)). The macroinvertebrate communities along successional gradients respond to two major environmental factors: th e structure of the vegetation, which determines the diversity of micro habitats and life conditions for macroinvertebrates; and the quality o f above-ground litter production, which depends on the nature of veget ation and the presence of domestic herbivores. (C) 1998 Elsevier Scien ce B.V.