Abundance, species composition and phenology of Pauropoda (Myriapoda) froma secondary upland forest in Central Amazonia

The 6,878 pauropods collected within 12 months in the soil (0-7 cm depth) o f a secondary upland forest (1,085.7 +/- 42.3 ind./m(2)/month) near Manaus were represented by 41 species of the Pauropodidae (Order Tetramerocerata). The Pauropodinae were represented by 31 species, the Polypauropodinae by 6 species, and the Scleropauropodinae by 4 species. About half of all paurop od specimens obtained inhabited the organic soil layer (0-3.5 cm depth) com pared to the mineral subsoil (3.5-7 cm). Abundance of pauropods in the soil was twice as high in comparison to the Symphyla from the same study site. The lack of a distinct reproductive period in eudominant and dominant pauro pod species and the presence of juveniles and adults throughout the year in dicate a plurivoltine mode of life. Only in one species was the monthly cat ch of adults positively correlated with maximum temperatures of the soil. P auropods obtained from the soil of four other upland forests in Central Ama zonia (0-14 cm depth) accounted for 1.1-4.4% of the total soil arthropods. A possible parthenogenesis found in three pauropod species is discussed.