Correspondence analytical evaluation of factors that influence soil macro-arthropod distribution in abandoned grassland

We analysed field data on the occurrence of woodlice and millipedes in aban doned grassland in southwestern Germany using multivariate ordination stati stics to extract information on single environmental factors influencing th e distribution of particular species in the field. Different methods (DECOR ANA, CANOCO) revealed slightly different patterns of ordination, but led to similar conclusions. These conclusions coincide with previously observed e cophysiological requirements of isopods, and confirm the significance of th e soil pH for their distribution. Howewer soil pH did not appear to be sign ificant for diplopods. The distribution of diplopod species mainly correspo nds with mean annual air temperature. Besides assigning particular species to single study sites that are characterised with respect to environmental factors, we statistically associate a group of three isopod species having similar ecological requirements.