Ecomorphic Structure Transformation of Soil Macrofauna Amid Recreational Impact

Abstract

The level of reacreation load on the components of urban green areas is increasing, so identifying the effective management tools in these ecosystems is becoming crucial for ensuring the maintenance of soil biota habitats. The purpose of this study is to reveal a pattern of structuring community of soil macrofauna under a recreational impact based on an ecomorphic approach. The article assesses the level of recreational transformation of the soil macrofauna of public green spaces in the city of Melitopol on the territory of Novooleksandrivskyi Park. For research purposes, a testing site was allocated in an area with a high level of recreational load, with samples taken within this site. To collect soil macrofauna and assess soil properties at each point of the testing site, soil and zoological tests were carried out and the following soil indicators were measured: temperature, electrical conductivity, humidity and soil penetration resistance, litter depth and grass stand height. The community ordination was performed using two approaches: OMI and RLQ analysis. The study found that the ecological niches of soil macrofauna in recreational conditions are spatially structured. The main factors for structuring the ecological niche of soil macrofauna within the study area are soil penetration resistance in the range of the entire measured layer, soil moisture, and distance to trees. As for the number of species, the basis of the coenomorphic structure of soil macrofauna are silvants (45.5%) and pratants (24.2%). As for the species abundance, the basis of the coenomorphic structure of macrofauna comprises pratants (64.5%), slightly less stepants (19.1%) and silvants (16.1%), and sporadic occurrence of paludants (0.2%). Such coenomorphic structure can be considered as ecologically labile. Zoophages, hemiaerophobes, and megatrophs are tolerant to a high level of recreational load. The area corresponding to the highest level of recreational load is vacant. This indicates factual absence of soil macrofauna species that could exist amid intense recreational exposure