The Abundance and Biodiversity of Soil Macrofauna in Outside and Inside of Coppice Shoots of Persian oak (Quercus persica) in Zagros Coppice Forests

Soil macrofauna, as an important and effective biological component of soil ecosystem, are critical in soil processes and functions. Because of importance of Zagros coppice forests and the role of macrofauna in forest soils, this study was carried out in order to evaluate the diversity of soil macrofauna in coppice of one section in Zagros forests located in Kermanshah province. In this study, 40 hectares of Oak coppice forest were selected and two treatments included inside and outside of coppice shoot were considered on the base of different conditions between two ecological niches. Twenty plots were selected in each treatment and soil profiles were prepared with dimensions of 50× 50 cm and the depth of 20 cm and the macrofauna were manually collected. Four properties of coppice shoot were measured (number of coppice, crown area, smaller diameter of coppice and height coppice shoot). The results of statistical analysis showed that the abundance and diversity of soil macrofauna as well as some soil properties of the inside of the coppice shoot significantly changed (confidence level of 95%) compare to outside treatment. Increasing of population and the diversity of macrofauna inside the coppice shoot showed positive significant correlation with the depth of litter and crown area and that was due to increasing of organic matter, nutrient concentration and organisms access to food sources in the litter as well as in the inside of the coppice shoot. On the basis of the results of this study, we can sign to the influence of the coppice shoot as a microsite which create proper condition for living and presence of the terrestrial organism.