Die Edaphobase-Länderstudien : Synökologische Untersuchungen von Bodenorganismen in einem Biotop- und Standortgradienten in Deutschland 2014–2018

The ecological-taxonomic information system ‘Edaphobase’ was developed in a first phase (2009-2013) as a publically available data warehouse for soil zoological data. In a second project phase (2013-2018), the aim was to review the database with regard to its applicability in applied soil-biodiversity (e.g. monitoring) studies and to further develop the database and its data linkages in line with data and assessment requirements. A central aspect of this was the Edaphobase nationwide field monitoring, the results of which are presented in this publication and in which the application of Edaphobase for concrete nature conservation issues of various state authorities was tested, e.g. for assessing – from a biodiversity viewpoint the quality and conservation status of soil. For this purpose, data for different soil animal groups (Oribatida, Collembola, Chilopoda, Diplopoda, Lumbricidae, Enchytraeidae) were collected in the four federal states of North Rhine-Westphalia, Saxony-Anhalt, Saxony and Bavaria; in parallel, data on the vegetation and various other site (in particular, soil) parameters were recorded. In each region, three different habitat types were selected in order to cover as broad a spectrum of habitat types as possible. Two habitat gradients (acidic and base-rich) were investigated, and the habitat types ranged from seminatural vegetation (e.g. semi-natural forest sites), grassland vegetation (Narduus grassland, calcareous semi-dry grassland) to third-order substitute communities (arable land). Sampling was carried out according to standardised methods for specific animal groups in 2014 (North Rhine-Westphalia, Saxony) and 2015 (Bavaria, Saxony-Anhalt). The collected data were analysed synecologically, statistically and with the help of Edaphobase in regard to previously formulated questions of the state authorities. The results show that the occurrence and distribution of soil animals form recurring patterns that depend on the habitat type and the site conditions. The typical (= recurring) species compositions were characterised and presented in the form of reference profiles. It could be shown that soil animal groups are suitable for site characterisation and evaluation of anthropogenic influences. Furthermore, the data of the Edaphobase nationwide field monitoring expanded the Edaphobase database for the various animal groups and for many habitat types, some of which are relevant for nature conservation. The study, which was coordinated by the Research Institute for Ecosystem Analysis and Assessment, gaiac (Aachen), was carried out in close cooperation with the following partners: Senckenberg Museum for Natural History Görlitz, ECT Oekotoxikologie GmbH (Flörsheim a. M.), State Museum for Natural History Karlsruhe, Institute for Biology, Institute for Environmental Research (Biology V) of the RWTH Aachen University, Dr. Jörg-Alfred Salamon and Naturforschende Gesellschaft der Oberlausitz e.V.