Comparison of Correlations between Soil Physicochemical Properties and Diversity-Density of Soil Macrofauna in Juniper and Amygdalus Stands During the Growing and Resting Season (Case Study: Geno Protected Area, Hormozgan Province, Iran)

Abstract

The present study was an attempt to compare the correlation between physicochemical properties of soil and diversity and density of soil macrofauna in Juniper and amygdalus stands of Geno protected area during the growing and resting seasons. To this end, researchers field visited part of the forest at an altitude of 2200 m asl. and identified a half-hectare Juniper and a half-hectare Amygdalus stand. 10 points were randomly selected to place the sampling frame and measure the macrofauna and soil physicochemical properties. Soil samples were collected at 15 cm soil depth using a rectangular sampling frame (15 × 10. 10 cm) in growing and dormant seasons. Shannon-Wiener and Simpson diversity indices were used to evaluate the biodiversity of the identified macrofauna, and then Menhinick's and Margalef