%0 Research article
%T Soil animal communities of planted birch stands in central Finland
%A Huhta, Veikko
%A Räty, Mika
%D 2005
%J Silva Fennica
%V 39
%N 1
%R doi:10.14214/sf.392
%U https://silvafennica.fi/article/392
%X The aim of this study was to compare soil animal communities in planted  birch (Betula pendula) stands of different origin with each other and  with natural forests. Six 30-year-old birch stands were investigated,  three planted after clear-cutting of spruce stands, and three planted on  cultivated soil. The faunal communities were markedly different in  plantations established on spruce forest soil and on arable soil. “Birch  after Spruce” communities were relatively similar to those of  coniferous forests, though the population densities were generally  lower. “Birch after Field” communities were sparse and could be  characterised as “impoverished forest communities”, except in  Lumbricidae and Enchytraeidae that have affinities with deciduous  forests and cultural landscapes. Soil conditions are not sufficient to  explain the differences between the forests. Colonisation and transport  by man may determine the presence of certain species, especially  earthworms. These in turn affect soil properties, and compete with or  otherwise have negative effects on other soil fauna. Thus the community  differences between different forests are an outcome of several factors:  soil characteristics, site history, colonisation ability and  interspecific interactions.