Soil macrofauna of mountain spruce stands in the Bohemian Forest as affected with selective tree cutting

Assemblages of soil macrofauna (earthworms, millipedes and centipedes) were studied in three specially protected mountain spruce stands in the Bohemian Forest (Czech Republic) in 2000-2003 using soil sampling to assess their quantitative and qualitative parameters. Spruce forests under study possessed poor (density 7,7-61,3 ind.m-2), but very specific earthworm assemblages built of 2-4 acidotolerant epigeic species. Similarly, assemblages of millipedes were low in both density (1,6-44,8 ind.m-2) and species numbers. Density of centipedes reached 41,1-206,4 ind.m-2, and their assemblages were composed mainly of the representatives of the order Geophilomorpha. Comparison of intact stands and those with selective cutting of spruce trees showed the negative impact of forestry management on populations of millipedes and centipedes. Density of both groups as well as species number of millipedes was markedly lower at selectively cut plot in the Trojmezná. On the contrary, denser earthworm populations were found at cut than at intact plots, most probably due to changes in herb vegetation and litter layer followed tree cutting