Fire significantly shapes Mediterranean forest ecosystems by influencing ecological processes. The medium-term impact of fire on soil Collembola is poorly understood in the Mediterranean area. This study aimed to identify the post-fire succession trajectories of Collembola assemblages in surface soils of burnt sites under trees and shrubs, compared to unburnt control sites, in the Vesuvius National Park (Italy, Campania region), at 38–74 months after fire. Collembola were extracted, taxonomically identified, and assessed through density, species richness, Shannon and soil quality (QBS-c) indices, and taxonomic and functional trait composition to evaluate post-fire recovery trajectories. The results highlighted that after fire Collembola assemblages were primarily structured by time and to a lesser extent by vegetation. Similar dynamics were observed in soils under burnt trees and shrubs for species richness (1–2.6 taxa), Shannon (0.04–0.82) and QBS-c (18–49) indices. In addition, in soils under burnt trees, several epi-edaphic and dispersive species (e.g., Brachystomella parvula, Cryptopygus bipunctatus, Neanura muscorum) showed a significant increase within 38–62 months. In soils under burnt shrubs, the surface-active species were almost absent for the first 4–5 years and reappeared only after 62–74 months. The results indicated that in burnt soils Collembola assemblages followed alternative successional trajectories rather than converging toward pre-fire conditions. These findings highlight the need to integrate soil fauna into post-fire management, emphasizing the protection or restoration of tree cover patches to accelerate soil ecological functioning in Mediterranean forests.

Soil water retention is a key factor in ecological processes regulating ecosystem stability and resilience under environmental stress. In this regard, marine-derived additives may provide sustainable strategies to enhance soil water dynamics. Here, novel biopolymers derived from thermophilic bacteria, including six exopolysaccharides (EPS1-EPS6) and four biosurfactants (BS1-BS4), and biomasses from seaweed (BM1-BM4) and marine cyanobacteria (BC1-BC2), were investigated for their wetting properties and soil water retention. Wetting properties, including reduction in contact angle (RCA) and atmospheric-air moisture uptake (AMU), were monitored for 36 h at constant temperature (30 °C). The effect on soil water retention was evaluated in terms of water loss of soil samples treated with two different concentrations (0.5 and 1% w/w) of either biopolymers or biomasses in a microcosm consisting of 10 g of soil and 10 mL of water, kept at a stable temperature of 22 °C for 200 h (until complete evaporation occurred). BC2 derived from Leptolyngbya sp. 43.3 was the best wetting agent (RCA = 39.44%), while the EPS4 produced by Bacillus horneckiae SBP3 was the best humectant agent (AMU = 179.63%). Soils amended with bacterial biopolymers (EPS4, EPS5, EPS6, BS1 and BS3), as well as biomasses derived from cyanobacteria BC2 and seaweed BM1-BM4, produced better improvement in soil water retention, with marked effects at the concentration of 1% w/w. The lipopeptide BS1 was the most effective in water loss reduction over a specific time of 96-125 h at both concentrations. These findings highlight the potential of these materials as nature-based solutions to improve soil-mediated ecosystem resilience to drought under climate change.

Land use strongly influences soil biodiversity through complex interactions that reshape Collembola communities, which remains poorly investigated across Mediterranean contexts. This research assessed how contrasting land uses structure Collembola assemblages by integrating taxonomic composition, eco-morphological traits, the Collembola-based Biological Soil Quality index (QBS-c), and soil abiotic properties. Fourteen sites in five land uses (forest, kiwifruit orchards, vineyards, urban, and industrial/peri-urban soils) were sampled in Southern Italy. At each site, eight sampling points yielded 112 composite soil samples for physicochemical analyses and 336 samples for Collembola extraction. Collembola assemblage differed significantly among land uses. Forest soils supported the highest mean species richness (7.1 species per sample) with intermediate densities (4558 individuals m−2). Urban and industrial/peri-urban soils showed the highest densities (8280 and 7869 individuals m−2), whereas kiwifruit (2273 individuals m−2, 4 species per sample) and vineyards soil (1419 individuals m−2, 3.5 species per sample) displayed the lowest richness and density values. Eco-morphological composition differed among land uses, with epigeic forms prevailing in forests (39.4%), hemi-edaphic forms in vineyards (45.1%), and eu-edaphic forms in urban (51.8%) and industrial soils (57.9%). QBS-c ranged from 27.1 (kiwifruit) to 56.5 (urban), confirming its complementarity with eco-morphological structure. Overall, forest soil hosted more evenly partitioned and potentially more resilient assemblages, urban and industrial soils concentrated high densities within fewer redundant taxa. Agricultural soil emerged as the most depleted system, exhibiting reduced taxonomic and functional diversity. These findings highlight that Collembola responses to Mediterranean land use are context-dependent and better captured by integrating taxonomic and trait-based indicators.

The widespread use and mismanagement of agricultural mulches have increased microplastic (MP) contamination in soils, potentially altering soil-plant interactions. This study compared the effects of biodegradable (B-MPs) and conventional polyethylene (P-MPs) microplastics on soil nutrient dynamics, microbial activity, and physiological responses of spinach (Spinacia oleracea L.) grown in mesocosms. This study provides a holistic and integrated comparison of biodegradable and conventional microplastics across soil, microbial, and plant dimensions, contributing to a better understanding of how these materials influence soil-plant systems. Soils were amended with 0.5, 1, and 2% (w/w) of each MP type and compared with unamended controls over a four-month period. Soil samples were characterized by pH, N, Corg, NH4+, SO42-, elements availability microbial abundances and respiration (Resp), DNA yield, and eubacterial and fungal abundances. Spinach performance was assessed by element content in roots and leaves, photosynthetic activity, weight, length, leaf relative water content, specific leaf area, chlorophyll and carotenoid contents, and several stress responses (GAE, FRAP, HSP70, APX, GR, CAT). B-MPs significantly reduced microbial respiration by 20-25% and decreased Fe, K, Na, Zn, and V availability by up to 15-fold compared to controls, whereas 2%-P-MP soils showed 1.3-2.3-fold higher Fe and Zn availability. Spinach grown in B-MP soils exhibited lower biomass (-48%), carbon (-20%), and nitrogen (-25%) contents, while P-MP exposure mainly induced oxidative stress, with enhanced antioxidant activity (+40% FRAP) and increased expression of HSP70, APX, and CAT proteins. Bioaccumulation factors exceeded 1 for most elements, confirming active uptake, but translocation patterns differed between MP types. In conclusion, both conventional and biodegradable MPs compromise soil fertility and plant growth by reducing nutrient availability and acting as physiological stressors, highlighting the need for critical assessment and management of both biodegradable and conventional mulches.

Vertical stratification within forest floors creates sharp microenvironmental gradients in microhabitat structure and resource quality across successive stages of litter decomposition, yet how these gradients shape soil microarthropod communities remains incompletely resolved. We aimed to determine whether dominant co-occurring microarthropods, namely Oribatida and Collembola, respond to this vertical gradient through shared or divergent community assembly strategies. We investigated communities along the litter-soil profile (fresh litter, fragmented litter, surface soil 0–5 cm, and deeper soil 5–10 cm) in a European beech forest in the southern Apennines, sampled in autumn and spring. We combined species-level community analyses, community-weighted means of morphological and trophic traits, and RLQ ordination to evaluate how environmental gradients associated with litter transformation structure soil microarthropod communities. Oribatida exhibited a clear reorganisation with depth, with litter layers dominated by medium-sized, strongly sclerotised and concealed forms, whereas soil layers were dominated by small-bodied, weakly sclerotised morphotypes lacking concealability. RLQ axis 1 captured 90.9% of trait-environment co-inertia linking these trait syndromes to abiotic parameters. In contrast, Collembola showed less structured vertical patterns, with most morphological traits varying weakly across layers and no significant RLQ trait-environment coupling. Our findings indicate that vertical heterogeneity acts as a strong ecological filter within the studied beech forest floors and show that functional traits provide an effective framework for interpreting layer-specific assembly strategies in Oribatida and Collembola. These contrasting ecological strategies and assembly responses may contribute to the coexistence of dominant microarthropod groups across the heterogeneous litter-soil profile examined here.

Microplastics represent an emerging issue endangering all ecosystems including soils, where the impact of both conventional and biobased ones remains controversial. The study aimed to assess the effects of two concentrations (1% and 2%) of biodegradable and compostable microplastics and conventional high-density polyethylene microplastics on the abiotic properties of soil, and the ecotoxicological and ecopathological impacts on Eisenia fetida (Savigny, 1826) through histological techniques. Analyses conducted on the evaluation of abiotic soil parameters after 28 days of exposure did not show any significant change compared to the control samples. Ecotoxicological results showed increased mortality and decreased biomass across all treated groups after 14 days of exposure, while a significant reduction in offspring was only observed in 1%-biodegradable and compostable microplastics. Ecopathological analysis revealed inflammatory and/or degenerative phenomena in the epidermal and muscular layers in all treated groups after 14 days of exposure, suggesting the presence of sublethal effects which could impair the well-being of individuals. Overall, our results suggest that the ecopathological approach combined with the classical ecotoxicological one can help explain pathological events which are behind the ecotoxicological endpoints and underline the existence of fine tissue and cell damage even when no changes are observed during ecotoxicological studies.

Succession is the gradual change in the composition of a community of organisms over time that causes changes in soil properties. In Mediterranean areas where soils are subjected to erosion, reforestation is often applied, impacting the ecological succession and the soil properties. The main goals of the present research were (i) to evaluate changes in soil abiotic and biotic properties along successional stages and (ii) to verify the impact of reforestation on soil properties of the mature stage. To achieve the aims, the research was performed inside a Mediterranean forest including patches of zones at different successional stages (early: E, intermediate: I and natural-mature: N-M) and reforested zones (reforested-pine: R-P). The soils were analysed for pH, water content, total nitrogen content and organic matter amount. Additionally, soil microbial and fungal biomasses, hydrolase, dehydrogenase and beta-glucosidase activities, and phytotoxicity were also evaluated. Along the succession, increases in organic matter, nutrient and water content occurred, with the highest values observed at the N-M stage. Similarly, microbial biomass and activity were from two- to threefold higher at the N-M than at the E stage; by contrast, soil phytotoxicity was twofold higher at the E than at the N-M stage. Organic matter and water contents were the main factors influencing the soil microbial and fungal biomasses as well as the enzymatic activities. At the R-P stage, the contents of soil water, organic matter and N decreased, leading to the reduction of the microbial biomass and activities as compared to I and N-M stages. At the investigated area, reforestation, modifying the soil abiotic properties and decreasing the microbial abundance and activities, interrupted the evolution of the plant community.

The use of plastic films is among the major sources of pollution in agricultural soils and can impact soil properties and ecological functions. This study aimed to assess the short-term effects of polyethylene (PE) and biodegradable (BIO) plastic films on soil quality and multifunctionality by comparing them with an untreated control (CNT). A comprehensive set of abiotic (texture, bulk density, pH, water content, organic and total carbon, and total nitrogen) and biotic (enzymatic activities, DNA yield, eubacterial and fungal biomass) soil properties was assessed 6 months after treatment application, both in mesocosm and field experiments. These parameters were used to: (1) calculate ecological indices (IBR, integrated biomarker response index; MAI, metabolic activity index; SQI, soil quality index) to assess soil quality; (2) derive soil functions (N and C storage and decomposition), then integrated into a soil multifunctionality index (SMF) and analyzed using a random forest approach to identify the most influential variables contributing to soil multifunctionality. In the field experiment, both BIO and PE plastic films increased soil water content compared to CNT, while BIO led to a 2-fold increase in beta-glucosidase activity relative to PE and CNT. In the mesocosm experiment, PE increased total soil carbon by approximately 1.2-fold compared to BIO and CNT treatments. PE enhanced carbon storage capacity in mesocosm conditions, aligning with the results from the random forest analysis, which identified carbon storage as a key driver of soil multifunctionality. Despite these specific effects, no significant short-term changes in overall soil multifunctionality were observed for both plastic films. Among the indices tested, MAI highlighting differences between treatments emerged as the better integrative tool to monitor early functional changes in soil ecosystems.

Plastic pollution, particularly microplastics (MPs), is a growing ecological concern. In agroecosystems, plastic mulches enhance crop production but, alter nutrient cycles, affect soil structure and aeration, and may disrupt to soil-plant interactions and human health. The research, through a multifaceted and ecological approach, aimed to investigate: i) the interaction between microplastics and element translocation from soil to plants; ii) plant morphological, biochemical, and physiological responses to MPs-contaminated soils; iii) differential effects of conventional (PE) and biodegradable (BPs) MPs on soil and plants. Lettuce was grown in soils amended with 1

Invasive plants are among the top five drivers of biodiversity loss, primarily due to competition and allelopathy. By releasing root exudates, they alter soil properties, influencing both the abiotic and biotic characteristics of soil. The effects of invasive plants on soil characteristics and biota remain underexplored, with findings on this topic often being controversial and context-dependent. This study aimed to understand the impact of two invasive species—black locust (Robinia pseudoacacia L.) and tree of heaven (Ailanthus altissima Mill.)—on soil abiotic characteristics, microbial and Collembola communities. Comparisons were made with soils under two types of native vegetation cover: holm oak (Quercus ilex L.) and herbaceous vegetation. In fall 2023, twelve sites within Vesuvius National Park (three per plant cover type) were sampled to assess soil characteristics, microbial biomass and activities, and Collembola communities. Tree of heaven increased soil pH (6.95), bacterial biomass (42.94 ng g−1) and Collembola density (2038 organisms m2) while reducing water content (10.6% d.w.) and organic carbon (1.21% d.w.). Black locust increased nitrogen content (0.70% d.w.) but reduced microbial biomass (22.85 ng g−1) and Collembola density (873 organisms m2). Tree of heaven soils showed a higher proportion of hemi-edaphic Collembola (48.3%) compared to black locust soils, which were dominated by eu-edaphic forms (42.2%). Despite these differences, Collembola species composition was poorly diversified under invasive plants, with Brachystomella parvula and Protaphorura armata dominating both types of cover. In conclusion, the presence of invasive plants was associated with declines in soil organism biodiversity, underscoring their disruptive influence on forest ecosystems.

A multivariate pathway was developed to identify the primary cause of the non-specific decline syndrome of kiwifruit vines (KVDS), which is causing severe economic losses in the main kiwifruit producing region of Italy. A series of physicochemical (21), microbial (6), biochemical (5) and entomological (1) variables were measured in soil samples from striped rows (bulk soil) and planted rows (root explored soil) in four kiwifruit orchards selected according to a gradient of KVDS. This orchard health classification was consistent with three plant stress-related enzyme activities (catalase, phenylalanine ammonia-lyase and proline content), which were subsequently adopted as KVDS markers. The first step of the study, based on the comparison of the root-explored soil with the bulk soil, showed that the main changes concerned the biological soil properties. The analysis was then focused on soil samples from planted rows. A set of eight variables of biotic origin was identified as those with the best linear correlation with plant stress-related enzyme activities, taken as KVDS markers. These variables gave the best performance in discriminating orchards affected by KVDS, supporting the hypothesis that this syndrome is primarily induced by a general alteration in soil biological properties along with a reduction in soil functions. The overall lower abundance of the most important functional microbial populations and the significantly lower nitrogen (N) content in the root zone compared to the bulk soil in the striped rows indicated a reduced ability of the root explored soil to support plant growth and counteract the establishment of root pathogens, which have been variably associated with KVDS by several studies. The soil variables found to discriminate KVDS could be used to detect soil changes associated with KVDS, thus supporting the implementation of cropping practices for early counteraction of this syndrome. The use of plant enzyme activities as markers for early monitoring of non-specific decline in kiwifruit is another interesting result of this study.

Local adaptation to edaphic conditions might produce edaphic specialization, possibly limiting the potential for persistence in novel environments. Therefore, evaluating how different populations can cope with novel edaphic environments is crucial to forecast species survival. We conducted a reciprocal transplant experiment in greenhouse conditions in five Dianthus rupicola populations. We characterized the edaphic environments and estimated, in twelve maternal seed families per population, germination performance, seedling survival and photosynthetic efficiency in home vs. foreign soils. These data were used to test for local adaptation to the edaphic environment and to estimate genotype-by-environment interactions (G × E). Lastly, to estimate the additive genetic variance of each population, we quantified levels of genomic inbreeding. In four populations, we found strong patterns of local adaptation in germination performance and seedling survival, but not in photosynthetic efficiency. Populations showed similar extents of genetic diversity. Also, four populations were characterized by a significant G × E in plant performance verified by an increase in the expression of variance. However, the frequency of families being able to germinate in such environments was different among the populations. Our study shows that the edaphic environment can lead to strong natural selection in early plant life-cycle stages. However, maternal families that overcome the first critical phases show a wide tolerance to transplant soils. These families hidden within a population might have the potential to adapt to novel edaphic environments enhancing species survival in fragmented Mediterranean habitats.

The climatic conditions in southern Italy favor the occurrence and spread of forest fires, with severe long-lasting consequences on the local flora and fauna. On the one hand, biological and chemical in situ measurements are typically used to accurately investigate the evolution of the land affected by fires, with limited spatial coverage. On the other hand, Remote Sensing (RS) is a mature technology to complement the in situ campaigns on large regions with adequate revisit time. In this paper, we evaluate the capability of Sentinel-2 data to spatially and temporally extend post-fire in situ analysis on a fire-affected area. In particular, we estimate the soil quality index from Sentinel-2 data and achieve a remarkable coefficient of determination (R2=0.79) and low relative error (er=0.06), highlighting the robustness of the proposed approach. Furthermore, the soil water content and the total iron (Fe) concentrations emerged as pertinent indicators detectable through Near-Infrared and Short-Wave Infrared Sentinel-2 bands. The obtained results prompted an investigation into the post-fire evolution of soil properties, thanks to RS data, in a large area covered by diverse vegetation types. The obtained results encourage a deeper synergic use of in situ and remotely observed data, enabling a comprehensive understanding of soil quality dynamics in fire-affected regions.

The degradation of natural and urban areas due to human activities has intensified in recent decades, leading to significant biodiversity loss and decline in ecosystem service. In this context, the revegetation with native Mediterranean sclerophyllous shrubs represents a promising strategy for the recovery of overexploited environments. This study evaluated the suitability of two organic substrates-compost (C) and a compost-poultry manure mix (CP)- obtained from domestic waste and green refuse, as growing media for three Mediterranean species (Quercus ilex L., Phillyrea angustifolia L., Laurus nobilis L.) to restore degraded sites. To assess the effects of substrate type and climate on primary production, three plant species were cultivated for one year in mesocosms containing limestone debris, which was amended with either C or CP, and leaf gas exchanges as well as key eco-physiological traits were monitored across seasons. Results showed that plants on CP exhibited higher photosynthetic rates compared to those on C substrate, with increases of 25%, 12%, and 20% for Q. ilex, P. angustifolia, and L. nobilis, respectively, accompanied by greater height and trunk diameter for all species. Notably, during the summer drought period, CP plants maintained enhanced carbon fixation-22%, 25%, and 37% higher than C plants for the respective species. One year after, organic matter (OM) in the CP substrate had decreased by 44%, compared to only 7% in the C substrate, suggesting more rapid utilization by the plants. The readily available OM and the higher water-holding capacity of CP substrate (+ 54% after one year)), presumably contributed to the improved photosynthetic and transpiration rates during summer. Among species, Q. ilex demonstrated the highest resilience under challenging environmental conditions. Overall data suggests that the CP substrate is more effective than the C in promoting plant growth and offers significant potential for the recovery of degraded sites, such as disused quarries.

In the Mediterranean region, fire is a recurring disturbance that impacts both surface and underground organisms. While the effects on plants and surface animals are well-studied, the consequences for soil microarthropods are often overlooked. This research addresses the microarthropod responses to fire by comparing post-fire Collembola and Acari assemblages in soils with different vegetation covers. Three years post-fire, surface soils were sampled within the Vesuvius National Park (Southern Italy) from a total of 24 sites, comprising 6 sites each under holm oak (HO), pine (P), black locust (BL), and herbaceous (H) vegetation. Within each vegetation cover, sites were further categorized into three unburnt (NB) and three burnt (B) sites for comprehensive analysis. Collembola and Acari were extracted, identified at the family and suborder level, respectively and analyzed for density and taxa richness. The results highlighted that fire alone did not impact microarthropod communities, but its effects varied according to the vegetation covers. Microarthropod abundance declined in burnt soils under P, and increased in burnt soils under BL. Furthermore, eu-edaphic organisms (Onychiuridae, Oribatida), typical of stable environments, decreased in soils under P, and increased in soils under black locust. Fire impact on microarthropod communities changed according to the vegetation covers, highlighting the importance of considering vegetation type when managing post-fire landscapes. The rapid recovery of microarthropod communities under some vegetation covers suggests that fire may not universally impair soil biodiversity in Mediterranean environments.

Mediterranean soils are affected by degradation phenomena, exacerbated by anthropic disturbance. These ecosystems are affected by peculiar climatic conditions, characteristic vegetation and frequent fire that with the anthropic activities can compromise soil nutrient status. Studies concerning the nutrients stoichiometry in Mediterranean area are scarce, therefore the present research aim to fill the gap about the effect of seasonal variations, vegetation cover and fire occurrences on soil nutrient balance and microbial biomass and activity. The sampling was performed inside the Vesuvius National Park across 24 sites during two seasons (Fall and Spring), under trees and shrubs and in burned and unburned areas. Soils were characterized for carbon (C), nitrogen (N), phosphorous (P) and potassium (K) concentrations, for bacterial and fungal biomass (Eub and Fungi) and for microbial activities (respiration, hydrolase: HA, dehydrogenase: DHA, beta-glucosidase: beta-glu and urease: U). The results showed that, both in Fall and Spring, high C:N (18.7), C:P (130) and N:P (6.74) ratios were observed in soils under trees. Both in soils under trees and shrubs, low eubacterial biomass (trees: 90.2 ng g(-1) w.w.; shrubs: 44.4 ng g(-1) w.w.), respiration (trees: 0.24 mg CO2 g(-1) d.w. min(-1); shrubs: 0.14 mg CO2 g(-1) d.w. min(-1)) and hydrolase (trees: 37.0 mmol FDA g(-1) d.w. min(-1); shrubs: 11.9 mmol FDA g(-1) d.w. min(-1)) activities were observed in Spring. Fire effect was evident only in Fall where low values of eubacterial biomass (667 ng g(-1) w.w.) and respiration activity (0.60 mg CO2 g(-1) d.w. min(-1)) were observed in burnt soils. In conclusion, the seasonal variations and the vegetation cover appeared the main environmental factors that affect nutrient stoichiometry and microbial biomass and activity in Mediterranean soils. It is necessary to monitor Mediterranean soils during different seasons and encourage the growth of native vegetation to enhance nutrient cycling and maintain soil health.

Plastic mulch is a commonly employed technique in agriculture to enhance crop production. Given the persistence of plastic residues in soil, bioplastics offer a potential alternative. Unfortunately, little is known about the medium-term consequences of both plastic and bioplastic mulches on soil properties. This study aimed to assess the medium-term consequences of plastic and bioplastic mulches and their replacement on soil properties. To this aim, the impact of conventional plastic (polyethylene, CP) and biodegradable plastic (BP) mulches on soil’s abiotic (pH, water content, total and organic carbon and total nitrogen contents) and biotic (microbial biomass, microbial respiration, enzymatic activities and microarthropod communities) properties after 2 years of exposure (T1) and after 3 (T2) and 6 (T3) months of mulch replacement was investigated. Moreover, uncovered soils were assessed as a control. The results highlighted that the samples were more significantly impacted by exposure time to mulches than by the different kinds of mulches. The replacement of both mulches (T2 and T3) decreased the content of C and increased the microbial biomass and activities; moreover, the mulch replacement changed the microarthropod community composition with a decrease of Collembola and an increase of Oribatida and Gamasida, especially in soils covered by biodegradable plastic mulches. Further investigations are needed to better understand the long-term impact of mulches on soil biota in order to prove the potential ecological implications of transitioning to sustainable alternatives.

Background and aimLitter and soil characteristics influence the abundance and activities of decomposers and detritivores, thereby affecting C accumulation. The relationship between the chemical composition of soil organic matter and soil organisms is still unclear. The study aims to investigate how the quality and quantity of litter and soil organic matter influence C accumulation and the relationships between organic matter quality and bacteria, fungi and microarthropods in litter and soil.Materials and methodsLitters and soils from 24 sites were analysed for the abiotic (pH, water content, total C and N content and the chemical composition of soluble C: carbohydrate, alkyl, O-alkyl, aromatic and carboxyl groups) and the biotic characteristics (bacterial and fungal abundances, urease and beta-glucosidase, microbial respiration, microarthropod community).ResultsLitter had a high carbohydrate and low C contents, whereas soil had higher content of recalcitrant compounds (aromatic and carboxylic groups) and C. Whitin substrate types, higher C content was found in litter from shrubs and in soil under sclerophyllous evergreens. Bacterial abundances were lower in litter than in soil, whereas microbial respiration, enzymatic activities, microarthropod densities and predator abundances were higher in litter than in soil. Microbial abundances and activities were strongly related to total C and N concentrations in both litter and soil, while the microarthropod community was positively correlated with soluble C recalcitrant compounds in soil.ConclusionsSoils showed a high capacity for C accumulation due to the high content of recalcitrant compounds. In soil, the microarthropod community, more than bacteria and fungi, was positively correlated with the quality of organic matter.