Soil Macrofauna & Soil Formation The soil structure and formation of its humus horizon significantly depends on a vital activity of soil macro fauna. Activity of soil inhabitants determines the rate of plant residues destruction and their mineralization, and accordingly the rates of turnover of organic compounds. The character of plant litter destruction, its structure and humus horizon formation entirely depend on the action of soil inhabitants. The Dominant Groups of Soil Macrofauna Georgia is among the 34 Hot spots of world bio-diversity, particularly as it concerns to the soil fauna. The goal of this research was to study the high mountain soil fauna of different regions of Georgia to make the comparison of soil fauna composition. The major groups of soil fauna in the pilot sites of studied regions are invertebrates-saprophagous which occupy the leading position in the soil formation processes. To study the species composition of high mountain ecosystems‘ soil inhabitants, their distribution and trophic structure, standard methods applied in soil zoology were used. Traps were used for gathering and defining the dominant species of soil invertebrates. A role of soil inverte- brate-saprophages was shown in pla- nt litter destruction processes, in en- hancement of biological cycle of high mountain ecosystems and in mainte- nance of soil natural fertility. A complex research of high mounta- inous ecosystems, their components and their vital activities were investigated in two High Mountainous Regions of Georgia. The basic groups of high mountain meadows invertebrate-saprohages (millipedes, earthworms, insect, etc.) were determined. Depth of population and occurrence of representatives of mesofauna were 50 cm in all three plots. The most populated were the top horizons of soil, namely to 30 cm, whereas there were only individual species of larvae of weevils and lamellicorns that laid deeper. Researchers showed a leading position of earthworms on sele- cted plots. It should be noted that in depression, the number of macrofauna representatives was several times less in com-parison with raised sites. In our opinion the reduced number was caused by higher humidity of soil that was proven with the presence of hygrophilous kinds of macrofauna, such as earth-worms and by complete absen-ce of steppe kind Nicodrilus jassyensis on the site. Soil macrofauna structure stability greatly depends on pasture loading. An excessive overloading of pastures often leads to unrecoverable results which can be revealed with tamping and packing of soil and destruction of plant cover. All of it showed importance of active involving in soil forming processes of faunistic complex. What Can be Done for Soil Remediation It is very important to increase the soil fertility through the usage of fertilizer and green manuring which strengthens and enriches the soil with organic matters Among the measures to improve the condition of pastures is the regulation of disordered and a chaotic overloading of pastures. Due to the damage caused by erosion, grass covering soil needs a longer rest period. Soil inhabitants have an important role in soil forming processes; hence we consider the necessity of preservation of soil invertebrates’ biodiversity. The improvement of the soil productivity due to active organic fertilizers will be possible by introducing vermiculture. The development of vermitechnology gives possibility to boost soil productivity. 1 2 3 0 200 400 600 800 1000 1200 1400 1600 1800 2000 South Georgia Stephantsminda Region NEW LIFE, THAT WE WOULD LIKE TO RECEIVE mzia kokhia@iliauni edu ge; www iliauni edu ge INTRODUCTION Soil Macrofauna and Their Role in Soil Remediation Soil Macrofauna and Their Role in Soil Remediation Mzia Kokhia Institute of Zoology, Ilia State University METHODOLOGY MAIN RESULTS Fig. 1: Earthworms & Biohumus Tab 1: The dominant groups of macrofauna in Stephantsminda Region (2000 m asl) Tab. 2: The Diplopods quantity in South Georgia (1400 m asl) Fig. 2: Earthworm Fig. 3: Soil map of Georgia Fig. 4: High Mountain Landscape of Georgia Fig 5: Quantitative Distribution of Macrofauna CONCLUSION
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Soil Macrofauna & SoilFormationThe soil structure and formation ofits humus horizon significantlydepends on a vital activity of soilmacro fauna.Activity of soil inhabitantsdetermines the rate of plant residuesdestruction and their mineralization,and accordingly the rates of turnoverof organic compounds. Thecharacter of plant litter destruction,its structure and humus horizonformation entirely depend on theaction of soil inhabitants.
The Dominant Groupsof Soil MacrofaunaGeorgia is among the 34 Hot spotsof world bio-diversity, particularlyas it concerns to the soil fauna. Thegoal of this research was to study thehigh mountain soil fauna ofdifferent regions of Georgia to makethe comparison of soil faunacomposition.The major groups of soil fauna in thepilot sites of studied regions areinvertebrates-saprophagous whichoccupy the leading position in thesoil formation processes.
To study the species composition ofhigh mountain ecosystems‘ soilinhabitants, their distribution andtrophic structure, standard methodsapplied in soil zoology were used.Traps were used for gathering anddefining the dominant species of soilinvertebrates. A role of soil inverte-brate-saprophages was shown in pla-nt litter destruction processes, in en-hancement of biological cycle of highmountain ecosystems and in mainte-nance of soil natural fertility.A complex research of high mounta-inous ecosystems, their componentsand their vital activities wereinvestigated in two HighMountainous Regions of Georgia.The basic groups of high mountainmeadows invertebrate-saprohages(millipedes, earthworms,insect, etc.) were determined.
Depth of population and occurrenceof representatives of mesofaunawere 50 cm in all three plots. Themost populated were the tophorizons of soil, namely to 30 cm,whereas there were only individualspecies of larvae of weevils andlamellicorns that laid deeper.
Researchers showed a leadingposition of earthworms on sele-cted plots. It should be noted thatin depression, the number ofmacrofauna representatives wasseveral times less in com-parisonwith raised sites. In our opinionthe reduced number was causedby higher humidity of soil thatwas proven with the presence ofhygrophilous kinds ofmacrofauna, such as earth-wormsand by complete absen-ce ofsteppe kind Nicodrilus jassyensison the site.
Soil macrofauna structurestability greatly depends onpasture loading. An excessiveoverloading of pastures oftenleads to unrecoverable resultswhich can be revealed withtamping and packing of soil anddestruction of plant cover. All ofit showed importance of activeinvolving in soil formingprocesses of faunistic complex.
What Can be Done for SoilRemediationIt is very important to increasethe soil fertility through the usageof fertilizer and green manuringwhich strengthens and enrichesthe soil with organic mattersAmong the measures to improvethe condition of pastures is theregulation of disordered and achaotic overloading of pastures.Due to the damage caused byerosion, grass covering soil needsa longer rest period. Soilinhabitants have an importantrole in soil forming processes;hence we consider the necessity ofpreservation of soil invertebrates’biodiversity. The improvement ofthe soil productivity due to activeorganic fertilizers will be possibleby introducing vermiculture. Thedevelopment of vermitechnologygives possibility to boost soilproductivity.
1 2 30
200400600800
100012001400160018002000
South GeorgiaStephantsminda Region
NEW LIFE, THAT WEWOULD LIKE TO
RECEIVE
mzia kokhia@iliauni edu ge; www iliauni edu ge
INTRODUCTION
Soil Macrofauna and Their Role in Soil Remediation
Soil Macrofauna and Their Role in Soil Remediation
Mzia KokhiaInstitute of Zoology, Ilia State University
METHODOLOGY MAIN RESULTS
Fig. 1: Earthworms & Biohumus
Tab 1: The dominant groups of macrofauna in Stephantsminda Region (2000 m asl)
Tab. 2: The Diplopods quantity in South Georgia (1400 m asl)
Fig. 2: Earthworm
Fig. 3: Soil map of Georgia
Fig. 4: High Mountain Landscape of Georgia
Fig 5: Quantitative Distribution of Macrofauna
CONCLUSION
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