International records / Internet Archive

Effects of bush clearing and soil cultivation on the invertebrate fauna of a forest soil in the humid tropics

The soil fauna of bush regrowth in Ibadan, Nigeria, and the changes which resulted from bush clearing followed by cultivation over a period of two years are described. Clearing and cultivation were shown to have a considerable influence on numerical abundance and family or species composition of all elements of the fauna. Initial effects are attributed to physical disturbances and later effects to the harsher environment caused by reduced shading and food resources, extremes in soil moisture and temperature and greater soil compaction. Recolonisation of cultivated soils by some elements of the…