STRUCTURAL CHARACTERISTICS OF THE SOIL INVERTEBRATE COMMUNITIES FROM TWO FRAGMENTED NATURA 2000 SITES FROM ROMANIA

Wetland ecosystems are dependent of groundwater. They provide goods and ecosystem services. Any anthropic activity will affect their structure. This ecological damage could be revealed by using the biological indicators, as soil invertebrate communities. In 2018, two fragmented Natura 2000 sites were studied: Forest and Eutrophic Marshes from Prejmer (ROSCI0170) and Lempes Fortress Hill-Harman Marsh (ROSCI0055). 80 soil samples were investigated, from four fragments in each sites. Two structural parameters were analysed: numerical abundance and constancy. In total, 19 taxa were identified, with 1108 individuals. The highest values of numerical abundances were obtained by the Oribatida mites and Collembola. In Prejmer, 23.52% from the total number of taxa were euconstant, 17.64% constant, 41.17% accessory and 17.64% accidental. The soil fauna from Harman was represented only by accessory (53.84%) and accidental taxa (46.15%). The dominance of the accidental and accessory taxa demonstrating that the two protected area were not characterized by stable communities. The canonical analysis revealed that the type of habitat influenced the spatial distribution of soil invertebrate communities, defining distinct groups for marsh ecosystems, alluvial forests and deciduous forests.