Low-cost stratified subterranean trap for sampling soil macrofauna in Kalahari drylands
By
Walter R. Jubber
Hot, fresh, and worth queueing round the block for.
Summary
This article presents a low-cost, stratified subterranean trapping method developed for live capture of soil macrofauna in the sandy, dryland soils of the southern Kalahari. It addresses the understudied nature of soil invertebrates in drylands, which cover over 40% of global land mass and are typically nutrient-poor with coarse-textured soils. The method enables sampling of below-ground taxa and litter-dwelling invertebrates, providing a practical solution for studying biodiversity in these challenging environments.
Key quotes
· 3 pulledDrylands cover more than 40% of the global land mass and support a high level of biodiversity
Dryland soils are typically nutrient-poor, coarse-textured, with low organic matter and low water retention
Key but understudied components of the biotic communities in drylands are the soil invertebrates
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