Slope aspect and position affect soil arthropod assemblages in a temperate secondary forest of hilly region (northweast China)

Spatial heterogeneity is a key factor to understand structure and dynamics of populations, communities and ecosystems. In this study we investigated the densities of soil arthropod communities across different slope positions in a hilly region, such as the river bed, foot slope, upside slope and crest slope of shady and sunny slopes in a typical temperate secondary forest of northeast China. Redundancy analysis was performed to determine the patterns of spatial distribution of soil arthropods in relation to slope aspect and slope position. Slope aspect and slope position had significant impacts on spatial distribution of soil arthropods, but overall effects varied considerably across soil arthropods because of significant differences in taxonomic identity and biological traits among them. The study shows that slope aspect and position significantly influence the spatial distribution of soil arthropod assemblage by their effects on the integrative features of soil and vegetation factors on the microhabitat scale.