ИСТИНА

Conservation of biodiversity and natural ecosystem productivity are fundamental factors for When looking at urban development, it is possible to achieve the desired result by maintaining the integrity of an ecological framework, which aims to reduce the fragmentation of natural habitats in the area. Group comparison of soil macrofauna in similar forest communities with different anthropogenic loads is presented in current study. "Kuzminki-Lyublino" city nature park was selected as study object. This park is located in south-east of Moscow (Russia). Prioksko- Terrasny Biosphere Reserve was selected as reference area for the comparison. Both territories have got similar biotic and abiotic, but different anthropogenic factors. A field study was conducted during the spring and autumn 2013. The following biotopes were researched in both protected areas: pinewood (Pinus sylvestris - Convallaria majalis) and birchwood (Betula Pendula - Calamagrostis epigeios). Soil samples were collected every other day in a fivefold repetitions in each of the protected biotope areas in spring and autumn. The macrofauna was studied by hand-sorting soil samples taken from 20-cm wide and 30-cm deep trench. In total 180 samples were investigated. The composition, number of individuals (ind/m2), biomass (g/m2), dominant complexes, trophic structure and diversity indices of each group of soil macrofauna were studied. It is shown that soil macrofauna that inhabits both sites retains their natural features, with similar total population (from 218 up to 694 ind /m2) and the same group composition (24 groups). However, the number of individuals within each group is different. Compared with the reference area, in the city park "Kuzminki-Lyublino" in plots with the lowest anthropogenic load, the increase in the number of earthworms (from 26 up to 160 ind / m2) and a decrease in the number of other groups of macrofauna is observed. This shows the increase of total macrofauna biomass (from 5 g/m2 up to 43 g/m2), the growing role of saprophages (from 20 up to 50%) together with a decrease in the proportion of zoophages (from 20 to 10%). In urban forests soil invertebrate animals have got more pronounced seasonal dynamics than in reference area. Thus, the violation arising from urban anthropogenic load stimulates the activity of the ecosystem’s destruction and enhances the temporal and spatial variability of the soil invertebrates community.