Intensified land uses lead to lower taxonomic richness of nematodes, springtails, and mites in a global meta-analysis

The primary cause of soil biodiversity loss and one of the most significant threats to global biodiversity is land use intensification. Intensification gradients describe the spectrum of land use schemes employed for human benefits. Through the meta-analysis of faunal measurements in global intensification gradients, this study aims to systematically evaluate and quantify the effects of different forms of land use intensification on nematodes, springtails, mites, and enchytraeids. Additionally, it seeks to examine the dependence of these effects on abiotic predictors like soil properties and climate. We found that the taxonomic richness of nematodes, springtails, and mites is lower under intensified land uses. Assessing the effects on enchytraeid taxonomic richness was not possible due to the sparsity of data. When comparing arable croplands to undisturbed ecosystems, nematode density is lower in the former; no significant differences were observed for any other intensification form. Mites and springtails were more likely to show lower taxonomic richness in intensive land uses. The effects of intensification on the taxonomic richness of springtails and mites indicate that these organisms are highly vulnerable to intensification across a wide range of climatic zones. In locations with higher mean annual precipitation, increased land use had a significantly greater negative influence on nematode, springtail, and mite density and taxonomic richness. The effects of intensification suggested possible interactions between soil pH, land management practices, and soil fauna community composition. The findings imply that the density and taxonomic richness of the investigated faunal communities may be more significantly impacted by the intensity of land use overall than by individual management practices. Our study emphasizes the need for region-specific and climate-sensitive approaches to land management to mitigate the adverse effects of intensification on soil faunal biodiversity.