Desertification impact on macro-invertebrate diversity in grassland soil in Horqin, northern China

Soil macro-invertebrate was sampled at five degrees of desertification: non- (NDG), light- (LDG), moderate- (MDG), heavy- (HDG), and severe- (SDG) desertified grassland in Horqin sandy land, Inner Mongolia, northern China. Soil nutrients began to decrease from LDG, while plant species richness, density and diversity began to decrease from MDG. There was significantly lower soil macro-invertebrate abundance, richness, and diversity in the severe desertified grassland while no significant influences were found between NDG, LDG, MDG and HDG. Soil macroinvertebrate abundance changed in-step with plant density, while invertebrate richness, diversity and evenness changed not in-step with soil nutrients or plant variables. Furthermore, the pool of groups that colonized one type of desertified grassland appeared to be substantially different from other types due to specific habitat states, particularly where different plant density and richness were involved. Desertification development had significantly influences on soil nutrients (soil organic carbon and total nitrogen content) and biodiversity (plant and soil invertebrate).