Soil mesofauna in Central Amazon.

The diversity of soil and litter mesofauna (i.e., Acari, Palpigradi and Pseudoscorpiones, Collembola and Myriopoda) in Central Amazon are reviewed. Different methods of sampling and extraction of the soil mesofauna employed in the region are described. Details of the previous studies on soil mesofauna in the Central Amazon region are tabulated. The spatial distribution models of the mesofauna in natural and anthropogenic environments, and the impacts of deforestation and fires are discussed. In addition, the effects of soil fauna on litter decomposition and manipulation are also covered. Finally, the influence of the diversity of leaves on the colonization rate of litter animals is also discussed.