Assessment of disturbance on soil ecosystems.

Given the complexity of ecosystems, the high degree of interactions among species, and the numerous responses of systems to disturbance, it is unlikely that simple assays developed for other systems would adequately serve to monitor soil systems. Apart from the questionable applicability of non-soil techniques, protocols to monitor soil biota in a standardized manner have not been developed. To monitor soils, a five-phase plan is proposed. The plan involves: (1) a thorough survey of the systems biota; (2) laboratory toxicity trials on indicator species (Folsomia candida); (3) field tests on indicator processes (litter decomposition); (4) field monitoring of indicator functional groups (nematodes); (5) the development of standardized statistical techniques and simulation models. Each phase of the plan was designed to capture a different aspect of food web structure and function.