Abstract
Soil animal fauna and ground water levels were examined to determine the influence of soil water on soil animals around an agricultural pond in a suburban area. Large plots (10 m × 10 m each) for creating plant community profile diagrams; they were Concave (with spring water), Convex (without spring water), and Bamboo (with spring water after heavy rain events) sites. Two small plots (2 m × 2 m each) were set within each large plot for sampling of soil animals and litter, and analysing of soil chemistry. Soil samples were collected by the gleaning method and soil animals were extracted by Tullgren funnels for three days. We also installed a total of 18 wells to measure the ground water levels within the three study sites. The presence of ground water was confirmed in the Concave and Bamboo sites, particularly throughout the year in the Concave site. Enchytraeidae, Pseudoscorpiones, and Amphipoda were the common groups in the Concave site, although these were observed in a small number in the Convex site. A large numbers of taxa were observed in the Bamboo site throughout the year. This site presumably provided a rich food resource and an appropriate habitat for soil animals with plenty of litter. There were some large size broad-leaved trees mixed with bamboo, so that the litter might be good quality for soil animals
