Temperature, phosphorous and layer affect community composition of Enchytraeidae (Annelida, Clitellata) in forest floors
This study investigates how environmental gradients shape soil mesofauna communities in forest floors, focusing on Enchytraeidae (Annelida: Clitellata), an ecologically important group involved in decomposition and nutrient cycling. Using DNA metabarcoding across different forest floor layers, we examined how temperature and soil phosphorus, together with microbial and soil activity indicators, influence enchytraeid species richness, biomass, and community structure. We detected 51 species from 12 genera and found that community composition was strongly affected by temperature, phosphorus availability, forest floor layer, and their interactions. Our results show that combined abiotic drivers, especially temperature phosphorus interactions, play a central role in structuring Enchytraeidae communities and shaping their functional traits. Understanding these patterns is important for predicting how soil fauna and the ecosystem processes they support may respond to environmental change and altered forest floor conditions.