Abstract: We examined species composition of soil Collembola and the variation characteristics of soil fauna following the introduction of Folsomia candida in a secondary evergreen broad-leaved forest naturally-recovered from the cut-over land of Chinese fir (Cunninghamia lanceolata (Lamb.) Hook.) plantation for 14 years in Huitong, Hunan Province. A total of 391 Collembola were collected, belonging to 20 genera. The dominant species were Folsomia, Sinella and Tomacerus, which accounted for 47.8% of the total abundance. Soil fauna abundance was promoted by the introduction of F. candida. Such increases of abundance mainly resulted from the increase of Collembola and Acarina excepting F. candida. Collembola and Acarina contributed to 43.3% and 34.9% of the increase in abundance, respectively. The increases of Collembola abundance in the community were mainly from the increase ofIsotoma, Sinella and Onychiurus, which contributed to 34.0%, 23.7% and 16.1% of the increase, respectively. From the vertical distribution, the increase of soil fauna abundance mainly resulted from that in litter layer. In addition, the abundance and Simpson index of soil fauna had significant positive correlation with litter loss rate and soil microbial biomass carbon. Simpson index of soil fauna, Simpson index and richness of soil Collembola increased significantly, indicating that the introduction of F. candidacould improve the diversity of soil fauna and soil Collembola in the community. The responses of the abundance and diversity of soil fauna suggest that the introduction of F. candidain evergreen broad-leaved forest soil could be a regulating method for the restoration and reconstruction of soil ecosystems.

Key words: soil fauna, Collembola, Folsomia candida, abundance, diversity, evergreen broad-leaved forest.