Effects of deeper snow and reindeer grazing on soil microarthropods in a subarctic forest

The data sets consist of non-transformed count data of oribatid mites (Oribatida) and springtails (Collembola), full names of identified oribatid mite and springtail species with information about feeding guilds as well as about reproductive mode, size class and habitat preference and used literature (Species lists), and abundance data of microarthropods (Microarthropods).Data was collected from a subarctic oligotrophic pine forest located close to Kevo Research Station in northern Finland (69°46´N, 26°57´E, 90 m a.s.l.). The forest had an experiment where snow depth had been manipulated (i.e., control and increased snow depth) for two winters (2021-2022, 2022-2023) and reindeer grazing had been manipulated (i.e. grazed and ungrazed) for 55 years using a reindeer excluding fence. Replication in each snow x grazing combination was four (N=4).Sampling for soil microarthropods was conducted 15th September 2023. One sample consisted of three soil cores (diam. 5 cm, approx. 6 cm depth) that were collected from a 50 cm x 50 cm area and pooled together to form a composite sample per each experimental plot. The area was used to normalize microarthropod abundances as individuals m^-2. Samples were stored cool (~6 °C) and extractions with Tullgren– Berlese-type funnels were started within six days from sampling. The funnels were run for five days, until all samples were dry. During transport, two replicates from control x ungrazed combination got destroyed.<br>For more information, see the original article which bibliographic information will be provided after publicationVäisänen M, Kantola N, Markkula I () Effects of deeper snow and reindeer grazing on soil microarthropods in a subarctic forest