Integrative Assessment of Soil Quality Using Biological Indicators in Mountain Ecosystems of Rio de Janeiro, Brazil

Soil management practices can profoundly reshape the structure and function of soil-dwelling communities, directly impacting biological activity and overall ecosystem health. This project introduces an innovative and integrative approach to evaluate soil quality in a mountainous region of Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, by applying a comprehensive set of biological indicators across areas with contrasting land-use histories.The study focuses on comparing two agricultural systems -tomato (Solanum lycopersicum L.) and maize (Zea mays L.) cultivation - with a secondary forest minimally affected by human disturbance. By analyzing soil macrofauna diversity, microbial communities (bacteria and fungi via high-throughput sequencing), enzymatic activities (beta-glucosidase and arylsulfatase), glomalin-related soil protein (GRSP), and arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) abundance, the project highlights how different management practices influence soil health.Key findings revealed that forest and maize areas supported higher macrofauna richness compared to tomato fields, which exhibited reduced species density and diversity. Enzymatic activities varied significantly, with beta-glucosidase being more active in maize fields, while arylsulfatase proved to be a sensitive indicator of soil quality changes. Microbial network analyses showed competitive interactions dominating agricultural soils, whereas cooperative interactions prevailed in forest soils, suggesting greater ecological stability.This research demonstrates the effectiveness of biological attributes-particularly invertebrate macrofauna, enzymatic activity, and microbial community structure-in distinguishing soil quality across land-use types. The outcomes provide valuable insights for sustainable land management, emphasizing the importance of preserving biological integrity in tropical mountain ecosystems under anthropogenic pressure.