Data for: Plant roots fuel tropical soil animal communities

Belowground life relies on plant litter, while its linkage to living roots
had long been understudied, and remains unknown in the tropics. Here, we
analysed the response of 30 soil animal groups to root trenching and
litter removal in rainforest and plantations in Sumatra, and found that
roots are similarly important to soil fauna as litter. Trenching effects
were stronger in soil than in litter, with an overall decrease in animal
abundance in rainforest by 42% and in plantations by 30%. Litter removal
little affected animals in soil layers, but decreased the total abundance
by 60% in rainforest and rubber plantations but not in oil palm
plantations. Litter and root effects on animal group abundances were
explained by body size or vertical distribution. Our study quantifies
principle carbon pathways in soil food webs under tropical land use,
providing the basis for mechanistic modelling and ecosystem-friendly
management of tropical soils.