Efficiency of numerical and parametrical indices to evaluate biodiversity of soil and litter arthropods mesofauna in different physiographic positions in Zagros oak forests

This study aimed to determine the efficiency of numerical and parametrical indices to evaluate biodiversity of soil and litter mesofauna in different physiographic positions. Sampling was conducted in three height classes above sea level (low land, middele land and high land) and two aspects (north and south). Also, in each altitude class, three different slope classes (less than 25%, 50-25% and more than 50%) were determined. Three transects of about 100 m were established in each of the slope classes. Three sample points were located along each transect. Around the center of each sample point, a litter layer and a soil sample to a depth of 10 cm speratly were taken. In the laboratory, soil and litter samples were placed inside a Berlese funnel to bring out arthropods mesofauna. The results showed that soil mesufauna Shannon–Wiener's diversity, Pielou's evenness and Margalef's richness indices, were significantly affected by aspect, elevation, sampling depth and their interactions. Along the northern aspect and in the litter layer, the highest Shannon–Wiener's diversity index was observed in middle land and slpoe