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Summary: SPATIAL AND TEMPORAL PATTERNS OF SOIL
BIOLOGICAL ACTIVITY IN A FOREST AND AN OLD
FIELD
JOSEF H. GOÈ RRES*, MARNIE J. DICHIARO{, JODI B. LYONS and
JOSEÂ A. AMADOR
Department of Natural Resources Science, University of Rhode Island, Kingston, RI 02881, U.S.A.
(Accepted 9 March 1997)
SummaryÐThe spatial distribution of C mineralization, nematode density, organic matter content and
soil moisture were determined for a forest and an old ®eld soil in the northeastern U.S.A. over the
course of a year. The data were analyzed using univariate, multivariate and geostatistical methods. The
forest soil had a higher C mineralization rate, soil moisture content and nematode density than the old
®eld soil throughout the year. High C mineralization rates and nematode density coincided with a brief
January thaw in the forest, but not in the old ®eld soil. Multiple regression analysis identi®ed dierent
components as signi®cant for C mineralization depending on sampling date. In the old ®eld, soil moist-
ure and organic matter content were signi®cant regression components for C mineralization at dierent
times of the year. In the forest, organic matter, root mass (>2 mm) and bulk density were signi®cant
regression components on dierent dates. For nematodes, the multiple regression analysis identi®ed soil
moisture and bulk density as signi®cant in both soils at dierent times of the year. Maps for each prop-
erty were estimated with block kriging for each sampling date. In the forest, areas of maximal C miner-
alization and nematode density coincided with areas of high organic matter and moisture content only
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