Table 1 Results of partial least squares regressions for soil biota against soil properties for richness

Total C^a

1.14

(R² = 0.44***)

1.21

(R² = 0.13***)

0.44

1.3

(R² = 0.35***)

0.9

Total N^a

0.93

0.89

0.93

0.8

1.18

C:N ratio^b

1.45

(R² = 0.41***)

1.31

(R² = 0.09***)

1.64

(R² = 0.28***)

1.67

(R² = 0.35***)

0.1

Total P (mg kg⁻¹)^b

0.35

0.59

0.7

0.85

0.67

Organic matter (% LOI)^a

1.47

(R² = 0.5***)

1.27

(R² = 0.14***)

1.13

(R² = 0.29***)

1.27

(R² = 0.35***)

1.08

pH (CaCl₂)

1.98

(R² = 0.51***)

1.68

(R² = 0.25***)

1.52

(R² = 0.23***)

1.56

(R² = 0.33***)

0.9

Soil water repellency^a,c

1.31

(R² = 0.2***)

0.9

1.23

(R² = 0.13***)

0.93

0.98

Volumetric water content (m³ m^{3 −1})

0.36

1.33

(R² = 0.13***)

0.6

0.41

0.4

Soil bound water (g water g dry soil⁻¹)

1.25

(R² = 0.41***)

0.83

1.08

(R² = 0.26***)

1.23

(R² = 0.31***)

0.63

Rock volume (mL)

0.25

0.61

0.64

0.27

1.3

Bulk density (g cm^{3 −1})

1.39

(R² = 0.44***)

1.43

(R² = 0.18***)

1.41

(R² = 0.29***)

1.5

(R² = 0.35***)

1.39

Clay content (%)^d

0.85

1.19

(R² = 0.1***)

0.84

1.14

(R² = 0.09***)

0.05

Sand content (%)^d

0.45

0.16

0.6

0.51

0.78

Elevation (m)

1.66

(R² = 0.42***)

1.7

(R² = 0.27***)

1.68

(R² = 0.22***)

1.65

(R² = 0.36***)

0.57

Mean annual precipitation (mL)

1.08

(R² = 0.25***)

1.75

(R² = 0.3***)

1.44

(R² = 0.18***)

1.48

(R² = 0.27***)

0.46

Temperature (°C)

0.51

0.5

0.56

0.58

0.35

Collembola^e

0.34

0.06

0.41

0.17

1.14

(R² = 0.03***)

Mites^e

0.49

0.2

1.17

(R² = 0.03***)

0.23

1.74

(R² = 0.08***)

Total mesofauna^e

0.44

0.1

1.03

(R² = 0.01*)

0.15

1.71

(R² = 0.08***)