KEANEKARAGAMAN DAN KELIMPAHAN MESOFAUNA TANAH DI LAHAN BEKAS TAMBANG GAMPING KECAMATAN PADALARANG, BANDUNG BARAT

Soil fauna is one of the ecosystem components that play a role in the process of organic matter decomposition and soil improvement. Soil mesofauna are sensitive to environmental changes due to human activities, including land conversion for mining activities. The diversity and abundance of soil fauna depend on environmental conditions and food availability. Soil mesofauna can be used as bioindicators of habitat degradation and soil quality. This study aims to identify and assess soil mesofauna diversity index and abundance on open access land (LAT) formerly used for limestone mining in the Padalarang area, West Bandung Regency. Soil samples were collected from natural soil (844 masl), LAT 1 (837 masl), LAT 2 (834 masl), and LAT 3 (809 masl). Soil fauna were extracted using a Berlese Funnel Extractor. Soil fauna diversity was calculated based on Shannon’s Diversity Index, while soil fauna abundance was calculated based on Meyer's (1966) equation. The highest soil fauna diversity value was found in natural soil at 1.87 (moderate), while the lowest soil fauna diversity value was found in LAT 2 at 1.38 (low). The highest soil fauna abundance was found in LAT 2 (6295 individuals/m2) with a slope gradient of 8-15%, while the lowest abundance was found in natural soil (594 individuals/m2) with a slope gradient of 15-25%. Variation in abundance, taxon count, and soil fauna diversity is influenced by environmental factors such as soil pH, slope gradient, vegetation, and moisture content.