@article{fdi:010092830,
  title = {{L}ife history traits in microarthropods : evidence for a soil animal economics spectrum},
  author = {{L}u, {J}. {Z}. and {P}fingstl, {T}. and {J}unker, {R}. {R}. and {M}araun, {M}. and {E}rktan, {A}mandine and {S}cheu, {S}.},
  editor = {},
  language = {{ENG}},
  abstract = {{E}volution optimizes the performance of living organisms through budgeting of limited resources, leading to life- history trade-offs. {M}any life-history traits are related to body size with larger species typically exhibiting a slower pace of life and lower fecundity. {H}owever, soil-living organisms may exhibit size-independent life-history strategies due to habitat space constraints, but this has never been tested. {H}ere, we synthesize life-history traits in springtails ({I}nsecta: {C}ollembola) and mites ({A}cari: {O}ribatida, {A}stigmata, {M}esostigmata), the most abundant microarthropods worldwide, living mainly in litter and the pore space of soil. {W}e related life-history traits to body size and individual metabolic rate, and showed that life-history traits of soil microarthropods display a trade-off between lifespan and reproductive rate, spanning a continuum from fast to slow life-history strategies. {O}ribatida exhibit remarkably slow life-histories and long lifespans with lower reproductive rates than {C}ollembola, {A}stigmata and {M}esostigmata. {D}espite fresh body mass of soil microarthropods varying by three orders of magnitude, fast and slow life-history strategies occurred in all size classes suggesting largely size-independent life-history strategies. {O}verall, these findings indicate a soil animal economics spectrum that bears key implications for understanding local biodiversity and the coexistence of soil animal species, such as how {C}ollembola and {O}ribatida coexist worldwide.},
  keywords = {{S}pecies coexistence ; {S}oil biodiversity ; {F}unctional trait ; r -{K} ; selection ; {F}ast-slow continuum ; {L}ife-history tactics},
  booktitle = {},
  journal = {{G}eoderma},
  volume = {455},
  numero = {},
  pages = {117206 [8 p.]},
  ISSN = {0016-7061},
  year = {2025},
  DOI = {10.1016/j.geoderma.2025.117206},
  URL = {https://www.documentation.ird.fr/hor/fdi:010092830},
}