The data paper based on three datasets:

The “agricultural” dataset (Kuznetsova et al. 2020) provides information on the number of individuals of springtail species in soil cores collected in winter wheat fields under different agricultural treatments in the Kaluga Region. The following variants were studied:

1. treatment with organic fertilisers and tillage, without mineral fertilisers and pesticides (Fig. 1);
2. the same, but without tillage, only discing;
3. with mineral fertilisers, pesticides and tillage.

Figure 1.  

Studied field without mineral fertilisers and pesticides. Photo by Nataliya Kuznetsova.

Two fields were considered for each variant. Data on 2226 records on 7302 specimens of 32 species in six fields in 486 soil cores are presented.

The “urban” dataset (Kuznetsova and Ageeva 2020) provides information on the number of individuals of springtail species in soil cores collected in oak and lime forests located at different distances from Moscow centre. Sampling plots in Neskuchny Sad (lime, Tilia cordata) (Fig. 2) and in the Central Botanical Garden (oak, Quercus robur) were closer to the centre than others. Sampling plots near Uzkoe Hall (oak) and in the Bitsa Park (lime) were close to the boundaries of Moscow. Sampling plots in the area of Troitsk (lime) and Shishkin Les village (oak) were in the surroundings of Moscow (now belonging to the territory of New Moscow). The material was collected from 1990-1991. In lime forests, three series of cores were taken in June 1990 and one in October 1990. In oak forests, 12 series were taken in different seasons of 1990–1991. One series was taken under the larch trees on the territory of the Central Botanical Garden. Data on 1737 records on 6873 specimens of 64 species (17 series of sampling, 720 soil cores) are presented.

Figure 2.  

Lime forest in Neskuchny Sad, Moscow. Photo by Anna Bokova.

The “clear cutting” dataset (Kuznetsova and Klyueva 2020) provides information on the number of individuals of springtail species in soil cores collected in birch forests of different ages with spruce underbrush and in old spruce forest in Arkhangelsk Region, European part of Russia. In 1970, cores were taken at sites where the forest was restored 15, 30 and 80 years after clear cuttings (Fig. 3), as well as in a 180-year-old spruce forest. In 1984, sampling was repeated in two plots. Data on 1468 records on 18788 specimens of 47 species (seven series of sampling, 211 soil cores) are presented.

Figure 3.  

Clear cutting area in surroundings of Lomovoe at present. Photo by Irina Amosova.

The “agricultural” dataset. The material was received using the multi-scale sampling design. The method is appropriate to study the structure of biodiversity (Lande 1996), communities and populations at different spatial scales (Azovsky et al. 2000). Fractal arrangement of cores saves sample effort because the same core is used for analysis at different scales (Marsh and Ewers 2013). The approach is common in hydrobiology, entomology etc., but it continues to be rare in soil zoology (Kuznetsova and Saraeva 2018). We used a small size of the corer (8 cm² in section) due to the necessary special attention of diversity and spatial structure of population at the micro level. Soil was investigated down to 20 cm. A total of 81 cores were taken in each field when sampling. Cores were placed in the corners of different-scale equilateral triangles inscribed in squares with sides 10 cm, 25 cm, 1 m and 10 m. The different-scale triangles were designed following the principles of fractal geometry. The sample design is described in detail by Saraeva et al. (2015).

The “urban” dataset. Sites of oak and lime forests were studied at different distances from the megapolis centre. A similar approach was applied by different authors (Weigmann and Kratz 1987 in Berlin; Sterzynska 1990 in Warsaw; etc.). Design of sampling was based on regular arrangements which cover different forest microsites. The regular approach to sampling is as common in soil zoology as random sampling (Petersen and Luxton 1982). A quadrangular frame of 5×5 cm was used for sampling. Each core was subdivided into three layers: 1) litter, 2) soil 0–5 cm and 3) soil 5–10 cm. Cores were arranged along lines between trees: near tree trunks (cores with numbers 1, 5, 6, 10, 11, 15), under middle of tree crowns (numbers 2, 4, 7, 9, 12, 14) and in a gap between trees (numbers 3, 8, 13). A total of 15 cores in three lines were taken when sampling. One line included five cores. The distance between lines of cores was about 10 m. The sample design is described in detail by Potapov and Kuznetsova (2011).

The “clear cutting” dataset. Design of sampling was based on the regular arrangement which covers different forest microsites. Forests of different ages after clear cutting were studied according to the chronosequence method (Johnson and Miyanishi 2008). It was supplemented with material taken at the same sites 14 years after the first sampling. Thus, the real changes in Collembola diversity can be estimated. A quadrangular frame of 5×5 cm was used for sampling in all sites. Each core was subdivided into three layers: 1) litter (L-layer) with ground cover, 2) fermentative layer (F) and 3) humus layer (H) with 2 cm of mineral soil. Cores were placed along lines between trees: near tree trunks (cores with numbers 1, 5, 6, 10), under middle of tree crowns (numbers 2, 4, 7, 9) and in a gap between trees (numbers 3, 8). Ten cores were taken when sampling. The distance between two lines of cores was about 10 m.

Extraction of Collembola from cores

Tullgren funnels were used for Collembola extraction from soil cores into 70% alcohol (Gilyarov 1975, Petersen and Luxton 1982).

Laboratory processing

All individuals of springtails were mounted on slides in Phoera liquid according to a standard procedure (Potapov and Kuznetsova 2011). Springtails were identified to species level using a microscope.

Keys by Fjellberg (Fjellberg 1980, Fjellberg 1998, Fjellberg 2007), Babenko et al. (1994), Potapov (2002)) and particular taxonomic articles were used for species identification. Experts on different families of springtails were consulted.

Data on species were digitised, standardised, the quality of data was checked and errors were corrected and then published.

All material was collected in the European part of Russia (Fig. 4): Moscow City, Arkhangelsk, Kaluga Regions.

Figure 4.  

Geographic coverage. A. study areas in the European part of Russia; B. sampling sites (red dots) near Lomovoe (Arkhangelsk Region); C. sampling sites (red dots) in Kaluga and Moscow Regions. Vector layers from VMap0, adminstrative borders from OpenStreetMap via gis-lab.info.

54°35'6'' and 63°57'43.2' Latitude; 34°52'48'' and 40°37'55.2'' Longitude.