S. Mahunka szerk.: Folia Entomologica Hungarica 48. (Budapest, 1987)

Our principal aim was twofold: on the one hand, we planned to collect earthworms and soil mites, on the other, any soil Inhabiting animal that may be secured by various collecting methods. The collecting of earthworms goes back as early as to the end of the last century in Tanzania. However, since then very sporadic references are known as to the collection and recording of earthworms from this country. Consequently, we believe that our research may be important from ecological points of view and may shed light on interesting questions concerning nature conservation. On the other hand, the acarological studies in this region has a comparatively long-standing history. The first data recorded by BERLESE (1916), and after a long spell of time by EVANS (1953), who published several data from Tanzania, more specifically from the region of the Kilimanjaro. Since then our knowledge was enriched on Oribatidae, mostly from Tanzania and Kenya, by the expeditions of K ITTENBERGER, B ASILEWSKY-LE LE UP (BALOGH 1958-1962 ). Recently it was MAHUNKA (1969-1987) who elaborated the materials of SZUNYOGHY and of more recent collectors, like PÖCS and PEREGOVITS (1987) as well as the material of his own (MAHUNKA and MAHUNKA-PAPP, 1986). We should bear in mind, of course, that all these contributions are but the first steps in the exploration of the soil fauna, especially that of Oribatida. Obviously, future collectings and elaborations will produce significant results much modifying our present knowledge. The above-discussed two animal groups may contribute significant data to the research initiated by the Norwegians in the area of the Usambara Mountains. Here our task was to make parallel comparative examinations concerning the plant and the animal life as to what differences can Se recorded and definitely proved in the changes of the forest soil of a primary rainforest and a secondary, degraded forest, comprising mainly Maesopsis sp., paying also attention to the changes taking place in the litter; and also what happens to these regions after deforestation. These investigations are especially needed because of the heavy forestry machines, since it is believed, that after the exploitation of the land, there is not even the slightest chance of a reforestation. We carried out our invertigations in the areas of the Usambara Mountains, Kwamkoro and Amani. In the area of Kwamkoro, particularly in Kwamsambia Forest Reserve we examined the rainforest along a transection, while the degraded forest type was selected close to a settlement, comprising an older stand of Maesospsls stand. The transections have been chosen to include both drier and more moist parts. At Amani we carried out the same Inv

estigations in a stand by the old botanical garden (today Medical Research Centre). In each forest type we collected both BERLESE- and Nematodasamples. Each sample contained five parts of 500 cm^ matter that was extracted in modified Berlese funnels (Nos 103, 108). At these places we sifted four times 1/2 m

2 litter and debris which was eventually extracted in Moczarsky-Winkler apparatus for four days (No. 105, 111). 'We also placed out pitfall traps (No. 104, 110), furthermore, we tried to collect earthworms by sprinkling diluted formaldehyde on the soil. - The results of these collecting methods will be communicated at a later date. Our collecting trip also aimed at further enriching the comparative material of East Africa housed in the Hungarian Natural Museum, with the exception of the vertebrate fauna. From among our materials special mention should be made of the following groups of Arthropoda: Diptera, Hymenoptera, Trichoptera, Orthoptera, Coleoptera, Diplopoda, and Chilopoda. Unfortunately, our plans concerning Lepidoptera could not be realized, since the extremely dry period of time badly influenced the flight of this group. During our collectings we employed the following methods: 1. Soil, litter, moss, etc. samples, extracted in modified Berlese-funnels. 2. Same material was conserved in diluted formaldehyde for Nematoda. 3. Litter, decaying debris, moss, etc. sifted and extracted in Moczarsky-Winkler bags. 4. Pitfall traps with ethylene glycol or salt-water. 5. Earthworms dug out/or extracted by diluted formaldehyde. 6. Netting, sweeping and beating the vegetation. 7. Singling from the soil, from under stones, from under bark, and/or from stocks. 8. Lamping with blended light and petroleum-gas lamp. All the collected materials were secured by the authors where no specification is given, since it would have been superfluous to separate the various groups and labelled individually.