The composition and structure of the edaphic macroarthropod community of these two sites were comparatively studied. The results obtained show that the total densities in the plantation of C. robusta can be higher than in the primary forest. Even though, contrarily to the observed in the forest, this community is characterized by the dominance of some non social groups and by the concentration of most of its individuals in the litter layers. As a consequence, the entire community is more susceptible to seasonal variations in density. Thus, these results emphasize the importance of the leaf litter in providing habitat, food as well as more stable microclimatic conditions for the macroarthropods community. For this reason it is importam to avoid any kind of land management that takes the litter from the soil.
Edaphic macroarthropods; table-land forest; Coffea robusta; intertropical region; community structure