Abstract Communication in science requires standardized terminology with concepts unified that facilitate the processing and exploration of information in any knowledge domain. The morphology is not the exception; however, it has challenged problems, called “the linguistic problem of the morphology”, which is related to the processing of morphological data result of taxonomic work. Ontologies, standardized vocabularies expressed through language parsable (Resource Description Framework, RDF) by machines, are proposed to resolve the linguistic problems in morphology. Springtails are dominants in the soil and other types of habitats with ca 9000 described species. The anatomical terms employed in Collembola are not exempt from problems such as the presence of homonyms related to the chaetotaxy, idiosyncratic language employed in morphological descriptions, and lack of consensual definitions of anatomical terms, which difficult the comparison of morphological data. Collembola Anatomy Ontology (CLAO) is built according to principles established by The OBO Foundry and includes 1554 anatomical terms for the region of the cuticle, appendages, anatomical systems, and cells. CLAO is directed toward morphological descriptions and the production of phenotypic data produced from taxonomic and anatomical works before the obtaining of homologies in a phylogenetic framework. Also, to increase the interoperability with other anatomical ontologies for Arthropoda and knowledge domains.

Se determinaron los cambios en composición, densidad y distribución espacial de la edafofauna de hojarasca entre dos usos de suelo (cafetal y bosque subandino) para entender el efecto del uso de suelo. Asimismo, se establecieron las relaciones entre las variables de la edafofauna y atributos de la hojarasca. Se colectaron muestras de hojarasca superficial durante la época seca y se extrajo la edafofauna, manualmente y mediante embudos Berlese modificados. Esta se identificó hasta el menor nivel taxonómico posible y se clasificó en grupos funcionales. La composición faunística fue diferente entre los usos de suelo. La similitud en la composición fue menor al 50 % en dos de los tres grupos funcionales encontrados, pero la densidad total no presentó diferencias. En general hubo coeficientes de variación altos en la densidad faunística intermuestral para los diferentes grupos taxonómicos y, en consecuencia, una baja detectabilidad del patrón espacial. Sin embargo, se detectó un patrón espacial en la abundancia para Coleoptera, larvas de Diptera y biomasa de hojarasca, en el cafetal. La estructura fue más difícil de detectar en bosque, por los pequeños parches en este. La varianza de la abundancia fue mayor en el cafetal, para todos los grupos, excepto Acaridida y Formicidae. La densidad de Formicidae aumentó al hacerlo la humedad de la hojarasca, pero solo en cafetal. Se concluye que el establecimiento del cafetal afecta de manera diferencial a taxones y grupos funcionales de la edafofauna. Esto sienta las bases para definir los efectos del cambio de uso de suelo y los factores ambientales asociados con la distribución espacial de la edafofauna.

Changes in composition, density and spatial distribution on the litter edaphic fauna between two land uses (a coffee plantation and a tropical Andean forest) were established, in order to understand the soil use effects. Also, the relationships between the biotic variables and some litter features were evaluated. Superficial litter samples were collected during dry season. The edaphic fauna was extracted manually and with modified Berlese funnels; it was identified up to the lower taxonomic level and classified in functional groups. Differences in fauna composition were observed between the two land uses. Composition similarity was lower than 50 % for almost all functional groups found, but total density did not differ between the land uses. In general, there was a high variation in density among samples resulting in higher coefficients of variation for different taxonomic groups and consequently low detectability of spatial pattern. However a spatial pattern was detected only for Coleoptera, Diptera larvae and litter biomass in the coffee plantation. The structure in forest was more difficult to detect, due to the smaller patches on it. The variance of abundance was significantly higher in the coffee plantation for all groups, except Acaridida and Formicidae. Density of Formicidae increased with the enhancement of litter moisture, but only in the coffee plantation. In conclusion, the establishment of coffee plantation differentially affects taxa and functional groups of soil fauna. This is the basis for establishing the effects of soil change use, and the environmental factors associated with spatial distribution of edaphic fauna.