DISTRIBUTION AND IMPORTANCE OF COLLEMBOLA IN SALINE SOILS (ON THE EXAMPLE OF KHOREZM REGION)

This study is devoted to the study of the taxonomic composition, density indicators and ecological characteristics of collembola
fauna in saline soil conditions. Soil salinization is a widespread degradation process, particularly in arid and semi-arid regions, that
negatively affects soil mesofauna communities. Collembola play an important ecological role in the transformation of soil organic
matter, nutrient cycling, and regulation of microbiome activity. During the study, samples were taken from soil plots with different
salinity levels using the Berleze-Tüllgren method, and the species composition of collembola was determined taxonomically. The
obtained results show that an increase in the amount of salt in the soil significantly reduces the species diversity and total number
of collembola. However, some halophilic and halotolerant species have been found to maintain relatively stable population densities
even under high salinity conditions. Epiedaphic species predominate in saline soils, while euedaphic species are sharply reduced.
The results of the study confirm that collembolans can be used as reliable bioindicators in assessing the biological state of saline
soils. These data serve as a practical basis for developing programs for the reclamation of degraded soils and the restoration of soil
biota.