Abstract:
Soil fauna has played an important role in ecosystem functioning, especially as ecosystem engineers which contribute
to soil fertility in tropical environment. A tailing deposition area is one habitat that has several types of soil fauna
to live and growth as well as involves in the decomposition of organic matter. The objective of this study was to
examine the number and distribution of soil fauna in the tailing area of Freeport Indonesia Mining and Gold Company,
Timika. The study was located in some inactive tailing deposition areas in between Double Levee of the lowland
area of ModADA (Modification Ajkwa Deposition Areas). Samples were taken from inactive tailing as 198 of
ModADA for soil and soil fauna, the Kuadran Method was used to collecting soil fauna on the soil surface and in
the soil. There were 17 types/ordo of soil fauna in the study area and the highest number was a group of ants
(Hymenoptera/Formicidae). Population density (PD) and relative density (RD) of soil fauna (Formicidae) ranged
from 0.03-2.41 Individu m-2 (PD) and 0.07-6.50% (RD). Both PD and RD were likely to increase as the number of soil
fauna increase. The distribution of most soil fauna were found as a clump, while Pulmonata (Gastropods) were
distributed normally in the tailing areas. The number and types (ordo) of these soil fauna had showed that inactive
tailing deposition areas were considered a good habitat for soil fauna.