Macrofauna assemblage composition and soil moisture interact to affect soil ecosystem functions

► Response of soil macrofauna to moisture conditions was studied in a mesocosm setting. ► Presence of macrofauna increased leaf litter mass loss and CO2 fluxes. ► Low soil moisture may impair the functioning of temperate macrofauna assemblages. ► Response to moisture conditions is species-specific. ► Complementarity between species may mitigate the reduced functioning of some species.