Litter manipulation and the soil arthropod community in a lowland tropical rainforest

► We investigate consequences of changing tropical litterfall on soil communities. ► Litter removal reduces faunal abundance and biomass. Litter addition has no effect. ► We report a shift in faunal composition with litter removal, but not addition. ► Faunal responses are best predicted by litter depth, total carbon and phosphorus. ► We find soil and litter communities to be shaped by different parameters.