There are taken into account quantitative and qualitative indices used in biocenotical studies (faunistic composition, occurrence, population density, biomass), as well as methods of their establishing in field investigations, their primary elaboration and evaluation of their probability.
Methods of comparative study of soil invertebrate complexes using coefficients of similarity, indices of diversity, indices of predominance are described. Some methods of finding correlations of soil animal communities with various other components of bio — cenoses are also characterized. Application of formulae proposed by Jacrard, Sorensen, Bray, Wainstlein, Naumov, Mountford and Chernov to the data obtained in the course of zoological soil studies is discussed. Index of diversity introduced by Margalef is also of value in soil zoology practice.