Copper (Cu)-polluted and unpolluted soils were used to study the effect of initial pollution on soil biological resistance and resilience by measuring the responses to perturbation using different parameters. Microbial biomass carbon, substrate-induced respiration and copy numbers of 16S rRNA gene were grouped as general parameters, while potential ammonia oxidation rate and copy numbers of amoA gene were grouped as specific functions. In addition, to illustrate how initial pollution affects soil biological resistance and resilience following secondary perturbation, the microbial community structure, together with free Cu(2+) activities ([Cu(2+)]) in soil pore water and soil pH were also measured after secondary perturbation. Results showed that general parameters were more stable than specific ones. High [Cu(2+)] and low pH in soil pore water induced by Cu addition may lead to apparently low resistance and resilience, whereas the formation of a tolerant community after Cu pollution, secondary perturbation and Cu aging may contribute to resistance and resilience. Analysis of the phospholipid fatty acids profile showed that microbial community structure shifted along with the [Cu(2+)] gradient. The microbial community structure of the control soil was both resistant and resilient to 400 mg kg(-1) Cu perturbation, whereas other treatments were neither resistant nor resilient.