scholarly journals Morpho-ecological structure of oribatid mite (Acariformes, Oribatida) communities in the forest litter of recultivated areas

2019 ◽  
Vol 27 (4) ◽  
pp. 334-341
Author(s):  
Y. Kulbachko ◽  
O. Didur ◽  
N. Khromykh ◽  
A. Pokhylenko ◽  
T. Lykholat ◽  
...  

The study of morpho-ecological organization of oribatid mite communities (Acariformes, Oribatida) inhabiting forest litter of recultivated areas in steppe zone conditions of Ukraine was performed. The role of the forest and forest floor litter in optimization of the ecological situation on degraded lands was demonstrated. The function of environment creation by oribatids, as primary destructors of dead plant matter, supporting such ecosystem services as soil fertility improvement and nutrients turnover was highlighted. The research was performed within different stratigraphic types of bulk edaphotops in the recultivated plot of “Pavlogradskaya” colliery (Pavlograd, Dnipropetrovsk region, Ukraine) planted with red juniper (Juniperus virginiana L.). Withdrawal and collection of mites was performed with thermoeclector. For determination of the domination structure in the mite communities, the Engelmann scale was used. Adaptive (morpho-ecological) groups of oribatid mites were diagnosed by Krivolutsky. It was established that the number of species of oribatid mites in the forest litter of the studied red juniper plantation varied from 16 to 25. Average density of oribatid mites varied from 4,720 to 25,327 ind./m2. Among such morpho-ecological groups as soil surface inhabitants, small soil pore inhabitants, deep soil forms, floor litter inhabitants and unspecified forms, identified in the coniferous litter, the share of unspecified forms increased from loess-like loam type (21% of total amount) to Calcic Chernozem types with different stratigraphy (41.0%, 70.0% and 70.4% accordingly). Deep soil forms in the forest floor litter of the studied red juniper plots were not identified for any of recultivation types. The obtained results expand our understanding of the role of oribatid mites in the processes of ecological rehabilitation of disturbed ecosystems in the conditions of modern nature management.

2011 ◽  
Vol 48 (2) ◽  
pp. 177-183 ◽  
Author(s):  
Stanisław Seniczak ◽  
Sławomir Kaczmarek ◽  
Anna Seniczak

Oribatid mites (Acari, Oribatida) of bushy patches in steppe vegetation of cape Tarkhankut in Crimea (Ukraine)The density, species number, and age structure of oribatid mites were investigated in bushy patches (elm, hawthorn, hawthorn with rose) in steppe vegetation of cape Tarkhankut (Crimea). In these patches, the density of mites in shrub litter, herbs and moss was higher, but species number was similar like in open steppe vegetation. Hawthorn increased the density distinctly more than hawthorn with rose or bushy elms. In bushy patches, the samples of moss were richer in mites than samples of shrub litter alone or with herbs. Among oribatid mites,Chamobatesc.f.spinosusandTrhypochthonius tectorumwere most abundant, but relatively abundant and common were alsoTectocepheus velatus, Oribatulasp. 1,Achipteria nitens, andBrachychthonius berlesei. In oribatid mite communities, adults dominated, but the age structure of populations greatly depended on vegetation type.


2004 ◽  
Vol 34 (5) ◽  
pp. 998-1006 ◽  
Author(s):  
Zoë Lindo ◽  
Suzanne Visser

The effects of partial and clear-cut harvesting on abundance and community composition of forest floor microarthropods and oribatid mites were investigated in conifer and deciduous stands of the mixedwood boreal forest. Soil samples from clearcuts, strip-cut corridors in a partial cut, green-tree retention patches in a partial cut, and uncut control sites were collected 2.5 years after harvest and microarthropods were extracted, enumerated, and identified. Densities of microarthropod suborders were lower in the strip-cut corridors of the deciduous stands and significantly lower in the suborder Oribatida (oribatid mites). Changes in microarthropod community composition, decreased relative abundance of prostigmatid mites, and increased relative abundance of mesostigmatid mites were observed in corridor and clear-cut treatments. Lowered abundances and changes in community composition are likely due to compaction of the forest floor during harvesting. Selected oribatid mite species showed significantly lower abundances in clearcuts than in uncut sites, but diversity indices for oribatid mites were generally not significantly different between uncut sites and clearcuts. Changes in oribatid mite communities following harvesting were thus more quantitative (absolute abundance) than qualitative (diversity, composition), and as a result, use of oribatid mites as biological indicators of disturbance is limited because of the lack of changes in species composition.


2012 ◽  
Vol 49 (1) ◽  
pp. 19-26 ◽  
Author(s):  
Stanisław Seniczak ◽  
Anna Seniczak

Abstract Oribatid mite communities were investigated in southern Italy in litter under yew, pine and cypress trees. These mites achieved the highest density in yew and cypress litter in a park in the inland town of Caserta, and the lowest density in pine litter at the coast of Capo Vaticano. In these mite communities, only 1-4 species were abundant, so the Shannon index H’ was rather low. The density of oribatid mites, species number, and dominance structure depended greatly on the kind of litter. The most abundant and common was Zygoribatula propinqua, but the highest density in yew litter was achieved by Oribatella superbula. In oribatid mite communities, the juveniles usually dominated, but the age structure of species greatly depended on the kind of litter.


Zoosymposia ◽  
2011 ◽  
Vol 6 (1) ◽  
pp. 221-233 ◽  
Author(s):  
MAKA MURVANIDZE ◽  
LEVAN MUMLADZE ◽  
TEA ARABULI ◽  
ERISTO KVAVADZE

The key subject of this investigation was to study distribution patterns of oribatid mites in the main habitats and ecosystems of Kolkheti National Park. Oribatida were studied in 1) sand dunes, 2) Juncus bogs, 3) flooded alder (Alnus barbata C. A. Mey) forests, and 4) humid alder forests. Sampling was conducted in November 2009 at 18 sites along three transects. For exploratory analysis, we applied clustering techniques. Correlation between species number, density and humus was calculated. Chao1 statistics were used to estimate the completeness of sampling. Forty six oribatid species were recorded. The highest Shannon diversity index was registered for alder forests, whereas the lowest index was observed for dunes. In sand dunes 16 species were found, three of which occurred only in this landscape. In Juncus bogs, 32 species were recorded, and 16 were unique to this landscape, including bog specific Zetomimus furcatus (Warburton & Pearce, 1905), Euzetes globulus (Nicolet, 1855) and Punctoribates manzanoensis Hammer, 1958. Twenty two species were found in flooded forests, seven being exclusive. Ten species were recorded in humid forests, and Metabelbella macerochaeta Bulanova-Zachvatkina, 1965 and Eremobelba geographica Berlese, 1908, typical inhabitants of humid forest soils, appeared as exclusive species. Faunal comparisons among landscapes show high similarity between dune and bog oribatid mite communities, followed by flooded and humid alder forests. In dunes and bogs, total faunal density is determined by euryecological species, whereas in alder forests density was determined by high abundance of humid and extremely humid specific species.


Acarologia ◽  
2018 ◽  
Vol 58 (Suppl) ◽  
pp. 119-133
Author(s):  
Anna Seniczak ◽  
Stanisław Seniczak ◽  
Ivan García-Parra ◽  
Francisco Ferragut ◽  
Pilar Xamaní ◽  
...  

In this study the oribatid mite communities of conventional and organic vineyards in theValencian Community (Spain) were compared. The soil samples were collected in El Poble Nou de Benitatxell in autumn 2014 and spring 2015 from four sites, treated as replicates, each including a conventional vineyard, an organic vineyard, and a control (natural habitat, i.e. in plots 1-3 an abandoned vineyard, in plot 4 an area never used in agriculture). Two parallel samples were collected in each vineyard from a zone between vine rows, driven by a tractor (Tr), a zone between vines (Vi), the border of the vineyard (Bo) and from a control, making a total of 112 samples. In total 3,225 oribatid mites were obtained represented by 59 species. No differences were found in density of Oribatida between the conventional, organic vineyards and the control, but the species diversity was higher in the control than in the vineyards. In the vineyards the density and species number of the oribatid mites were highest between vines (the average from all vineyards and both seasons was 4,400 individuals per 1 m2, 15 species), followed by the border of the vineyards (2,800 individuals per 1 m2, 14 species) and were lowest between vine rows (400 individuals per 1 m2, 6 species). The species diversity of Oribatida was higher in autumn than in spring, while the density followed this pattern only in the vineyards, but not in the control. In the vineyards Oribatula excavata dominated (D = 25), followed by Minunthozetes quadriareatus and Passalozetes africanus (D = 18 and 14, respectively), while in the control these species were not abundant. In the control the most abundant species was Oppiella subpectinata (D = 28), followed by Eremulus flagellifer (D = 20). Podoribates longipes and Steganacarus boulfekhari are reported for the first time in Spain. To conclude, the oribatid mites did not benefit from the organic cultivation of the vineyards, probably because they are tolerant to herbicides used in the conventional systems but sensitive to mechanical cultivation of soil, which was even more intense in organic vineyards than in the conventional ones.


2009 ◽  
Vol 44 (8) ◽  
pp. 1021-1026 ◽  
Author(s):  
Pablo Antonio Martínez ◽  
Natalia Andrea Fredes ◽  
Lia Fernanda Montti ◽  
Sergio Alejandro Casertano

The objective of this work was to assess the soil oribatid mite communities in four sites of the Upper Paraná Bosque Atlántico, in the Iguazú National Park, Argentina and in surrounding areas: bamboo forest, palm forest and two mixed forests. A comparison between each pair of sites, based on the presence-absence of oribatid species, was performed using Jaccard's index. This is the first systematic sampling of oribatid mites in this area. A total of 56 genera and 96 oribatid species were found, 25 and 49 of them, respectively, are new citation for Argentina. The highest similarity was found between mixed forests. Almost 68% and 34% of the genera were cited for similar biotopes in Brazil and Paraguay, respectively.


2013 ◽  
Vol 50 (2) ◽  
pp. 79-87 ◽  
Author(s):  
Radomir Graczyk ◽  
Stanisław Seniczak

Abstract Oribatid mite communities in moss covering the roofs of buildings in towns of Bolstad, Luster, and Sørheim (in Sogn og F jordane, Norway) were investigated. These mites were rather numerous and rich in species, which was caused mainly by the natural roofing material (rock slates) and the temperate and rather stable maritime climate. In these communities the most abundant were Tectocepheus velatus, Dissorhina ornata, Oppiella uliginosa, Quadroppia quadricarinata, and Oribatula exilis, which are typical soil species. Adults usually dominated in the mite communities, except for Bolstad, where the juveniles were slightly more abundant than the adults. Phauloppia lucorum and Trhypochthonius tectorum were the only species of the group of typical inhabitants of roofs of buildings, but were not numerous in Sogn og Fjordane. In continental climate these species are often abundant on roofs of buildings.


2013 ◽  
Vol 50 (2) ◽  
pp. 97-104 ◽  
Author(s):  
Stanisław Seniczak ◽  
Anna Seniczak

Abstract Oribatid mites live in the soil or plant matter and usually feed on living and dead plant or fungal material, lichens, carrion, or some species are rarely predatory. Oribatid communities were investigated in litter under pine and cypress trees in selected locations in Sicily: Etna slopes (near Rifugio Sapienza and near Castiglione di Sicily), coastal town Giardini Naxos, Archaeological Museum in Agrigento, and Archaeological Park in Sagesta. The most abundant and diverse oribatid mites lived in cypress litter in Agrigento and on Etna slope. The lowest numbers of individuals and species were recorded in pine litter in Agrigento. In the oribatid mite communities, only 1-3 species were abundant, so the values of Shannon H’ index, and Pielou EPielou and Hurlbert EHurlbert evenness indices were rather low. Their values were the highest in pine litter near Rifugio Sapienza, located nearest to the crater of Etna, while the lowest in pine litter in Agrigento. The former habitat was rich in oribatid mites and species, with a large participation of small species, like Suctobelbella subcornigera, Brachychthonius impressus, and Liochthonius simplex, which made up nearly 63% of the total number of oribatid mites within that habitat. In other habitats, usually Oribatula propinqua dominated, but in pine and cypress litter in Giardini Naxos, Oppiella nova and Ramusella clavipectinata were the most abundant, respectively. Among oribatid mites, adults usually dominated, but Adrodamaeus femoratus, Aphelacarus acarinus, Brachychthonius impressus, Liochthonius simplex, Cosmochthonius reticulatus, Metabelba pulverulenta and Pilogalumna crassiclava were rich in juveniles.


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