EFFECTS OF SHEEP TREADING ON PLANT COVERING AND SOIL ORIBATIDA (ACARI) IN A WOODED HAY MEADOW IN SOGN (NORWAY)

Effects of sheep treading on plant covering and soil oribatid mites in a traditionally maintained wooded hay meadow in Sogn (Norway) were investigated. Samples were taken under the elm trees in 2 zones, situated 1m from the elm trunks, heavily treaded by sheep, and 5m from these trunks. The sheep treading decreased the plant covering, especially mosses, and the density of Oribatida, but increased the participation of their juvenile stages. The Oribatida occupied mainly the upper soil layer and the density distinctly decreased with the soil depth, but the sheep treading appeased the differences of density of mites in soil layers, comparing to the zone situated 5m from the elm trunks

Jordlevende midd - jordas glemte nyttedyr

Ingress: Midd er mest kjent for å gjøre skade på planter eller kunne gjøre mennesker og dyr syke. Mange arter midd i norsk jordbruksjord er helt ufarlige og har viktige oppgaver i jordas økosystem. Midd som finnes i jord spiser planterester, bakterier og sopphyfer, inkludert plantepatogene bakterier og sopp. Mange jordlevende midd er rovdyr og spiser spretthaler, nematoder, bladlus, insektegg og larver. Midd som gruppe utgjør et stort mangfold av fasonger, farger og funksjoner på overflata og nede i jorda

Oribatid mites (Acari, Oribatida) of yew, cypress and pine litter in southern Italy

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

Oribatid mites (Acari Oribatida) of pine and cypress litter in selected habitats of Sicily (Italy)

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

Seasonal dynamics of mites (Acari) in pastures and meadows in Poland, with species analysis of Oribatida

The study involved three pastures, grazed by geese, goats and fallow deer, and three nearby meadows (control plots) situated in north-central Poland. Samples of 150 cm3 each (6 cm of soil and 3 cm of lower parts of plants) were collected in spring, summer and autumn 2016 and 2017 in 10 replications, 360 samples in total. This material included 22.561 mites, among which Oribatida accounted for 69%, Mesostigmata for 21%, and other mites for 10%. At most study sites, both pastures and meadows, no significant seasonal differences in the abundance of Oribatida and Mesostigmata were seen. Such differences were only observed for the third category of other mites that were the most abundant in spring and usually the least abundant in autumn. Also species diversity of Oribatida differed between the seasons – in all pastures it was the highest in summer and the lowest in spring, while in all meadows it was the highest in spring and decreased towards autumn. Oribatid species were more affected by the habitats than by seasons, as some species were strongly associated with pastures (Platynothrus peltifer), other with meadows (Achipteria coleoptrata, Liebstadia similis, Metabelba pulverosa, Scheloribates laevigatus and Sellnickochthonius immaculatus), and some (Eupelops occultus and Tectocepheus velatus) were abundant in both habitats. Although the effect of seasonality was weaker than that of the habitat, it was still perceptible. Platynothrus peltifer was most associated with autumn, T. velatus with spring, E. occultus with spring and summer and L. similis with summer.publishedVersio

Oribatid mites (Acari, Oribatida) of steppe vegetation on cape Tarhankut in Crimea (Ukraine)

Oribatid mites were investigated in patches of steppe vegetation, dominated by esparto (Stipa sp.), other grasses, Artemisia caucasica, Sedum sp., mosses, or lichens, on cape Tarhankut in Crimea (Mediterranean climate). These mites were quite abundant and rich in species there, probably thanks to the fresh sea breeze and geographic expansion of species from the Mediterranean region, Central Asia, and Europe. They achieved the highest density in patches of steppe grasses other than esparto, but most species occurred in sedum patches. The most abundant was Tectocepheus velatus, especially in patches of steppe grasses other than esparto, and relatively abundant were Scutovertex sp. 1, Jacotella neonominata and Scheloribates laevigatus. In populations of these species the adults usually dominated, but their age structure greatly depended on vegetation type

Morphological ontogeny of Galumna flagellata Willmann (Acari: Oribatida: Galumnidae)

The morphological ontogeny of Galumna flagellata Willmann, 1925 is described and illustrated. The juveniles of this species are light brown, with prodorsal setae of medium size or long and barbed, and bothridial seta clavate. The larva has 12 pairs of gastronotal setae, most of the medium size and barbed, of which seven (d-, l-series, h1) are located on gastronotal shield, nymphs have 15 pairs, mostly short setae, of which 10 (d-, l-, h-series, p1) are located on the gastronotal shield, setae of c-series are inserted on individual sclerites. In all juveniles, the typical galumnid humeral organ is absent, but a porose area is present in this location, which is unique in Galumna.Spanish Ministry of Economy and Competitiveness CGL-2013-46665-REuropean Commissio

Morphological ontogeny, distribution of Hermannia scabra (Acari: Oribatida: Hermanniidae) in Svalbard and descriptive population parameters

The morphological ontogeny and distribution of Hermannia scabra (L. Koch, 1879) in Arctic Svalbard and descriptive population parameters were investigated. All instars of H. scabra are stocky, as in other species of Hermannia Nicolet, 1855, and have the same gastronotal setal ontogeny (12 pairs in the larve and 16 pairs in the nymphs and adults). In this species, the prodorsal setae are similar to other species of Hermannia, except for the bothridial seta which is clavate, as in H. reticulata Thorell, 1871. In other species of Hermannia the bothridial seta is setiform. Most prodorsal and gastronotal setae of H. scabra are phylliform whereas in other Hermannia species they are thickened. The number of epimeral setae in the nymphs and adults and the ontogeny of leg setae are characteristic for H. scabra. This species has a holarctic distribution and in Svalbard is not as common as H. reticulata, but it achieves higher density than the latter species, mainly due to the abundance of juveniles. Hermannia scabra prefers moist and wet localities, and in Svalbard the highest density is achieved in vegetation class 8 (wet vegetated flats, beaches, slopes and river fans with some exposed Dryas vegetation and graminoids Luzula sp.)

WPŁYW WYDEPTYWANIA GLEBY PRZEZ OWCE NA POKRYCIE ROŚLINNOŚCI I GLEBOWE MECHOWCE (ACARI, ORIBATIDA) ZADRZEWIONEJ ŁĄKI W SOGN (NORWEGIA)

Effects of sheep treading on plant covering and soil oribatid mites in a traditionally maintained wooded hay meadow in Sogn (Norway) were investigated. Samples were taken under the elm trees in 2 zones, situated 1m from the elm trunks, heavily treaded by sheep, and 5m from these trunks. The sheep treading decreased the plant covering, especially mosses, and the density of Oribatida, but increased the participation of their juvenile stages. The Oribatida occupied mainly the upper soil layer and the density distinctly decreased with the soil depth, but the sheep treading appeased the differences of density of mites in soil layers, comparing to the zone situated 5m from the elm trunks.Zbadano wpływ wydeptywania gleby przez owce na roślinność i glebowe mechowce na tradycyjnie utrzymywanej, zadrzewionej łące w Sogn w Norwegii. Próby pobrano z łąki pod wiązami w 2 strefach, oddalonej 1m od pni drzew, silnie wydeptanej przez owce oraz 5m od pni drzew, jako strefie kontrolnej. Wydeptywanie łąki przez owce zmniejszyło pokrycie roślinności, zwłaszcza mchów, a także liczebność mechowców, ale zwiększyło udział ich stadiów młodocianych. W obu strefach liczba gatunków mechowców była zbliżona. Mechowce skupiały się głównie w górnej warstwie gleby, a ich zagęszczenie zmniejszało się wraz z głębokością. Wydeptywanie łąki przez owce złagodziło różnice w zagęszczeniu roztoczy w profilu glebowym w porównaniu do strefy odległej 5m od pni drzew

Type of broadleaf forest matters most for ptyctimous mite communities (Acari, Oribatida) in Norway

We studied ptyctimous moss mites, which are characteristic of forest habitats, in Norwegian broadleaf forests considered as biodiversity hotspot areas in Fennoscandia. The study aimed to evaluate the effect of different factors (regional locality, annual precipitation, mean annual temperature, forest type, forest wetness and microhabitat) on the ptyctimous mites and on discovering their richness in broadleaf forests. Samples were collected from nine broadleaf forests in Western, Southern and Eastern Norway, in different climatic conditions, six forest types, three forest wetness states and eight microhabitats. Overall, 3341 ptyctimous mites were collected and their abundance differed significantly among the regions, forest types and microhabitats. Forest type turned out to be the most important factor, responsible for 24.5% of the total variation in the abundance of the ptyctimous mites. Other important factors were forest wetness and microhabitat. In total, 27 species, i.e., 87% of all ptyctimous mites known from before in Norway were found and the species richness was highest in the east and lowest in the west of the country. Atropacarus (Atropacarus) striculus was most common and most abundant; it made nearly 30% of all ptyctimous mites collected. On the other hand, a quarter of the species were represented by less than 10 specimens; most of these were new records for Norway. Among ten species discovered as new to Norway, four were also new to Fennoscandia. These findings confirm the unique character and high biological diversity of Norwegian broadleaf forests.publishedVersio