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The question whether total population energy use is invariant to species body size (the energy equivalence hypothesis) is central to metabolic ecology and continues to be controversial. While recent comparative field work and meta-analyses pointed to systematic deviations of the underlying allometric scaling laws from predictions of metabolic theory none of these studies included the variability of metabolic scaling in ecological time. Here we used extensive data on the invertebrate soil fauna of Kampinos National Park (Poland) obtained from six consecutive quantitative sampling seasons to show that phylogenetically corrected species density—body weight and population energy use—body weight relationships across all soil fauna species and within trophic groups and body weight classes were highly variable in time. On average, population energy use tended to increase with species body weight in decomposers and phytophages, but not in predators. Despite these trends, our data do not exclude the possibility that energy equivalence marks the central tendency of energy use in the edaphon. Our results highlight the need for long-term studies on energy use to unequivocally assess predictions of metabolic theory.Electronic supplementary materialThe online version of this article (doi:10.1007/s00442-015-3317-3) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.

Diversity of the Mesostigmata (Acari) in tree-hollows of selected deciduous tree speciesRich gamasid communities were found in tree-hollows of horse chestnut (Aesculus hippocastanum), small-leaved lime (Tilia cordata), and white willow (Salix alba) in urban and rural areas in northern Poland (Bydgoszcz and its environs). We recorded there 93 gamasid species of 21 families in a total of 18 tree-hollows. Differences in the dominance structure of gamasid communities at the levels of family and species indicated dissimilarities in the mite communities, depending on tree species and intensity of human impact. The chestnut tree-hollows in both areas were dominated by mites of the family Urodinychidae (with the dominantUroobovella pyriformisin both cases). The lime tree-hollows were colonized mostly by the Trematuridae (Trichuropoda ovalis) and the Digamasellidae (Dendrolaelaps tenuipilus) in the rural area, whereas by the Ascidae (Iphidozercon gibbus) in the city. The gamasid communities of willow hollows were dominated by the Trematuridae (Trichouropoda ovalis) in the urban area, and by the Digamasellidae (Dendrolaelaps longifallax, D. zwoelferi) in the rural area. Some rare species (e.g.Microgynium rectangulatumorMicrosejus truncicola) were also recorded, mostly in the rural area.

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The morphology of juveniles of Psammogalumna Balogh, 1943 has not been investigated. In this paper, the morphological ontogeny of P. iranica Akrami et al., 2011 is described and illustrated. The prodorsal setae of juveniles are of medium size or long and barbed, the bothridial seta is clavate, with barbed, narow head, and most gastronotal setae are short or minute. The larva has 12 pairs of gastronotal setae, with seven pairs on gastronotal shield (d-, l-series, h1), the nymphs have 15 pairs, with 10 pairs on gastronotal shield (d-, l-, h-series, p1), and setae of c-, ad- and an-series, and p2 and p3 are inserted on microsclerites. In all juveniles, a humeral organ is present. The hypertrichy occurs in the adanal region of deutonymph and adanal and anal regions of tritonymph and adult.