Dead Wood as an Element Enriching Biodiversity of Forest Ecosystems: A Case Study Based on Mites from the Suborder Uropodina (Acari: Parasitiformes)

Abstract

The importance of dead wood in forest ecosystems for the existence of invertebrates has been widely discussed in the literature. The major aim of this study is to test the hypothesis that the presence of dead wood in forests considerably increases the species diversity of Uropodina (Acari: Parasitiformes) communities in a given area. The areas selected for the study are unique from a natural point of view. They are the Białowieża Primeval Forest, Cisy Staropolskie im. Leona Wyczółkowskiego Nature Reserve, and five oak-hornbeam nature reserves in western Poland. The study is based on materials collected since the 1960s of the last century. The highest number of species (37) both in soil and dead wood microhabitats was recorded in the Białowieża Primeval Forest and Cisy Staropolskie Nature Reserve, though the dead wood material from the second area contained the highest number of species (33). The results of the analysis show that the presence of dead wood increases species diversity of Uropodina communities in all locations under scrutiny. Moreover, dead wood increases the species diversity of Uropodina communities by attracting rare and stenotopic species, and therefore leaving dead trees in forests is extremely important for the habitat protection of these species.

Geographical Differentiation of Mites from the Suborder Uropodina (Acari: Mesostigmata) in Dead Wood in Europe in the Light of Recent Research

“…As previous studies have shown, the presence of dead wood increases the overall biodiversity of Uropodina in the examined forest ecosystems by about 40% [7]. This microhabitat is therefore very important for the preservation of Uropodina biodiversity.…”

“…Dead wood, along with bird and mammal nests, is one of the microhabitats most frequently colonized by mites from the suborder Uropodina (Acari: Mesostigmata) [1][2][3][4][5][6][7][8]. One of the precursors of the research into Uropodina inhabiting dead wood was Athias-Binche.…”

“…For many years, several studies into Uropodina communities inhabiting various microhabitats, including dead wood, in different forests and in different areas of Poland has been carried out [4][5][6][7][8][9][10]. The results of this research show that almost 1/3 of all species known from Poland are found in dead wood [3,[5][6][7][8].…”

“…For many years, several studies into Uropodina communities inhabiting various microhabitats, including dead wood, in different forests and in different areas of Poland has been carried out [4][5][6][7][8][9][10]. The results of this research show that almost 1/3 of all species known from Poland are found in dead wood [3,[5][6][7][8]. So far, the diversity of Uropodina communities inhabiting different types of dead wood and the dependence of the species composition of these mite communities on different tree species have been the major problems discussed in the published studies [6,8,10].…”

Changes in Forest Stand and Stability of Uropodine Mites Communities (Acari: Parasitiformes) in Jakubowo Nature Reserve in the Light of Long-Term Research

“…Until the end of the 1970s, dead wood was removed from nature reserves. Thus, the mites were deprived of one of the most important microenvironments, the presence of which determines the high biodiversity of this group of mites in forests [2,8,9]. Leaving dead trees in the reserve considerably changed the conditions for the functioning of the entire ecosystem, significantly expanding the range of niches for all fauna, including Uropodina.…”