Diverse Mite Communities (Acari: Oribatida, Mesostigmata) from a Broadleaf Forest in Western Norway

Abstract

Broadleaf forests are rare in Norway and they are considered one of the most biodiverse terrestrial habitats in Fennoscandia. These forests are poorly studied in terms of their acarofauna. Mites of two groups, Oribatida and Mesostigmata, were studied in a broadleaf forest in western Norway. In total, 6350 oribatid mites, representing 67 species (i.e., 25% of the known Norwegian species) and 559 mesostigmatid mites representing 22 species (9% of the species recorded from Norway) were collected. The mean densities of Oribatida and Mesostigmata were 454 and 40 individuals per 0.5 dm 3 , respectively. The most abundant member of Oribatida was Oribatula exilis (29% of Oribatida collected), while Zercon lindrothi made up 59% of Mesostigmata. Fifteen of the oribatid species were first records for Norway, including six new to Fennoscandia:

Diversity and Distribution of Mites (Acari: Ixodida, Mesostigmata, Trombidiformes, Sarcoptiformes) in the Svalbard Archipelago

“…Although Iceland has an area only 1.5 times greater than Svalbard, the island lies at a lower latitude (between 63 • and 66 • north latitude), glaciers cover only 11% of its area, and it lies in the path of the North Atlantic Current, which results in a more ameliorated climate. The diversity of mites in Svalbard is also much poorer in comparison to mainland Norway: Ixodida comprise 8% here with Mesostigmata-15%, Trombidiformes-13%, and Sarcoptiformes-30% [154][155][156][157]. However, these differences are not unexpected considering that the Svalbard archipelago is situated 900 km from the northern border of mainland Norway and has an area of only one fifth of that of mainland Norway [158].…”

<p class="Body"><strong>Molecular and ontogeny studies clarify systematic status of <em>Chamobates borealis </em>(Acari, Oribatida, Chamobatidae): an integrated taxonomy approach</strong></p>

“…Chamobates borealis was the second most abundant oribatid species in a rich broadleaf forest in western Norway (dominance index, 17%; average density 83 individuals per 500 cm 3 ). It was found in all microhabitats studied (mosses from soil, tree bark, stump, dead wood, and in dead wood) but was most abundant in mosses growing on dead wood (Seniczak et al 2019). The juveniles made on average 10% of the population, but were most abundant in mosses on ground and absent from tree bark and dead wood.…”

“…This was a low-herb deciduous forest dominated by gray alder [Alnus incana (L.) Moench], ash (Fraxinus excelsior L.), hazel (Corylus avellana L.), wych elm (Ulmus glabra Hudson) and birch (Betula pendula Roth), while the forest floor was mostly overgrown by mosses. The detailed habitat characteristics were presented earlier (Seniczak et al 2019). Mites were extracted in Tullgren funnels for 14 days, because the samples were relatively large and originated from wet forest (Seniczak et al 2019), and preserved in 90% ethanol.…”

“…The detailed habitat characteristics were presented earlier (Seniczak et al 2019). Mites were extracted in Tullgren funnels for 14 days, because the samples were relatively large and originated from wet forest (Seniczak et al 2019), and preserved in 90% ethanol.…”

High Diversity of Mites (Acari: Oribatida, Mesostigmata) Supports the High Conservation Value of a Broadleaf Forest in Eastern Norway

“…Due to their small body size, they often go unnoticed, although they live in diverse forest microhabitats-from deep soils, even 2-3 m underground [10], up to the tops of trees [11]. They are usually most abundant and species-rich in mosses [12][13][14][15].…”