Oribatid Mites (Oribatida) Associated with Nests of Hollow-Nesting Birds, on the Example of a Model Species, the European Pied Flycatcher (Ficedula hypoleuca), in the Taiga Forests of the European North-East of Russia

Abstract

The authors have obtained original material on the fauna and population structure of oribatid mites inhabiting nests of the European pied flycatcher (Ficedula hypoleuca, Passeriformes, hollow-nesting bird) on the territory of the taiga zone of the European North-East of Russia. Long-term research and the collection of nests were carried out in the green zone of Syktyvkar in 2017–2022. Observations were made for artificial nests (hollows) of a box type with a bottom area of 100 cm2. The material of the tray was collected completely. In 135 studied nests of pied flycatchers, 1762 specimens were found and identified for 22 species of oribatid mites from 19 genera and 16 families. In the nests of the pied flycatcher, a complex of species was found that is known as an arboricolous species for this region; these are Oribatula (Zygoribatula) propinqua, Oribatula (Z.) exilis, Trichoribates (T.) berlesei, and Ameronothrus oblongus. We suggested that arboricolous species, as well as eurytopic species, can actively inhabit bird nests. Highly numerous in our collections were representatives of the Oribatulidae and Scheloribatidae families; they are Oribatula (Z.) propinqua, Oribatula (Z.) exilis, Oribatula (O.) tibialis, and Scheloribates laevigatus. Epigeic species are dominated by the species number. The fauna of oribatid mites mainly included widespread Holarctic species (54.54%).

Type of Material, Not Tree Hole Characteristics Shapes Uropodina Mites’ Species Composition in Excavated Tree Holes

“…Surprisingly, apart from the relatively well-known European mites from the suborder Uropodina inhabiting bird nests, especially in the studies of [20,[25][26][27][28][29], materials from tree holes excavated by woodpeckers have never been studied so far. The reason for this may be a problem with access to the nest sites (excavated holes are situated, on average, much higher than nest boxes) and sampling (tree hole content accessible only through a small opening), in contrast to data concerning mites in the nests of hole-nesting birds but extracted from nest boxes, which are well described, see [20,26,29,30]. Interestingly, the first intensive work using natural tree holes has lately brought about the very interesting discovery of Chiropturopoda nidiphila (Acari: Uropodina), which was previously recorded worldwide only once [31].…”

Mites Living in the Nests of the White Stork and Black Stork in Microhabitats of the Forest Environment and Agrocenoses

“…Mites are among the most diverse groups of invertebrates, inhabiting a wide range of environments. Some of them form periodic associations with vertebrates, especially mammals [1][2][3][4] and birds [5][6][7][8]. According to Proctor and Owens [9], at least 2500 species of mites from 40 families periodically reside on the bodies of birds or their nests.…”