The use of predatory soil mites in ecological soil classification and assessment concepts, with perspectives for oribatid mites

Ruf, Andrea; Beck, Ludwig

doi:10.1016/j.ecoenv.2005.03.029

Cited by 80 publications

(41 citation statements)

References 33 publications

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“…Soil texture is among the major environmental factors that correlate with the oribatid mites community (Ruf and Beck 2005), but few studies address the pattern on a large scale.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Species diversity of edaphic mites (Acari: Oribatida) and effects of topography, soil properties and litter gradients on their qualitative and quantitative composition in 64 km2 of forest in Amazonia

et al. 2011

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Small-scale spatial distribution of oribatid mites has been investigated in Amazonia. In addition, medium- and large-scale studies are needed to establish the utility of these mites in detecting natural environmental variability, and to distinguish this variability from anthropogenic impacts. We are expanding the knowledge about oribatid mites in a wet upland forest reserve, and investigate whether a standardized and integrated protocol is an efficient way to assess the effects of environmental variables on their qualitative and quantitative composition on a large spatial scale inside an ecological reserve in Central Amazonia, Brazil. Samples for Berlese-Tullgren extraction were taken in 72 plots of 250 × 6 m distributed over 64 km(2). In total 3,182 adult individuals, from 82 species and 79 morphospecies were recorded, expanding the number of species known in the reserve from 149 to 254. Galumna, Rostrozetes and Scheloribates were the most speciose genera, and 57 species were rare. Rostrozetes ovulum, Pergalumna passimpuctata and Archegozetes longisetosus were the most abundant species, and the first two were the most frequent. Species number and abundance were not correlated with clay content, slope, pH and litter quantity. However, Principal Coordinate Analysis indicated that as the percentage of clay content, litter quantity and pH changed, the oribatid mite qualitative and quantitative composition also changed. The standardized protocol effectively captured the diversity, as we collected one of the largest registers of oribatid mites' species for Amazonia. Moreover, biological and ecological data were integrated to capture the effects of environmental variables accounting for their diversity and abundance.

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“…Soil texture is among the major environmental factors that correlate with the oribatid mites community (Ruf and Beck 2005), but few studies address the pattern on a large scale.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Species diversity of edaphic mites (Acari: Oribatida) and effects of topography, soil properties and litter gradients on their qualitative and quantitative composition in 64 km2 of forest in Amazonia

et al. 2011

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“…Mesostigmatid mites are mainly generalist predators (Gamasina). Although some are more or less specialized on collembolans and nematodes, other species (Uropodina) are fungivores or feed directly on decomposing plant material (Ruf and Beck 2005;Siira-Pietikäinen et al 2008). Mesostigmatids are highly diverse, and often occur in great numbers, in many forest microhabitats (Koehler 1999).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Mesostigmatid mites in four classes of wood decay

2011

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We studied the mesostigmatid mite community in four classes of wood decay in mixed (pine-oak) forest stands in the Wielkopolska region, Cental-West Poland. A total of 80 samples, including bark, phloem and rotten wood of coniferous and deciduous species logs, were taken in August 2006 and 2007. Decay classes were a qualitative, categorical index based on visual assessment of decomposition in coarse woody debris. A total of 3621 mesostigmatid mites were counted and identified to 91 species. In general the total number of species was diverse in the decay classes and ranged from 35 (classes I and II) to 58 (class IV). The average number of species did not differ significantly among wood decay classes. Also the abundance of mesostigmatids did not differ significantly among wood decay classes, but the highest abundance was observed in the last class (IV). Cluster analysis of the species identity index showed that the microhabitats were divided into two main clusters: relatively undecayed wood and decayed wood. Species accumulation curves showed that relatively decayed wood (class IV) had a greater rate of species accumulation than undecayed wood from the class I decomposition.

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“…Many studies have demonstrated that they are sensitive to modifications of the different physical (soil water content, temperature) and chemical [soil nutrients, organic matter, pH, N and carbon (C)] environmental factors (Ruf & Beck 2005;Chikoski et al 2006;Gulvik 2007;Nielsen et al 2010Nielsen et al , 2012Kardol et al 2011).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…In Europe, studies concerning the influence of such abiotic factors on predator soil mite communities (Acari: Mesostigmata) have been conducted mainly in forest ecosystems, revealing that external factors, such as those caused by climate change, can have a direct effect on below-ground communities (Salmane 2000;Hasegawa 2001;Huhta & Hänninen 2001;Huhta & Räty 2005;Ruf & Beck 2005;Malmström 2006;Nielsen et al 2010Nielsen et al , 2012Kardol et al 2011;Xu et al 2012). Studies that highlight the correlations between abiotic factors and soil mite communities from other types of terrestrial ecosystems, such as grassland, are few (Cole et al 2005(Cole et al , 2006(Cole et al , 2008Briones et al 2009;Wissuwa et al 2012).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

The influence of environmental variables on soil mite communities (Acari: Mesostigmata) from overgrazed grassland ecosystems – Romania

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et al. 2015

Italian Journal of Zoology

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In 2013-2014, the soil mite communities from six overgrazed grassland ecosystems located in the Trascău Mountains, Romania, were investigated. Forty-six species were identified, with 645 individuals. Some abiotic factors from soil were measured (soil temperature -T, soil water content -H, soil acidity -pH, carbon content -C, total nitrogen -Nt, and C/Nt ratio). Significant statistical differences were obtained between environmental factors. Using a canonical correspondence analysis of mite species abundance, environmental variables and habitats, strong relationships between investigated factors were established.

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The use of predatory soil mites in ecological soil classification and assessment concepts, with perspectives for oribatid mites

Cited by 80 publications

References 33 publications

Species diversity of edaphic mites (Acari: Oribatida) and effects of topography, soil properties and litter gradients on their qualitative and quantitative composition in 64 km2 of forest in Amazonia

Species diversity of edaphic mites (Acari: Oribatida) and effects of topography, soil properties and litter gradients on their qualitative and quantitative composition in 64 km2 of forest in Amazonia

Mesostigmatid mites in four classes of wood decay

The influence of environmental variables on soil mite communities (Acari: Mesostigmata) from overgrazed grassland ecosystems – Romania

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