Abstract
Abstract. Compositions of oribatid mite communities were compared under five stages of native Scots pine regeneration (spanning 100 yr) within the Abernethy Forest Reserve, U.K. Sampling was conducted during autumn and spring, and oribatid mites identified using the morphospecies technique. Results showed the oribatid mite fauna to be abundant and diverse. Density of mites generally decreased with soil depth, however in the woodland sites the upper 10 cm of soil contained more individuals than the litter layer. Eleven morphospecies showed significant differences (p < 0.05) in abundance between sites, with marked preferences shown for either mature woodland or tree-less moorland. During spring, morphospecies richness and mite density were highest at the woodland sites, but during autumn they were greater at the moorland sites. Shannon Wiener diversity indices and measures of evenness, calculated for each site, showed that despite having a high morphospecies richness, sites were often dominated by a few very abundant morphospecies. A greater number of mites were collected during autumn, but only one morphospecies showed significant seasonal differences in numbers. Factors influencing differences in oribatid communities at each site are discussed and the use of morphospecies as an identification tool is also assessed.
Highlights
Compositions of oribatid mite communities were compared under five stages of native Scots pine regeneration within the Abernethy Forest Reserve, U.K
Overall vertical distribution was very similar between seasons, but showed significant variation between regeneration sites (p < 0.01)
The results show that the oribatid mite fauna within the sampled area of the Abernethy Forest Reserve is both abundant and diverse
Summary
Compositions of oribatid mite communities were compared under five stages of native Scots pine regeneration (spanning 100 yr) within the Abernethy Forest Reserve, U.K. Eleven morphospecies showed significant differences (p < 0.05) in abundance between sites, with marked preferences shown for either mature woodland or tree-less moorland. Morphospecies richness and mite density were highest at the woodland sites, but during autumn they were greater at the moorland sites. Oribatid mites are generally the most abundant and diverse arthropod group in forest soils. They are instrumental in the decomposition of organic matter and turnover of nutrients and directly influence the productivity of plant communities (Swift et al 1979). (1993) showed a significant positive correlation between oribatid mite species and the vitality of a Scots pine Pinus sylvestris L. forest whilst Van Straalen et al (1988) identified oribatids as indicators for monitoring changes in soil quality. Before the role of oribatids in a specific habitat can be understood, a knowledge of factors influencing their population dynamics is required
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