Abstract
Mesovoid shallow substratum (MSS) of scree slopes constitutes a transition habitat between the soil and the network of voids in the vadose zone of a bedrock massif. In the present study, the vertical distribution of oribatid communities along a depth of 95 cm was studied at five forested MSS sites in the Western Carpathians, Slovakia. The sites differed in type of bedrock, topography and gradient of the microclimate and nutrients content. In all, 909 specimens were captured in subterranean traps exposed for one year. Most Oribatida represented edaphic forms, and their presence in the depth profile of the screes was accidental. Pantelozetes cavatica (Kunst, 1962) was the only species closely linked to deep subterranean environments found in the deeper part of the single limestone site studied. Species richness and the activity of oribatids along the scree profile at the sites clearly reflected the content of organic carbon in the soil substratum. The communities had very low numbers of individuals and low species richness at three sites with soil pH < 7 and organic carbon content in the upper soil layer ≤ 10%. However, they differed markedly in internal temperature dynamics. The other two sites, with a slightly alkaline soil pH and a higher carbon content, showed distinctly higher activity and a relatively uniform pattern of oribatid distribution across the depth profile. The soil pH and organic carbon content in the topsoil layer were substantial factors that determined the Oribatida diversity and vertical distribution in the forested screes.
Highlights
A shallow subterranean habitat represents an environment differing from deep caves by its close contact with the upper layers of soil and better access to nutrients (Růžička 1999; Moseley 2009; Culver and Pipan 2014)
The sites were defined by similar patterns of temperature regime
This is in conflict with our findings, since an increase of mean temperature towards deeper horizons appeared at the three study sites (BS, Drienčanský kras Karst (DK), Malý Ružínok Valley (MR)), the general trend of temperature fluctuation during the year was the same at all sites
Summary
A shallow subterranean habitat represents an environment differing from deep caves by its close contact with the upper layers of soil (under 10 metres) and better access to nutrients (Růžička 1999; Moseley 2009; Culver and Pipan 2014). Colluvial ‘mesovoid shallow substratum’ (MSS) is a type of this aphotic habitat consisting of a network of cracks (voids) among rock fragments at the bottom of stony walls in steep mountain slopes (Juberthie et al 1980; Juberthie 2000; Mammola et al 2016). Such stone accumulations, known as screes, stony debris or talus deposits, are often a frequent component of the relief in European mountains and form ‘island habitats’ (Růžička 1990; Růžička 1999; Barranco et al 2013). Jiménez-Valverde et al (2015) recorded three epigeic species of Oribatida when performing a study in Spain of subterranean fauna of bare scree slopes sparsely covered by the soil
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