Edaphic diversity of cunaxid mites (Acari: Prostigmata) in different tree formations from northern region of Rio Grande Do Sul State, Brazil

Abstract

Areas of natural vegetation can favor biodiversity since they have a higher number of native plants and less impact of human activities compared to areas with agricultural crops. Orange and pine forestry stand out among the important monoculture crops for Brazilian agribusiness. In the orange crop, agrochemicals are used to control pests; in pine, there is no need to apply agrochemicals as often, however, biodiversity can be impacted by allelopathic effects of the plant. There are some mite families associated with these environments; among them the cunaxid mites present are associated with both the soil and the litter, feeding on springtails, nematodes and other small organisms. The objective of this study was to evaluate the cunaxid diversity associated with Natural Vegetation (NV), Pine Forestry (PF) and Orange Cultivation (OC) in the municipalities of Mormaço and Soledade, state of Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil. Three litter and soil collections were carried out at 12 random sampling points, in previously demarcated areas within each environment. In total, 330 cunaxids were collected, 57.6% in NV, 32.7% in OC and 9.7% in PF. Among the species found, Coleoscirus tuberculatus Den Heyer, Cunaxa n. sp., Neobonzia n. sp. and Pulaeus quadrisolenidius Castro & Den Heyer were exclusively associated with NV, while Rubroscirus sp. only with OF and Dactiloscirus sp. with OC. The most abundant species was Neocunaxoides ovatus Lin, Zhang & Ji, with 130 specimens and the rarest was Neobonzia n. sp., with only one specimen.