Inter-Relation Between Environmental Factors and Cryptostigmata and Mesostigmata (Acari) in the Litter and Soil of Two Australian Subtropical Forests

Abstract

SUMMARY (1) A number of environmental factors (pH, total N. organic matter, moisture content, weight) recorded in litter and soil of two subtropical forests in south eastern Queensland, a rainforest and a wet sclerophyll forest, are classified using the numerical techniques of agglomerative classification and ordination. (2) Clear environmental differences between the two forests are indicated. These differences are strongly correlated with pH and to a lesser extent with organic matter in the litter and soil and total N in the litter. (3) Seasonal environmental changes are noted within each forest, with the wet sclerophyll forest apparently more environmentally heterogeneous than the rainforest. (4) Cryptostigmata and Mesostigmata species recorded in the two forests are also classified using numerical techniques. (5) The analyses indicate a clear separation between those species groupings present in the rainforest and those present in the wet sclerophyll forest. This difference is strongly correlated with pH. (6) Within each forest seasonal differences in species configurations are indicated; the wet sclerophyll forest has both more obvious spatial and seasonal differences in species configurations than the rainforest and some of these configurations are correlated with environmental factors.