Oribatid mites in urban zones of West Berlin

Abstract

A comparison is made between oribatid fauna (Acari, Oribatida) in the urban regions of West Berlin and forest areas. There are characteristic species compositions living in urban soils, in epilithic moss cushions or on the bark of trees. The urban environment obviously causes a change in the species pattern in these types of habitats and minimizes the number of species in central urban regions. The most important regional factors are probably relative aridity, air pollution and habitat isolation, showing a similar increasing tendency from sub-urban to central regions of West Berlin. The effects of air pollution (SO2) on moss-inhabiting oribatid mites are analysed in 13 sites of the urban district of West Berlin. The use of moss- and bark-dwelling mites as bioindicators of air pollution is discussed. Soil oribatids might be useful bioindicators of soil pollution in further research.