The effect of clear-cutting and wildfire on soil Oribatida (Acari) in windthrown stands of the High Tatra Mountains (Slovakia)

Abstract

The aim of this study was to assess the impact of clear-cutting and wildfire on soil Oribatida in spruce forest stands in the High Tatra Mts. (Slovakia), which were heavily damaged by windthrow in 2004. Additionally, a part of the clear-cut area was subsequently damaged by wildfire in 2005. The investigation was carried out in 2007 in following treatments: clear-cut stands (EXT), wildfire stands (FIR) and control spruce stands (REF). Significantly lower abundance of Oribatida was found in FIR and EXT compared to REF stands. REF stands had clearly higher total species richness followed by EXT and FIR stands (47, 34, 29 species, respectively). NMS ordination showed considerable differences in the composition of Oribatida communities between treatments. The abundance of dominant Hermannia gibba, Oppiella nova and Tectocepheus velatus velatus was significantly lower in EXT and FIR compared to REF stands. The abundances of surface living H. gibba and Liacarus corracinus were low in EXT stands, whereas in FIR stands, H. gibba was rare and L. coracinus was totally absent. On the other hand, Oribatula tibialis had higher abundance in FIR stands than in others. Our results show that clear-cutting and wildfire had a pronounced negative effect on the abundance and diversity of soil Oribatida in the spruce forest of the High Tatras three and two years after the disturbance, respectively.