Catalogue of oribatid mites (Acari: Oribatida) from South Tyrol  (Prov. Bolzano, Italy)

Abstract

A checklist of the oribatid mites reported in South Tyrol (Italy) is presented, covering all published records until 2017. Numerous unpublished records are added. Several species were revised, doubtful and erroneous records from previous publications are discussed and corrected if necessary. A total of 397 described species in 71 families are listed, complemented by two subspecies and 15 undetermined or undescribed species. The list includes all records of each species in South Tyrol, their known distribution in the Italian Alps sorted to provinces, the distribution in Italy, occurrence in the neighbouring countries Austria and Switzerland, and their general distribution. Occasional additional remarks give taxonomic information. A historical overview of the exploration of the oribatid mites in South Tyrol is outlined. The general distribution of the oribatid mite fauna of South Tyrol is analysed. Beside species with a wide distribution the region includes many “Mediterranean” species, species with their main distribution in Central Europe, and species restricted to the Alps, the latter mainly in higher mountainous regions.

Biodiversity in mountain soils above the treeline

“…In general, the composition and abundance of meso-invertebrate communities in soil are dependent on elevation (Striganova & Rybalov, 2008;Jiang, Yin & Wang, 2015;Khabir et al, 2015;Schatz, 2017;Winkler et al, 2018), soil properties (van der Merwe et al, 2020, the identity of plant species and the variability of vegetation communities (Eo et al, 2016;Xie et al, 2022), all of which can lead to a high spatial heterogeneity with many local microhabitats. Furthermore, factors related to climate change, such as temperature (Harte, Rawa & Price, 1996;Alatalo et al, 2017) and reduced soil water availability (Sylvain et al, 2014), as well as (anthropogenic) disturbances may also affect soil mesofauna diversity and communities.…”

Oribatid mites (Acari: Oribatida) from the Sella massif (Dolomites, Trentino, Italy) with description of Trichoribates valeriae n. sp. (Ceratozetidae)

“…The species differ in lamellar structure (lamella and cusp wider, well developed teeth on cusp of T. scilierensis), shape of tutorium (part of T. scilierensis specimens with 4-5 small dentations at the dorsodistal end, others without teeth and broader end), epimeral setal formula (3-1-3-2 in T. scilierensis). Trichoribates scilierensis was described from the nearby Sciliar massif in the Italian Dolomites (Bayartogtokh and Schatz 2008a) and later found in further localities in the Italian and Austrian Alps (Fischer and Schatz 2013, Schatz 2018, 2020, mainly in alpine and high alpine altitudes.…”

New Scheloribates (Topobates) (Acari, Oribatida, Scheloribatidae) from Mexico

“…The subgeneric diagnosis of Scheloribates ( Topobates ) was supported by some authors (e.g., Seniczak et al . 2013; Norton & Ermilov 2014; Xu & Chen 2023), but some authors (e.g., Schatz 2018; Subias 2022, online version 2023; Subias & Shtanchaeva 2023) continue to maintain the generic status of Topobates . At present, the subgenus comprises 27 species (Subías 2022, online version 2023; Xu & Chen 2023), which have a cosmopolitan distribution except the Nearctic and Antarctic areas (Subías 2022, online version 2023).…”

“…Weigmann & Miko (1998) discussed the generic conception of the genus Scheloribates Berlese (1908) and proposed a subgeneric status (including the enumeration of subgeneric characters) for Topobates within Scheloribates, based on the fact that there is a difference between taxa only in the number of notogastral setae (12-14 in Topobates versus 10 in Scheloribates). The subgeneric diagnosis of Scheloribates (Topobates) was supported by some authors (e.g., Seniczak et al 2013;Norton & Ermilov 2014;Xu & Chen 2023), but some authors (e.g., Schatz 2018;Subias 2022Subias , online version 2023Subias & Shtanchaeva 2023) continue to maintain the generic status of Topobates. At present, the subgenus comprises 27 species (Subías 2022(Subías , online version 2023Xu & Chen 2023), which have a cosmopolitan distribution except the Nearctic and Antarctic areas (Subías 2022(Subías , online version 2023).…”