Changes in diversity and functional groups of soil mite communities are associated with properties of food resources along a subalpine secondary succession

Zhang, Ajuan; Zhang, Yan; Potapov, Anton; Bhusal, Daya Ram; Qiang, Wei; Wang, Min; Pang, Xueyong

doi:10.1016/j.geoderma.2023.116395

Cited by 8 publications

(2 citation statements)

References 83 publications

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“…It has been observed that environmental changes affect the community of soil mite predators, such as Macrocheles spp. and Uropoda spp., belonging to the Mesostigmata order (Zhang et al., 2023). Thus, changes in the vegetation structure can be one of the major factors that alter the abundance and diversity of soil mite communities (Azevedo et al., 2015; Castro et al., 2021; Wissuwa et al., 2012).…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Thus, in ephemeral microhabitats, such as faeces and carcasses of vertebrates, mites may play an important role in the predation of eggs and larvae of coprophagous flies, including those of medical-veterinary interest (Azevedo et al, 2018;Grises et al, 2023). In addition, soil mites that are detritivores or fungivores contribute directly or indirectly to soil processes, including nutrient cycling, soil formation, and are also important in the dispersal of bacterial and fungal agents of organic decomposition (Magilton et al, 2019;Zhang et al, 2023).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Does Restinga degradation impact the association between mites and dung beetles?

Lyra,

de Araujo Rodrigues,

da Costa

et al. 2023

Austral Ecology

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The conservation state of an environment can be a key factor in maintaining the existence of some interactions between species. The relationship between the dung beetle Dichotomius schiffleri, a habitat‐specific species endemic to the Restinga ecosystem, and endangered, and its symbiont mites can serve as a model to improve knowledge about this issue. In this study, we investigated whether the conservation state of Brazilian Restingas, a native ecosystem of the coastal zone that has suffered from anthropic pressure and impacts due to irregular occupation by humans, affects the abundance of mites present on D. schiffleri. Beetles and their associated mites were collected using pitfall traps in Conserved and Degraded Restingas at nine locations in the Brazilian states of Espírito Santo, Bahia, Sergipe, and Pernambuco. The abundance of mites associated with beetles was significantly higher in conserved sites than in degraded sites. Our findings provide evidence that Restinga degradation can affect not only abundance of dung beetle species, as previously reported, but also the ecological relationships that can be established between dung beetles and mites. The habitat quality and hosts availability are some mechanisms that may explain the maintenance of the interactions between dung beetles and mites. Finally, imbalance in ecological relationships is one more factor capable of signalling as human modified habitats impact fauna.

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