Preliminary study of the mite community structure in different black truffle producing soils

Abstract

Aims of the study: The goals of this paper are to provide preliminary data on the composition of the mite community in truffle-producing soils (both wild and plantations); and to elucidate those species which may interact with the black truffle life cycle.Area of study: The study was carried out in two black truffle productive zones in Navarra (Spain), in four different plantations and five wild production areas.Material and Methods: Fauna was extracted using Berlese Tullgren funnels. Animals were separated into taxonomic groups, and mites were identified. To analyse the composition and community structure of the different habitats, parameters such as abundance, species richness, and Shanon Weiner diversity index (H’) were calculated.Main results: A total of 305 mites were recognized, belonging to 58 species representing the three major taxonomic groups (Oribatida, Prostigmata, Mesostigmata).Research highlights: The results show a possible trend towards wild areas having greater diversity and species richness than plantations. Furthermore, community analysis shows differences in species compositions among different study areas, and oribatid mites always exhibit the highest relative abundance and species richness.Keywords: Acari; Tuber melanosporum; Oribatida; Mesostigmata; Prostigmata; truffle orchards.

Importance of moss habitats for mesostigmatid mites (Acari: Mesostigmata) in Romania

“…From a conservation point of view, we considered that these moss habitats are very important in comparison to others, due to the relatively high species diversity. If we take into consideration the numerical abundance of mites, the obtained value from moss habitats was close to that of wood debris (3621 individuals), and higher than those from ant nests (136 individuals), canopies (176 individuals), bark beetles (1804 individuals), black truffle (305 individuals), sod (192 individuals), or rock cracks and labyrinths (251 individuals); but it was much lower than those of this parameter recorded in tree hollows (9006 individuals), nests of micromammals (27,097 individuals), bird nests (13,355 individuals), or forest leaf litter (6964 individuals) (Gwiazdowicz and Klemt, 2004;Mašán and Stanko, 2005;Bajerlein et al, 2006;Gwiazdowicz, 2007;Arroyo et al, 2010;Salmane and Brumelis, 2010;Gwiazdowicz et al, 2011Gwiazdowicz et al, , 2012Kaczmarek et al, 2011Kaczmarek et al, , 2015Kamczyc and Gwiazdowicz, 2013;Kamczyc and Skorupski, 2014;Queralt et al, 2014;Manu and Ion, 2014).…”

Cambios en la presencia de especies de oribátidos (Acarina, Oribatida) asociados a la fertilización con purín porcino en clima Mediterráneo seco

“…Además, la falta de estructuras anatómicas específicas para dispersarse rápidamente (alas) implica que no puedan escapar fácilmente de impactos negativos o condiciones de estrés. Así pues, las características descritas permiten apuntar a los ácaros oribátidos como buenos bioindicadores de los cambios en las propiedades del suelo asociados a la actividad humana (Gergócs y Hufnagel, 2009;Queralt et al, 2014;Menta y Remelli, 2020).…”