Relationship between soil diversity and inhabitant mites (Acari)

Abstract

Mites are important regulators of soil food webs in the ecosystem. Soil diversity, pH, electrical conductivity and organic matters are dominant disturbance factors on community composition of soil mites. Impacts of these factors were assessed on the species composition of soil mites at Dakahleia and Kafrelshikh governorates in six different sites. In total, 14 families, 30 genera, and 37 mite species belonging to the four sub-orders Gamasida, Actinedida, Oribatida and Acaridida were recorded. Mite abundance and diversity in the soil in Kafrelshikh was poor compared with Dakahleia sites. The effect of soil type on mite community composition was significant. PH and organic matters have been established as good indicators for soil fertility. Soil mites were affected by soil fertility as it was observed that soil mites population increased with increasing nutrients. This study provided important information on soil mite populations in cultivated soils and could provide baseline data for studies of bioindicators of soil quality. In conclusion soil mites responded to land type, pH, EC (ds/m) and organic matter level.

Does Gamasid mites (Acari, Mesostigmata) observed in oil palm and rubber plantations can be used as indicators of tropical secondary forest soil transformation?

“…This trend is in line with our results, because a decrease of the mesostigmatid mites' abundance, species richness and diversity was detected following the conversion of secondary forests into rubber and oil palm plantations. The habitat fragmentation such as soil tillage, reduction of vegetation covers and subsequently the changes in microclimate affect negatively the Gamasid mites' community (Elmoghazy and Shawer, 2013). Living trees especially maintain populations of soil mites in forests as their abundance is higher in soil near growing trees (Kamczyc et al, 2020).…”

“…The type of vegetation covers and the resulting litter as well as intensive agriculture affect the mite population densities and diversity in the soil (Elmoghazy and Shawer, 2013). With the decline of plant diversity in monocultural plantations (Drescher et al, 2016), the litter thickness is strongly reduced particularly in oil palm by 84% (Beckendorff, 2016).…”

“…Likewise, the particular conditions of each stand (vegetation cover, forest types, soil and plantation types, age, tillage, pesticides and fertilizers application, soil compaction during harvest, and removal of plant biomass) as well as climatic conditions influence both the quantitative and qualitative aspects of the structure of the mesostigmatid mites' communities (Arroyo et The mesostigmatid mites' assemblages are distinguished according to stand floor thickness and microhabitats, probably reflecting species-specific habitat preferences within accumulated litter (Díaz-Aguilar et al, 2013; Kamczyc et al, 2020). The vegetation covers and the resulting litter as well as intensive agriculture affect mite population densities and diversity in the soil (Elmoghazy and Shawer, 2013). Many ecological studies revealed that the litter-fermentation layer is the most favorable habitat for Mesostigmatid species Kamczyc et al, 2018).…”

Faunastic Soil Dwelling Mites of Sugar Beet Fields in Sharkia Governorate, Egypt

“…The extracted mites were received in aquatic medium and transferred to solution containing ethanol and acetic acid at 9:1 as sudden death solution, which quickly killed mites and stretched its bodies. After that, mites were transferred to lactic acid as clearing solution for a period depending on mite species and its inflexible degree (El-Moghazy and Shawer, 2013).…”