Suborder Oribatida van der Hammen, 1968. In: Zhang, Z.-Q. (Ed.) Animal biodiversity: An outline of higher-level classification and survey of taxonomic richness

The degree of ecological specialization influences the biological performance of species in their natural environment and affects the coexistence of different taxa. However, on a small scale, the diversity of microarthropods that coexist in forest soils and leaf litter seems inordinately high, a situation known as the “enigma of soil animal species diversity”. Since recent studies point to the importance of small‐scale heterogeneity to explain this phenomenon, we use interaction networks between microhabitats and their inhabitants to resolve and quantify the community structure (species composition, richness, and diversity) of oribatid mites (Oribatida) in five discrete, patchy substrates—dead wood, lichens, mosses, sod, and tree bark—and in the general leaf litter. Since oribatid mites are ubiquitous in all these microhabitats in temperate forests, the analysis of their community structure in the light of generalization and specialization might help us understand the ecological role of litter. We investigated whether litter acts as a specific microhabitat with the intrinsic characteristics that enable the “enigmatic” high diversity of oribatid mites (Habitat‐Hypothesis), if litter acts as a source from which oribatid mite species more or less randomly invade different associated microhabitat‐patches (Source‐Hypothesis), or if litter only connects patchily distributed microhabitats with specific species compositions (Connector‐Hypothesis). In total, 25,162 adult oribatid mite individuals were analyzed, most belonging to the derived group Brachypylina. Species richness, density, and diversity differed among microhabitats with highest values found in mosses and dead wood and lowest on tree bark. In general, specialization of oribatid mite species was low—highest on tree bark and in grass sod—but differed slightly among oribatid mite taxa (Enarthronota, Mixonomata, Nothrina, Brachypylina). The Connector‐ and Habitat‐Hypotheses can explain the distribution of most oribatid mite species but the Source‐Hypothesis explains the distribution patterns for only a few species.

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“…Taxonomic classification was adapted from Weigmann (), Norton and Behan‐Pelletier (), Schatz et al. (), and Subías ().…”

Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Specialization of oribatid mites to forest microhabitats—the enigmatic role of litter

et al. 2016

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“…Feather mites are highly specialized parasitic and commensal astigmatan mites (Acari: Astigmata) permanently inhabiting the plumage or skin of birds. The approximately 2500 species in 450 genera and 34-38 families occur throughout the World and have been recorded from all avian orders; nevertheless, it is considered that the currently known number of species represents not more than 15% of the extant fauna (Peterson 1975;Gaud & Atyeo 1996;Mironov 2003;Proctor 2003;Dabert et al 2008;OConnor 2009;Schatz et al 2011).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

New feather mites of the subfamily Pterodectinae (Acari: Proctophyllodidae) from passerines and woodpeckers (Aves: Passeriformes and Piciformes) in Vietnam

Mironov

Literák

Hùng

et al. 2012

Zootaxa

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Two new genera and nine new species of the feather mite subamily Pterodectinae (Proctophyllodidae) are described from passerines and woodpeckers in Vietnam: Dolichodectes furcilobus sp. n. from Copsychus malabaricus (Scopoli) (Muscicapidae), Montesauria abroscopi sp. n. from Abroscopus superciliaris (Blyth) (Cettiidae), M. macronoi sp. n. from Macronous gularis (Horsfield) (Timaliidae), M. pellornei sp. n. from Pellorneum ruficeps Swainson (Pellorneidae), M. phylloscopi sp. n. from Phylloscopus ricketti (Slater) (Phylloscopidae), M. seicerci sp. n. from Seicercus valentini (Hartert) (Phylloscopidae), Picipterodectes sasiae gen. n., sp. n. from Sasia ochracea Hodgson (Picidae), Proterothrix alcippeae sp. n. from Alcippe rufogularis (Mandelli) (Pellorneidae), and Vireodectes erporni gen. n., sp. n. from Erpornis zantholeuca (Blyth) (Vireonidae). The new genera Picipterodectes gen. n. and Vireodectes gen. n. belong to the Proterothrix generic group uniting archaic genera in the tribe Pterodectini. Brief comments on the current state of systematics of the genera Dolichodectes Park and Atyeo, 1971, Montesauria Oudemans, 1905 and Proterothrix Gaud, 1968 are provided. A new species group macronoi is established in the genus Montesauria.

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“…The author has followed the systematic system of Schatz et al (2011). Genus and species names are in accordance with Weigmann (2006).…”

Section: Identification and Description Of The New Speciesmentioning

confidence: 99%

Oribatid mites of Georgian (Caucasus) caves including the description of a new species ofGhilarovusKrivolutsky, 1966

Murvanidze

2014

International Journal of Acarology

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The checklist of 67 oribatid mite species found in 21 limestone caves of Georgia is provided. A new species Ghilarovus kvavadzei sp. nov. is described, the first record of Ghilarovus species in the Caucasus area. A table of characters of all known species of Ghilarovus Krivolutsky, 1966 is given. Taxonomic remarks on Phauloppia pilosa (CL Koch, 1841) are provided. Miracarus hurkai Kunst, 1959 is new to the Caucasian fauna with Epidamaeus pinguis Kulijev, 1967 and Dissorhina signata (Schwalbe, 1989) new records to the Georgian fauna.

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Suborder Oribatida van der Hammen, 1968. In: Zhang, Z.-Q. (Ed.) Animal biodiversity: An outline of higher-level classification and survey of taxonomic richness

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Cited by 72 publications

References 4 publications

Specialization of oribatid mites to forest microhabitats—the enigmatic role of litter

Specialization of oribatid mites to forest microhabitats—the enigmatic role of litter

New feather mites of the subfamily Pterodectinae (Acari: Proctophyllodidae) from passerines and woodpeckers (Aves: Passeriformes and Piciformes) in Vietnam

Oribatid mites of Georgian (Caucasus) caves including the description of a new species ofGhilarovusKrivolutsky, 1966

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