The importance of the moss layer in sustaining biological diversity of Gamasina mites in coniferous forest soil

Salmane, Ineta; Brūmelis, Guntis

doi:10.1016/j.pedobi.2008.03.002

Cited by 29 publications

(22 citation statements)

References 26 publications

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“…This is conditioned on behavioural traits of soil mites such as methods of feeding or types of movements [18]. Although the soil mites are not always considered to mix the soil mechanically, their vertical movement in the soil may contribute to the mixing of the top organic layer with the mineral soil substrate [17,19].…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Succession of Mite Assemblages (Acari, Mesostigmata) during Decomposition of Tree Leaves in Forest Stands Growing on Reclaimed Post-Mining Spoil Heap and Adjacent Forest Habitats

Urbanowski

Horodecki

Kamczyc

et al. 2018

Forests

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Mites significantly contribute, prevalently by vertical movement, to mixing of the organic layer with the mineral soil, thus they may be important in renewing soils. Our aim was to analyze the changes in abundance and species richness of mesostigmatid assemblages on decomposing leaves of Alnus glutinosa (L.) Gaertn., Betula pendula Roth, Pinus sylvestris L. and Quercus robur L. in pine and birch stands growing on a reclaimed spoil heap and adjacent forests. In December 2013, 1024 litterbags (mesh size = 1 mm) containing leaf litter of broadleaved and coniferous trees (mean initial dry weight per sample = 5.789 g) were laid out in the same number and kind in each of the two sites. Mites were extracted from litterbags which were collected every 3–6 months for 3 years. In total, 6466 mites were identified in 59 taxa. Total abundance was higher on forest habitats (5174 specimens) compared to the spoil (1292), and in birch compared to pine stands, both in forest (3345, 1829, respectively) and spoil habitats (981, 311). Throughout the experiment, mites were most abundant on oak litter samples (2063 specimens), while the remaining litter types had similar abundances (1455–1482). At the beginning of the experiment (3–6 months) mite abundance was very low, but was higher on forest habitats. The highest abundance was found after 9 months—144 specimens in pine stands on the spoil heap and 685 in birch stands on forest habitats. During the study, 49 taxa were found on forest and 29 on heap habitats. In birch stands, 37 and 22 taxa were found, whereas in pine 30 and 21, on forest and heap, respectively. The most frequent species on the heap were Amblyseius tubae Karg, Asca bicornis Canestrini et Fanzago, and Asca aphidioides Linneaeus, whereas in forest habitat—Zercon peltatus C.L. Koch, Veigaia nemorensis C.L. Koch, and Trachytes aegrota C.L. Koch. Habitat conditions, tree species and litter type significantly determined the mesostigmatid species composition, richness and abundance. By selection of dominant tree species during afforestation, it is possible to significantly affect the soil fauna composition, and thus indirectly the rate of decomposition.

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Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Succession of Mite Assemblages (Acari, Mesostigmata) during Decomposition of Tree Leaves in Forest Stands Growing on Reclaimed Post-Mining Spoil Heap and Adjacent Forest Habitats

Urbanowski

Horodecki

Kamczyc

et al. 2018

Forests

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“…Belowground, soil frost following winter warming events reduces micro‐arthropod abundance and changes their community composition (Bokhorst et al ., ), as species differ in cold tolerance. In addition, the negative effects of frost damage to dominant dwarf shrubs and mosses will also affect the micro‐arthropod community (Salmane & Brumelis, ; Bokhorst et al ., ). Changes in plant and soil fauna community composition affect the carbon balance of an ecosystem as different plant functional types differ in their carbon sequestration rates and the decomposability of their litter (Cornelissen, ; Bokhorst et al ., ; De Deyn et al ., ; Lang et al ., ), while shifts in soil fauna community composition affect decomposition rates (Heemsbergen et al ., ; Handa et al ., ).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Climatic and biotic extreme events moderate long‐term responses of above‐ and belowground sub‐Arctic heathland communities to climate change

Bokhorst

Phoenix

Berg

et al. 2015

Global Change Biology

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Climate change impacts are not uniform across the Arctic region because interacting factors causes large variations in local ecosystem change. Extreme climatic events and population cycles of herbivores occur simultaneously against a background of gradual climate warming trends and can redirect ecosystem change along routes that are difficult to predict. Here, we present the results from sub-Arctic heath vegetation and its belowground micro-arthropod community in response to the two main drivers of vegetation damage in this region: extreme winter warming events and subsequent outbreaks of the defoliating autumnal moth caterpillar (Epirrita autumnata). Evergreen dwarf shrub biomass decreased (30%) following extreme winter warming events and again by moth caterpillar grazing. Deciduous shrubs that were previously exposed to an extreme winter warming event were not affected by the moth caterpillar grazing, while those that were not exposed to warming events (control plots) showed reduced (23%) biomass from grazing. Cryptogam cover increased irrespective of grazing or winter warming events. Micro-arthropods declined (46%) following winter warming but did not respond to changes in plant community. Extreme winter warming and caterpillar grazing suppressed the CO2 fluxes of the ecosystem. Evergreen dwarf shrubs are disadvantaged in a future sub-Arctic with more stochastic climatic and biotic events. Given that summer warming may further benefit deciduous over evergreen shrubs, event and trend climate change may both act against evergreen shrubs and the ecosystem functions they provide. This is of particular concern given that Arctic heath vegetation is typically dominated by evergreen shrubs. Other components of the vegetation showed variable responses to abiotic and biotic events, and their interaction indicates that sub-Arctic vegetation response to multiple pressures is not easy to predict from single-factor responses. Therefore, while biotic and climatic events may have clear impacts, more work is needed to understand their net effect on Arctic ecosystems.

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“…The lowest number of individuals was recorded in the ecosystem with Abies alba. Habitat patchiness and particularly moss patches, correlated with favourable microclimate (increased soil humidity, and temperature) have been associated with higher predatory mite diversity (Salmane & Brumelis 2008). In contrast, in the spruce forest, a decreased species, but increased number of individuals was recorded.…”

Section: Resultsmentioning

confidence: 98%

“…It was found that some predator species prefer the moss layer, despite of the presence of organic matter. Besides precipitation, soil moisture often depends on a number of factors, the most important is probably temperature (Salmane 2000;Salmane & Brumelis 2008).…”

Section: Resultsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Similarities between predator mite populations (Acari: Gamasina) from natural forests in the Bucegi Massif, Romania

Manu

2012

Biologia

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Ecological research of gamasid mites was carried out in three natural forest ecosystems with Picea abies (1350 m a.s.l.), Abies alba (950-1000 m a.s.l.) and Fagus sylvatica (1200 m a.s.l.) situated in the Bucegi Massif, Southern Carpathians, Romania during [2001][2002][2003]. In the studied forest ecosystems, the taxonomic structure of gamasids was represented by 11 families (Epicriidae, Parasitidae, Veigaiidae, Ameroseiidae, Aceosejidae, Rhodacaridae, Macrochelidae, Pachylaelapidae, Laelapidae, Eviphididae and Zerconidae), with 39 genera and 97 species. The maximum number of species was recorded in the ecosystem with Abies alba (80), followed by the ecosystem with Fagus sylvatica (73), while the minimum in the ecosystem with Picea abies (68). 2,016 samples, 97 species with 23,441 individuals were analysed. In order to show similarities between predator mite populations from these areas, the vegetation and some abiotic parameters of the soil (temperature, humidity, pH) were analysed and described. Similarities between gamasid mite populations from the investigated ecosystems were analysed using the Jaccard index (q). The highest similarity index (q = 0.706) was recorded between gamasids identified in Picea abies and Abies alba forests, at soil level, in comparison with those from Abies alba and Fagus sylvatica forests (q = 0.656). Based on the similarity index, it is discussed that the gamasid population structure was influenced by the type of soil, the specific composition of the herbaceous, shrub and tree layers, the microclimatic factors, all characteristic for each studied ecosystem.

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The importance of the moss layer in sustaining biological diversity of Gamasina mites in coniferous forest soil

Cited by 29 publications

References 26 publications

Succession of Mite Assemblages (Acari, Mesostigmata) during Decomposition of Tree Leaves in Forest Stands Growing on Reclaimed Post-Mining Spoil Heap and Adjacent Forest Habitats

Succession of Mite Assemblages (Acari, Mesostigmata) during Decomposition of Tree Leaves in Forest Stands Growing on Reclaimed Post-Mining Spoil Heap and Adjacent Forest Habitats

Climatic and biotic extreme events moderate long‐term responses of above‐ and belowground sub‐Arctic heathland communities to climate change

Similarities between predator mite populations (Acari: Gamasina) from natural forests in the Bucegi Massif, Romania

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