Studying the structure of soil oribatid mites within the research plots

Josef Starý, Karel Matějka

Research of main group of soil mites was caried out on a total of 5 localities: Nature Reserve Děvín-Soutěska in Lanscape protected area Pálava (plots DeN and DeW); near village Hnanice in National Park Podyjí (Hna); three localities in Landscape protected area Český Kras (CK1, CK2 and CK3); Nature Monument Sítovka near Hradec Králové (Sit), and locality near summit Plechý Mt. (P19 and P20 together with parallel clear-cutted plots P19:0 and P20:0), in National Park Šumava. Altogether 95 quantitative soil samples were collected and processed. Soil mites were extracted from soil sample using modified high gradient termoeclector; in total 3678 specimen of soil mites were obtained thereof 2651 specimen of oribatid mites (Oribatida), all oribatid individuals were determined on species level. In total 137 species of oribatid mites were determined. The mean abundance of soil mites from the group Oribatida, Actinedida, Acaridida, Gamasida and Tarsonemida, total number of Oribatida and dominance structure of their communities was find out. Structure of dominance of each oribatid community was discussed and list or rare species was carried out. Methods of ordination and cluster analysis were used. Negative impact of recent undergrowth thinning on soil mite communities was found on the locality Děvín-North (DeN) together with negative influence of sheep grazing and wood thinning in localities Hnanice (Hna) and Karlštejn. During study of transect from the forest steppe to deciduous forest in NPR Karlštejn (CK1) the strong ecotonal edge effect was detected characterized by significantly higher number of oribatid species as well as higher main abundance oribatid abundance in border zone or habitats between studied biotopes. Significant positive impact of the amount and type of decaying wood on main characteristics of oribatid communities was found in locality NM Sítovka. Species distinctly preferred decaying wood of mountain oak (Quercus petraea) and Scots pine (Pinus sylvestris) in comparison with surrounding oak litter and soil. Negative impact clear-cuttings were found concerning oribatid communities in comparison with soil of dead dried spruce forest in Šumava Mts.

 

Project Silviculture measures to improve forest biodiversity in protected areas
Project number EHP-CZ02-OV-1-015-2014, Supported by grant from Iceland, Liechtenstein and Norway