High Diversity of Mites (Acari: Oribatida, Mesostigmata) Supports the High Conservation Value of a Broadleaf Forest in Eastern Norway
Broadleaf forests are critical habitats for biodiversity and this biodiversity is in turn essential for their proper functioning. Mites (Acari) are a numerous and functionally essential component of these forests. We report the diversity of two important groups, Oribatida and Mesostigmata, in a broa...
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MDPI AG
2021-08-01
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| author | Anna Seniczak Stanisław Seniczak Josef Starý Sławomir Kaczmarek Bjarte H. Jordal Jarosław Kowalski Steffen Roth Per Djursvoll Thomas Bolger |
| author_facet | Anna Seniczak Stanisław Seniczak Josef Starý Sławomir Kaczmarek Bjarte H. Jordal Jarosław Kowalski Steffen Roth Per Djursvoll Thomas Bolger |
| author_sort | Anna Seniczak |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Broadleaf forests are critical habitats for biodiversity and this biodiversity is in turn essential for their proper functioning. Mites (Acari) are a numerous and functionally essential component of these forests. We report the diversity of two important groups, Oribatida and Mesostigmata, in a broadleaf forest in Eastern Norway which is considered to be a biodiversity hotspot. Eighteen samples, each 500 cm<sup>3</sup>, were collected from diverse microhabitats (moss on ground, lichens on tree twigs lying on ground, moss on tree trunks at ground level, moss on tree trunks 1.5 m above ground, moss on decaying stump, moss on decaying log, and decaying wood from trees) from which 10,843 specimens and 95 species from 32 families of Oribatida, and 655 specimens of 34 species from 14 families of Mesostigmata were found. Only 30% of the species were previously recorded in broadleaf forests in Western Norway. Oribatid communities on decaying stump and in lichens were distinct from the other communities, while mesostigmatid communities on tree trunks (both at ground level and 1.5 m above ground) and in lichens differed most from other communities. Over 30% of the species were found in only a single microhabitat. Twenty-three species and the genus <i>Zerconopsis</i> are reported from Norway for the first time. Six records are also new to Fennoscandia, including (Oribatida) <i>Coronoquadroppia monstruosa</i>, <i>Eueremaeus valkanovi</i>, <i>Ramusella furcata</i>, and (Mesostigmata) <i>D</i><i>endrolaelaps rectus</i>, <i>D</i>. <i>multidentatus</i>, and <i>D</i>. <i>tenuipilus</i>. In addition, several rare species were detected, e.g., <i>Achipteria magna</i>, <i>Oribotritia berlesei</i>, and <i>Subiasella quadrimaculata</i>, and two were found in their northernmost locality (<i>O</i>. <i>berlesei</i>, <i>E</i>. <i>valkanovi</i>). These results confirm the unique character and high conservation value of the studied forest in Norway, Fennoscandia and at a European scale. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-10T08:47:51Z |
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| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 1999-4907 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-10T08:47:51Z |
| publishDate | 2021-08-01 |
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| spelling | doaj.art-8201fbd1f08d44c7959f5fe9115fdc622023-11-22T07:43:31ZengMDPI AGForests1999-49072021-08-01128109810.3390/f12081098High Diversity of Mites (Acari: Oribatida, Mesostigmata) Supports the High Conservation Value of a Broadleaf Forest in Eastern NorwayAnna Seniczak0Stanisław Seniczak1Josef Starý2Sławomir Kaczmarek3Bjarte H. Jordal4Jarosław Kowalski5Steffen Roth6Per Djursvoll7Thomas Bolger8Department of Natural History, University Museum of Bergen, University of Bergen, P.O. Box 7800, 5020 Bergen, NorwayDepartment of Evolutionary Biology, Faculty of Biological Sciences, Kazimierz Wielki University, Ossolińskich Av. 12, 85-435 Bydgoszcz, PolandInstitute of Soil Biology, Biology Centre v.v.i., Czech Academy of Sciences, Na Sádkách 7, 370 05 České Budějovice, Czech RepublicDepartment of Evolutionary Biology, Faculty of Biological Sciences, Kazimierz Wielki University, Ossolińskich Av. 12, 85-435 Bydgoszcz, PolandDepartment of Natural History, University Museum of Bergen, University of Bergen, P.O. Box 7800, 5020 Bergen, NorwayDepartment of Biology and Animal Environment, Faculty of Animal Breeding and Biology, UTP University of Science and Technology, Mazowiecka 28, 85-084 Bydgoszcz, PolandDepartment of Natural History, University Museum of Bergen, University of Bergen, P.O. Box 7800, 5020 Bergen, NorwayDepartment of Natural History, University Museum of Bergen, University of Bergen, P.O. Box 7800, 5020 Bergen, NorwaySchool of Biology and Environmental Science, University College Dublin, Belfield, D04 V1W8 Dublin, IrelandBroadleaf forests are critical habitats for biodiversity and this biodiversity is in turn essential for their proper functioning. Mites (Acari) are a numerous and functionally essential component of these forests. We report the diversity of two important groups, Oribatida and Mesostigmata, in a broadleaf forest in Eastern Norway which is considered to be a biodiversity hotspot. Eighteen samples, each 500 cm<sup>3</sup>, were collected from diverse microhabitats (moss on ground, lichens on tree twigs lying on ground, moss on tree trunks at ground level, moss on tree trunks 1.5 m above ground, moss on decaying stump, moss on decaying log, and decaying wood from trees) from which 10,843 specimens and 95 species from 32 families of Oribatida, and 655 specimens of 34 species from 14 families of Mesostigmata were found. Only 30% of the species were previously recorded in broadleaf forests in Western Norway. Oribatid communities on decaying stump and in lichens were distinct from the other communities, while mesostigmatid communities on tree trunks (both at ground level and 1.5 m above ground) and in lichens differed most from other communities. Over 30% of the species were found in only a single microhabitat. Twenty-three species and the genus <i>Zerconopsis</i> are reported from Norway for the first time. Six records are also new to Fennoscandia, including (Oribatida) <i>Coronoquadroppia monstruosa</i>, <i>Eueremaeus valkanovi</i>, <i>Ramusella furcata</i>, and (Mesostigmata) <i>D</i><i>endrolaelaps rectus</i>, <i>D</i>. <i>multidentatus</i>, and <i>D</i>. <i>tenuipilus</i>. In addition, several rare species were detected, e.g., <i>Achipteria magna</i>, <i>Oribotritia berlesei</i>, and <i>Subiasella quadrimaculata</i>, and two were found in their northernmost locality (<i>O</i>. <i>berlesei</i>, <i>E</i>. <i>valkanovi</i>). These results confirm the unique character and high conservation value of the studied forest in Norway, Fennoscandia and at a European scale.https://www.mdpi.com/1999-4907/12/8/1098forest habitatsmicrohabitatsnew species recordsFennoscandia |
| spellingShingle | Anna Seniczak Stanisław Seniczak Josef Starý Sławomir Kaczmarek Bjarte H. Jordal Jarosław Kowalski Steffen Roth Per Djursvoll Thomas Bolger High Diversity of Mites (Acari: Oribatida, Mesostigmata) Supports the High Conservation Value of a Broadleaf Forest in Eastern Norway Forests forest habitats microhabitats new species records Fennoscandia |
| title | High Diversity of Mites (Acari: Oribatida, Mesostigmata) Supports the High Conservation Value of a Broadleaf Forest in Eastern Norway |
| title_full | High Diversity of Mites (Acari: Oribatida, Mesostigmata) Supports the High Conservation Value of a Broadleaf Forest in Eastern Norway |
| title_fullStr | High Diversity of Mites (Acari: Oribatida, Mesostigmata) Supports the High Conservation Value of a Broadleaf Forest in Eastern Norway |
| title_full_unstemmed | High Diversity of Mites (Acari: Oribatida, Mesostigmata) Supports the High Conservation Value of a Broadleaf Forest in Eastern Norway |
| title_short | High Diversity of Mites (Acari: Oribatida, Mesostigmata) Supports the High Conservation Value of a Broadleaf Forest in Eastern Norway |
| title_sort | high diversity of mites acari oribatida mesostigmata supports the high conservation value of a broadleaf forest in eastern norway |
| topic | forest habitats microhabitats new species records Fennoscandia |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/1999-4907/12/8/1098 |
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