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A Comparative Ecological Analysis of the Soil Mesostigmata (Acarina) Associated with some Coniferous Bavarian Forests
Author(s) -
Elbadry E. A.
Publication year - 1973
Publication title -
zeitschrift für angewandte entomologie
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.795
H-Index - 60
eISSN - 1439-0418
pISSN - 0044-2240
DOI - 10.1111/j.1439-0418.1973.tb02276.x
Subject(s) - mesostigmata , ecology , podzol , fauna , biology , forestry , mite , soil biology , population , geography , soil water , demography , sociology
Abstract The present study describes an 12‐month census made from 2 Bavarian coniferous forest environments. The seasonal population fluctuations of the mesostigmatid fauna were found at various intervals. Comparisons were made throughout of the ecology of species in both sites of study, together with the relationship between densities and soil ecological factors, viz. temperature and rainfall. The 2 sampling sites generally had a similar species spectrum for Mesostigmata. Fourteen species were identified and grouped into 12 families. The total number of Mesostigmata was rather high in Grafrath compared with Siegenburg. The populations fluctuated with time and marked differences occurred in the patterns of variation shown by different species. There was significant evidence that the changes as a whole bore strong relationships to the fluctuations of soil temperature and precipitation. Possible explanations for summer and winter peak mite populations were discussed. Zusammenfassung Untersuchungen über die Mesostigmata‐(Acarina‐) Faunen einiger bayerischer Nadelwaldböden 12monatige vergleichende Studien zeigten, daß die Fluktuation der Populationen von Mesostigmata‐Arten und ‐Gruppen in unterschiedlichen Intervallen verlief. Die zwei miteinander verglichenen Hauptstandorte, Grafrath und Siegenburg, wiesen ähnliche Artenspektren auf. Insgesamt wurden 14 Arten festgestellt, die 12 Familien angehörten. Es zeigte sich eine signifikante Beziehung zwischen Dichteveränderungen der Milben sowie Temperatur und Niederschlagshöhe. Mögliche Erklärungen für die Entstehung sommerlicher und winterlicher Dichte‐Maxima werden erörtert.