Response of soil mites (Acari, Mesostigmata) to long-term Norway spruce plantation along a mountain stream

• DOI: 10.1007/s10493-018-0314-3
• Publication Date: 2018-10-16T07:50:02Z
• Authors: Jacek Kamczyc; Maciej Skorupski; Marcin K. Dyderski; Anna Gazda; Mariusz Hachułka; Paweł Horodecki; Izabela Kałucka; Marek Malicki; Remigiusz Pielech; Michał Smoczyk; Sylwia Wierzcholska; Andrzej M. Jagodz...
• Keywords: Mesostigmata; Understory; Animal ecology

During the nineteenth and twentieth centuries, coniferous monocultures were introduced, replacing natural broadleaved forests in Central Europe, mainly for economic benefits. In mountains, Norway spruce [Picea abies (L.) H. Karst] was introduced large areas previously covered with beech also riverside habitat corridors such as river valleys, despite its negative impact on soil environment by e.g. organic matter accumulation, decrease of pH changes C/N ratio. We aimed to check how long-term plantations affect species richness diversity mites along a mountain former mixed forests. The study, based 342 samples, carried out Stołowe Mountains National Park (SW Poland). Understory biomass, layer thickness significantly affected mite communities. Although did not differ from either or density (number individuals m-2) (H'), they characterized low proportional abundance Uropodina typical total, 4849 classified into 57 recorded all forest types no unique found sampled communities dominated same common (Veigaia nemorensis, Paragamasus runcatellus, Leptogamasus obesus Trachytes aegrota), still maintain rare their high recovery potential may be used conversion.