Agnieszka Napierała

Influence of habitat type and natural disturbances on uropodine mite communities (Acari: Mesostigmata: Uropodina) in oak-hornbeam forests in Central Europe

The study presented in the current article was carried out in two selected natural forest reserves in Poland, i.e. Jakubowo and Las Grądowy near Mogilnica in western Wielkopolska (Poland). The material for the analysis contains quantitative soil samples collected in the period 1978–1983 and more recent material from 2005, 2006 and 2011–2013. The major aim of the study was to establish the changes in species composition, frequency and abundance of Uropodina (Acari: Mesostigmata) mite communities in six plots in Jakubowo and Las Grądowy over a long-term period. The results of the analysis clearly show that the core of the examined mite communities consists of the same eurytopic species, whereas the occurrence of rare species with narrower ecological tolerances was probably to a large extent determined by the different microhabitat conditions in each of the examined areas. The most disturbing phenomenon observed during the research period, which lasted for over 36 years, is a considerable decrease in the abundance of Uropodina in ground litter and soil of the two reserves. The changes that have already occurred in the examined mite communities were associated with natural succession in the flora and anthropogenic disturbances in the environment.

Phoretic relationships between uropodid mites (Acari: Mesostigmata) and centipedes (Chilopoda) in urban agglomeration areas

The current study concerns phoresy in uropodid mites on centipedes. Research was conducted for eight months (April–November 2006) in three habitat types, each exposed to different degrees of anthropogenic impact. The centipedes were collected monthly from all accessible microhabitats across the areas studied. We collected a total of 733 lithobiomorph centipedes representing three species. We found 43.8% of these individuals transported a total of 3376 specimens representing one Uropodina superfamily, i.e. phoretic deutonymphs of Oodinychus ovalis (CL Koch, 1839) (18%) and Uroobovella pulchella (Berlese, 1904) (82%). Mites were found on nearly all (99%) studied individuals of Lithobius forficatus (Linnaeus, 1758). The number of deutonymphs on one centipede varied from 1 to 273 specimens. The dynamics of phoresy was different for both uropodid species and each of the studied areas. The two most important factors affecting phoresy of mites on centipedes were the type of a tree stand (presence of particular tree species and probably also afforestation density), and deadwood availability. The degree of anthropogenic impact seems to influence the intensity of carrier infestation. We observed that most of the phoretic deutonymphs were attached to the anterior and middle segments of the carrier’s body.

Community structure variability of Uropodina mites (Acari: Mesostigmata) in nests of the common mole, Talpa europaea, in Central Europe

Underground nests of Talpa europaea, known as the common mole, are very specific microhabitats, which are also quite often inhabited by various groups of arthropods. Mites from the suborder Uropodina (Acari: Mesostigmata) are only one of them. One could expect that mole nests that are closely located are inhabited by communities of arthropods with similar species composition and structure. However, results of empirical studies clearly show that even nests which are close to each other can be different both in terms of the species composition and abundance of Uropodina communities. So far, little is known about the factors that can cause these differences. The major aim of this study was to identify factors determining species composition, abundance, and community structure of Uropodina communities in mole nests. The study is based on material collected during a long-term investigation conducted in western parts of Poland. The results indicate that the two most important factors influencing species composition and abundance of Uropodina communities in mole nests are nest-building material and depth at which nests are located. Composition of Uropodina communities in nests of moles was also compared with that of other microhabitats (e.g. rotten wood, forest litter, soil) based on data from 4421 samples collected in Poland. Communities of this habitat prove most similar to these of open areas, especially meadows, as well as some forest types.

Mesostigmatic mites (Acari: Mesostigmata) in nests of the Eurasian griffon vulture (Gyps fulvus) in Croatia

We examined the species composition and community structure of mites of the order Mesostigmata (Acari) in nests of the Eurasian griffon vulture (Gyps fulvus Hablizl, 1783) in Croatia. Material collected from 18 nests included 565 mites belonging to seven species. The most abundant species were Leiodinychus orbicularis (C.L. Koch, 1839) (Trematuridae) and Androlaelaps casalis (Berlese, 1887) (Laelapidae). The results were compared with the community structure and frequency of dominant species of Mesostigmata in nests of 32 other bird species. Leiodinychus orbicularis occurred in the nests of 13 species of birds. It is a typical nidicolous species which occurs most frequently in the perennial nests of birds of prey. In contrast, A. casalis rarely occurs in the nests of birds of prey.

Spatial distribution of mites of the suborder Uropodina (Acari: Mesostigmata) in a small isolated forest area

Because of their small size, mites are a component of the soil fauna which can usually not be seen with the naked eye. Hence, our knowledge of their spatial distribution in the field is still fragmentary. Information about the number and occurrence of mites would help to indicate the role of this group in soil environments in forest ecosystems. One of the main difficulties in the estimation of mite population density is the irregular spatial distribution of specimens. Assessing the type of spatial distribution of populations is crucial in evaluating the effect of various factors on the presence of mites. This study focuses on the spatial distribution of some species of mite from the suborder Uropodina, which occur in a small forest complex. The purpose was to ascertain whether and how the populations differ in size, and whether the composition of species in the study area was spatially variable. Also biotic and abiotic factors influencing the distribution and number of Uropodina were examined.

A Red List of mites from the suborder Uropodina (Acari: Parasitiformes) in Poland

This article presents a Red List of mite species from the suborder Uropodina (Acari: Parasitiformes) occurring in Poland. Evaluation of the conservation status of the analyzed species was compiled on the basis of new criteria, which may also be applied to other groups of soil fauna. The authors employ the names of categories proposed by the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN). One of our aims was to review the IUCN criteria to ascertain whether they are applicable in an attempt to assess the danger of extinction of soil invertebrates, and to see whether the criteria can be adapted to make such an assessment. The analyzed material contained 93 mite species obtained from 16,921 soil samples, which were collected between 1961 and 2017 in the whole area of Poland. The categories were assigned to species on the basis of the frequency of the species, but also other factors were taken into account, such as microhabitat specificity, vulnerability to detrimental conditions, and shrinking of local populations. One of the analyzed species can now be regarded as extinct, over 25% of the species (26 spp.) were labeled as critically endangered, and most of them (33 spp.) were categorized as vulnerable—the other species were assigned to the categories endangered (13 spp.), near threatened (10 spp.), and least concern (10 spp.).

Influence of Pleistocene glaciation on the distribution of three species of Labidostomma in Europe (Acari: Labidostommatidae)

Abstract We present the results of research into the distribution and migration of three species of mites in the genus Labidostomma after the Pleistocene glaciation period in Europe. This study primarily focuses on the area of Poland, which was affected by the Scandinavian glacier four times. The migration trajectories of the species have been reconstructed on the basis of the current distribution, their altitude preferences, the sex ratio in populations of Labidostomma luteum, and the body size differences in different populations of L. luteum and L. denticulata. These species all have distributional limits in Poland: L. luteum—southeastern boundary, L. denticulata—northern, and Labidostomma cornuta—northwestern. Labidostomma luteum is a typically lowland species, L. cornuta occurred from 300 to 700 m a.s.l., and L. denticulata inhabits mountainous areas. The youngest populations of L. luteum and L. denticulata contain the smallest individuals. The number of males in populations of L. luteum is lower in northern areas of Europe, where the glacier has already retreated and the smaller specimens of L. luteum and L. denticulata were collected in the most remote habitats from the southern refugia where they succeeded in survival during the glaciation period.