Badamdorj Bayartogtokh

Distribution and diversity of the soil mites of Svalbard, with redescriptions of three known species (Acari: Oribatida)

ABSTRACT Three species of oribatid mites, Camisia dictyna Colloff, 1993, Ceratoppia sphaerica (L. Koch, 1879) and Diapterobates notatus (Thorell, 1871) are studied in detail, and their supplementary descriptions with precise illustrations are presented. The specimens were collected from the soils of the Snow Bunting (Plectrophenax nivalis Linnaeus, 1758) nest site areas in the Arctic archipelago Svalbard. Camisia dictyna is recorded as new to the fauna of this region. A revised checklist of all recorded oribatid mite species in Svalbard is presented with additional remarks on their taxonomic status, habitat preferences and geographical distribution. The patterns of taxonomic diversity and geographical distribution reveal that although the majority of the species are cryophilous, there are only few species that are geographically restricted to Svalbard and adjacent regions.

Relationships between the diversity patterns of vascular plants, lichens and invertebrates in the Central Asian forest-steppe ecotone

The Central Asian forest-steppe ecotone has been exposed to large alterations in grazing pressure in the last two decades, but the consequences for biodiversity have not been studied so far. We analyzed the biodiversity of the edges and the interior of Siberian larch forests in the forest-steppes of eastern Kazakhstan (Saur, Kazakh Altai) and western Mongolia (Mongolian Altai, Khangai) across different groups of organisms (vascular plants, epiphytic lichens, soil macroarthropods, oribatid mites, moths). The species richness of these groups was related to each other only at the forest edge, but not in the interior. Species richness of vascular plants, soil macroarthropods and oribatid mites at the forest edges was positively correlated. This indicates that these ground-inhabiting groups of organisms responded similarly to the variation in the grazing pressure of livestock, which is kept at spatially varying densities by mostly nomadic or transhumant herders. The species richness of epiphytic lichens was only positively correlated with that of vascular plants, and the richness of the (volant) moths was not correlated with that of any other group. The complete lack of correlation between the diversity of groups of organisms in the forest interior suggests that the diversity of the five studied groups is controlled by specific environmental factors, including light and moisture. Except for the Mongolian Altai, which was subjected to the highest grazing pressure, vascular plants, lichens, soil macroarthropods, and moths had a higher diversity at the edges than in the interior; the opposite was true for the oribatid mites. The latter probably benefit from the higher soil moisture inside the forest, whereas the other four groups are favored by increased availability of light, the proximity to the steppe with a partial mixing of species pools, and the soil macroarthropods also by increased dung abundance.

The soil mite family Galumnidae of Iran (Acari: Oribatida)

Although a few species have been recorded in Iran, many species from the family Galumnidae remained undiscovered, and in this work we describe six new species and redescribe one known species from the northern part of the country. They are Acrogalumna lanceolata sp. nov., Allogalumna dentirostrata sp. nov., Galumna granulimorpha sp. nov., Galumna triangulata sp. nov., Galumna iranensis Mahunka et Akrami, 2001, Pergalumna iunctiporosa sp. nov., Pergalumna microtuberculata sp. nov., and the description of each species is accompanied with detailed illustrations. We also present data on habitat and biogeography of Iranian species of Galumnidae, and a key is provided for identification of all recorded species in this country.http://www.zoobank.org/urn:lsid:zoobank.org:pub:D31C04EF-57C0-4D3F-9F06-0389EB618409

New and little known species of oribatid mites of the family Haplozetidae (Acari, Oribatida) from Ecuador

Abstract We described two new species, Haplozetes paraminimicoma sp. n. and Protoribates ecuadoriensis sp. n. from Ecuador. Additionally, a detailed supplementary description of Trachyoribates (Rostrozetes) glaber (Beck, 1965) is given on the basis of Ecuadorian specimens, which was known previously only from Peru. An annotated checklist of all identified taxa of Haplozetidae from Ecuador is presented.

Ontogenetic stages of Gymnodamaeus irregularis, with remarks on morphology of the juveniles of Gymnodamaeidae (Acari: Oribatida: Plateremaeoidea)

The juvenile stages of oribatid mites of the family Gymnodamaeidae are insufficiently known, and little information is available on the morphology of ontogenetic stages. Comparative characteristics of juvenile stages of species belonging to family Gymnodamaeidae are given based on our own data and available literature sources. Herein, the morphology of ontogenetic instars of Gymnodamaeus irregularis Bayartogtokh & Schatz, 2009 is investigated. The larva and nymphs are generally similar in their habitus. Basic characteristics in juveniles are the less sclerotized and unpigmented body with granulate surface of gastronotum, larva with 11 pairs of gastronotal setae (h3 absent) and nymphs with 10 pairs of gastronotal setae (setae la, lm and d-series absent, but setae lp and p-series present). Nymphs with ridge-like structure on prodorsum, and large excrescence on posterior end of gastronotum, bearing one pair of long (h1 ) and another pair of medium-long (p1 ) setae. All prodorsal, notogastral and adanal setae of larva and nymphs are densely barbed throughout. Conspicuous characters in the larval stage are the very long interlamellar setae, which are reduced in nymphs and adults to minute setae and the subequal lengths of gastronotal setae. All stages of nymphs carry gastronotic exuviae with reticulate granular sculpture of the previous instars. Adults are coated with thick cerotegument on the idiosoma, legs and most body setae. The sensillus is dilated in its distal part and covered with cerotegument. The notogaster has two pairs of irregular longitudinal ridge-like structures (procuticle); five pairs of notogastral setae; and a pair of strongly developed tubercles Sp on epimeral region III. Gymnodamaeus irregularis is a Western Palaearctic species, currently known from Central (East Tyrol, Austria) and Eastern Europe (Nizhny Novgorod region, Russia) and appears to be primarily an inhabitant of mosses and litter, and it prefers the xeric habitats.

Oribatid Mites of the Genus Epilohmannia (Acari: Oribatida: Epilohmanniidae) from Japan and Mongolia

Abstract Two known species of the oribatid mite genus Epilohmannia, E. cylindrica (Berlese) and E. spathulata Aoki, are redescribed. E. cylindrica is recorded for the first time from Mongolia. Two new species, Epilohmannia spathuloides sp. nov. and Epilohmannia shtanchaevae sp. nov. are described from larch litter in Yamanashi Prefecture (Mt. Yatsugatake), Central Japan and from deep soil in the mountain-steppe landscape of Central Mongolia, respectively. A key to the Japanese and Mongolian species of Epilohmanniidae is given.

Three species of Haplozetes (Acari: Oribatida: Haplozetidae) from Mongolia

Abstract Two new oribatid mites belonging to the genus Haplozetes are described from Mongolia. Haplozetes clavatus sp. nov. differs from closely related species by the club-shaped head of the sensillus, the relatively long interlamellar setae, and the presence of distinct striations on the pteromorphae. Haplozetes brevisetosus . nov. is distinguished from congeners by the different size of interlamellar and notogastral setae and the short, elongate-oval head of the sensillus. In addition, the known species H. ulykpani is redescribed.

Lamellicorn beetles (Coleoptera: Scarabaeoidea) in Korea and Mongolia

This work was undertaken as an initial part of the collaborative effort between Korean and Mongolian researchers to study the terrestrial and aquatic insects in these countries. An analysis of data on faunal composition, taxonomic diversity and biogeographical structure of lamellicorn beetles in Korea and Mongolia was conducted in order to characterize the faunal relations between two countries. The Korean fauna of lamellicorn beetles is almost two fold greater in both generic diversity and species richness than that of Mongolia. The species compositions of lamellicorn beetles in two countries are substantially different from each other and the relative levels of faunal overlap are insignificant. Not only the faunal diversity and composition, but also the biogeographical structure of lamellicorn beetles in Korea and Mongolia display dissimilar patterns, except for their similar degree of endemism. Additional data on communities of dung beetles in the grasslands of central Mongolia, as well as a brief discussion on conservation issues of the endangered species in Korea, especially Gymnopleurus mopsus, are given.

The soil mite family Eremaeidae (Acari: Oribatida) in Mongolia, with remarks on distribution and diversity of known genera

The oribatid mite family Eremaeidae is represented in Mongolia by eight species in three genera. Three new species, Eueremaeus tenuisensillatus sp. nov., Eu. crassisetosus sp. nov. and Eu. laticostulatus sp. nov., collected from cool temperate forests, dry steppe and semi-desert habitats in central and southern Mongolia, are described on the basis of adults. Five known species, Eremaeus hepaticus C. L. Koch, Eu. oblongus (C. L. Koch), Eu. granulatus (Mihelčič), Proteremaeus mongolicus (Golosova) and P. punctulatus Bayartogtokh are redescribed; the first three of these are recorded for the first time from Mongolia. Taxonomic status of Eu. granulatus (Mihelčič) and Eu. silvestris (Forsslund) is discussed, and the latter is considered a junior synonym of the former species. The following new combinations are proposed: Eueremaeus brevifer (Mahunka), Eueremaeus fossulatus (Kunst) and Eueremaeus roissi (Piffl). A key to Mongolian species of Eremaeidae is given. Data on distribution and diversity of Eremaeidae of the world are discussed.

Systematic placement of some taxa in the family Galumnidae (Acari, Oribatida).

Based on the recent ascertaining studies of type specimens, the new systematic placement for one subgenus and three species of oribatid mites of the family Galumnidae (Acari, Oribatida) are proposed, resulting in the following taxonomic proposals: Pergalumna (Bigalumna) Mahunka & Mahunka-Papp, 2009 stat. nov., P. (B.) rimosa (Mahunka & Mahunka-Papp, 2009) comb. nov., Allogalumna quadrimaculata (Mahunka, 1988) comb. nov. and A. brevisetosa (Bayartogtokh & Weigmann, 2005) comb. nov. The initial taxonomic position of the species, Galumna scripta Balogh & Mahunka, 1966, is supported. Some details on important morphological characters of these species are provided.