Franca Marian

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.

Oribatid mites of the superfamily Oppioidea from Ecuador (Acari: Oribatida)

Abstract An annotated checklist of identified Ecuadorian Oppioidea (10 species of 10 genera of three families) is presented. The genera Hammerella, Taiwanoppia, subgenera Hammerella (Woasella), Taiwanoppia(Paragloboppia) and the species T. (P.) trichotos (Balogh et Mahunka, 1977) are recorded for the first time in Ecuador. One new species of the family Granuloppiidae — Hammerella (Woasella) parasufflata sp. nov. — is described from the upper organic soil layer in a mostly undisturbed rain forest. This species differs from the type species of the subgenus, H. (W.) sufflata Franklin et Woas, 1992 from Brazil by the absence of translamella, presence of two prodorsal tubercles, localization of notogastral (la, lm) and aggenital setae, localization of sensillar branches, morphology of some subcapitular setae and the location of lyrifissures iad.

Two new species of oribatid mites of the genus Truncozetes (Acari, Oribatida, Epactozetidae) from Ecuador

Abstract Two new oribatid mite species of the genus Truncozetes (Oribatida, Epactozetidae), Truncozetes ecuadoriensis sp. n. and Truncozetes monodactylus sp. n., are described from the Ecuadorian soils. The morphology of the gnathosoma and the legs is presented in detail for the first time for the species of Truncozetes. An identification key to all known species of the family Epactozetidae is given.

New species of oribatid mites of the genera Hermannobates and Rhynchoribates (Acari: Oribatida: Hermanniellidae, Rhynchoribatidae) from Ecuador

Abstract Two new species of oribatid mites, Hermannobates dilatatus sp. nov. and Rhynchoribates longisetosus sp. nov., are described from Ecuadorian soils. Hermannobates dilatatus sp. nov. is most similar to H. ruseki Starý, 1998, however, it differs from the latter by the smaller body size, absence of flagelliform posterior notogastral setae, bacilliform exuvial setae d1E and e1E, longer adanal setae ad1 and bifurcate epimeral setae1a, 1c, 2a and 4b.Rhynchoribates longisetosus sp. nov. is most similar to R. insignis Balogh & Mahunka, 1969, however, it differs from the latter by the rostral setae bent backwards and long, flagelliform notogastral setae.

New oribatid mites of the genera Machadobelba and Campachipteria (Acari: Oribatida) from Ecuador

Abstract Two new oribatid mite species, Machadobelba longiciliata sp. nov. (Machadobelbidae) and Campachipteria brevisetosa sp. nov. (Achipteriidae), are described from upper organic soil layer in mostly undisturbed rain forest of Podocarpus National Park, Ecuador. Machadobelba longiciliata sp. nov. is most similar to Machadobelba descombesi Mahunka, however it differs from the latter by the structures of sensilli and median notogastral tubercles, length of notogastral setae and presence of porose areas in anogenital region. Campachipteria brevisetosa sp. nov. is most similar to Campachipteria sibirica (Krivolutsky et Grishina), however it differs from the latter by the structures of sensilli and lamellar setae, and length of process of pteromorphs. The genus Campachipteria is recorded for the first time in Ecuador.

Leaf and root litter decomposition is discontinued at high altitude tropical montane rainforests contributing to carbon sequestration

Abstract We investigated how altitude affects the decomposition of leaf and root litter in the Andean tropical montane rainforest of southern Ecuador, that is, through changes in the litter quality between altitudes or other site‐specific differences in microenvironmental conditions. Leaf litter from three abundant tree species and roots of different diameter from sites at 1,000, 2,000, and 3,000 m were placed in litterbags and incubated for 6, 12, 24, 36, and 48 months. Environmental conditions at the three altitudes and the sampling time were the main factors driving litter decomposition, while origin, and therefore quality of the litter, was of minor importance. At 2,000 and 3,000 m decomposition of litter declined for 12 months reaching a limit value of ~50% of initial and not decomposing further for about 24 months. After 36 months, decomposition commenced at low rates resulting in an average of 37.9% and 44.4% of initial remaining after 48 months. In contrast, at 1,000 m decomposition continued for 48 months until only 10.9% of the initial litter mass remained. Changes in decomposition rates were paralleled by changes in microorganisms with microbial biomass decreasing after 24 months at 2,000 and 3,000 m, while varying little at 1,000 m. The results show that, irrespective of litter origin (1,000, 2,000, 3,000 m) and type (leaves, roots), unfavorable microenvironmental conditions at high altitudes inhibit decomposition processes resulting in the sequestration of carbon in thick organic layers.

Agraphorura xuae sp. nov., the First Record of Onychiuridae (Collembola) from Continental Ecuador, with a Key to the Known Species of the Genus

Abstract. The new species Agraphorura xuae sp. nov. is described from continental Ecuador, the first onychiurid species record in this region. The new species is most similar to A. gambiarius (Murphy, 1965) from West Africa, but they can be separated easily by the number and length of p-chaetae between two inner posterior pso on the head, the number of chaetae on Th. I tergum, the presence of the male ventral organ and the ratio of the empodial appendage/unguis. A key to the world known species is provided. The list of all known species from continental Ecuador is presented.