The first reaction of soil mite fauna (Acari, Mesostigmata) caused by conversion of Norway spruce stand in the Szklarska Poręba Forest District

Abstract

To observe the first reaction of Mesostigmata mites for conversion of even aged spruce stands under conversion with common beech and silver fir, four pairs of experimental plots directly neighbouring each other were examined. On the spruce stands that started to be converted into beech or fir stands a few years ago, some significant composition and quantitative changes can be observed as regards Mesostigmata order mites. The first reaction of Mesostigmata mites after starting of forest conversion was an increasing number of mite species in the plots. On the plots with relatively close occurrence of beech, increasing number of specimens was also observed in plots under conversion. The share of Parasitidae family mites was decreased on the converted plots with relatively close occurrence of beech. On the converted spruce stands the percentage share of Uropodina suborder mites was found to increase or remain high.

Keywords

• acari
• mesostigmata
• mites
• forest conversion
• biodiversity
• soil ecology