Reproductive Response of <i>Platynothrus peltifer</i> (C.L. Koch, 1839) to Continuous Nitrogen Deposition

Abstract

Continuous nitrogen deposition threatens ecosystems by acidifying soils, causing a stoichiometric imbalance in the vegetation and ultimately, the disappearance of plant and animal species. There is a gap in knowledge of how decomposers such as oribatid mites cope with the effects of nitrogen deposition. Therefore, we conducted feeding experiments with the herbivorous mite Platynothrus peltifer (C.L. Koch, 1839) to assess its fitness as a measure of its reproductive response towards different nitrogen levels in its diet. Mites were collected from the field, starved, and allowed to lay eggs. We recorded the number of eggs during 60 days of experimental trial. The fecundity of mites varied with different elemental compositions, whereby phosphorus seemed to be a limiting factor. With ongoing nitrogen deposition in the future and concomitant phosphorus limitation, we expect a negative impact on the population dynamics of herbivorous decomposers such as Platynothrus peltifer.

Keywords

• nitrogen deposition
• stoichiometry
• acidification
• decomposition
• Oribatida
• phosphorus limitation