Moss mites (Acari: Oribatida) in soil revitalizing: a chance for practical application in silviculture
PDF

Keywords

post-agricultural area
degraded soil
soil revitalizing
bioindication
reintroduction
oribatid mites

How to Cite

Klimek, A., & Rolbiecki, S. (2015). Moss mites (Acari: Oribatida) in soil revitalizing: a chance for practical application in silviculture. Biological Letters, 51(2), 71–82. https://doi.org/10.1515/biolet-2015-0007

Abstract

The Oribatida (known as moss mites or beetle mites) increase the breakdown of organic material in the soil. The paper analyses the dynamics of their abundance and number of species after various treatments enriching the soil in 4 study areas: afforested post-agricultural area in the Tuchola Forest, afforested degraded post-military training area in Bydgoszcz-Jachcice, and forest nurseries at Białe Błota and Bielawy. The results show that in post-agricultural and degraded soils at the initial stages of forest succession, the density and number of species of oribatid mites were low, even after phyto-land-improvement (afforestation and lupin as green manure). In the forest nurseries, however, we recorded a positive effect of soil revitalizing after mulching with forest ectohumus (i.e. organic surface layer of the soil). The inoculation of soils with forest mesofauna appeared more effective in nursery plantations of silver birch (Betula pendula) and small-leaved lime (Tilia cordata), as compared with Scots pine (Pinus sylvestris). Thus to revitalize degraded soils effectively and to accelerate forest succession, apart from phytoland- improvement, it is advisable also to reintroduce mesofauna, e.g. with the use of forest ectohumus.
https://doi.org/10.1515/biolet-2015-0007
PDF

References

Beckmann M. 1988. Die Entwicklung der Bodenmesofauna eines Ruderal Ökosystems und ihre Beeinflussung durch Rekultivierung: 1. Oribatiden. Pedobiologia 31: 391-408.

Behan-Pelletier V. M. 1999. Oribatid mite biodiversity in agroecosystems: role of bioindication. Agric. Ecosyst. Environ. 74: 411-423.

Berthet P., Gerard G. 1965. A statistical study of microdistribution of Oribatei (Acari) I. The distribution pattern. Oikos 16: 214-227.

Blakley J. K., Neher D. A., Spongberg A. L. 2002. Soil invertebrate and microbial communities and decomposition as indicators of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon contamination. Appl. Soil Ecol. 21: 71-88.

Haimi J. 2000. Decomposer animals and bioremediation of soils. Environ. Pollution 107: 233-238.

Hanlon R. D., Anderson J. M. 1980. The influence of macroarthropod feeding activities on microflora in decomposing leaf litter. Soil Biol. Biochem. 12: 255-261.

Klimek A. 2013. Występowanie roztoczy (Acari) w bryłkach korzeniowych wybranych gatunków sadzonek w szkółce kontenerowej Bielawy [Occurrence of mites (Acari) in culture media of selected species of seedlings in the container nursery Bielawy]. Infrastructure and Ecology of Rural Areas 3/1: 115-124 (in Polish).

Klimek A., Chachaj B., Sas-Paszt L., Frąc M., Przybył M., Sumorok B., Treder W. 2014. Występowanie roztoczy (Acari) glebowych w ściółkowanej zrębkami uprawie truskawki [Soil mites (Acari) in the cultivation of strawberries mulched by wood chips]. Infrastructure and Ecology of Rural Areas II/3: 849-863 (in Polish).

Klimek A., Kowalska A. 2013. Porównanie akarofauny (Acari) glebowej na gruntach porolnych i leśnych w początkowym etapie sukcesji leśnej [Forest comparison of soil mites (Acari) on post-arable land and land in the initial stage of forest succession]. Infrastructure and Ecology of Rural Areas 3/II: 47-57 (in Polish).

Klimek A., Pokora J. 2009. Roztocze (Acari) glebowe upraw sosnowych i brzozowych na gruntach leśnych oraz porolnych na siedlisku boru świeżego w Borach Tucholskich [Soil mites (Acari) of Scots pine and birch cultivations on forest grounds and post-arable lands in Tuchola Forests]. In: Diagnozowanie stanu środowiska. Metody badawcze - prognozy. Kompleksowe badania i ochrona środowiska naturalnego (Garbacz J. ed.), pp. 95-103, BTN, Bydgoszcz (in Polish).

Klimek A., Rolbiecki S. 2011. Wzrost sosny zwyczajnej (Pinus sylvestris L.) i występowanie roztoczy (Acari) glebowych na rekultywowanym terenie popoligonowym w Nadleśnictwie Żołędowo [Growth of Scots pine (Pinus sylvestris L.) and occurrence of soil mites (Acari) on the reclaimed post-military area at forest district Żołędowo]. Infrastructure and Ecology of Rural Areas 1: 249-262 (in Polish).

Klimek A., Rolbiecki S., Długosz J., Stypczyńska Z. 2009a. Roślinność, wybrane właściwości gleby i roztocze (Acari) we wstępnej fazie sukcesji leśnej na rekultywowanym terenie popoligonowym Bydgoszcz-Jachcice [Vegetation, chosen properties of soil and mites (Acari) in the introductory phase of forest succession on the reclaimed post-military area Bydgoszcz- Jachcice]. Infrastructure and Ecology of Rural Areas 5: 167-181 (in Polish).

Klimek A., Rolbiecki S., Rolbiecki R. 2013a. Effect of irrigation and organic fertilization on oribatid mites (Acari, Oribatida) in forest nursery. Sci. Res. Essays. 8: 227-237.

Klimek A., Rolbiecki S., Rolbiecki R., Długosz J. 2011. Wykorzystanie kompostowanego osadu ściekowego i ektopróchnicy leśnej do wzbogacania gleb w rocznym cyklu produkcji sadzonek sosny zwyczajnej [The use of composted sewage sludge and forest ectohumus for enrichment of soils in the one-year production cycle of Scots pine seedlings]. Infrastructure and Ecology of Rural Areas 1: 299-311.

Klimek A., Rolbiecki S., Rolbiecki R., Hilszczańska D., Malczyk P. 2008. Impact of chosen bare root nursery practices in Scots pine seedling quality and soil mites (Acari). Pol. J. Environ. Stud. 17: 247-255.

Klimek A., Rolbiecki S., Rolbiecki R., Hilszczańska D., Malczyk P. 2012. The effect of nursery measures on mycorrhizal colonisation of Scots pine and occurrence of soil mites. Sci. Res. Essays. 7: 2380-2389.

Klimek A., Rolbiecki S., Rolbiecki R., Kowalska A. 2013b. Porównanie wpływu ściółkowania ektopróchnicą i sterowanej mikoryzacji na rośliny oraz roztocze (Acari) w kontenerowej produkcji sadzonek sosny zwyczajnej [Comparison of the effects of mulching with ectohumus and controlled micorrhization on plants and mites (Acari) in the container production of Scots pine seedlings]. Infrastructure and Ecology of Rural Areas 3/I: 37-50.

Klimek A., Rolbiecki S., Rolbiecki R., Malczyk P. 2009b. Impact of chosen bare root nursery practices on white birch seedling quality and soil mites (Acari). Pol. J. Environ. Stud. 18: 1013-1020.

Klironomos, J. N., Kendrick, W. B. 1996. Palatability of microfungi to soil arthropods in relation to the functioning of arbuscular mycorrhizae. Biol. Fertil. Soils 21: 43-52.

Lehmitz R., Russ ell D., Hohberg K., Christian A. , Xylander W. E. R. 2011. Wind dispersal of oribatid mites as a mode of migration. Pedobiologia 54: 201-207.

Lehmitz R., Russ ell D., Hohberg K., Christian A. , Xylander W. E. R. 2012. Active dispersal of oribatid mites into young soils. Appl. Soil Ecol. 55: 10-19.

Lindberg N., Bengtss on J. 2005. Population responses of oribatid mites and collembolans after drought. Appl. Soil Ecol. 28: 163-174.

Lussenhop J. 1992. Mechanisms of microarthropod-microbial interactions in soil. Adv. Ecol. Res. 23: 1-33.

Mazur S., Tracz H. 1996. O znaczeniu i sposobach zoo- i fitomelioracji zalesianych gruntów porolnych [The importance and methods of zoo- and fito-land-reclamation of afforested former agricultural land]. Post. Techn. Leśn. 60: 26-31 (in Polish).

Pollierer M. M., Langel R., Körner C., Maraun M., Scheu S. 2007. The underestimated importance of belowground carbon input for forest soil animal food webs. Ecol. Lett. 10: 729-736.

Remén C., Franss on P., Perss on T. 2010. Population responses of oribatids and enchytraeids to ectomycorrhizal and saprotrophic fungi in plantesoil microcosms. Soil Biol. Biochem. 42: 978-985.

Renker C., Ott o P., Schneider K., Zimdars B., Maraun M., Busc ot F. 2005. Oribatid Mites as Potential Vectors for Soil Microfungi: Study of Mite-Associated Fungal Species. Microb. Ecol. 50: 518-528.

Rolbieck i S., Klimek A., Rolbieck i R., Długosz J., Musiał M., Rytersk a H. 2013. Badania nad wykorzystaniem kompostowanego osadu ściekowego i ektopróchnicy do wzbogacania gleb w rocznym cyklu produkcji sadzonek lipy drobnolistnej (Tilia cordata Mill.) [Study on the use of composed sewage sludge and forest ectohumus for enrichment of soils in the one-year production cycle of littleleaf linden (Tilia cordata Mill.) seedlings]. Acta Sci. Pol, Formatio Circumiectus 12: 113-122 (in Polish).

Rolbieck i S., Klimek A., Rolbieck i R., Kuss M. 2009. Wstępne badania nad wpływem wybranych zabiegów ulepszających na wzrost jednorocznych siewek sosny zwyczajnej oraz występowanie roztoczy (Acari) glebowych w szkółce leśnej w warunkach nawodnień [Preliminary study on the influence of chosen revitalization measures on the growth parameters of one-year old Scots pine seedlings as well as on the occurrence of soil mites (Acari) in the forest nursery under irrigation]. Infrastructure and Ecology of Rural Areas 5: 155-166 (in Polish).

Rolbieck i S., Klimek A., Rolbieck i R., Kuss M., Fórmaniak A., Rytersk a H. 2010a. Wstępne badania nad oddziaływaniem wybranych zabiegów rewitalizacyjnych na wzrost dwuletnich siewek sosny zwyczajnej oraz występowanie roztoczy (Acari) glebowych w szkółce leśnej Bielawy w Nadleśnictwie Dobrzejewice [Preliminary study on the effect of chosen revitalization measures on the growth parameters of two-year old Scots pine seedlings as well as on the occurrence of soil mites (Acari) in the forest nursery Bielawy of Dobrzejewice Forest Inspectorate]. Infrastructure and Ecology of Rural Areas 13: 51-62 (in Polish).

Rolbieck i S., Klimek A., Rolbieck i R., Kuss M., Fórmaniak A., Rytersk a H. 2010b. Wzrost siewek ściółkowanej brzozy brodawkowatej i sosny zwyczajnej w warunkach nawodnień w szkółce leśnej Bielawy w Nadleśnictwie Dobrzejewice [Growth of seedlings of white birch and Scots pine under irrigation at forest nursery Bielawy, Forest District in Dobrzejewice]. In: Diagnozowanie stanu środowiska. Metody badawcze - prognozy. Prace Komisji Ekologii i Ochrony Środowiska Bydgoskiego Towarzystwa Naukowego (Garbacz J. ed.), pp. 237-246, BTN, Bydgoszcz (in Polish).

Rolbieck i S., Klimek A., Rolbieck i R., Kuss M., Fórmaniak A., Rytersk a H. 2011. Wpływ ściółkowania ektopróchnicą na wzrost siewek brzozy brodawkowatej oraz na występowanie roztoczy glebowych w warunkach nawodnień w szkółce leśnej Bielawy [Effect of mulching with ectohumus on the growth of white birch seedlings in two-years production cycle and on the occurrence of soil mites (Acari) under irrigation at forest nursery Bielawy]. Ekologia i Technika XIX 2: 73-80 (in Polish).

Schneider K., Renker C., Maraun M. 2005. Oribatid mite (Acari, Oribatida) feeding on ectomycorrhizal fungi. Mycorrhiza 16: 67-72.

Setala H. 1995. Growth of birch and pine seedlings in relation to grazing by soil fauna on ectomycorrhizal fungi. Ecology 76: 1844-1851.

Szujeck i A., 1996. Ekologiczne aspekty odtwarzania lasu na glebach porolnych [Ecological aspects of restoration of forest on post-agricultural soils]. Prace IBL series B, 27: 47-55 (in Polish).

Treder W., Klamk owsk i K., Krzewińsk a D., Tryngiel-Gać A. 2009. Najnowsze trendy w nawadnianiu upraw sadowniczych - prace badawcze związane z nawadnianiem roślin prowadzone w ISK w Skierniewicach [The latest trends in irrigation technology - research related to irrigation of fruit crops conducted at the Research Institute of Pomology and Floriculture in Skierniewice]. Infrastructure and Ecology of Rural Areas 6: 95-107 (in Polish).

Wallwork J. A. 1983. Oribatids in forest ecosystems. Ann. Rev. Entomol. 28: 109-130.

Wanner M., Dunger W. 2002. Primary immigration and succession of soil organisms on reclaimed opencast coal mining areas in eastern Germany. Eur. J. Soil Biol. 38: 137-143.