Mite communities (Acari: Mesostigmata) in young and mature coniferous forests after surface wildfire.

ABSTRACT: Density, diversity and assemblage structure of Mesostigmata (cohorts Gamasina and Uropodina) were investigated in Scots pine forests differing in forest age (young: 9-40 years and mature: 83-101 years) in which wildfire occurred. This animal group belongs to the dominant acarine predators playing a crucial role in soil food webs and being important as biological control agents. In total, six forests (three within young and three within mature stands) were inspected in Puszcza Knyszyńska Forest Complex in May 2015. At each forest area, sampling was done from burned and adjacent control sites with steel cylinders for heat extraction of soil fauna. Data were analyzed statistically with nested ANOVA. We found a significant effect on mite density of both fire and forest age, with more mites in

SUBMITTER: Kamczyc J 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC5486842 | biostudies-literature | 2017 Jun

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature