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RESEARCH ARTICLE
Contents Vol 62(3)

Vertical distribution of edaphic oribatid mites (Acari: Oribatida) in two artificial forests planted on temperate grasslands

Eugenia Levy https://orcid.org/0000-0002-1544-7206 A B * , M. Fernanda Alvarez A B C and Natalia A. Fredes B
+ Author Affiliations
- Author Affiliations

A Instituto de Investigaciones Marinas y Costeras, CONICET-UNMdP, Mar Del Plata, Argentina.

B Universidad Nacional de Mar del Plata, Mar Del Plata, Argentina.

C Instituto de Geología de Costas y del Cuaternario, CIC-UNMdP, Mar Del Plata, Argentina.

* Correspondence to: elevy@mdp.edu.ar

Handling Editor: Frank Ashwood

Soil Research 62, SR23160 https://doi.org/10.1071/SR23160
Submitted: 16 August 2023  Accepted: 16 March 2024  Published: 12 April 2024

© 2024 The Author(s) (or their employer(s)). Published by CSIRO Publishing

Abstract

Context

Oribatid mites are the most abundant taxon in forest soils that rely on porosity and organic matter availability. Exotic forests of Pinus radiata and Eucalyptus globulus planted over native grasslands in the Pampas region of Argentina have produced modification in soil properties, which can affect the composition and structure of native oribatids communities.

Aims

To compare oribatid communities in soils under artificial woodlands of pine and eucalyptus and to assess the vertical distribution of oribatids in relation to edaphic variables.

Methods

In each forest, oribatids were collected from three levels of the A horizon: (1) litter layer; (2) 0–5 cm; and (3) 5–10 cm. Edaphic variables measured were penetration resistance, bulk density, total porosity, pH and water content and luminosity at soil level. Density, species richness, diversity and evenness of oribatids were calculated in each level of each forest. Comparisons were made through multivariate analyses.

Key results

Edaphic variables showed no significant differences between plots but litters were structurally different. Richness and diversity showed no differences between plots whereas evenness was significantly higher in plot P. Density had higher values in the litter layer of both forests. Canonical Analysis of Principal Coordinates (CAP) showed that Pine plots had a more defined vertical distribution.

Conclusions

The structure and composition of litters promoted differences in the vertical distribution of oribatids. In Pinus, thick unaltered litter showed a marked vertical gradient of mites along levels while in Eucalyptus, thin and easily decomposing litter, showed no vertical patterns.

Implications

Assessment and management of soil biodiversity in artificial woodlands.

Keywords: Eucalyptus plantation, habitat complexity, litter layer, mesofauna, Oribatida, Pinus plantation, soil fauna, vertical distribution, woodland soils.

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