Title:

Do decaying logs represent habitat islands? Oribatid mite communities in dead wood

Subtitle:

Annales Zoologici, vol. 58, no 2

Creator:

Skubała, Piotr ; Duras, Marta

Contributor:

Muzeum i Instytut Zoologii Polskiej Akademii Nauk

Publisher:

Natura optima dux Foundation

Place of publishing:

Warszawa

Date issued/created:

2008

Description:

Bibliogr. p. 461-463 ; P. 453-466 : ill. ; 27 cm ; Taxa in Latin

Type of object:

Journal/Article

Subject and Keywords:

Oribatid mites ; dead wood ; logs ; beech

Abstract:

Oribatid mites are a characteristic element of soil fauna, but they are also found in decomposing wood. However, they are often absent from publications dealing with dead wood. A core question of our study was how much the mite fauna differs between dead wood and the forest floor and at different locations on dead wood. Three dead, fallen beechlogs (in the third stage of decay) in the “Góra Chełm” Reserve (Jura Krakowsko-Częstochowska, Silesian province, south Poland) were examined for log-inhabiting species ofmites. Samples were collected at seven microhabitats from the logs and the ground surface adjacent to each log was also sampled. Forty-nine oribatid species (44%) were obligate members of the intra-log community. Our study revealed strong differentiation between oribatid fauna in different microhabitats of decaying logs. No statistically significant differences in oribatid communities in beech logs of the same stage of decay were observed. It may be concluded that oribatid mites are using logs as a separate habitat rather than as an extension of the forest floor.

Relation:

Annales Zoologici

Volume:

58

Issue:

2

Start page:

453

End page:

466

Resource type:

Text

Detailed Resource Type:

Article : original article

Format:

application/pdf

Source:

MiIZ PAN, call no. P.255, vol 58, no 2 ; MiIZ PAN, call no. P.4314, vol 58, no 2 ; click here to follow the link

Language:

eng

Language of abstract:

eng

Rights:

Rights Reserved - Restricted Access

Terms of use:

Copyright-protected material. Access only on terminals at the Museum and Institute of Zoology of the Polish Academy of Sciences, may be used within the limits of statutory user freedoms.

Digitizing institution:

Museum and Institute of Zoology of the Polish Academy of Sciences

Original in:

Library of the Museum and Institute of Zoology of the Polish Academy of Sciences

Projects co-financed by:

Programme Innovative Economy, 2010-2014, Priority Axis 2. R&D infrastructure ; European Union. European Regional Development Fund

Access:

Closed