Diversity and distribution of soil mite and nematodes communities in Scots Pine (Pinus sylvestris L.) forests across S-N European gradient
2026 - Volume: 66 Issue: Suppl pages: 128
https://doi.org/10.24349/1va4-xam3
ICA 2026 - XVII International Congress of Acarology, 20-24 July 2026, Montpellier
Keywords
Invertebrates
European gradient
Edaphon
Pinus sylvestris
Abstract
Climate and climate change influence the location, composition, structure and function of forests in many parts of the world, including the high-latitude forests dominated by boreal species with Scots pine (Pinus sylvestris L.) forests. We analysed the diversity and distribution of soil mite (Acari: Oribatida, Mesostigmata) and nematode (Nematoda) communities in mature Scots pine (Pinus sylvestris L.) forests along a 2000 km latitudinal transect. We were focused on Scots pine forests because they are formed by the most prevalent tree species in Europe and one of the most widespread conifer species on Earth. Herein we provide preliminary data on the soil mites, and nematodes as they control the key ecosystem processes such as the decomposition of organic matter and the recycling of nutrients. Our study based on in situ extraction conducted in 22 forests located between western Poland and northern Finland during the summer field campaign in 2013. Mites were processed in „portable extractor”, whereas nematodes using the centrifugal method. We analysed relationships between soil fauna characteristics and environemnal factors such as longitude and meteorological data. We recorded that soil fauna density in Scots pine forests depended on latitude, annual temperature, precipitation but the responses are differentiated within analysed soil fauna groups. This research was supported by the National Science Center, Poland (2011/02/A/ NZ9/00108) We recorded that soil fauna density in Scots pine forests depended on latitude, annual temperature, precipitation but the responses are differentiated within analysed soil fauna groups. Additonally, we found that among Mesostigmata the most abundant were Veigaiidae and Parasitidae whereas among Oribatida the most abundat were Carabodidae. Generally, among Mesostogmata, Gamasina dominated the mite community (~85% of mites).
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