PRELIMINARY STUDIES ON MITES FROM FAMIL.IES OF THE SIEMIANICE EXPERIMENTAL FOREST STATION. Anna Wierzbicka*, Ziemowit Olszanowski**

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1 ~ l RANORTO~ SCIENTIFIC PAPERS OF AGRICULTURAL UNIVERSITY OF Wyd. AR Pozn. Forestry Vol. 7, 75-80, 2004 PRELIMINARY STUDIES ON MITES FROM FAMIL.IES NOTHRIDAE, CAMISIIDAE AND CARABODIDAE (ACARI, ORIBATIDA) IN EXPERIMENTAL PLO TS OF THE SIEMIANICE EXPERIMENTAL FOREST STATION Anna Wierzbicka*, Ziemowit Olszanowski** *Department of Forest" and Environment Protection The August Cieszkowski Agricultural University of Poznan **Department of Animal Taxonomy and Ecology ~ Adam Mickiewicz University of Poznan ABsrrH,Ac~rr. 1'he investigations were conducted in experimental plots of 14 tree species in the Siernianice Experimental Forest Station (Poland, SW). A total of 597 mite specimens [rohl 12 species belonging to three families from order Oribatida were found. The most frequently shown species in the investigated plots were Camisi a biurus, G. spinifer, Carabodes coriaceus, G. labyrinthicus, C. subarcticus, Heminothrus peltifer and Nothrus silvestris. The results indicate that individual plots were not inhabited in the same way by mites from selected genera from order Oribatida. This is art" incentive to continue research in that area in order to determine the preference mechanisms of litter of individual tree species in mites from order Oribatida. KEY WORDS: Acari, Oribatida, mites, Siemianice Experimental Forest Station Received: January, 2005 Correspondence: A. Wierzbicka, Department of Forest and Environment Protection, The August Cieszkowski Agricultural University of Poznan, Wojska Polskiego 71 C, Poznan, Poland wierzbaa@wp.pl

2 76 Forestry INTRODUCTION.It is a faunistic study aiming at the determination of the species composition of groups of selected soil mites found in experimental plots of 14 forest tree species, belonging to the Department of Silviculture, the Agricultural University of Poznan, organized in the Siemianice Experimental Forest Station. The presented species belong to families Nothridae, Camisiidae and Carabodidae from order Oribatida. RESEARCH AREA AND METHODS Experimental plots, from which soil samples were collected for illvestigations, are situated in the Siemianice Forest Division, located in the Silcsian Jlegion, Wroclaw Province in the Mezoregion of the Olesnicka Plain (Poland, SW). ~rlh~ foresth of the Forest Division are located in the range of all forest-forming tree species, the vegetative period lasts there approximately 210 days. Experimental areas arc located in division 25 of Forestry District Wielislawice. The first of them was established in 1970 in the site of fresh mixed coniferous forest on brown podzolic soil, the other - in 1972 in the site of fresh mixed forest on brown leached soil. They were prepared by complete soil tillage and planted with one-year old seedlings (in plot 1) and two-year old seedlings (in plot 2) within the 1 x 1 m frame in the Latin square design (SZYMANSKI 1982).. In the fresh mixed coniferous forest the following species were planted: common birch, Scots pine, Austrian pine, European hornbeam, English oak, red oak, common larch, Douglas fir and Norway spruce, whereas in the site of fresh mixed forest the species were common larch, Douglas fir, Norway spruce, small-leaved linden, European beech, English oak, silver fir, Norway maple and sycamore (SZYMANSKI 1975, 1982). After nearly 30 years in the plots ~nder individual tree species differing types of forest litters were formed, among which large differences arc found between soil ph values, leaf fall, the length of litter decomposition period and the content of biogenic elements (SZYMANSKI 1996). Soil samples were collected on two dates: and , with a soil auger with the area of 40 cm 2 to the depth of 5 cm of Inineral soil together with litter and overlaying humus. Samples were flushed in the ~rullgren apparatus, fixed and determined in perishable slides in accordance with the standard acarological method (NIEDBALA 1980). The taxonomic review is presented on the basis of a study by OLSZANOWSKI et AL. (1996).

3 .~ Preliminary studies on mites from families N othridae, Camisiidae RESULTS omposition ee species, of Poznan, ted species Oribatida. A total of 597 mite specimens from 12 species belonging to three families from order Oribatida were found. The list of collected species is presented below. At the characteristic of the mite species a symbol is given of the tree species, growing on the plot on which it was found, Le.: bch - European beech, br - common birch, oak - English oak, I' oak... red oak, df - Douglas fir, hb - European hornbeam, sf - silver fir, mp - Norway maple, srn - sycamore, Id - small-leaved linden, el European larch, sp - Scots pine, ap - Austrian pine, spr - Norway spruce. Table 1 gations, are n, Wroclaw The forests ree species, al areas are f them was n podzolic d: sqil. They eedlings (in ame in the d: common d oak, comixed forest aved linden, SZYMANSKI fering types nd between the content, with a soil gether with aratus, fixed d acarologin the basis A li~(, of selected mite specie~ OIl plots of individual tree species in experimental plots of the Sieluia,nice Experimenta.l Forest Station Mites species belt hr oak r oak df hb sf mp srn Id el sp ap spr N othr7.ts palustris x Nothrus silvestris x x x x x x x Camisia biurus x x x x x x Camisia segnis x Camisia spinifer x x x x x x x x x Heminothrus peltifer x x x x x x x Carabodes coriaceus x x x x x x x X Ca1nbodes femoralis x Canl,!Jodes labyrinthicus x x x x x x x x x (}o,'f'{j,!jodes ornatus x x (}o,'f'abo([es subarcticus x x x x x x x (}(J.1'(].1)()(1(-~,'j lenuis x x beh -- ]~uropean beech, hi' --. common birch, oak - English oak, r oak - red oak, df Douglas fir, hb - European hofubeam, sf - silver fir, mp - Norway maple, srn - sycamore, Id - small-leaved linden, el.-. European larch, sp - Scots pine, ap - Austrian pine, spr Norway spruce. ORDER: ORIBATIDA Superfamily: Crotonioidea o Family: Nothridae Nothrus palustris C.L. Koch, 1839 A holoarctic species, preferring moist conditions (OLSZANOWSKI et AL. 1996). Characteristic for seasonally flooded meadows, alder forests, peatbogs (RAJSKI 1968), marshy meadows, parks, found also in coniferous forests, mixed forests and thickets (OLSZANOWSKI et AL. 1996). Inhabits surface layers of the soil profile, rhore common in soils deficient in organic matter (RAJSKI 1968). Found in plots: bch.

4 78 Forestry Nothrus silvestris Nicolet, 1855 A holoarctic species,"typical of forests, most common in pine old-growth forests, found in peatbogs (RAJSKI 1968), in all forest types, on meadows, in thickets, nests of birds and mammals. Frequent in mixed coniferous forests and lower subalpine mountainous forests (OLSZANOWSKI et AL. 1996). Inhabits litter and humus layer in acid soils (RAJSKI 1968). Found in plots: bch, el, oak, hb, mp, spr, srn, sf (high sample dimension). o o.family: Camisiidae Camisia biurus C.L. Koch, 1839 A holoarctic species, most commonly given for litter in coniferous forests and grass growing in rocks, less frequent in alpine forests and tundra. It is also an arboreal species. In Poland - in soil environment, rnost frequently and.most numerously found in dwarf mountain pine thickets, lowland and alpine coniferous forests, peatbogs (OLSZANOWSKI et AL. 1996), lichens and li10sses (RAJSKI 1968). Found in plots: sp, ap, spr, el, df, oak. Camisia segnis Hermann, 1804 Species found in the Holoarctic, Australian, Neotropical and Arctic regions; typically arboreal, although in most sites mentioned in literature refers to soil - the environment in which C. segnis is usually found accidentally. In Poland collected e.g. on pine trees (NIEDBALA 1980), in birds' nests, litter in thickets and parks (OLSZANOWSKI et AL. 1996), as well as mosses and in peatbogs (RAjSKI 1968). Found in plots: sp. Camisia spinifer C.L. Koch, 1835 A holoarctic species, typical of forests (RAJSKI 1968), inhabiting surface layers of acid soil, litter, humas horizon, as well as tree trunks, given for coniferous and mixed forests, less frequently for deciduous forests. Observed also in ant hills and nests of birds and mammals. In Poland it is a species characteristic for lowland coniferous forests. Frequent also in mixed coniferous forests and mixed forests (OLSZANOWSKI et AL. 1996). Found in plots: sp, ap, spr, el, df, oak, r oak, br, sf. Heminothrus pe/tifer C.L. Koch, 1839 A cosmopolitan, eurytopic species (OLSZANOWSKI et AL. 1996), forest species, most numerous in alder forests, oak forests and merocenoses. Living in litter and. humus, tolerant to salinity, frequent in moist sites and peatbogs (characteristic mass-scale incidence of adult forms together with juveniles). Found in plots: ap,el, sf, oak, r oak, br, srn. f'rnni 1/11111 j \villi I / ('(11,) or I ( J' pill(~ If Spec C'l/.S J Hdve, alld (,'(/,1'{/, p/ols ('id(lll

5 Prelimina1'Y studies on mites from families Nothridae, Camisiidae rests, nests alpine layer ). ts and lso an st nuferous 1968). gions; to soil oland ts and AJSKI layers us and ls and wland forests Superfamily: Carabodoidea o Family: Carabodidae Carabodes coriaceus C.L. Koch, 1835 A holoarctic species (OLSZANOWSKI et AL. 1996), typical of forests. Found in t.ile mineral layer of acid soils, also on mushrooms, mosses and in ant hills. Usually found in scarce numbers (RAJS](I 1!JG8). Found in plots: sp, ap, spr, el, sf, oak, r oak, hb. Carabodes femoralis Nicolet, 1855 Rare, rather forest species, to1<~rallt to high moisture content (RAJSKI 1968). A European species (OLSZANOWSKI (~t AL. 1996). [i'olllld in plots: oak. Carabodcs labyrinthicus Michael, 1879 i\ ljoloarctic: species (OLSZANOWSI\l et AL. 1996), forest species, preferring ('rnsll si/,n::;, but reported in peatbog::-; and lichens as well. Found in acid soils in the IlliJl(~ral1a.ycr (RAJSKI 1968). l'ound in plots: sp, ap, spr, el, oak, r oak, mp, br, hb. Carabodes ornatus Storkan, 1925 A I~uropean species (OLSZANOVVSI(I et AL. 1996), found in the environment with low.tloisture content, living in t1l(~ rninerallayer of acid soils (RAJSKI 1968). 1"Olllld in plots: sp, oak. Carabodes subarcticus Tragardh, 1902 i\ 11~lIropean species (OLSZANOWSI(I et AL. 1996), a forest species, given for co() Lainous biotopes and pealbugs, eurytypic in relation to moisture content of Ul<~ snl>stratum, living in the min(~ral layer of acid soils (RAJSKI 1968). li'o1111d in plots: sp, ap, el, df, oak, br, hb. Carabodes tenuis Forsslund, 1953 A European species (OLSZANOWSI<I et AL. 1996). RAJSKI (1968) reports it in pine coniferous forests. Found in plots: sp, oak. pecies, ~r and teristic CONC:LUSIONS Species found lnost frequently in tll<~ jllvestigated plots are: Carabodes labyrinthi :U8, Carnisia sijinifer - on plots of llill(~ tree species, Carabodes coriaceus, Nothrus 8'ilvestris (eight species), Car-abodes,f)uIJarcticus, Heminotrus peltifer (seven species) and Camisia biurus found in plots of six tree species. Rarely found species are (/{J,1"{/,bodes tenuis, C. ornatu8 folllld twice and C. femoralis found only in oak plocs, Nothrus palustris fouild ill beech plots and Camisia segnis found rather accid(~lltally in pine litter. 1'lt(~ bigge::;t, numbers of species were found in oak plots

6 80 Forestry (10 species), pine plots (eight) and larch plots (seven). No mite species from the investigated groups wefe found in plots grown with linden trees. On the plot with sycamore trees one species was found, while two species were found in plots grown with beech and Norway maple. The results indicate that individual plots were not inhabited in the same way by mites from selected species from genera from order Oribatida. This is an incentive to continue investigations in this area in order to determine preference mechanisms for litters of individual tree species by mites from order Oribatida. REFERENCES NIEDBAI.,A W. (1980): Mechowce - roztocze ekosystem6w IC}:dowych. PWN, Warszawa. OLSZANOWSKI Z., RAJSKI A., NIEDBALA W. (1996): Roztocze Acari Mechowce Oribatida. Katalog fauny Polski. Cz. 34, t. 9. Sorus, Poznan. RAJSKI A. (1968): Aute~ological-zoogeographical analysis of moss mites (Acari, Oribatei) on the basis of fauna in the Poznan environs. Part 11. Fragm. Faun. 14, 12: SZYMANSKI S. (1975): Wst~pne wyniki badan tempa wzrostu w pierwszej mlodosci kilku wainiejszych gatunk6w drzew lesnych na siedlisku- boru mieszanego swiezego. In: Gospodarka Iesna i drzewna na tie nowoczesnej ochrony srodowiska. Ed. S. Szymanski. Typescript. Department of Silviculture AD, Poznan: SZYMANSKI S. (1982): Wzrost niektorych gatunk6w drzew lesnych w pierwszych 10 latach zycia na siedlisku boru mieszanego swiezego. Sylwan 126, 7: SZYMANSKI S. (1996): Badania nad wzrostem wazniejszych gatunk6w drzew lesnych w mlodosci. In: Informator 0 powierzchniach doswiadczalnych Kateclry Hodowli Lasu przewidzianych do zwiedzania na terenie LZD Siemianice Stacja Doswiadczalna "Morawina". Ed. J. Ceitel. Katedra Hodowli Lasu AR, Poznan: