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Published:
Mar 31, 2021
Keywords:
leaf litter
soil
stand density
Zagros forests

Abstract

Up to now, oribatid mite richness and diversity have not been studied in oak forests of Iran. This study aimed at determining the relationships among Oribatid mite composition, richness and diversity as well as ecological factors such as elevation, soil pH and soil moisture, tree species and stand density in oak forests in northwestern Iran. Thirty samples were randomly arranged at three elevation levels (1,100-1,300 m, 1,300-1,500 m and 1,500-1,650 m). Results indicated that 42 oribatid mite species were recorded in the study area. Nine and six species were exclusively observed in the elevations 1,100-1,300 and 1,300-1,500 m, respectively; while five mite species were commonly recorded in these two elevation categories. The study revealed that oribatid mite composition was affected by elevation gradient; however, the mean differences of species richness and diversity indices were not significant among elevation categories. Moreover, there were no significant correlations either between the densities of most frequent species of oribatid mite species and soil pH (except for Tectoribates sp.), soil moisture (except for Tectocepheus velatus), elevation, density of Quercus infectoria and density of Quercus libani in study area. Generally, variations in oribatid mite composition were more affected by physiographic factors e.g., altitude than by soil properties and oak species densities, nevertheless no environmental factors influenced oribatid mite richness and diversity in this region.

Mahtab Jabbari
Javad Eshaghi Rad
Zahra Hashemi Khabir
Seyed Rostam Mousavi Mirkala
Author Biographies

Mahtab Jabbari, Urmia University, Faculty of Natural Resources, Department of Forestry, Urmia, Iran.

Urmia University, Faculty of Natural Resources, Department of Forestry, Urmia, Iran, tel.: +98 4432770489

Javad Eshaghi Rad, Urmia University, Faculty of Natural Resources, Department of Forestry, Urmia, Iran.

Urmia University, Faculty of Natural Resources, Department of Forestry, Urmia, Iran, tel.: +98 4432770489

Zahra Hashemi Khabir, Agricultural and Natural Resources Research center, Department of Plant protection, Urmia, Iran.

Agricultural and Natural Resources Research center, Department of Plant protection, Urmia, Iran.

Seyed Rostam Mousavi Mirkala, Urmia University, Faculty of Natural Resources, Department of Forestry, Urmia, Iran.

Urmia University, Faculty of Natural Resources, Department of Forestry, Urmia, Iran, tel.: +98 4432770489

How to Cite
Jabbari, M., Eshaghi Rad, J., Hashemi Khabir, Z., & Mousavi Mirkala, S. R. (2021). Oribatid mite (Acari, Oribatida) richness and diversity in Oak forests of West Azerbaijan Province (Northwestern Iran). Revista Bosque, 42(1), 81–88. Retrieved from https://revistabosque.org/index.php/bosque/article/view/235

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