Seasonal and Vertical Distribution of Acarina Fauna of Grassland

Year 2011, Volume: 8 Issue: 2, - , 01.11.2011

Özlem Önen Kamil Koç

Abstract

The seasonal and vertical distribution of the mites extracted from the soil
and litter at a grassland site in Manisa was investigated for the period of May 2001-
April 2002. The soil was sampled at four depths (litter, 0-5 cm, 5-10 cm and 10-20 cm).
The vertical and seasonal distributions of mites were significant among Mesostigmata,
Prostigmata, Oribatida and Astigmatina. The mites were found to be most numerous
in litter (43%), then 10-20 cm depth (36.2%), 5-10 cm depth (12.8%) and 0-5 cm depth
(7.8%), respectively. Among mite orders, the Prostigmata and the Astigmatina were found
in greatest abundance in spring, the other two groups were found in greatest abundance in
winter. The individuals of Oribatida and Prostigmata were considered hemiedaphic and
eudaphic; individuals of Mesostigmata were considered predominantly hemiedaphic.

Keywords

Grassland acarina fauna, seasonal fluctuations, vertical distribution, soil properties, Manisa, Turkey

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