An Evaluation of the Effects of Some Abiotic Factors on the Abundance of Zercon colligans (Acari: Zerconidae)

Abstract

This study presents an ecological evaluation of the effects of selected abiotic factors on the abundance and seasonal dynamics of Zercon colligans in Spil Mountain National Park (Manisa, Türkiye). Zerconid mites were monitored monthly between September 2022 and August 2023 on 18 sampling sites. A total of 216 soil and litter samples described ten Zerconidae species, among which Z. colligans was the dominant and constant species, representing 70.9% of the total abundance. Soil pH, moisture, and temperature were recorded monthly to evaluate their influence on Z. colligans population density. We hypothesized that soil moisture, pH, temperature, and seasonal variation significantly influence the abundance of Z. colligans. Environmental and temporal effects on abundance were analyzed using a Generalized Linear Mixed Model (GLMM). The results demonstrated significant effects of soil pH (F₁,₁₆₈ = 46.716, p<0.001), soil moisture (F₁,₁₆₈ = 37.012, p<0.001), and month (F₁₁,₁₆₈ = 3.479, p<0.001), whereas soil temperature was not statistically significant (F₁,₁₆₈ = 0.825, p = 0.365). Population density increased under conditions of higher moisture and slightly acidic pH, reaching maximum abundance during spring months, in contrast declined markedly during the dry summer period. The observed seasonal fluctuations indicate that soil moisture and pH are the primary ecological factors. The widespread occurrence and consistent environmental response of the species suggest that it may serve as a useful bioindicator in future soil ecological studies.

Keywords

• Soil ecology
• glmm
• population density
• predatory mites
• biomonitoring

Supporting Institution

None

Project Number

YOK

Ethical Statement

Ethics committee approval is not required for this study.

Thanks

We would like to thank Prof.Dr. Mehmet KARACA and Dr. Gürçay Kıvanç AKYILDIZ for their help in the collection of the samples and helping statistical analyses.

Bazı Abiyotik Faktörlerin Zercon colligans (Acari: Zerconidae) Bolluğu Üzerindeki Etkilerinin Değerlendirilmesi

Abstract

Bu çalışma, Spil Dağı Milli Parkı’nda (Manisa, Türkiye) Zercon colligans türünün bolluğu ve mevsimsel dinamikleri üzerinde seçilmiş abiyotik faktörlerin etkilerine dair ekolojik bir değerlendirme sunmaktadır. Çalışma süresince zerconidae familyasına ait akarlar, Eylül 2022 ile Ağustos 2023 tarihleri arasında 18 örnekleme noktasında aylık olarak izlenmiştir. Toplam 216 döküntü ve toprak örneğinden on (10) Zerconidae türü elde edilmiştir. Z. colligans toplam bolluğun %70,9'unu temsil eden baskın ve sabit tür olmuştur. Toprak pH'ı, nemi ve sıcaklığı, Z. colligans popülasyon yoğunluğu üzerindeki etkilerini değerlendirmek amacıyla aylık olarak kaydedilmiştir. Z. colligans bolluğu üzerindeki çevresel ve zamansal etkiler, Genelleştirilmiş Doğrusal Karışık Model (GLMM) kullanılarak analiz edilmiştir. Sonuçlar, toprak pH'ının (F₁,₁₆₈ = 46.716, p<0.001), toprak neminin (F₁,₁₆₈ = 37.012, p<0.001) ve ayların (F₁₁,₁₆₈ = 3.479, p<0.001) önemli etkileri olduğunu gösterirken, toprak sıcaklığının istatistiksel olarak anlamlı bir etkisinin olmadığını (F₁,₁₆₈ = 0,825, p = 0,365) ortaya koymuştur. Popülasyon yoğunluğu, daha yüksek nem ve hafif asidik pH koşullarında artmış ve özellikle Mart ve Nisan aylarında olmak üzere ilkbahar mevsiminde maksimum bolluğa ulaşmıştır. Buna karşın, akar bolluğu yaz döneminde belirgin şekilde azalmıştır. Gözlemlenen mevsimsel dalgalanmalar, toprak nemi ve pH'ının Z. colligans'ın popülasyon dinamiklerini şekillendiren başlıca ekolojik faktörler olduğunu göstermektedir. Türün yaygın dağılımı ve tutarlı çevresel tepkisi, türün gelecekte biyoindikatör tür olarak kullanılabileceğini düşündürmektedir.

Keywords

• Toprak ekolojisi
• glmm
• popülasyon yoğunluğu
• avcı akarlar
• biyolojik izleme

Project Number

YOK

Ethical Statement

Bu çalışma için etik kurul onayı gerekmemektedir.

Thanks

Örneklerin toplanmasında ve istatistiksel analizlerde bize yardımcı olan Prof. Dr. Mehmet KARACA ve Dr. Gürçay Kıvanç AKYILDIZ’a teşekkür ederiz.

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