喀斯特小流域栓皮栎林土壤螨类群落结构特征

为比较石漠化环境与喀斯特森林土壤螨类的群落结构差异,对贵州喀斯特地区朝营小流域栓皮栎林的土壤螨类群落结构本底进行了研究,经2014年各季节的4次调查,共发现土壤螨类3目54科83属.对螨类属数、个体数量、个体密度、Shannon多样性指数(H)、Margalef丰富度指数(SR)、Pielou均匀性指数(J)、捕食性螨类成熟度指数(MI)、甲螨MGP类群和甲螨营养结构等进行了分析.结果表明:土壤螨类在类群属数和个体数量上均以甲螨亚目的属占优势,夏季和秋季具有丰富的属数、较高的个体密度与多样性,春季和秋季具有丰富的个体数量,群落分布具有明显的表聚性.捕食性螨类夏季生态类群以K选择型为主,其他季节以r选择型为主;甲螨生态类群主要为P型和O型,缝甲螨属、异珠足甲螨属和合若甲螨属等属构成了栓皮栎林土壤螨类的营养功能集团.研究表明,该区山毛榉林与其他地区山毛榉林、其他不同类型森林的土壤螨类主要类群存在差异,其中含丰富属组成的派伦螨科、厉螨科、奥甲螨科和单翼甲螨科以及多奥甲螨属、派伦满属、菌甲螨属和单翼甲螨属等数量上占优势的类群属可作为山毛榉林土壤环境的生物指示.     

长白山森林生态系统凋落物层和土壤层跳虫物种多样性和功能多样性对海拔梯度的响应

山脉是生物多样性研究的热点地区,以往关于山脉的研究多集中于地上植物和脊椎动物,无脊椎动物相关的研究明显滞后。跳虫(Collembola)是土壤无脊椎动物的主要类群之一,在分解有机质、疏松和活化土壤过程中发挥着重要的作用。以跳虫为研究对象,采用梯度格局法,在长白山北坡自海拔800 m至1700 m,每隔150 m进行凋落物层和土壤层样品的采集,对比分析了土壤层和凋落物层的群落组成与群落结构,采用4个物种多样性指数(丰富度指数、Pielou均匀度指数、Shannon-Weiner多样性指数和Simpson多样性指数)和4个功能多样性指数(功能丰富度FRic指数、功能均匀度FEve指数、二次熵Rao''s Q指数和功能离散FEiv指数),探讨了多样性沿海拔梯度的分布格局。共获得跳虫5542头,隶属于12科42属83种,其中等节跳科为绝对优势类群(相对密度>50%)。非度量多维尺度分析结果表明,凋落物层和土壤层的跳虫群落结构差异显著,长角跳科、鳞跳科和疣跳科物种多分布于凋落物层,而棘跳科物种多分布于土壤层。线性或二次回归模型结果表明,在凋落物层跳虫的丰富度指数,Shannon-Weiner多样性指数和Simpson多样性指数沿海拔梯度的变化呈增加格局;但在土壤层跳虫物种多样性指数沿海拔梯度的变化无明显趋势。在凋落物层,跳虫的功能丰富度指数和功能离散度Rao''s Q指数随海拔梯度的变化呈现单峰分布格局;在土壤层,跳虫的功能丰富度指数随海拔梯度的变化也呈现单峰分布格局,但其他功能多样性指数沿海拔梯度的变化无明显趋势。研究表明凋落物层和土壤层跳虫的群落组成,群落结构及多样性存在显著差异,跳虫的物种多样性指数和功能多样性指数对海拔梯度变化的响应不同,未来在探讨土壤动物沿海拔梯度的分布格局及其物种共存机制时,应综合考量垂直分层(凋落物层和土壤层)和多个度量维度(物种多样性和功能多样性)。     

凋落物分解过程中土壤微生物群落的变化

凋落物分解是生态系统碳循环和营养物质循环的关键过程, 受多种因素共同影响。土壤微生物是影响凋落物分解的重要因素, 其群落组成在一定程度上依赖于所处植物群落的特征。因此, 研究分解过程中微生物群落组成的变化及其对植物多样性的响应, 有利于对凋落物分解机制的理解。本文采用分解袋野外原位分解的方法, 对凋落物分解过程中微生物群落的变化及其对所处森林环境中树木的种类和遗传多样性的响应进行了研究。结果表明: (1)凋落物分解183天后, 土壤中微生物群落的多样性降低, 并且森林群落的物种多样性与微生物群落多样性呈负相关关系; (2)凋落物分解前后, 土壤中真菌和细菌群落的磷脂脂肪酸(PLFA)量均有所增加, 说明凋落物分解为微生物生存和繁殖提供了养分; (3)地形因素是影响微生物群落变化最显著的因素, 可解释微生物群落变化的29.55%; 其次是凋落物的基质质量, 可以解释15.39%; 最后是森林群落的多样性, 可以解释8.45%; 这3种因素共同解释率为2.97%。综上所述, 与森林群落的植物多样性相比, 样地的地形因素与凋落物的基质质量对微生物群落的影响更显著。     

小麦-玉米轮作农田土壤螨多样性空间分布格局

以农田土壤动物长期监测样地为平台, 阐明土壤动物物种和功能多样性空间分布格局, 是揭示农田土壤动物多样性维持机制、提高农田土壤质量的重要基础。本试验于2020年10月, 对河南商丘农田土壤动物大型固定样地(9 ha)的210个采样点进行土壤样品野外采集和室内分离, 将土壤螨样品鉴定到种并测量其体长体宽数据, 以说明小麦-玉米轮作农田土壤螨多样性及其体长体宽的空间分布格局。结果表明: (1)共捕获成螨个体17,256头, 其中甲螨亚目为优势类群, 其个体数占总捕获量的94.67%; MGP分析表明样地甲螨群落属于P型, 说明受人为因素影响强烈; 生态位宽度和重叠度分析表明, 进化程度越高甲螨的生态位宽度越宽, 进化程度越相近甲螨之间的竞争越激烈。(2) Moran’s I分析显示, 在20-100 m的空间尺度上, 土壤螨群落、优势种的个体数和体长体宽多为显著正相关; 在220-300 m的空间尺度上, 部分为显著负的空间自相关。半方差函数结果表明, 甲螨群落物种数、个体数和体长体宽的空间变异主要受确定性过程影响, 中气门螨群落的空间变异由确定性和随机性过程共同影响。(3)土壤螨个体数与体长体宽存在显著弱的负相关关系, 这种关系普遍存在于土壤螨各群落与优势种中。本研究建议同时开展物种多样性和以体长体宽为代表的功能多样性空间格局研究, 对揭示土壤螨群落维持机制、保护土壤螨多样性具有重要意义。     

哀牢山不同类型亚热带森林地表凋落物及土壤节肢动物群落特征

分别于2005年4月（干热季）、6月（雨季）和12月（干热季）,采用样线法对哀牢山中山湿性常绿阔叶林、山顶苔藓矮林和滇山杨次生林地表凋落物及其中的土壤节肢动物群落进行了调查.结果表明： 凋落物现存总量、C储量和C/N在干、湿季均表现为苔藓矮林＞滇山杨林＞常绿阔叶林,N储量差异不大.蜱螨目和弹尾目是3林地凋落物层节肢动物群落的优势类群,双翅目幼虫、鞘翅目、蚁类和同翅目为常见类群,3林地凋落物层土壤节肢动物群落相似性系数极高.3林地凋落物层土壤节肢动物群落密度(ind·m^-2)没有显著差异,但相对密度(ind·g^-1)呈现出常绿阔叶林和滇山杨林显著高于苔藓矮林;土壤节肢动物密度季节变化呈现干季（4月和12月）显著高于雨季（6月）,群落香农多样性指数差异不显著.干热季(4月)3林地枯枝落叶现存量与其土壤节肢动物群落和主要类群密度呈显著正相关关系,而在干冷季(12月)凋落物总现存量与其土壤节肢动物群落及蜱螨目相对密度则呈显著负相关关系;弹尾目和鞘翅目密度与地表凋落物层的N储量也有显著的正相关关系.哀牢山亚热带森林凋落物及其土壤节肢动物群落的发展与森林植被结构密切相关, 其群落个体数量和多样性受森林地表凋落物的调控, 但林内其他环境因素如温湿度对森林凋落物层土壤动物个体数的季节变动也有明显影响.     

植物多样性对亚热带森林土壤微生物群落的影响

植物群落组成的改变能够直接或间接地影响土壤生态过程并调节参与这些过程的土壤生物,树种特性和多样性是影响土壤微生物多样性和群落结构的关键因素。本项目利用江西新岗山建立的中国亚热带森林生物多样性与生态系统功能(Biodiversity-Ecosystem Functioning Experiment China)BEF-China研究平台,观测了样方水平下不同多样性组成(单物种、2物种、4物种和8物种)对土壤微生物群落结构的影响。结果表明:在森林生态系统演替初期,植物多样性的改变对土壤微生物群落结构具有显著影响,在不同多样性水平处理下,微生物磷脂脂肪酸含量随着植物多样性的增加,表现出先升高后降低的趋势,但各类群微生物磷脂脂肪酸含量并未表现出对植物多样性的明显响应。其中,土壤和凋落物的理化指标能够分别解释微生物群落结构变异的28.4%和12.3%。森林生态系统较高的异质性和地下生态过程响应的滞后性,导致了土壤微生物对植物多样性组成的响应需要较长时间才能显现出来,因此,为了更好地评价地上生物多样性与生态系统功能的关联,应长期监测森林生态系统多样性组成对地下生态过程的影响。     

四川大巴山巴山水青冈群落的物种多样性特征

巴山水青冈(Fagus pashanica)是川、陕、鄂、渝四省市交界处的特有植物。巴山水青冈林集中分布在四川省东北部的大巴山区。目前关于巴山水青冈群落的资料极其匮乏。作者在大巴山区通过对7个样地39个样方调查数据的分析, 探讨了巴山水青冈群落的物种多样性特征。主要结果有: (1) 巴山水青冈群落物种组成丰富, 共记录到维管束植物77科142属217种。乔木层物种集中于壳斗科、杜鹃花科、蔷薇科、山矾科等科; 灌木层物种集中于蔷薇科、忍冬科、壳斗科、槭树科等科; 草本层植物个体数量以苔草属(Carex)植物和普通鹿蹄草(Pyrola decorata)占绝对优势。(2) 群落乔木层物种多度对数呈倒“J”型分布, 灌木层与草本层的物种多度近似对数正态分布。群落物种丰富度由大到小依次为灌木层>草本层>乔木层; Shannon指数与Simpson指数的顺序为灌木层>乔木层>草本层; 均匀度指数的顺序为乔木层>灌木层>草本层。(3) 东坡、南坡的植物物种多样性高于北坡。乔木层Shannon指数与土壤第二层厚度回归关系显著; 草本层Shannon指数与土壤第一层厚度的回归关系显著; 灌木层的物种数和Shannon指数与土壤第一层有机质回归关系显著。(4) 群落建群种和乔木层主要树种重要值与物种多样性主要表现为负相关关系, 但与灌木层的物种多样性关系不显著(P≥0.05)。结果表明, 灌木层物种多样性主要受到环境因素的影响, 而乔木层和草本层物种多样性受到环境因子和群落自身特征的双重影响。     

沙坡头地区凋落物分解及其对土壤微生物群落的影响

以腾格里沙漠东南缘沙坡头人工固沙植被区典型植物种凋落物(小画眉草、藓类、油蒿叶片)为对象,运用凋落物分解袋法和高通量测序技术,分析了3种植物凋落物分解特征及其对土壤微生物群落的影响。结果表明: 分解时间和凋落物类型均显著影响分解速率,藓类分解最慢,13个月后质量损失比仅为15.4%,油蒿叶片和小画眉草的平均分解速率分别是藓类的4.9和3.4倍。经过11个月的分解,细菌群落的优势菌门为放线菌门和变形菌门,真菌群落的优势菌门是子囊菌门;藓类分解过程中,拟杆菌门和绿弯菌门的相对丰度显著增加,担子菌门的相对丰度显著降低。凋落物分解后,细菌和真菌群落物种多样性和丰富度显著增加,细菌群落组成在凋落物间变化不显著,真菌群落变化显著。凋落物的分解速率与细菌和真菌群落多样性及丰富度均呈负线性变化。植物多糖、全磷和土壤pH、微生物生物量氮、铵态氮含量是影响微生物群落结构的主要因子。凋落物分解改变了土壤微生物群落物种组成和种间相似性,显著增加了土壤中微生物群落的多样性和丰富度,促进了土壤生境的恢复。     

长春市不同土地利用生境土壤螨类群落结构特征

2003年7月和9月对长春市郊区天然次生林、农田、防护林和市区公园绿地等典型土地利用生境进行土壤螨类调查,Tullgren法提取土壤螨类,应用个体密度、类群数量、群落多样性、丰富度和均匀度、甲螨群落MGP分析和捕食性螨类MI等指数,研究土壤螨类的群落生态结构特征,了解土地利用差异对土壤螨类群落结构的影响。研究区共捕获土壤螨类3亚目92属8703只,其中隐气门亚目（Cryptostigmata）54属5091只,前气门亚目（Prostigmata）17属1582只,中气门亚目21属2030只。研究结果表明：长春市土地利用差异对土壤螨类群落结构特征影响明显,其中地表凋落物的移除和耕作活动是影响螨类群落结构的主要因素,地表凋落物的移除显著减少螨类群落的类群数、个体密度、群落多样性和丰富度,耕作活动促进螨类个体向土壤剖面下层移动,而地表植物群落类型对土壤螨类群落生态结构特征影响差异不显著。     

贵州施秉喀斯特地区林地土壤甲螨的群落组成及多样性（英文）

【目的】为了解施秉喀斯特地区林地土壤甲螨的分布和群落组成特点,明确中国西南喀斯特地区林地类型对土壤甲螨群落密度、组成和物种多样性的影响,对该区林地土壤甲螨的群落结构及多样性进行了的调查和分析。【方法】2012年8月选取了中国西南施秉喀斯特地区典型生境中的8个样地,每个样地9个取样点,用Berlese-Tullgren装置分离土样24 h。多样性分析采用常见的多样性指数;群落相似性分析采用Jaccard相似性系数(C_J);群落聚类分析分别采用Marczewski Steinhaus 距离(C_ms)和Bray-Curtis距离,应用R 2.11程序进行类平均法聚类。【结果】结果显示,中国西南喀斯特8个样地中土壤甲螨由少数的优势属和数量众多的稀有属组成。其中全菌甲螨属 Perscheloribates (22.48%)和长单翼甲螨属 Protoribates (11.45%)个体数量最为丰富。长单翼甲螨属 Protoribate、上罗甲螨属Epilohmannia、小奥甲螨属 Oppiella、小盾珠甲螨属 Suctobelbella 和盖头甲螨属 Tectocepheus 分布广泛。本区的甲螨组成（属级水平）表现出明显热带和亚热带地区特点。在天然常绿落叶阔叶林中,甲螨的个体数量和种类数较多,但多样性不高,而在人工针叶林中甲螨多样性最高。甲螨群落组成和分布特征多样,异质性高,特别是在天然常绿落叶阔叶林中突出。【结论】研究表明,施秉喀斯特生态系统的不同林分影响甲螨的物种多样性和群落稳定性,天然常绿落叶阔叶混交林是甲螨的“避难所”。     

Dispersal patterns of oribatid mites across habitats and seasons

Oribatid mites are tiny arthropods that are common in all soils of the world; however, they also occur in microhabitats above the soil such as lichens, mosses, on the bark of trees and in suspended soils. For understanding oribatid mite community structure, it is important to know whether they are dispersal limited. The aim of this study was to investigate the importance of oribatid mite dispersal using Malaise traps to exclude sole passive wind-dispersal. Oribatid mite communities were collected over a 3-year period from five habitat types (coniferous forests, deciduous forests, mixed forests, meadows, bog/heathlands sites) and three seasons (spring, summer, autumn) in Sweden. Mites entered traps either by walking or by phoresy, i.e., by being attached to flying insects. We hypothesized (1) that oribatid mite communities in the traps differ between habitats, indicating habitat-limited dispersal, and (2) that oribatid mite communities differ among seasons suggesting that dispersal varies due to changing environmental conditions such as moisture or resource availability. The majority of the collected species were not typically soil-living species but rather from habitats such as trees, lichens and mosses (e.g., Carabodes labyrinthicus, Cymbaeremaeus cymba, Diapterobates humeralis and Phauloppia lucorum) indicating that walking into the traps or entering them via phoresy are of greater importance for aboveground than for soil-living species. Overall, oribatid mite communities collected in the traps likely originated from the surrounding local habitat suggesting that long distance dispersal of oribatid mites is scarce. Significant differences among seasons indicate higher dispersal during warm and dry periods of the year. Notably, 16 species of oribatid mites collected in our study were sampled for the first time in Sweden. This study also demonstrates that Malaise traps are a meaningful tool to investigate spatial and temporal patterns of oribatid mite communities.

     

Regional factors rather than forest type drive the community structure of soil living oribatid mites (Acari, Oribatida)

Most European forests are managed by humans. However, the manner and intensity of management vary. While the effect of forest management on above-ground communities has been investigated in detail, effects on the below-ground fauna remain poorly understood. Oribatid mites are abundant microarthropods in forest soil and important decomposers in terrestrial ecosystems. Here, we investigated the effect of four forest types (i.e., managed coniferous forests; 30 and 70 years old managed beech forests; natural beech forests) on the density, diversity and community structure of oribatid mites (Acari). The study was replicated at three regions in Germany: the Swabian Alb, the Hainich and the Schorfheide. To relate changes in oribatid mite community structure to environmental factors, litter mass, pH, C and N content of litter, fine roots and C content of soil were measured. Density of oribatid mites was highest in the coniferous forests and decreased in the order 30 years old, 70 years old, and natural beech forests. Mass of the litter layer and density of oribatid mites were strongly correlated indicating that the litter layer is an important factor regulating oribatid mite densities. Diversity of oribatid mites was little affected by forest type indicating that they harbor similar numbers of niches. Species composition differed between the forest types, suggesting different types of niches. The community structure of oribatid mites differed more strongly between the three regions than between the forest types indicating that regional factors are more important than effects associated with forest type.     

Tree hollows harbour a specialised oribatid mite fauna

Tree hollows are known to harbour a species-rich and specialized beetle fauna, while other invertebrates, such as for instance mites, have been much less studied. The importance of hollows in oak trees (Quercus robur) for local oribatid mite diversity was studied at three sites in south eastern Sweden. The qualitative and quantitative composition of the oribatid mite fauna was studied in hollows of fifteen 240–420 years old oak trees and compared to that in the surrounding soil. A total of 5,530 specimen of adult oribatid mites were determined belonging to 63 taxa. Taxonomic composition and community structure of the tree hollow communities differed markedly from the soil communities. The most dominant and frequent component of the tree hollow communities comprised a Carabodes species new to Sweden that accounted on average for 44 % of all Oribatida. This species, that closely resembles both Carabodes oenipontanus and Carabodes granulatus, was specific to the tree hollows. Dominance patterns in the soil communities were more even, with the most common taxa also occurring in the tree hollows but exhibiting a significant preference for the soil. Overall, there was little taxonomic overlap between the communities, suggesting that tree hollows harbour an independent mite community from the soil and therefore significantly contribute to the overall mite diversity on the landscape level. The present study therefore strongly supports the use of hollow trees as biodiversity indicators and also their conservation, which will preserve specialised invertebrate communities, including mites.     

Scale dependent diversity patterns in arboreal and terrestrial oribatid mite (Acari: Oribatida) communities

In naturally fragmented, isolated, or patchily distributed habitats that contain non‐vagile organisms, we expect dispersal to be limited, and patterns of diversity to differ from similar, yet continuous habitats. We explored the alpha‐beta‐gamma relationship and community composition of oribatid mites (Acari: Oribatida) inhabiting spatially discrete canopy suspended soils, and compared the patterns of diversity with the continuous forest floor soils over two years. We explored dispersal limitation for oribatid mites in the canopy by using additive partitioning of species richness at multiple spatial scales. ANOSIM was used to demonstrate differences in oribatid mite community composition between the canopy and forest floor habitats over different sampling periods. Community composition of oribatid mites differed significantly between canopy and forest floor habitats, by season and yearly sampling period. Oribatid mite richness and abundance were positively correlated with substrate moisture content, particularly in the canopy. Richness and abundance of ground oribatid mites was greater in September than in June, a trend that is reversed in the canopy, suggesting canopy oribatid mite species may have altered life histories to take advantage of earlier moisture conditions. Alpha diversity of oribatid mites in the canopy was lower than the ground at all sampling levels, and not significantly different from a random distribution in either habitat. Beta diversity was greater than expected from a random distribution at the patch‐ and tree‐level in the canopy suggesting dispersal limitation associated with physical tree‐to‐tree dispersal barriers, and limited dispersal among patches within a tree. Beta diversity at the tree‐level was the largest contribution to overall species richness in both canopy and ground habitats, and was also greater than expected on the ground. These results suggest that factors other than physical dispersal barriers, such as aggregation, habitat availability, and environmental factors (moisture), may limit the distribution of species in both habitats.     

Patterns of diversity and abundance of fleas and mites in the Neotropics: host‐related,parasite‐related and environment‐related factors

The effects of host‐related, parasite‐related and environmental factors on the diversity and abundance of two ectoparasite taxa, fleas (Insecta: Siphonaptera) and mites (Acari: Mesostigmata), parasitic on small mammals (rodents and marsupials), were studied in different localities across Brazil. A stronger effect of host‐related factors on flea than on mite assemblages, and a stronger effect of environmental factors on mite than on flea assemblages were predicted. In addition, the effects of parasite‐related factors on flea and mite diversity and abundance were predicted to manifest mainly at the scale of infracommunities, whereas the effects of host‐related and environmental factors were predicted to manifest mainly at the scale of component and compound communities. This study found that, in general, diversity and abundance of flea and mite assemblages at two lower hierarchical levels (infracommunities and component communities) were affected by host‐related, parasite‐related and environmental factors, and compound communities were affected mainly by host‐related and environmental factors. The effects of factors differed between fleas and mites: in fleas, community structure and abundance depended on host diversity to a greater extent than in mites. In addition, the effects of factors differed among parasite assemblages harboured by different host species.     

强度石漠化区不同植被修复模式下土壤螨类群落差异

石漠化治理区不同植被修复模式下的土壤螨类群落差异反映了生态系统的恢复状况,可籍以反映石漠化治理的生态效果。2014年1月、4月、8月和10月,对贵州花江喀斯特峡谷区顶坛小流域强度石漠化区域的"花椒"、"金银花"、"花椒+金银花"3种植被修复生境的土壤螨类进行了调查,共捕获土壤螨类1372头,隶属3目55科89属。采用类群(属)数、个体数量、个体密度、多样性指数(H')、丰富度指数(SR)、均匀性指数(J)、相似性指数(CN)、捕食性螨类成熟度指数(MI)和甲螨MGP类群等参数对土壤螨类群落差异进行了表征。结果显示,花椒林拥有较丰富的螨类属,金银花林拥有较高的的个体数量和个体密度。不同模式下的科、属类群组成呈现差异;属数、个体数量存在一定的季节差异,花椒林的螨类属数、金银花林的螨类个体数量和个体密度呈现一定的表聚性;群落多样性大多存在季节差异;捕食性革螨以r选择型为主,甲螨主要为O型和M型。研究表明,强度石漠化在不同植被修复模式下,土壤螨类生物生态类群存在差异,土壤生态系统仍处于修复之中,其中螨类优势属、具有典型生物学与生态学特性差异的螨类类群对石漠化治理的生态效果具有重要的指示作用。     

Community structures of Mesostigmata, Prostigmata and Oribatida in broad-leaved regeneration forests and conifer plantations of various ages

The community structures of Mesostigmata, Prostigmata, and Oribatida in the soil of broad-leaved regeneration forests and conifer plantations of various ages were assessed alongside soil and plant environmental variables using three response metrics (density, species richness, and species–abundance distribution). The density and species richness of mites recovered swiftly after clear-cutting or replanting. Oribatid mites dominated the soil mite communities in terms of densities and species richness for both forest types. Soil mite communities in broad-leaved forests was related to forest age, the crown tree communities index, and forest-floor litter weight. In contrast, soil mite communities in the conifer plantation sites were related to various indices of understory plants. The development of the understory plants was synchronized with the silvicultural schedules, including a closed canopy and thinning. Such a conifer plantation management may affect indirectly the community of mites.     

Comparative analysis of two edaphic zoocoenoses (Oribatid mites and Carabid beetles) in five habitats of the ‘Pietraporciana’ and ‘Lucciolabella’ Nature Reserves (Orcia Valley,central Italy)

Oribatid mite and Carabid beetle communities were investigated at five sites in the ‘Pietraporciana’ and ‘Lucciolabella’ Nature Reserves (central Italy). In this part of southern Tuscany many attempts have been made to encourage the regeneration of native habitats and to preserve existing ones. Human-induced changes in the original forest landscape have had a direct impact on mite and carabid populations. Significant differences in species diversity and abundance among different sites were revealed throughout the sampling period. Species richness, abundance and diversity of oribatid mites decrease from woodland sites to open habitats where evenness was high. There is an inverse trend between the number of species and richness of carabid beetles and those of oribatid mites. Canonical correspondence analysis (CCA) of oribatid and carabid beetle compositions discriminated the sites, demonstrating how even small areas with different vegetation, composition, structure, environment and microclimate were characterised by distinct edaphic populations.