The community characteristics of soil mites under different land uses in Changchun metropolitan area, China

Soil mites were investigated under different land uses in Changchun metropolitan area (Jilin Province, China). The soil mites were extracted using modified Tullgren funnels and were identified to the genus level. A total of 8 703 soil mites belonging to 92 genera were found. The community characteristics of soil mites were analyzed using individual density, number of taxon, diversity, abundance, and evenness as well as MGP analysis and the MI index. Litter removal considerably decreased the numbers of soil mite taxon, abundance and diversity, and tillage changed the vertical distribution of soil mite individual density in the soil profile and accelerated their move to lower soil layers. The results suggest that the land-use types significantly affect the community structures of soil mites, and litter removal and conventional cultivation are the main factors in play. The studies also suggest that the type of vegetation above ground appears to have little influence on the ecological structures of the soil mite community.     

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。     

中度石漠化生态修复初期土壤螨类群落结构变化

土壤螨类群落监测是生态恢复监测的重要内容之一,土壤螨类群落结构的变化可以反映退化环境生态恢复的效果.2014年按季节对贵州省毕节市朝营小流域中度石漠化生态修复区的土壤螨类进行调查,并与原生栓皮栎林和中度石漠化区的土壤螨类群落结构进行对比.结果表明: 中度石漠化生态修复区土壤螨类计有3目35科58属,以单翼甲螨属和威单翼甲螨属为优势属;土壤上层具有较高的属数、个体数量和个体密度;捕食性革螨群落以r对策者为主,甲螨群落结构以有翅孔背甲螨型(P型)为主.中度石漠化生态恢复区土壤螨类个体数量与个体密度分别高于中度石漠化区和栓皮栎林,属数、多样性指数和丰富度指数分别高于中度石漠化区,但低于栓皮栎林;该区在对照区基础上恢复和新增螨类共32属,占该区螨类总属数的55.2%.在研究区,螨类属数与土壤速效钾含量、丰富度指数与有机碳含量具有显著相关性,个体数量、个体密度、多样性指数、丰富度指数分别与速效钾含量以及丰富度指数与有机质含量具有显著相关性.表明石漠化的植被修复有利于土壤螨类群落结构的恢复和土壤环境的改善,且螨类优势类群、新增类群和恢复类群能对环境变化进行较好地指示,但土壤螨类群落结构与修复区植被和土壤理化因子变化的关系还有待进一步研究.     

亚热带不同树种组成森林中土壤甲螨群落结构特征: 以江西新岗山为例

在全球环境变化的大背景下, 生物多样性丧失日益加剧。土壤动物作为生物多样性重要组成之一, 受到广泛的关注。位于我国江西省新岗山的亚热带森林生物多样性与生态系统功能实验样地(BEF-China)是全世界25个森林生物多样性控制实验样地之一。本研究自2019年9月至2022年4月在BEF-China两个不同树种组成的样地(A样地和B样地)内采样, 共获得甲螨23,704头, 隶属于34科50属61种。本文分析和对比了两个样地内甲螨群落结构的差异, 及其多度、物种丰富度、Shannon多样性指数的季节性差异; 通过Pearson检验探讨了甲螨多度与环境因子的关系。结果表明: 在A、B两个不同树种组成的森林生态系统内, 土壤甲螨群落结构及其季节动态具有显著差异。具体表现在: A样地奥甲螨科、罗甲螨科、若甲螨科和尖棱甲螨科的相对多度高于B样地; B样地菌甲螨科、盖头甲螨科和礼服甲螨科的相对多度高于A样地。A样地中夏季和秋季甲螨多度、物种丰富度和Shannon多样性指数显著低于春季和冬季; 而B样地中秋季甲螨多度和物种丰富度与春季差异不显著。Pearson检验结果显示, 凋落物木质素含量与单翼甲螨科和菌甲螨科多度呈负相关关系, 而与奥甲螨科多度呈正相关关系。菌甲螨科多度与土壤和凋落物同一理化因子的相关性基本相同(碳氮比除外), 但与凋落物碳氮比呈正相关关系而与土壤碳氮比呈负相关关系。     

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.     

北方常见农业土地利用方式对土壤螨群落结构的影响

土壤螨群落与土壤健康状况密切相关,农业土地利用方式会影响土壤螨的生存环境,进而影响螨的群落分布。在北方传统农业区研究了小麦玉米常规轮作农田,1年温室蔬菜大棚、4年温室蔬菜大棚和4年露天菜地下土壤主要理化指标和螨群落结构。研究结果表明露天菜地和温室大棚的利用方式均会提高土壤碱解氮和有机质含量,同时温室大棚的长期利用会增加土壤有效磷含量。螨群落分析显示常规农田中甲螨亚目为优势类群;常规农田转变为温室大棚后,由于施肥造成土壤营养物质含量增加,以及人类对土壤扰动程度的提高,无气门亚目取代甲螨亚目成为温室内螨优势类群。但随着温室年限的延长,螨多样性和粉螨科丰度都要有所下降,这可能是磷累积和强扰动效应的共同后果。常规农田转变为露天菜地后,加强的人类扰动也会降低甲螨亚目丰度,但与温室螨群落相比,4个亚目分布要相对均匀。温室在3种土地利用类型中对土壤螨的负面影响最为明显,从土壤功能的自我维持和修复方面来讲是十分不利的,温室内土壤生物多样性的保护尤其值得人们关注和重视。     

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.     

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。     

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。     

东北松嫩草原重度退化草地两种典型植被恢复处理方式间土壤螨类群落特征比较

于2005年5—10月在东北松嫩草原中南部十三泡草场,采用室内Tullgren法分离获取螨类,对土壤螨类进行采样,应用类群数、个体密度、多样性指数和MI指数等多个群落参数,研究植被恢复方式对重度碱化退化草地土壤螨类群落特征的影响。共捕获土壤螨类1104只,分别隶属于3亚目41属。结果表明,重度碱化退化草地土壤螨类稀少;围栏封育和种植碱茅两种植被恢复方式均能改善该类草地土壤螨类群落环境,提高了螨类的类群数、个体密度、群落多样性以及中气门螨类MI指数。但围栏封育和种植碱茅两种植被恢复方式之间也存在明显差异,种植碱茅较围栏封育更能显著提高土壤螨类个体密度;种植碱茅样地土壤螨类MI指数显著高于围栏封育样地,捕食性螨类K-选择类群比例更高,土壤螨类群落环境更好。对于松嫩草原重度碱化退化草地,选择种植碱茅方式可能更利于草地土壤螨类群落的恢复与重建。     

松嫩草原中度退化草地不同植被恢复方式下土壤螨类群落特征的差异

应用类群数、个体密度、多样性指数和MI指数等多个群落参数,研究不同植被恢复方式下松嫩草原中度退化草地土壤螨类群落特征的差异。研究结果表明,与过度放牧样地相比,种植苜蓿和围栏封育样地的土壤环境相对优越,它们拥有较高的土壤螨类类群数、个体密度和群落多样性以及中气门螨类MI指数。在土壤螨类群落结构所有参数中,多样性指数(H′)和中气门螨类MI指数,种植苜蓿和围栏封育样地均明显高于过度放牧样地,这些差异反映了种植苜蓿和围栏封育对中度退化草地土壤螨类的群落结构具有明显改善作用。然而研究结果也显示,围栏封育样地土壤螨类群落多样性指数(H′)和中气门螨类MI指数尽管明显高于过度放牧样地,但是依然显著低于种植苜蓿样地,表明选择种植苜蓿较围栏封育可能更利于松嫩草原中度退化草地土壤螨类群落的恢复与重建。     

Soil oribatid mite communities under three species of legumes in an ultisol in Brazil

Oribatid mite densities in the topsoil and their activity at the soil surface were monitored under three species of perennial legume cover crops namely, Arachis pintoi, Macroptilium atropupureum and Pueraria phaseoloides, grass (Panicum maximum) and bare plots on three occasions in 1998 and 1999 in a derived savanna zone in Brazil. Both densities and activity at the soil surface were higher in the early but cool dry season in April 1998 than in the early wet but warm season in November 1998 and 1999. Three taxonomic groups of macropyline oribatid mites, namely Nothrus, Archegozetes and Masthermannia as well as a brachypyline taxon, Scheloribates were suggested as possible indicators of effect of legumes on soil biota because their populations increased under the legumes and/or their residues. Nothrus in particular increased in abundance more than any other taxon in the presence of residues of A. pintoi. Each legume supported a unique oribatid mite community in terms of species composition and relative abundance. The large numbers of Archegozetes trapped from all the legume and grass plots in April and November 1998 were also attributed to highly conducive conditions provided by the vegetation cover and their residues. The results suggest that the oribatid mite community of the study area was numerically stable as the peak populations of different species were not synchronized. Many taxonomic groups of pycnonotic brachypyline mites were absent. Legume cover crops, especially A. pintoi, and their residues have potential in restoring oribatid mite populations to precultivation levels. This revised version was published online in July 2006 with corrections to the Cover Date.     

Response of soil mites to organic cultivation in an ultisol in southeast Brazil

Soil-dwelling mites of four plots under organic management were investigated in April and December 1998 and in December 1999. Their populations were compared with mite populations in a pasture and forest in the vicinity. It was observed that there was always an initial reduction in the populations of soil mites and in the activity of the epigeic forms whenever a plot was opened up and disturbed mechanically in preparation for cultivation, irrespective of previous organic inputs. With time, the densities and activities of mites recovered under organic management. The uropodine and oribatid mites in particular benefited more from organic management than gamasine and actinedid mites. Uropodine mites increased tremendously under banana where there was fresh cow dung manure. Oribatid mite species Nothrus seropedicalensis and Archegozetes magnus were dominant in organic plots where the soil was moist and temperatures were lower than the ambient. Protoribates rioensis was dominant in organic plots where the soil was drier and temperatures were higher than the ambient. Galumna was the most active oribatid taxon on the floor of all plots, with the highest activity recorded under maracuja and in pasture plots. The results suggest that while densities and activities of soil mites increased in the organic plots, the community structure and recruitment period of oribatid mites were altered. Oribatid mite diversity was higher in the organic plots than in the pasture but lower than in the forest, where Belba sp. and many Eremobelboid brachypiline genera were present, but absent in the organic plots and pasture.     

新疆玛纳斯河流域土壤螨类群落多样性

为探究玛纳斯河流域不同生境土壤螨类群落多样性及其时空特征,采用野外采样和改进的Tullgren法采集土壤螨类进行分类鉴定及比较分析。结果,共采集土壤螨类33208只,隶属4亚目86科140属。其中Ceratozetes和Oribatula为优势类群。不同垂直带生境土壤螨类个体数量和类群数量之间差异显著(P0.05),个体数依次为ⅥⅪⅧⅨⅠⅩⅦⅣⅤⅡⅢⅫ。垂直分布表明不同土层间的个体数差异极显著(P0.01),土壤螨类主要集中分布于表层土壤。不同生境土壤螨类在不同季节均有显著差异(P0.05),个体数依次为9月4月7月11月。在12种不同生境之间土壤螨类群落多样性指标均有显著差异(P0.05),Shannon-Wiener多样性指数(H)依次为ⅠⅤⅣⅥⅢⅩⅡⅨⅧⅦⅪⅫ,而Margalef(M)丰富度指数依次为ⅠⅥⅢⅩⅪⅧⅤⅣⅦⅡⅨⅫ。不同生境土壤螨类群落间的相似性处于中等不相似。结果表明研究流域不同垂直带生境土壤螨类群落多样性具有明显的生境和季节变化特征。     

Inferring associations among parasitic gamasid mites from census data

Within a community, the abundance of any given species depends in large part on a network of direct and indirect, positive and negative interactions with other species, including shared enemies. In communities where experimental manipulations are often impossible (e.g., parasite communities), census data can be used to evaluate the strength or frequency of positive and negative associations among species. In ectoparasite communities, competitive associations can arise because of limited space or food, but facilitative associations can also exist if one species suppresses host immune defenses. In addition, positive associations among parasites could arise merely due to shared preferences for the same host, without any interaction going on. We used census data from 28 regional surveys of gamasid mites parasitic on small mammals throughout the Palaearctic, to assess how the abundance of individual mite species is influenced by the abundance and diversity of other mite species on the same host. After controlling for several confounding variables, the abundance of individual mite species was generally positively correlated with the combined abundances of all other mite species in the community. This trend was confirmed by meta-analysis of the results obtained for separate mite species. In contrast, there were generally no consistent relationships between the abundance of individual mite species and either the species richness or taxonomic diversity of the community in which they occur. These patterns were independent of mite feeding mode. Our results indicate either that synergistic facilitative interactions among mites increase the host’s susceptibility to further attacks (e.g., via immunosuppression) and lead to different species all having increased abundance on the same host, or that certain characteristics make some host species preferred habitats for many parasite species. Electronic supplementary material  The online version of this article (doi:) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.     

DG指数在定量多样性时的缺陷及其内涵解析

生物多样性通常使用物种丰富度、Simpson指数、Shannon-Wiener多样性指数等来进行度量, 但是在土壤动物群落研究中, 由于使用了粗水平的分类方法, 因此即使生境变化很大, 这些多样性指数在评估群落多样性变化时仍然是不适当的。为了克服这种限制, 廖崇惠(1990, 2009)提出用DG指数来代替这些标准的多样性指数, 并在土壤动物生态学领域得到了广泛应用。然而笔者分析发现DG指数与Pielou均匀度指数呈显著的负相关关系(r = –0.534, P = 0.000), 即, 高的均匀度反而有低的多样性。另外, DG指数与类群数(r = 0.648, P = 0.000)和类群密度(r = 0.487, P = 0.000)呈明显的正相关, 类群数的下降可以通过部分类群密度的上升而获得补偿, 群落的类群丢失后却可以获得一个不变的甚至更高的多样性值。因此, 笔者不支持DG指数用于测度生物多样性, 提议使用各类群实际群势与潜在群势比值的平均值来估计群落潜在多度的实现程度。如果继续使用DG指数作为实际生境条件的一个指标, 那么与以往不同, DG指数测度的是该生境群落多度增长的一种潜力。     

Insights into fungal communities colonizing the acarosphere in a forest soil habitat

Knowledge on the diversity and ecology of microfungi associated with soil-dwelling mites is rather limited. To get insights into associations between the two highly diverse groups, we studied composition and potential function of mite-associated fungal communities occurring in soil. Two different mite species living in temperate region pine forest soil were screened for associated fungi. The fungal community was assessed by restriction fragment length polymorphism (RFLP) analyses in a predatory (Leptogamasus obesus) and a predominantly saprobic (Oppiella subpectinata) mite species as well as in the organic soil layer. Key fungi were identified by sequencing, and community composition was exemplarily compared between the RFLP and a 454 metabarcoding approach. Composition of the fungal communities differed between mite species and between mites and organic soil layer. The mites were predominantly associated with Zygomycota, less frequently with Ascomycota, and rarely with Basidiomycota. The bulk soil was colonized by roughly equal proportions of the three phyla. Fungal taxa being known to exhibit chitinolytic activity were predominantly restricted to mites. Compositional and functional differences between the communities suggest that mites represent a particular microhabitat for fungi, the “acarosphere.” This mobile habitat may contribute to nutrient cycling by combining fungal and animal decomposition activities and serve as vector for soil-inhabiting fungi.     

Mite‐y bees: bumble bees (Bombus spp., Hymenoptera: Apidae) host a relatively homogeneous mite (Acari) community,shaped by bee species identity but not by geographic proximity

1. Parasites can affect the communities of their hosts; and hosts, in turn, shape communities of parasites and other symbionts. This makes host–symbiont relationships a key but often overlooked aspect of community ecology. 2. Mites associated with bees have a range of lifestyles; however, little is known about mites associated with wild bees or about factors influencing the make‐up of bee‐associated mite communities. This study investigated how mite communities associated with bumble bees (Bombus spp.) are shaped by the Bombus community and geographic proximity. 3. Bees were collected from 15 sites in Ontario, Canada, and examined for mites. Mite abundance and species richness increased with local bee abundance. Several bee species also differed in mite abundance, species richness, prevalence, and diversity. Locally uncommon species tended to have more mites than other bees. Queen bees had the most mites, and males had more mites than workers. 4. Spatial proximity was not a predictor of mite community composition, despite a strong effect of proximity on bee community similarity. 5. On the 11 Bombus spp. examined, 33 mite species were found. Whereas nearly half of these mite species are obligate associates of bumble bees, none was restricted to particular Bombus species. 6. The best predictor of mite community composition was bee identity. Although many parasite communities show strong geographic patterns, the communities of primarily commensalistic bee‐mites in this study did not. These findings have implications for bumble bee conservation, given that pollen‐feeding commensals might become harmful at high densities or act as disease vectors.     

中国云南小兽体表革螨的群落相似性

运用系统聚类分析方法对中国云南省境内17种主要小型哺乳动物(小兽)体表革螨群落相似性进行研究,每一种小兽体表的所有外寄生革螨被定义为一个相应的革螨群落。运用SPSS11.5软件完成17种革螨群落的相似性比较。研究结果表明:小兽体表革螨群落结构复杂,物种多样性高;隶属同一个属的小兽体表的革螨群落相似程度高,在系统聚类分析中聚为一类;大多数革螨群落相似性大小与相应小兽宿主在动物分类上的近缘性高低呈现高度一致,但也有一些革螨群落是例外的。这说明小兽体表革螨群落不仅受小兽宿主分类地位的影响,可能还受宿主生境的影响     

Contrasting diversity patterns of soil mites and nematodes in secondary succession

Soil biodiversity has been recognized as a key feature of ecosystem functioning and stability. However, soil biodiversity is strongly impaired by agriculture and relatively little is known on how and at what spatial and temporal scales soil biodiversity is restored after the human disturbances have come to an end. Here, a multi-scale approach was used to compare diversity patterns of soil mites and nematodes at four stages (early, mid, late, reference site) along a secondary succession chronosequence from abandoned arable land to heath land. In each field four soil samples were taken during four successive seasons. We determined soil diversity within samples (α-diversity), between samples (β-diversity) and within field sites (γ-diversity). The patterns of α- and γ-diversity developed similarly along the chronosequence for oribatid mites, but not for nematodes. Nematode α-diversity was highest in mid- and late-successional sites, while γ-diversity was constant along the chronosequence. Oribatid mite β-diversity was initially high, but decreased thereafter, whereas nematode β-diversity increased when succession proceeded; indicating that patterns of within-site heterogeneity diverged for oribatid mites and nematodes. The spatio-temporal diversity patterns after land abandonment suggest that oribatid mite community development depends predominantly on colonization of new taxa, whereas nematode community development depends on shifts in dominance patterns. This would imply that at old fields diversity patterns of oribatid mites are mainly controlled by dispersal, whereas diversity patterns of nematodes are mainly controlled by changing abiotic or biotic soil conditions. Our study shows that the restoration of soil biodiversity along secondary successional gradients can be both scale- and phylum-dependent.