Oribatid mites may actively migrate faster and over longer distances than anticipated: experimental evidence for Damaeus onustus (Acari: Oribatida)

Authors

  • Ladislav Miko Faculty of Environmental Sciences, Czech University of Life Sciences Prague, Kamýcká 129, 165 21 Prague 6 – Suchdol, Czech Republic; Institute for Environmental Studies, Charles University in Prague, Faculty of Science, Benátská 2, 128 01 Prague 2, Czech Republic

Keywords:

oribatid mites, active migration, speed, dispersal, Damaeus onustus

Abstract

The ability of active dispersal of Damaeus onustus C. L. Koch, 1844 was studied under laboratory conditions. Six individuals were observed in 15 repetitions, each at least for 30 minutes. The overall time of observation reached 278 minutes. Mites moved actively for several tens of minutes, mostly away from the source of light and heat (negative thermo- and phototaxis). The maximum speed measured reached 3.12 mh-1; the average speed was 1.00 mh-1 with median at 0.86 mh-1. The specimens differed mutually, both in maximum and average speed (the latter ranking between 0.49 and 1.82 mh-1). During the experiment all individuals were able to reach a distance of at least 10 cm from their starting point, the maximum distance was 28.2 cm. Based on the measured distances it may be assumed that Damaeus onustus is able to disperse actively faster and over larger distances than generally anticipated of oribatid mites, particularly in escape from non-favourable conditions.

 

References

Behan-Pelletier, V. M. & N. Winchester (1998): Arboreal oribatid mites diversity: colonizing the canopy. – Applied Soil Ecology 9: 45–51.

Berthet, P. (1964): Field study of the mobility of Oribatei (Acari), using radioactive tagging. – Journal of Animal Ecology 33: 443–449.

Lehmitz, R., D. Russell, K. Hohberg, A. Christian & W. E. R. Xylander (2012): Active dispersal of oribatid mites into young soils. – Applied Soil Ecology 55: 10–19.

Madge, D. S. (1964): The humidity reactions of oribatid mites. – Acarologia 6: 566–591.

Madge, D. S. (1966): The significance of the sensory physiology of oribatid mites in their natural environment. – Acarologia, 6: 155–160.

Nicolet, H. (1855): Historie Naturelle des Acariens qui se trouvent aux environs de Paris. – Archives du Museum National d’Histoire Naturelle 7: 381–482.

Ojala, R. & V. Huhta (2001): Dispersal of microarthropods in forest soil. – Pedobiologia 45: 443–450.

Prinzing, A. (2003): Are generalists pressed for time? An interspecific test of the time-limited disperser model. – Ecology 84: 1744–1755.

Skubała, P. (2004): Colonization and development of oribatid mite communities (Acari, Oribatida) on post-industrial dumps. – Wydawnictwo Universytetu Slaskiego, Katowice.

Smrž, J. (1996): Some aspects of the life strategy of oribatid mites (Oribatida). – In: Mitchell, R., D. J. Horn, G. R. Needham & W. C. Welbourn (eds): Acarology IX. Volume 1 Proceedings. The Ohio Biological Survey, Columbus, Ohio: 553–555.

Smrž, J. (2005): Two dwellers of one habitat – two strategies for the different microhabitats. – In: Tajovský, K., J. Schlaghamerský & V. Pižl (eds): Contributions to Soil Zoology in Central Europe I., České Budějovice: 149–153.

Weigmann, G. (1982): The colonization of ruderal biotopes in the city of Berlin by arthropods. – In: Bornkamm, R., J. A. Lee, & M. R. D. Seeward (eds): Urban Ecology. – Blackwell Scientific Publications: 75–82.

Woodring, J. P. & E. F. Cook (1962): The biology of Ceratozetes cisalpinus Berlese, Scheloribates laevigatus Koch and Oppia neerlandica Oudemans (Oribatei), with a description of all stages. – Acarologia 4: 101–137.

Wunderle, I. (1992): Die Oribatiden-Gemeinschaften (Acari) der verschiedenen Habitate eines Buchenwaldes. – Carolinea, 50: 79–144.

Downloads

Published

2016-12-01

How to Cite

Miko, L. . (2016). Oribatid mites may actively migrate faster and over longer distances than anticipated: experimental evidence for Damaeus onustus (Acari: Oribatida). SOIL ORGANISMS, 88(3), 155–164. Retrieved from https://soil-organisms.org/index.php/SO/article/view/88

Issue

Vol. 88 No. 3 (2016)

Section

ARTICLES

License

All articles from Senckenberg’s SOIL ORGANISMS Open Access scientific journal that are made available on the Senckenberg website (www.senckenberg.de) and also www.soil-organisms.org may be read, copied, distributed, and (in limited quantity) printed for non-commercial, private, scientific purposes.

In accordance with the German Science Foundation’s „Rules for the Safeguarding of Good Scientific Practice“, references to cited articles are to be complete and correct and furnished with a link to the website of the Senckenberg journal in question.

The Senckenberg Society for Nature Research (Senckenberg Gesellschaft für Naturforschung, SGN) is a member of the Leibniz Association (Leibniz-Gemeinschaft) and is therefore committed to the idea of Open Access as explained in the Berlin Declaration (Berlin Declaration on Open Access to Scientific Knowledge, Berliner Erklärung über den offenen Zugang zu wissenschaftlichem Wissen).

Open Access is understood to mean the charge-exempt public access to scientific results via the internet. The users should be able to read, copy, print, search within, and reference the full text without limitation and to use it in any conceivable lawful manner without financial, legal or technical hindrance.

This applies also to the SGN, which publishes various scientific series. Some scientific journals are made available to the public via Open Acess in addition to printed copies.