Community structure of Gamasid mites, free-living soil predatory mites on different habitats in Korea

Mesostigmata are the one of the largest and most biologically diverse group of the Acari among soil dwelling mites. Gamasid mite population is highly depending on the prey populations and abiotic factors such as soil temperature, moisture, organic matter, pH, and plant type. This mite considered as predator of Collembola, Nematoda, insect egg, and others soil dwelling mites. Mesostigmata mite samples were collected from different of habitats like mosses, forests, dung habitat, agriculture land, and insects in Korea from 2005 to 2013. Forest ecosystems are favorable environment for gamasid mite. Pinus densiflorawas dominant in forest. Agriculture ecosystems (apple orchard) were managed by organic and conventional. The disturbances associated agriculture is simplification of ground cover and application of inorganic inputs, fertilizer, chemical pesticides and adoption of deep tillage practice. Fire has influenced composition, structure, and population of gamasid mite by stimuli including heat, smoke, and increased levels of carbon dioxide. In Korea with occurrence in variable habitats, the species are classified as generalist species, habitat specialist species or others. Majority of recorded mites were soil dowelling in forest and agriculture ecosystems. In total 118 species and 19 families were recorded in different habitats. Dominant families of gamasid mite were Parholaspididae (34), Ascidae (30) and Parasitidae (24). Parholaspididae, Ascidae and Parasitidae were generalist in forest and agriculture ecosystem. however, Eviphididae, Macrochelidae and Urodinychidae were specialist in relative to insect, phoretic mite and dung habitat. Recorded species could be use as indicator species of different habitats of certain ecosystems. So, additional studies on a variable habitats and Mesostigmata relative to influencing factors of variable habitats on the mite community are demanded.

Keywords: Mesostigmata, habitats, biodiversity, forest, agriculture, Korea