2018 Issues

Julia Baumann, Francisco Ferragut & Sanja Šimić

Title: Lazy hitchhikers? Preliminary evidence for within-habitat phoresy in pygmephoroid mites (Acari, Scutacaridae)

DOI  10.25674/mzmh-9h78

Abstract

Mites of the family Scutacaridae have been found in termite nests and also phoretic on termites. In contrast to what has been reported until now for scutacarid mites, the respective species did not possess claws on leg I for attachment on their host, but clasped to the termites’ coxae probably by using their large, pad-like empodia on legs II and III. This mode of attachment is a totally new and unique discovery for Scutacaridae. The fact that the mites were present on non-winged termites, which are no suitable dispersal units, points to a yet undiscussed function of phoresy: apart from serving as long-distance transport between habitats, it may also be an energy-saving way of movement within a habitat (in this example, the termite nest).

Keywords: association | phoretic transport | termites | phoronts | Imparipes 

PDF

Authors

Julia Baumann
Institute of Biology, University of Graz
Universitaetsplatz 2, 8010 Graz, Austria
julia.baumann@uni-graz.at

Francisco Ferragut
Instituto Agroforestal Mediterráneo, Universitat Politècnica de València
46022 Valencia, Spain

Sanja Šimić
Graz Centre for Electron Microscopy (ZFE)
Steyrergasse 17, 8010 Graz, Austria

Walter Sudhaus

Dispersion of nematodes (Rhabditida) in the guts of slugs and snails

DOI  10.25674/4jp6-0v30

Abstract

A survey was carried out to find non-parasitic nematodes associated with slugs and snails in order to elucidate the initial phase of endophoresis and necromeny in gastropods. 78 % of the specimens of the 12 terrestrial gastropod species surveyed carried nematodes. A total of 23 nematode species were detected alive and propagable in gastropod faeces, with 16 different species found in Arion rufus alone. Most were saprobiontic rhabditids, with species of Caenorhabditis, Oscheius and Panagrolaimusappearing with some regularity. The nematodes were accidentally ingested with food and survived the passage through the digestive tract, allowing them to be transported to suitable microhabitats such as decaying fruits or fungi. The intestines of snails and slugs taken from hibernation or aestivation were free of nematodes. Seven gastropod species were experimentally infected with eight rhabditid species, all of which were able to persist uninjured in the intestines of the gastropods for two to five days before being excreted with the faeces. A list of nematode species accidentally associated with gastropods is compiled from the literature for comparison. The role of gastropods in spreading nematodes and other small animals (a few observations on rotifers and mites are mentioned) deserves more attention.

Keywords: rhabditids | accidental phoresis | endophoresis | necromeny | dispersal | Phasmarhabditis

PDF

Walter Sudhaus

Various evolutionary avenues of Nematoda to parasitism in Gastropoda

DOI  10.25674/1yds-c108

Abstract

The various associations between nematodes and gastropods, which range from random transportation to endophoresis, necromeny, larval parasitism and an entire parasitic or parasitoidic life-style with and without intermediate or paratenic hosts, are discussed in an evolutionary context. Ten to eleven lineages have accomplished the transition to a life at the expense of gastropods, three via a detour of parasitism in vertebrates (Metastrongyloidea, Nemhelix and within Cosmocercoides). In the lineage to Agfa the sequence endophoretic, necromenic, parasitic in the intestine to parasitic in salivary glands of gastropods is reconstructed.

Keywords

necromeny | parasitoidism | larval parasitism | paratenic host | host switch

PDF

Farid Faraji, Pierre Mack, Simon Staudt & Jeffrey Kolkman

Title: Two new species records of Proprioseiopsis Muma (Acari: Mesostigmata: Phytoseiidae) from Germany

DOI  10.25674/3kkh-bp28

Abstract

Proprioseiopsis mauiensis (Prasad, 1968) and P. sharovi (Wainstein, 1975) are new species records for German mite fauna. They are re-described and illustrated.

Keywords

Germany | Phytoseiidae | Proprioseiopsis | re-description

PDF

Farid Faraji
Institute of Biology, University of Graz
Universitaetsplatz 2, 8010 Graz, Austria
faridfaraji@eurofins-mitox.com

Pierre Mack
Ecotoxicology Field, Eurofins Agroscience Services Ecotox GmbH 
Eutinger Str. 24, 75223 Niefern-Öschelbronn, Germany
 
Simon Staudt
Ecotoxicology Field, Eurofins Agroscience Services Ecotox GmbH
Eutinger Str. 24, 75223 Niefern-Öschelbronn, Germany
 
Jeffrey Kolkman
Eurofins MITOX, Science Park 408
1098 XH Amsterdam, The Netherlands

José G. Palacios, Blanca E. Mejía, Martha Madora, Rosamond Coates & Gabriela Castaño

Title: Monthly variation of leaf litter Collembola in the tropical rainforest of Los Tuxtlas, Veracruz, Mexico

DOI  10.25674/n03y-sn47

Abstract

In order to evaluate leaf litter Collembola at the tropical rainforest of Los Tuxtlas, Veracruz, México, fifteen pitfall traps were activated monthly for about one week, in a new experimental area during 2015. A total of 4,291 specimens were captured in the 180 samples collected. Ten families were recorded, those better represented were Paronellidae (27 %), Neanuridae (20.5 %), Entomobryidae (16.9 %), Dicyrtomidae (15 %), and Isotomidae (11.6 %). Among the 32 genera reported, most abundant were Trogolaphysa (18 %), Ptenothrix (13 %), Isotoma (10 %), Neotropiella (10 %) and Pseudachorutes (10 %). Results were compared with three other similar studies carried out in two different localities from Mexico: Huitepec, Chiapas, and Tlayacapan, Morelos and one other from Nicaragua: Moropotente. Each of these localities has different weather patterns and type of vegetation. Los Tuxtlas showed a moderate similarity with Huitepec, and less with Tlayacapan, and a very low similarity with Moropotente. Our study found that the abundance of individuals in the four most important families in Los Tuxtlas was much less than those reported for other similar studies.

Keywords

Springtails | pitfall traps | seasonal variation | abundance

PDF

José G. Palacios
Laboratory of Microarthropods Ecology and Systematics, Sciences Faculty, UNAM
04510 Mexico city, Mexico

Blanca E. Mejía
Laboratory of Microarthropods Ecology and Systematics, Sciences Faculty, UNAM
04510 Mexico city, Mexico
bemrecam@gmail.com
 
Rosamond Coates
Tropical Biology Field Station, Biology Institute, UNAM
PO BOX 94, 95701 San Andrés Tuxtlas, Veracruz, Mexico
 
Martha Madora
Tropical Biology Field Station, Biology Institute, UNAM
PO BOX 94, 95701 San Andrés Tuxtlas, Veracruz, Mexico
 
Gabriela Castaño
Arthropods Ecology in Extreme Environments, UMDI, Sciences Faculty, UNAM, 
Juriquilla Campus, Bld. Juriquilla 3001, 76230, Querétaro, Mexico

Penelope Greenslade

Title: Why are there so many exotic Springtails in Australia? A review

DOI  10.25674/y9tz-1d49

Abstract

Native invertebrate assemblages in Australia are adversely impacted by invasive exotic plants because they are replaced by exotic, invasive invertebrates. The reasons have remained obscure. The different physical, chemical and biotic characteristics of the novel habitat seem to present hostile conditions for native species. This results in empty niches. It seems the different ecologies of exotic invertebrate species may be better adapted to colonise these novel empty niches than native invertebrates. Native faunas of other southern continents that possess a highly endemic fauna, such as South America, South Africa and New Zealand, may have suffered the same impacts from exotic species but insufficient survey data and unreliable and old taxonomy makes this uncertain. Here I attempt to discover what particular characteristics of these novel habitats are hostile to native invertebrates.
I chose the Collembola as a target taxon. They are a suitable group because the Australian collembolan fauna consists of a high percentage of endemic taxa, but also exotic, non-native, species. Most exotic Collembola species in Australia appear to have originated from Europe, where they occur at low densities (Fjellberg 1997, 2007). Once in Australia many become invasive forming large populations. This occurs most frequently in exotic grasses and other weeds, but also even in native vegetation. I provide here species records from a number of sites that have been both invaded and colonised by exotic Collembola as well as those that still only carry native species, and document the differences between sites and faunas as far as is known. I suggest that a major factor is likely a change in microflora because of higher nutrient levels on invaded sites, particularly nitrogen and phosphorus from either fertilisers or rapid decomposition rates of exotic plants. The traits of exotic species, where known, tend to be r selected and so have a competitive advantage over the mainly K or A selected native species is another factor.

Keywords

invasion biology | decomposition | soil nutrients | exotic plants | competitive traits

PDF

Penelope Greenslade
Environmental Management, School of School of Health and Life Sciences, 
Federation University, Ballarat, Victoria 3353, Australia 

Department of Biology, Australian National University
GPO Box, Australian Capital Territory 0200, Australia

Andrey B. Shatrov

Title: On the life cycle and parasitism of the trombiculid mite Hirsutiella hexasternalis (Kudryashova, 1998)  (Acariformes, Trombiculidae)

DOI  10.25674/n3jj-5656

Abstract

Post-larval life cycle, larval morphology and histology of the sites of the larvae feeding were investigated in the trombiculid mite Hirsutiella hexasternalis (Kudryashova, 1998) based on the material firstly collected from West Siberia (Tyumen province) from the voles Myodes rutilus (Pallas, 1779). Duration of the nymphal developmental stages generally corresponds to those of other trombiculid mites with the average values of 19 and 13 days for proto- and tritonymphs, respectively. Duration of active deutonymphal stage varies greatly and allocated between 12 and 31 days. Adult mites live much longer, up to eleven months. Larval morphological characters studied by SEM correspond to those of the first descriptions of this species. The stylostome developed in the host skin during larval feeding was investigated using histological methods. The stylostome belongs to the epidermal type and its characters do not correspond to stylostomes studied so far in other trombiculid species. The stylostome is a uniformly wide whitish structure with neither longitudinal nor transverse stratification. It may demonstrate pale-pink staining along the central canal and at the proximal and the distal ends. The central canal opens freely to the underlying tissue and may contain cell debris. Beneath the stylostome, a differently developed feeding cavity containing lymphoid cells may be observed. The host skin demonstrates thickening of the epidermis at the site of attachment, hyperkeratosis as well as dilation of the terminal blood vessels. The characteristics of this trombiculid species are discussed. It is shown, in particular, that morphologically closed species of trombiculid mites reveal noticeable differences in the characters of the life cycle as well as in the stylostome formation.

Keywords

individual development | morphology of larvae | host-parasite interaction | Trombiculidae

PDF

Andrey B. Shatrov
Zoological Institute of the Russian Academy of Sciences
199034, Universitetskaya nab., 1, St-Petersburg, Russia  
Andrey.Shatrov.1954@mail.ru

Jörg Römbke, Wolfgang H. O. Dorow & Stephan Jänsch

Title: Distribution and diversity of earthworms (Lumbricidae) in Hesse (Central Germany): current knowledge

DOI  10.25674/bmwx-qs58

Abstract

In 2016 the first Red List of German earthworms was compiled, listing 46 species. However, little is known about the biodiversity and distribution of Lumbricidae in the individual federal states of Germany. In some of them (e.g. Schleswig-Holstein) earthworm monitoring programs were performed (or are still running). In others no such soil-focused program has been performed so far. The aim of this contribution is to compile the available information on the distribution of earthworms (Lumbricidae) in the state of Hesse, using data from literature including own investigations. The main source is a long-term faunistic inventory made in Strict Forest Reserves, in which different traps were used over a period of two years for each site. Earthworms have also been sampled at other Hessian sites, for different reasons and with various methods within the last 50 years. This information was already compiled in the database Edaphobase. In total, we found data from 43 sites, mainly located in the north-eastern and eastern part of this state as well as around the city of Frankfurt in the south. In total, 25 species have been recorded representing 54 % of the German earthworm fauna. Noteworthy is Allolobophoridella eiseni (Levinsen, 1884), a species which is often overlooked since it lives on and below the bark of living and dead trees. In comparison to neighbouring countries such as The Netherlands or France, our knowledge on Hessian earthworms is considered to be poor. Thus, we recommend to perform an earthworm sampling program, using standard methods and assessment tools in order to get a detailed overview on the diversity and distribution of this functionally important group of soil invertebrates.

Keywords

Soil invertebrates | Annelida | Strict Forest Reserves | Monitoring

PDF

Jörg Römbke
ECT Oekotoxikologie
Böttgerstr. 2-14, 65439 Flörsheim am Main, Germany
j-roembke@ect.de

Wolfgang H. O. Dorow
Senckenberg Research, Project Strict Forest Reserves in Hesse
Senckenberganlage 25, 60325 Frankfurt am Main, Germany
 
Stephan Jänsch
ECT Oekotoxikologie
Böttgerstr. 2-14, 65439 Flörsheim am Main, Germany

Dieudonné Djackba Danra, Elias Nchiwan Nukenine & Hartmut Koehler

Title: Soil Gamasina from savanna and ReviTec site of Ngaoundéré (Adamawa, Cameroon): abundance and species diversity

DOI  10.25674/8fsw-6t13

Abstract

Soil Gamasina of Central African savanna are little known. In our study, Gamasina were assessed for a high Guinean savanna and for selected treatments of a ReviTec site for the rehabilitation of degraded soil, Ngaoundéré region (Adamawa, Cameroon). The experimental site was established in 2012. Four years later, in 2016, four sampling campaigns during the rainy season were undertaken (May, June, July, August). The investigated treatments were: (1) compost + mycorrhiza (cpmy), (2) compost + biochar (cpbc), (3) compost + biochar + bokashi (cpbcbo). The controls were: ReviTec control (ctrl1) and adjacent savanna (sav). Gamasina were extracted from 0 – 10 cm soil using a modified Berlese-Tullgren extractor and identified microscopically at the morphospecies level. Most of the thirty-four species belonging to fourteen genera and eight families seem to be new to science; they are treated as morphospecies with preliminary names.  In comparison to savanna and control, the investigated ReviTec treatments increased total Gamasina abundance up to factor five and species number by factor two. Gamasina clearly preferred compost + biochar (cpbc) and compost + biochar + bokashi (cpbcbo) treatments compared to compost + mycorrhiza (cpmy). This confirmed our previous investigations in the same experiment. Expectations for low abundances and diversity of Gamasina in the savanna subjected to a four months’ dry season have to be rejected. Expectations that the ReviTec application is initiating and accelerating the successional process are confirmed.

Keywords

ReviTec | Gamasina | Cameroon | savanna | high Guinean savanna ecozone

PDF

Dieudonné Djackba Danra
University of Ngaoundéré, Faculty of Science, Department of Biological Sciences
P.O. Box 454, Ngaoundéré, Cameroon
danradjackbadieudonne@yahoo.fr

Elias Nchiwan Nukenine
University of Ngaoundéré, Faculty of Science, Department of Biological Sciences
P.O. Box 454, Ngaoundéré, Cameroon
 
Hartmut Koehler
University of Bremen, UFT Center for Environmental Research and Sustainable Technology, 28359 Bremen, Germany

The editors wish to express their gratitude to all the anonymous referees, whose valuable effort contributed much to this volume of SOIL ORGANISMS.

Alexander Prosche

Title: Conservation of ant material for natural history collections (Hymenoptera: Formicidae)

Abstract

Correct sampling and preparation of living material build up the heart of all natural history collections. Ideally, the samples outlive their collectors and preparators for centuries. This article gives advice on correct and durable storage of either mounted or ethanol stored material as well as on correct sampling during field work. Furthermore, the advantages and disadvantages of a number of the most common ant preparation techniques for inner and outer body characters are presented, compared, and illustrated. This can either mean a decision between a basket shape arrangement, a preparation according to Wilson, or a preparation in standing position if the whole individual and its morphology is of interest. Dissection methods to obtain information on inner organs involved in pheromonal communication or indicating reproductive status and age are described.

DOI  10.25674/eg3x-w721

PDF

Keywords: ants | preparation techniques | Chthonolasius | ethanol storage

Alexander Prosche
Internationales Hochschulinstitut – TU Dresden 
Markt 23, 02763 Zittau, Germany
prosche90@web.de

Heinrich Schatz

Title: Faunistics of oribatid mites (Acari, Oribatida) in dry grassland sites in the Eisack Valley (South Tyrol, Prov. Bolzano, Italy)

DOI  10.25674/8vad-hw64

PDF 

Abstract

Oribatid mites were investigated in five dry grassland sites in the basin around Klausen / Chiusa (South Tyrol). Soil and litter samples were taken from characteristic microhabitats (dry grassland, dry bushland, rocky steppe). A total of 150 oribatid species belonging to 47 families were encountered, most of them closely associated with dry habitats. Gymnodamaeus irregularisBayartogtokh & Schatz, 2009 and Liochthonius perelegans Moritz, 1976 are new records for Italy, additional six species are new records for South Tyrol. Two species (Licneremaeus sp., Pseudoppia sp.) could not be identified at species level, possibly they are undescribed species. Remarkable species are presented, and their general distribution and habitat requirements pointed out. The possible origin of the oribatid mite species in dry grasslands is discussed, as inferred from the high proportion of ‘mediterranean species’ with distribution centre in South or Southeast Europe. The species assemblages of the different sites and habitats are compared.

Keywords: Alps | species assemblages | distribution | ecology

Heinrich Schatz
c/o Institute of Zoology, University of Innsbruck
Technikerstr. 25, 6020 Innsbruck, Austria 
heinrich.schatz@uibk.ac.at

Lisa Bardel & Tobias Pfingstl
Resistance to flooding of different species of terrestrial oribatid mites (Acari, Oribatida)

DOI  10.25674/g9yq-b556

Abstract

Resistance to flooding was tested in six terrestrial oribatid mite species with different ecological needs. The silvicolous Galumna lanceata and Oppiella (Oppiella) marginedentata showed low average survival times of seven and 14 days, the moss-dwelling Zygoribatula exilis tolerated a month of submergence on average, the eurytopic Eueremaeus oblongus and Tectocepheus velatus sarekensis survived an average period of 52 and 80 days and the euryoecious Plathynothrus peltifershowed the highest tolerance with 130 days median lethal time. Accordingly, overflow tolerances are clearly species dependent, but may also be correlated with the ecological needs of each species. Most of the inferred survival times clearly exceed the periods of naturally occurring flooding in typical terrestrial temperate habitats. Therefore, terrestrial oribatid mites may show a basic predisposition for overflow tolerances. We also performed the opposite experiment, i.e. we exposed the aquatic Hydrozetes lemnae permanently to atmospheric air. More than half of the individuals survived 130 days but all tested specimens completely reduced activity which indicates that H. lemnae initiates a state of dormancy when being outside of water, probably to withstand longer lasting droughts in nature.

Keywords: plastron | larviparity | survival time | aquatic | fresh water

PDF

Lisa Bardel
Institute of Biology, University of Graz
Universitaetsplatz 2, 8010 Graz, Austria

Tobias Pfingstl
Institute of Biology, University of Graz
Universitaetsplatz 2, 8010 Graz, Austria
dr.tobias.pfingstl@gmail.com

Willi E. R. Xylander & Helga Zumkowski-Xylander

Title: Increasing awareness for soil biodiversity and protection – The international touring exhibition ‘The Thin Skin of the Earth’

DOI  10.25674/KKY5-A011

Abstract: The Senckenberg Museum of Natural History Görlitz developed an international touring exhibition with the title ‘The Thin Skin of the Earth – Our Soils’ as the national contribution to the International Year of the Soil 2015. Since the opening of the exhibition in October 2015 it had been shown at six localities and seen by more than 120,000 visitors. It will tour at least for another four years. The exhibition deals with soil biodiversity, the heterogeneity of soils as well as soil protection. It meets the challenge to present objects, processes, topics and formats completely unknown to most of the public by using recent most specifically developed digital and analogue formats and a sophisticated scenography. To address its main messages to the visitors, emotionalizing and immersive forms of information transfer are crucial and, therefore, central elements of the educational concept. The general concept behind the exhibition, its contents, the educational approaches applied and the major results of an external evaluation are described. Conclusions are drawn on the suitability of touring exhibitions and the approaches chosen to inform and sensitize a broad public for soil protection.

Keywords: soil protection | soil biodiversity | touring exhibition | scenography | public awarness

PDF

Willi E. R. Xylander
Senckenberg Museum of Natural History Görlitz
Am Museum 1, 02826 Görlitz, Germany
willi.xylander@senckenberg.de

Internationales Hochschulinstitut Zittau, TU Dresden
Markt 23, 02763 Zittau, Germany

Helga Zumkowski-Xylander
Senckenberg Museum of Natural History Görlitz
Am Museum 1, 02826 Görlitz, Germany

Adrian Brückner, Romina Schuster, Katja Wehner & Michael Heethoff

Title: Effects of nutritional quality on the reproductive biology of Archegozetes longisetosus (Actinotrichida, Oribatida, Trhypochthoniidae)

PDF

Katja Wehner, Michael Heethoff & Adrian Brückner

Title: Sex ratios of oribatid mite assemblages differ among microhabitats

PDF

Adrian Brückner, Romina Schuster, Timo Smit & Michael Heethoff

Title: Imprinted or innate food preferences in the model mite Archegozetes longisetosus (Actinotrichida, Oribatida, Trhypochthoniidae)

PDF

Emmanuel Vega-Román & Victor Hugo Ruiz

Title: Catalogue of Chilean centipedes (Myriapoda, Chilopoda)

PDF

Karl-Heinz Schmidt
Reinhard Gerecke (ed.), Terence Gledhill, Vladimir Pešić, Harry Smit:
Chelicerata: Acari III. – In: Reinhard Gerecke (ed.): Süßwasserfauna von Mitteleuropa 7/2-3

PDF

 

Walter P. Pfliegler

Corrections and additions to Pfliegler et al. 2017 – New records of mites (Acari) and harvestmen (Opiliones) from Malta with a preliminary checklist of Maltese Arachnida

PDF