Research Journal of Biology Sciences Biyoloji Bilimleri Araştırma Dergisi
E-ISSN: 1308-0261, 11(1): 8-10, 2018, www.nobel.gen.tr
Monthly variation of the oribatid mite genus Eupterotegaeus Berlese, 1916 collected from
Kocaeli province of Turkey
Merve YAŞA1*, Şule BARAN1
1Sakarya University, Faculty Arts and Sciences, Department of Biology, Sakarya, TURKEY
*Sorumlu Yazar Geliş Tarihi: 15 Mayıs 2018
E-posta: merve.yasa1@ogr.sakarya.edu.tr Kabul Tarihi: 31 Temmuz 2018
Abstract
Rainfall, soil moisture, temperature and solar radiation effect on abundance of oribatid. This study comprises the investigation of relationship between the climatic factors and the monthly abundance of the species.
Keywords: Acari, Oribatida, Eupterotegaeus, monthly variation.
INTRODUCTION
Oribatid mites are one of the largest and diverse group in soil and they have a worldwide distribution [1]. Oribatids have important roles in soil ecosystem such as organic matter decomposition, nutrient cycling, and soil formation [2]. Climatic factors like rainfall, soil moisture, temperature and solar radiation effect the abundance of these mites [3].
Temperature and moisture have great effect on oribatid mites because like other invertebrates they are exothermic and have limited tolerance to desiccation [4]. The tolerance to moisture differs one species to another and also differs according to life stages within a species [5].
The family Compactozetidae Luxton, 1988 have generally cosmopolitian exception Antartica. This family comprises 15 genus, 84 species and 2 subspecies. The genus
Eupterotegaeus Berlese 1916, is one of the members of
family Compactozetidae. Genus Eupterotegaeus has nine known species around the world [6]. The main characteristics of the genus are: monodactyl or tridactyl; lamellar cusps projecting well beyond rostrum and with median knife- to shoe-like process;10 or fewer pairs of notogastral setae, seta
c2 absent; cerotegument thick, glove-like. Lamellar cusps
broad, projecting well beyond rostrum, and truncate, medially oblique, or withmedial shoe- or knife-like process; interlamellar setae minute or spine-like; translamellar or rostral spine sometimes present [7,8]. Oribatid mites belonging to genus Eupterotegaeus prefer warmer environments and usually live on moss and rotting logs. They feed on moss, fungi and lichens [9,10].
MATERIALS and METHODS
In this investigation, 12 soil samples were taken from Kocaeli City Forest for one year, then the samples were carried to the laboratory in nylon bags and placed on modified Berlese-Tullgreen device.
Mites were sorted from the samples under a stereomicroscope (Olympus SZX51) and mounted on slides in modified Hoyer’s medium or 60% lactic acid. Mountly abundance of Eupterotegaeus sp. is determined by counting. Eupterotegaeus sp. was taken SEM pictures.
RESULTS
Among the 12 soil samples were evaluated in this study. Results were given in tables and figures and graphs. Its body lenght is 626 µm. Its body width is 326 µm. The
correlation coefficient depending on individuals are 0,4996 for temperature and 0,6570 for soil temperature. Correlation coefficient are 0,1546 for humidity and -0,4670 for monthly rainfall.
Figure1. Dorsal view of Eupterotegaeus sp.
9 Merve Yaşa ve Ark. / BİBAD, 11(1): 8-10, 2018, www.nobel.gen.tr
Figure 3. Prodorsum of Eupterotegaeus sp.
Figure 4. Tips of lamella and rostrum of Eupterotegaeus
sp.
Table 1. The correlation coefficient between
environmental conditions and the occurrence of
Eupterotegaeus sp.
Graphs 1. Relationship between occurrence of
Eupterotegaeus sp. and temperature and soil temperature
Graphs 2. Relationship between occurrence of
Eupterotegaeus sp. and rainfall and moisture
Graphs 3. Relationship between occurrence of
Eupterotegaeus sp. and sun time and soil temperature
DISCUSSION
This study comprises the investigation of relationship between the climatic factors and the monthly abundance of the species. The analysis put in evidence that the correlation between environmental conditions and the occurrence of
Eupterotegaeus is strong. While there is a positive
correlation between temperature and number of individual, there is a weak negative correlation between rainfall and number of individual. The number of individual slightly increases at the humidity decreases.
Rainfall, soil moisture, temperature and solar radiation effect on abundance of oribatid. Temperature and moisture have a most grateful effect oribatids than the other factor.
Eupterotegaeus sp. prefer living in warmer spaces.
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Merve Yaşa ve Ark. / BİBAD, 11(1): 8-10, 2018, www.nobel.gen.tr 10 3
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