Effects of Hydrologic Regime Changes on a Taxonomic and Functional Trait Structure of Earthworm Communities in Mountain Wetlands.

Disturbances, both natural and anthropogenic, influence the patterning of species and species traits. The shift in species composition and distribution pattern of functional traits can demonstrate if the community is resistant, sensitive or resilient to the disturbance. Based on species- and trait-based approaches, we examined the response of the earthworm community to changing hydrologic conditions caused by the artificial drainage of mountain fens, in which cumulative effects of disturbance events over space and time are much less dynamic than in riverine wetlands. We hypothesized that the drainage-related changes of mountain fen peat soils have an effect on the earthworm community composition and its functional structure. We assume that the shift in species composition and value of community-weighted functional traits reflect changes in the resilience or resistance of the earthworm community to environmental change. Our results demonstrate that the total density of earthworms was almost three times lower under drained conditions compared to natural ones. Artificial drainage of fens had a neutral effect on the species-based diversity indices. However, there were species-specific traits that responded to hydrologic changes and which led to the species' replacements and to the co-occurrence of eurytopic, surface-browsing and more drought- and low-pH-resistant earthworm species in the drained fens. Based on these results, we conclude that abiotic-based environmental filtering was the main process responsible for sorting earthworms according to species and traits in the disturbed hydrologic conditions. The greater earthworm functional trait variations in semi-natural hydrologic conditions emphasizes the impact of transient dynamics in an altered disturbance regime on the earthworm assembly. Results also showed that in the changing hydrologic conditions of mountain fens, the functional trait approach revealed only slightly more predictive power than the taxonomic one, but it proved better with processes responsible for earthworm species filtering.

Distinct phylogeographic patterns in populations of two oribatid mite species from the genus Pantelozetes (Acari, Oribatida, Thyrisomidae) in Central Europe.

Oribatid mites are important decomposers of dead organic matter in soils across the world. Their origin dates back at least 380 Mya. Multiple severe climatic changes during Late Pliocene and Pleistocene shaped the migration patterns of these organisms and should be reflected in the genetic variability of their current populations. In this study, we examined the genetic diversity and phylogeographic structure as well as the evolutionary history of populations of two ecologically different oribatid mite species. Pantelozetes cavaticus is a troglophile oribatid mite known mainly from Central European caves, whereas Pantelozetes paolii is a common surface eurytopic species with Holarctic distribution. We used two molecular markers-mitochondrial cytochrome c oxidase subunit I (COI) and the nuclear D3 region of the 28S rDNA gene-to reveal phylogenetic relationships between contemporary populations. Whereas the D3 region showed minimal or no variability within populations, COI appeared to be a relevant marker for population studies. Phylogeographic analysis based on COI detected two lineages of P. cavaticus ('Czech' and 'Slovak'), which separated during the Late Pliocene (2.9 Mya) and revealed the existence of one new species. In contrast, three identified genetic lineages of P. paolii (radiation time 2.9 and 1.2 Mya, respectively) uncovered in this study were found to coexist in the distant sampling localities, suggesting a connection between populations even over long distances.

Responses of soil microarthropod taxon (Hexapoda: Protura) to natural disturbances and management practices in forest-dominated subalpine lake catchment areas.

Disturbances are intrinsic drivers of structure and function in ecosystems, hence predicting their effects in forest ecosystems is essential for forest conservation and/or management practices. Yet, knowledge regarding belowground impacts of disturbance events still remains little understood and can greatly vary by taxonomic and functional identity, disturbance type and local environmental conditions. To address this gap in knowledge, we conducted a survey of soil-dwelling Protura, across forests subjected to different disturbance regimes (i.e. windstorms, insect pest outbreaks and clear-cut logging). We expected that the soil proturan assemblages would differ among disturbance regimes. We also hypothesized that these differences would be driven primarily by variation in soil physicochemical properties thus the impacts of forest disturbances would be indirect and related to changes in food resources. To verify that sampling included two geographically distant subalpine glacial lake catchments that differed in underlying geology, each having four different types of forest disturbance, i.e. control, bark beetle outbreak (BB), windthrow + BB (wind + BB) and clear-cut. As expected, forest disturbance had negative effects on proturan diversity and abundance, with multiple disturbances having the greatest impacts. However, differences in edaphic factors constituted a stronger driver of variability in distribution and abundance of proturans assemblages. These results imply that soil biogeochemistry and resource availability can have much stronger effects on proturan assemblages than forest disturbances.

New taxa of oribatid mites from Korup National Park (Cameroon). The genus Pergalumna (Acari, Oribatida, Galumnidae), with description of three new species and a key to known species from the Ethiopian region.

Three new species of oribatid mites of the genus Pergalumna (Oribatida, Galumnidae) are described from litter and soil in the Korup National Park (Cameroon). Pergalumna jenoi sp. nov. differs from P. margaritata Mahunka, 1989 and P. pseudomargaritata Mahunka, 1994 by the presence of simple dorsosejugal suture, dentate anterior margin of the ventral plate, distinct reticulate pattern on the pteromorphs and dense stria on the genital plates, the localization of setal alveoli la posterior to porose areas Aa, and the absence of a median pore. Pergalumna tuberclesejugalis sp. nov. differs from P. margaritata and P. pseudomargaritata by the larger body size, the localization of porose areas Aa closer to lm than la, and setal alveoli h3 close and lateral to A2, the presence of sejugal porose areas, and the absence of a median pore and stria on the genital plates. Pergalumna grebennikovi sp. nov. differs from P. bifissurata Hammer, 1972 by the larger body size, the presence of smooth bothridial setae, well-developed interlamellar setae, reticulate anterior margin of pteromorphs, comparatively long prodorsal median ridge and a median pore, and the localization of setal alveoli la and porose areas Aa. An identification key to the known species of the genus Pergalumna from the Ethiopian region is presented.

New Galumnoidea (Acari, Oribatida) from Hanoi (Northern Vietnam).

Three new species of oribatid mites of the superfamily Galumnoidea (Acari, Oribatida) are described from vicinities of the city of Hanoi in Northern Vietnam. Allogalumna bochkovi sp. nov. differs from all species of the genus Allogalumna by the spindle-shaped bothridial setae having very long, setiform apex. Trichogalumna mironovi sp. nov. differs from all species of the genus Trichogalumna by the presence of a large quadrangular protruding rostrum and strong ridges of different form in median part of notogaster and anogenital region, and the absence of notogastral porose areas Aa. Galumnella paracellularis sp. nov. differs from G. cellularis Balogh Mahunka, 1967 by the larger body size and reticulate prodorsum.

Two new species of the family Cunaxidae (Acari: Prostigmata) from Madagascar.

Two new mite species from Madagascar, based on female specimens, viz. Armascirus skvarlai sp. nov. and Cunaxa corpuzrarosae sp. nov. (Acari: Prostigmata: Cunaxidae), are described and figured. Armascirus skvarlai sp. nov. differs from the related species A. gimpeli Smiley, 1992 by having long hysterosomal platelets, thin and long lateromedial sts on the palpal genu, and from A. ozarkensis Skvarla Dowling, 2012 by having a cone-shaped proterosomal shield with straight lateral edges, and by its nearly triangular hysterosomal shield. Cunaxa corpuzrarosae sp. nov. differs from the related species C. potchensis Den Heyer, 1979 by having 4 pairs of sts between coxae IV and the genital region, and by having a short stout palpal femoral apophysis; and from C. mageei Smiley, 1992 and C. neogazella Smiley, 1992 by having much shorter hysterodorsal and palpal tibiotarsal setae.

New Protoribates (Acari, Oribatida, Haplozetidae) from Vietnam.

Three new species of oribatid mites of the genus Protoribates (Oribatida, Haplozetidae) are described based on adult specimens from the Tam Dao National Park of Northern Vietnam. Protoribates chistyakovi sp. nov. differs from P. sangumburiensis (Choi, 1996) by being larger, the localization of lamellar setae, and morphology of rostrum and interlamellar setae. Protoribates shaldybinae sp. nov. differs from P. dentatus (Berlese, 1883) by its distinctly foveolate body surface, morphology of pedotecta II and leg tarsi I and II, and much longer adanal setae ad2. Protoribates shvanderovi sp. nov. differs from P. gracilis (Aoki, 1982) by its larger body size, localization of lamellar setae, and the relative lengths of lamellar, interlamellar and bothridial setae, and longer dorsophragmata. An identification key to the Vietnamese species of the genus Protoribates is given.

New and little known species of ptyctimous mites (Acari, Oribatida) from Madagascar.

In six sifting litter samples from Madagascar, altogether 26 species of ptyctimous mites, belonging to four families and 11 genera, were found. Three new species, Arphthicarus phoxos sp. nov., Notophthiracarus parapaulianus sp. nov. and Atropacarus (Hoplophorella) paralemurius sp. nov. are described and figured. Keys for species of genera and subgenera Arphthicarus, Notophthiracarus and Atropacarus (Hoplophorella) from Madagascar are presented.

Molecular characterization of a new monopartite dsRNA mycovirus from mycorrhizal Thelephora terrestris (Ehrh.) and its detection in soil oribatid mites (Acari: Oribatida).

A novel dsRNA virus was identified in the mycorrhizal fungus Thelephora terrestris (Ehrh.) and sequenced. This virus, named Thelephora terrestris virus 1 (TtV1), contains two reading frames in different frames but with the possibility that ORF2 could be translated as a fusion polyprotein after ribosomal -1 frameshifting. Picornavirus 2A-like motif, nudix hydrolase, phytoreovirus S7, and RdRp domains were found in a unique arrangement on the polyprotein. A new genus named Phlegivirus and containing TtV1, PgLV1, RfV1 and LeV is therefore proposed. Twenty species of oribatid mites were identified in soil material in the vicinity of T. terrestris. TtV1 was detected in large amounts in Steganacarus (Tropacarus) carinatus (C.L. Koch, 1841) and in much smaller amounts in Nothrus silvestris (Nicolet). This is the first description of mycovirus presence in oribatid mites.

Three new species of the family Phthiracaridae (Acari, Oribatida) from Bolivia.

Three new species of the family Phthiracaridae, Austrophthiracarus longisetosus sp. nov., Phthiracarus allocotos sp. nov., Protophthiracarus amboroensis sp. nov. from Bolivia are described and figured. A comparison of morphological similarities with the most closely related species is presented. Additional descriptions and taxonomical notes for three ptyctimous species: Acrotritia peruensis (Hammer, 1961), Acrotritia vestita (Berlese, 1913), and Steganacarus (Rhacaplacarus) sedecimus Niedbala, 2004 are added. A list of twenty six ptyctimous species from Bolivia is presented, ten of these species are new records for the fauna of Bolivia. A key to all species of ptyctimous mites of Bolivia is presented.

Intensive agriculture reduces soil biodiversity across Europe.

Soil biodiversity plays a key role in regulating the processes that underpin the delivery of ecosystem goods and services in terrestrial ecosystems. Agricultural intensification is known to change the diversity of individual groups of soil biota, but less is known about how intensification affects biodiversity of the soil food web as a whole, and whether or not these effects may be generalized across regions. We examined biodiversity in soil food webs from grasslands, extensive, and intensive rotations in four agricultural regions across Europe: in Sweden, the UK, the Czech Republic and Greece. Effects of land-use intensity were quantified based on structure and diversity among functional groups in the soil food web, as well as on community-weighted mean body mass of soil fauna. We also elucidate land-use intensity effects on diversity of taxonomic units within taxonomic groups of soil fauna. We found that between regions soil food web diversity measures were variable, but that increasing land-use intensity caused highly consistent responses. In particular, land-use intensification reduced the complexity in the soil food webs, as well as the community-weighted mean body mass of soil fauna. In all regions across Europe, species richness of earthworms, Collembolans, and oribatid mites was negatively affected by increased land-use intensity. The taxonomic distinctness, which is a measure of taxonomic relatedness of species in a community that is independent of species richness, was also reduced by land-use intensification. We conclude that intensive agriculture reduces soil biodiversity, making soil food webs less diverse and composed of smaller bodied organisms. Land-use intensification results in fewer functional groups of soil biota with fewer and taxonomically more closely related species. We discuss how these changes in soil biodiversity due to land-use intensification may threaten the functioning of soil in agricultural production systems.

New species of Uropodina from Madagascar (Acari: Mesostigmata).

Seven new species and one new genus of Uropodina are described from Madagascar. The third Afrotropical species of Polyaspis is described (Polyapis (Polyaspis) madagascarensis sp. nov.), with a key to the Afrotropical species of the genus. The first species of Dinychus from the Afrotropical region is described, as Dinychus lepus sp. nov.. An unusual new species of Trichouropoda species is described as Trichouropoda madagascarica sp. nov.. A new genus (Malagana gen. nov.) is described, with type species Malagana rotunda sp. nov.. The genus Pulchellaobovella is recorded from the Afrotropical Region for the first time, on the basis of Pulchellaobovella madagascarica sp. nov., with nomenclatural notes on the genera Pulchellaobovella and Janetiella. Uroobovella graeca Kontschán, 2010 is moved into the genus Pulchellaobovella, as Pulchellaobovella graeca (Kontschán, 2010b) comb. nov. Two new species of Rotundabaloghia (Circobaloghia) are described, Rotundabaloghia (Circobaloghia) ermilovi sp. nov. and Rotundabaloghia (Circobaloghia) kaydani sp. nov.

New and little known species of ptyctimous mites (Acari, Oribatida) from Cameroon.

Altogether 24 species of ptyctimous mites were found in sifting litter samples from the Cameroon. Twelve new species of the ptyctimous mites, Indotritia montkoupensis sp. nov., Acrotritia furca sp. nov., Acrotritia quasidivida sp. nov., Hoplophthiracarus kumboensis sp. nov., Hoplophthiracarus reticulatus sp. nov., Hoplophthiracarus spinus sp. nov., Steganacarus (Rhacaplacarus) quaternarius sp. nov., Austrophthiracarus bicarinatus sp. nov., Protophthiracarus diatropos sp. nov., Protophthiracarus korupensis sp. nov., Protophthiracarus preptos sp. nov., Atropacarus (Hoplophorella) gibbus sp. nov., from the Cameroon are described and figured. Seven species are recorded for the first time for the Cameroon oribatid mite fauna. A comparison of morphological similarities with the most closely related species is presented. Taxonomical notes and additional information for two ptyctimous species: Acrotritia ardua (C.L.Koch, 1841), Arphthicarus sculptilis (Niedbala, 1988), were added. Keys for Afrotropical species of genera Hoplophthiracarus and Protophthiracarus are presented. 

New species of Atropacarus (Hoplophorella), (Acari, Oribatida, Phthiracaridae) from the Afrotropical region.

Four new species of the subgenus Hoplophorella are desccribed and identified from the Afrotropical region: Atropacarus (Hoplophorella) curtisetosus sp. nov. from Uluguru Mountains of Tanzania, Atropacarus (Hoplophorella) distinctus sp. nov. from Ambohitantely Special Reserve of Madagascar, Atropacarus (Hoplophorella) othneios sp. nov. from Ranomafana National Park of Masagascar, and Atropacarus (Hoplophorella) stenos sp. nov.  from Nguru and Uluguru Mountains of Tanzania. A comparison with the most closely related species of the subgenus Hoplophorella is also presented. 

Soil food web changes during spontaneous succession at post mining sites: a possible ecosystem engineering effect on food web organization?

Parameters characterizing the structure of the decomposer food web, biomass of the soil microflora (bacteria and fungi) and soil micro-, meso- and macrofauna were studied at 14 non-reclaimed 1- 41-year-old post-mining sites near the town of Sokolov (Czech Republic). These observations on the decomposer food webs were compared with knowledge of vegetation and soil microstructure development from previous studies. The amount of carbon entering the food web increased with succession age in a similar way as the total amount of C in food web biomass and the number of functional groups in the food web. Connectance did not show any significant changes with succession age, however. In early stages of the succession, the bacterial channel dominated the food web. Later on, in shrub-dominated stands, the fungal channel took over. Even later, in the forest stage, the bacterial channel prevailed again. The best predictor of fungal bacterial ratio is thickness of fermentation layer. We argue that these changes correspond with changes in topsoil microstructure driven by a combination of plant organic matter input and engineering effects of earthworms. In early stages, soil is alkaline, and a discontinuous litter layer on the soil surface promotes bacterial biomass growth, so the bacterial food web channel can dominate. Litter accumulation on the soil surface supports the development of the fungal channel. In older stages, earthworms arrive, mix litter into the mineral soil and form an organo-mineral topsoil, which is beneficial for bacteria and enhances the bacterial food web channel.

New taxa and new records of oribatid mites of the family Galumnidae (Acari: Oribatida) from Ecuador.

The new genus Neoctenogalumna gen. nov. with Ctenogalumna moresonensis Engelbrecht, 1972 as a type species and the new subgenus Neoctenogalumna (Paractenogalumna) subgen. nov. with Neoctenogalumna (Paractenogalumna) longiciliata sp. nov. as a type species are proposed. Four new species Allogalumna ampla sp. nov., Galumna miniporosa sp. nov., Pergalumna ornamenta sp. nov. and Neoctenogalumna (Paractenogalumna) longiciliata sp. nov. are described from Ecuadorian soils. Neoctenogalumna moresonensis (Engelbrecht, 1972) comb. nov. and N. congoensis (Starý, 2005) comb. nov. are transferred in the genus Neoctenogalumna gen. nov. from Ctenogalumna. An identification key to known species of Neoctenogalumna gen. nov. is provided. An annotated checklist of identified Ecuadorian Galumnidae is presented. Four species Allogalumna borhidii Balogh & Mahunka, 1979, A. cubana Balogh & Mahunka, 1979, Pergalumna australis Pérez-Íñigo & Baggio, 1980, Galumna laselvae Balogh, 1997--are recorded for the first time from Ecuador. One genus and one species Trichogalumna Balogh, 1960 and Trichogalumna nipponica (Aoki, 1966) are recorded for the first time from the Neotropical region.

New Uropodine mites from Tanzania (Acari: Mesostigmata).

Three new species and one new genus of Uropodina from Tanzania are described and illustrated. They include the second species of the genus Bloszykiella Kontschán, 2010, Bloszykiella grebennikovi sp. nov., and the resurrection and re-definition of the genus Spinosissuropoda Hirschmann, 1979, with description of a new species, Spinosissuropoda tanzanica sp. nov. Five species of Uropoda are transferred into the genus Spinosissuropoda--S. solarissima (Hirschmann, 1981) comb. nov., S. ancoraesimilis (Hirschmann, 1981) comb. nov., S. pocsi (Hirschmann, 1981) comb. nov., S. ancorae (Hirschmann, 1981) comb. nov. and S. alata (Hirschmann, 1981) comb. nov. A new monotypic genus, Afrodinychus gen. nov., is described and compared with the related genus Metadinychus Berlese, 1916.