title: Community structure variability of Uropodina mites (Acari: Mesostigmata) in nests of the common mole, Talpa europaea, in Central Europe.
abstract: Underground nests of Talpa europaea, known as the common mole, are very specific microhabitats, which are also quite often inhabited by various groups of arthropods. Mites from the suborder Uropodina (Acari: Mesostigmata) are only one of them. One could expect that mole nests that are closely located are inhabited by communities of arthropods with similar species composition and structure. However, results of empirical studies clearly show that even nests which are close to each other can be different both in terms of the species composition and abundance of Uropodina communities. So far, little is known about the factors that can cause these differences. The major aim of this study was to identify factors determining species composition, abundance, and community structure of Uropodina communities in mole nests. The study is based on material collected during a long-term investigation conducted in western parts of Poland. The results indicate that the two most important factors influencing species composition and abundance of Uropodina communities in mole nests are nest-building material and depth at which nests are located. Composition of Uropodina communities in nests of moles was also compared with that of other microhabitats (e.g. rotten wood, forest litter, soil) based on data from 4421 samples collected in Poland. Communities of this habitat prove most similar to these of open areas, especially meadows, as well as some forest types.
authors: Department of General Zoology, Faculty of Biology, Adam Mickiewicz University, Umultowska 89, 61-614, Poznan, Poland.
authors: Agnieszka
authors: A
authors: Napierała
authors: Natural History Collections, Faculty of Biology, Adam Mickiewicz University, Umultowska 89, 61-614, Poznan, Poland. madan@amu.edu.pl.
authors: Anna
authors: A
authors: Mądra
authors: Department of General Zoology, Faculty of Biology, Adam Mickiewicz University, Umultowska 89, 61-614, Poznan, Poland.
authors: Kornelia
authors: K
authors: Leszczyńska-Deja
authors: Department of Forest Pathology, Poznań University of Life Sciences, Wojska Polskiego 71C, 60-625, Poznan, Poland.
authors: Dariusz J
authors: DJ
authors: Gwiazdowicz
authors: Department of General Zoology, Faculty of Biology, Adam Mickiewicz University, Umultowska 89, 61-614, Poznan, Poland.|Laboratorio de Ecología Tropical Natural y Aplicada, Universidad Estatal Amazónica, Campus Principal Km 2.1/2 via a Napo (Paso Lateral), Puyo, Pastaza, Ecuador.
authors: Bartłomiej
authors: B
authors: Gołdyn
authors: Department of General Zoology, Faculty of Biology, Adam Mickiewicz University, Umultowska 89, 61-614, Poznan, Poland.|Natural History Collections, Faculty of Biology, Adam Mickiewicz University, Umultowska 89, 61-614, Poznan, Poland.
authors: Jerzy
authors: J
authors: Błoszyk
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D017753:Ecosystem; D005060:Europe; D005260:Female; D008297:Male; D008925:Mites / Q000502:physiology*; D008971:Moles / Q000469:parasitology*; D013045:Species Specificity
keywords: Merocenoses; Nests; Nidicolous species; Phaulodiaspis; Uropodina mites