Species Diversity of Edaphic Mesostigmatid Mites (Acari: Mesostigmata) of Shiraz

Species diversity is one of the most important indicators of changes in ecosystems. This subject always considered as a significant point in ecosystem. Mesotigmatid mites are the largest order among Parasitiformes mites. The main purpose of this survey was evaluating of species diversity of mites among Mesotigmata during the 2018 in Shiraz city. In each region, 2 habitats of urban green space (Landscape) trees and orchard trees were selected. Continuous soil sampling was performed every 2 weeks. A total of 1252 specimens belonging to 22 species from 11 families and 8 host plant were collected. Calculation of biodiversity indices based on species abundance and data analysis using Simpson, Shannon-Wiener, Pete, Manning and Margalf indices, using Microsoft Excel 2016 was calculated. Our finding shower that biological indicators are significantly different according to vegetation and sampling seasons. Based on LSD test to compare indices in different seasons of the year, spring with 0.913 Simpson indices, Shannon-Wiener 2.569, Pete 0.9482, and Margalf 2.815 had the highest values while in the index. Also according to this test, green space had the highest indices with 0.837 Simpson, 2.154 Shannon-Wiener, 1.362 Manning and 2.55.  the highest diversity observed relative frequency with 54.04% belonged to the Laelapidae family. The highest frequency of specimens among fruit trees was related to pomegranate with 204 and among urban green space trees belonged to poplar with 333 specimens.