Survey of Species Diversity and Abundance of Oribatid Mites (Acari: Oribatida) in Arasbaran Forests

This research was conducted in 2020 in order to investigating the species diversity and abundance of oribatid mites in the oak and hornbeam forests of Arasbaran (Ahar and Kaleibar) in East Azerbaijan Province. Soil sampling was carried out in May and June. Oribatid mites present in soil samples were separated using Berlese funnels and clarified in relative solution, followed by preparation of microscope slides. After identification, counting, diversity and evenness indices (Shannon and Simpson), as well as species richness were calculated using Ecological Methodology 6.0 software. In general, 29 species of Oribatid mites from 27 genera and 23 families were identified in this study: Cosmochthonius lanatus Michael, Sphaerochthonius splendidus Berlese, Steganacarus (Tropacarus) carinatus Koch, Papillacarus pseudoaciculatus Mahunka, Rhysotritia ardua Koch, Nothrus biciliatus Koch, Hermanniella septentrionalis Berlese, Plesiodamaeus ornatus Pérez-Íñígo, Belba sp., Xenillus setosus Grobler, Ozman & Cobanoglu, Fosseremus quadripertitus Grandjean, Rhinoppia obsoleta Paoli, Ramusella (Ramusella) puertomonttensis Hammer, Ramusella (R.) sengbuschi Tokyoensis, Ramusella (R.) sengbuschi Str., Graptoppia (G.) sundensis acuta Ayyildiz, Rectoppia sp., Suctobelella sp., Austrocarabodes (Austrocarabodes) foliaceisetus Murvanidze & Weigmann, Tectocepheus velaus Michael, Eupelops acromios Haman, Berlesezetes aegypticus Balogh & Mahunka, Oribatula (O.) tibialis allifera Subías, Protoribates (P.) paracapucinus Mahunka, Scheloribates fimbriatus Thor., Ceratozetes conjunctus Mihelčič, Punctoribates angulatus Bayartogtokh, Grobler & Cobanoglu, Galumna sp., Pilogalumna sp. The highest abundance of mites in Ahar and Kaleibar belonged to Scheloribtes fimbriatus and Oribaiula tibilis, respectively. The calculated species diversity indices in the Kaleibar region during June were higher than those in May. The diversity and species richness of oribatid mites were higher in Kaleibar with oak vegetation, which could be due to the higher humidity and acidity of the soil compared to Ahar.