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Abstract
We recorded species abundance and richness of oribatid mites along 16 plots established in semi-deciduous forest fragments in Amazonia. The results were compared with a published dataset consisting of an inventory carried out in 38 plots in the surrounding savanna. Totals of 143 and 91 species were recorded in the forest fragments and savanna, respectively. Sørensen similarity index between both environments was 0.44. Ordination of sites according to oribatid mite species composition showed a clear separation between forest fragments and savanna. Rostrozetes ovulum, Archegozetes longisetosus and Eohypochthonius (Eohypochthonius) becki were abundant and frequent in the forest fragments but exceedingly rare in the savanna. Neoppia (Neoppia) schauenbergi, Pseudoppia sp. C, Microppia sp. A and Cosmochthonius sp. A were limited to the savanna. This study also represents an early step toward knowing which groups of species are exclusive to one or another vegetation type or are sensitive to their inherent environmental conditions.
Acknowledgements
Financial support came from PPD-G7: Project 6400-0021-00 “Interações entre savanas e florestas na Amazônia e sua importância para a biodiversidade”; PPI-INPA: Project 1-3010, “Dinâmica ecológica e zoneamento ambiental de savanas amazônicas”. We thank Dr Roy A. Norton as well as two anonymous referees for their helpful suggestions. Sampling was performed in collaboration with Dr José W. de Morais from INPA, Dr Evanira M. R. dos Santos from Uninorte Faculdade Objetivo (Manaus), and two technicians, Claudio Senna and Beverly Franklin. Maria Alzinete A. Pereira helped to sort the animals to Suborder level.
