Effect of ploughing and pesticide application on oribatid mite communities

ABSTRACT

The impact of conventional pesticide treatment and deep ploughing on oribatid mite communities was investigated in an abandoned arable land. The experimental plots were divided in “pesticide and ploughed” (PPL), “ploughed” (PL) and a“ meadow” as control (Ctr). Soil samples were taken monthly during the vegetation period (March-August) and once in three months (October and January) in a period without vegetation. Seventy-seven species of oribatid mites were determined. Species numbers were highest in Ctr (55 species), lower in PPL (53) and lowest in PL (41). Oribatid communities were dominated by sexually reproducing Brachypylina. Some of the generally frequent parthenogenetic species (e.g. Acrotritia ardua and Oppiella nova) were rare at the Ctr sites while stress-tolerant species (both, sexual and asexual, e.g. Protoribates capucinus, Punctoribates punctum, Ramusella clavipectinata, Tectocepheus velatus) were dominant. Pesticide application did not show any effect on oribatid mite community beyond the ploughing, whereas some species like P. capucinus, P. punctum, R. clavipectinata and T. velatus reached high abundances at PPL sites. Community structure of oribatid mites did not change significantly compared with Ctr sites, suggesting that the study area is inhabited by stress tolerant oribatid communities shaped by past agricultural disturbance.

KEYWORDS:

• Oribatid mites
• pesticide application
• ploughing
• arable land
• agriculture

Acknowledgements

The investigation was funded by grant of Shota Rustaveli National Scientific Foundation (SRNSF) and Science and Technology Centre of Ukraine (STCU) – “Impact of pesticides on soil ecosystem functioning - effect on soil invertebrate fauna”, project # 6205, agreement # 04/08.

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the authors.

Supplementary material

Supplemental data for this article can be accessed here.

Additional information

Funding

This work was supported by the Shota Rustaveli National Scientific Foundation (RNSF) and Science and Technology Centre in Ukraine (STCU) [04/08; 6205].