Skip to content
Licensed Unlicensed Requires Authentication Published by De Gruyter June 30, 2017

Distribution of the genus Veigaia (Mesostigmata: Veigaiidae) in Romania with notes on the species ecology

  • Minodora Manu EMAIL logo , Adina Călugăr and Denisa Badiu
From the journal Biologia

Abstract

Genus Veigaia Oudemans, 1905 of the Veigaiidae family (Acari: Mesostigmata: Veigaiidae) is one of the most ubiquitous genera from Holarctic Region. In Romania 10 species were recorded as being distributed across the entire country. In the frame of this study we present the distribution data of all recorded Romanian Veigaia species: Veigaia cerva (Kramer, 1876); Veigaia exigua (Berlese, 1917); Veigaia kochi (Trägårdh, 1901); Veigaia nemorensis (C.L. Koch, 1839); Veigaia paradoxa Willmann, 1951; Veigaia planicola Berlese, 1892; Veigaia propinqua Willmann, 1936; Veigaia transisalae (Oudemans, 1902), Veigaia transylvanicaKontschán & Ujvári, 2008 and Veigaia uncata Farrier, 1957. At the same time, new characteristic ecological requirements for the Veigaia species were described (type of ecosystem, habitat, altitude and soil).

Acknowledgements

This work was supported by the Institute of Biology Bucharest of Romanian Academy, under project RO1567-IBB01/2017. The authors thank to anonymous reviewers for the valuable advices. We also thank Simona Plumb and Rodica Iosif for their assistance in the laboratory and the field.

References

Ács A. & Kontschán J. 2015. Contribution to the Veigaiidae Oudemans, 1939 fauna of the Carpathian Basin and the Balkan Peninsula (Acari: Mesostigmata). Opusc. Zool. Budapest 46 (2): 121–131. 10.18348/opzool.2015.2.121Search in Google Scholar

Arroyo J., O’Grady A., Vance H. & Bolger T. 2015. The mite (Acari: Oribatida, Mesostigmata) assemblages associated with Lasius flavus (Hymenoptera: Formicidae) nests and surrounding soil in an Irish grassland. Biol. Environ. 115B (1): 1–12. 10.3318/bioe.2015.03Search in Google Scholar

Błaszak C., Ehrnsberger R. & Skorupski M. 2006. European mites of tbe genus Veigaia Oudemans, 1905 (Acari, Gamasida: Veigaiaidae). Abh. Ber. Naturkundemus. Görlitz. 78 (1): 3–9.Search in Google Scholar

Bregetova N.G. 1977. Seme istvo Veigaiaidae Oudemans, 1939 [Family Veigaiaidae Oudemans, 1939], pp. 108–145. In: Ghilyarov M.S. & Bregetova N.G. (eds), Opredelitel’ obitauyshchikh v pochve kleshcheĭ. Mesostigmata [Key to the Soil-inhabiting Mites, Mesostigmata], Nauka, Leningrad, 718 pp.Search in Google Scholar

Călugăr A. 2006. On the gamasid fauna (Acari: Gamasina) from the grassland ecosystems of the Moldavian Plain (Romania). Complexul Muzeal de Ştiinţe ale Naturii, Ion Borcea. Studii şi comunicări. Bacău 21: 232–235.Search in Google Scholar

Călugăr A. 2010. Faunistic researches on gamasid mites (Acari: Gamasina) from natural and anthropized forest ecosystems from Moldavian Plain. Analele Ştiinţifice ale Universităţii “Al. I. Cuza” Iaşi, s. Biologie animală [Scientific Annals of “Alexandru Ioan Cuza” University of Iaşi (New Series), Section 1. Animal Biol.] 61/LVI: 43–51.Search in Google Scholar

Călugăr A. 2013. Effect of pollution with cement dust on the edaphic gamasid mite fauna (Acari: Gamasina) in different forest ecosystems from Romania. Acarologia 53 (2): 151–161. 10.1051/acarologia/20132092Search in Google Scholar

Călugăr A. & Ivan O. 2013. Diversity and distribution of the edaphic mites (Acari: Gamasina, Oribatida) in some forest plantations from the Central Moldavian Plateau. Lucrări Ştiinţifice. Seria Agronomie/Agronomy Series of Scientific Research 56 (2): 97–103.Search in Google Scholar

Călugăr A. & Huţu M. 1999. On the gamasid fauna (Acari: Gamasida) from the hardwood forests of Tutova’s hills. Suceava. Anuarul Muzeului Naţional al Bucovinei. Fascicula Stiintele Naturii25: 47–60.Search in Google Scholar

Călugăr A. & Huţu M. 2008. Mezofauna edafică. Fauna de Gamaside edifice (Acari: gamasia, Leach, 1815), pp. 238–246. In: Chifu T., Manoliu A. & Toma C. (eds), Parcul Naţional Călimani, Studii Ecologice şi de Biodiversitate, Editura Alma Mater, Cluj-Napoca, Romania. ISBN: 978–606–504–039–7Search in Google Scholar

Collman D.D., Crossley D.A. Jr. & Hendrix P.F. 2004. Fundamentals of Soil Ecology. 2nd ed. Elsevier Academic Press, USA, 386 pp. ISBN: 978-0-12-179726-3Search in Google Scholar

Council of the European Union. 1992. Council Directive 92/43/ EEC of 21 May 1992 on the Conservation of Natural Habitats and of Wild Fauna and Flora: Official Journal of E.U., 22.7.92 (L: 206/7) 35: 7–50.Search in Google Scholar

Dirilgen T., Arroyo J., Dimmers W.J., Faber J., Stone D., Martins da Silva P., Carvalho F., Schmelz R, Griffiths B.S., Francisco R, Creamer R.E., Sousa J.P. & Bolger T. 2016. Mite community composition across a European transect and its relationships to variation in other components of soil biodiversity. Appl. Soil Ecol. 97: 86–97. 10.1016/j.apsoil.2015.06.008Search in Google Scholar

Georgescu A. 1982. Populaţiile de acarieni (Gamasida; Mesostigmata) liberi din unele tipuri de soluri forestiere. Teză de doctorat [The populations of free mites (Gamasina; Mesostigmata) of some types of forest soils, PhD thesis]. Universitatea Babeş-Bolyai–Cluj, 181 pp.Search in Google Scholar

Georgescu A. 1984. Fauna de Gamaside (acarieni) din soluri poluate din zona industriala Zlatna. Fauna de Gamaside (acarieni) din soluri poluate din zona industriala Zlatna [Gamasids fauna (mites) from polluted soil from Zlatna industrial area]. Studii şi Cercetări de Biologie, Seria Biologie Animală 36 (1): 33–39.Search in Google Scholar

Georgescu A. 1985. Fauna de Gamasidae (Acarieni) din unele soluri din Munţii Bihor. Crisia 15: 503–513.Search in Google Scholar

Georgescu A. & Vicol A. 1988. Cercetări asupra faunei de acarieni edafici din trei ecosisteme forestiere din Parcul Natural Retezat (Carpaţii sudici). Studii şi Cercetări de Biologie, Seria Biologie Animală 40 (2): 77–82.Search in Google Scholar

Glime J.M. 2013. Arthropods: Mite habitats and minor arachnids, Chapter 9-2, pp. 912–9129. In: Glime J.M. (ed.), Bryophyte Ecology, Vol. 2.: Bryological Interaction, e-book sponsored by Michigan Technological University and the International Association of Bryologists. Last updated 6 July 2013 and available at < www.bryoecol.mtu.edu.Search in Google Scholar

Grażyna M., Barczyk G. & Gawend J. 2011. Importance of microhabitats for preservation of species diversity, on the basis of mesostigmatid mites (Mesostigmata, Arachnida, Acari). Pol. J. Environ. Stud. 20 (4): 961–968.Search in Google Scholar

Grażyna M. & Kozub M. 2014. Possibilities of using soil microarthropods, with emphasis on mites (Arachnida, Acari, Mesostigmata), in assessment of successional stages in a reclaimed coal mine dump (Pszów, S Poland). Biol. Lett. 51 (1) : 19–36. 10.1515/biolet-2015-0003Search in Google Scholar

Gwiazdowicz D., Kamczyc J. & Rakowski R. 2011. Mesostigmatid mites from four classes of wood decay. Exp. Appl. Acarol. 55 (2): 155–165. 10.1007/s10493-011-9458-0.Search in Google Scholar

Hasegawa M. 2001. The relationship between the organic matter composition of a forest floor and the structure of a soil arthropod community. Eur. J. Soil Biol. 37 (4): 281–284. 10.1016/S1164-5563(01)01099-8Search in Google Scholar

Honciuc V. & Manu M. 2010. Ecological study on the edaphic mite populations (Acari: Mesostigmata – Gamasina, Oribatida) in urban areas from Romania. Rom. J. Biol. - Zool. 55 (1): 3–17.Search in Google Scholar

Ivan O. & Călugăr A. 2004a. The fauna of edaphic mites (Acari: Oribatida, Gamasida) in some peat bogs-protected areas in North Moldavia (Romania). Anuarul Complexului Muzeal Bucovina– Suceava. Fascicula Ştiinţele Naturii 16-17: 127–150.Search in Google Scholar

Ivan O. & Călugăr A. 2004b. On the diversity and distribution of edaphic mites (Acari: Gamasida, Oribatida) in some saxicolous, low – altitude habitats in the North – Eastern Romania, Anuarul Complexului Muzeal Bucovina – Suceava. Fascicula Ştiinţele Naturii 16-17: 151–168.Search in Google Scholar

Ivan O., Călugăr A. & Vasiliu N. 2006. A survey of the edaphic mites fauna (Acari: Oribatida, Gamasina) from the main types of forest ecosystems in the Danube Delta Biosphere Reserve. Scientific Annals of the Danube Delta Institute, Tulcea 12: 45–54.Search in Google Scholar

Kaczmarek S., Marquardt T. & Falenczyk-Kozirog K. 2009. Checklist of soil Mesostigmata (Acari) of Central Croatia (Dalmatia) with some microenvironmental remarks. Pol. J. Entomol. 78: 177–184.Search in Google Scholar

Kamczyc J. & Skorupski M. 2014. Mites (Acari, Mesostigmata) from the rock cracks and crevices in rock labirynths in the Stołowe Mountains National Park (SW Poland). Biol. Lett. 51 (1): 55–62. 10.1515/biolet-2015-0006Search in Google Scholar

Kalúz S. 1993. Veigaia inexpectata sp. n. (Acarina, Veigaiaidae) a new gamasid mite from the Slovak Republic. Biologia 48 (5): 507–510.Search in Google Scholar

Karg W. 1993. Acari (Acarina), Milben Parasitiformes (Anactinochaeta) Cohors Gamasina Leach, Raubmilben. In: Dahl F. (ed.), Tierwelt Deutschland 59, 2nd Edn., Gustav Fischer Verlag, Jena, Stuttgart, 523 pp. ISBN: 978-3-931374-48-8Search in Google Scholar

Klarner B., Maraun M. & Scheu S. 2013. Trophic diversity and niche partitioning in a species rich predator guild – Natural variations in stable isotope ratios (13C/12C, 15N/14N) of mesostigmatid mites (Acari, Mesostigmata) from Central European beech forests. Soil Biol. Biochem. 57: 327–333. 10.1016/j.soilbio.2012.08.013Search in Google Scholar

Kölbl A. & Kögel-Knabner I. 2004. Content and composition of free and occluded particulate organic matter in a differently textured arable Cambisol as revealed by solid-state 13C NMR spectroscopy. J. Plant Nutr. Soil Sci. 167 (1): 45–53. 10.1002/jpln.200321185Search in Google Scholar

Koehler H.H. 1999. Predatory mites (Gamasina, Mesostigmata). Agric. Ecosyst. Environ. 74 (1-3): 395–410. 10.1016/S0167-8809(99)00045-6Search in Google Scholar

Koehler H.H., Munderloh E. & Hofmann S. 1995. Soil microarthropods (Acari, Collembola) from beach and dunes: characteristic and ecosystems context. J. Coast. Conserv. 1 (1): 77–86. 10.1007/BF02835564Search in Google Scholar

Kontschán J., Acs A. & Sutak A. 2015. New data to the soil mite (Acari) fauna of Sălaj, Romania. Studia Universitatis Vasile Goldis (Life Sciences Series) 25 (4): 221–225.Search in Google Scholar

Kontschán J. & Ujvári Zs. 2008. Mesostigmatid mies from Maramureş (Acari: Mesostigmata) I. Studia Universitatis Vasile Goldis (Life Sciences Series) 18: 347–357.Search in Google Scholar

Krantz G.W. & Walter D.E. 2009. A Manual of Acarology. 3rd Edn. Texas Tech University Press; Lubbock, Texas, 807 pp. ISBN-13: 978-0896726208Search in Google Scholar

Manu M. 2009. Ecological research on predatory mite populations (Acari: Mesostigmata) in some Romanian forests. Biharean Biologist 3 (2): 111–117.Search in Google Scholar

Manu M. 2010a. Predator mites (Acari: Mesostigmata-Gamasina) from soil of some spoilt areas from Retezat and Ţracu-Petreanu mountains. Studia Universitatis Vasile Goldis (Life Sciences Series) 20 (3): 9–94.Search in Google Scholar

Manu M. 2010b. Structure and dynamics of the predator mite’s populations (Acari-Mesostigmata) in some shrubs ecosystems from Prahova and Doftana Valley. Studia Uuniversitatis Babeş – Bolyai, Biologia 55 (1): 17–30.Search in Google Scholar

Manu M. 2011. Influence of the cliff microclimate on the population ecology of soil predatory mites (Acari: Mesostigmata – Gamasina) from Romania, pp. 1–6. In: Bulgarian National Multidisciplinary Scientific Network of the Professional Society for Research Work (ed.), Proceedings of the Third International Congress “Research People and Actual Task on Multidisciplinary Sciences”, Lozenec, Bulgary 3.Search in Google Scholar

Manu M. 2012. The similarities between predator mite populations (Acari: Gamasina) from some natural forests in Bucegi Massif, Romania. Biologia 67 (2): 390–396.10.2478/s11756-012-0019-8Search in Google Scholar

Manu M. 2013. Comparative study concerning soil mites communities (Acari: Mesostigmata) from some anthropized marshlands from Insula Marea a Brăilei. Rom. J. Biol. – Zool. 58 (1): 9–18.Search in Google Scholar

Manu M., Băncilă R.I. & Onete M. 2013. Soil mite communities (Acari: Gamasina) from different ecosystem types from Romania. Belg. J. Zool. 143 (1): 30–41.Search in Google Scholar

Manu M. & Honciuc V. 2010. Ecological research on the soil mites populations (Acari: Mesostigmata – Gamasina, Oribatida) from forest ecosystems near Bucharest City. Rom. J. Biol. – Zool. 55 (1): 19–30.Search in Google Scholar

Manu M., Iordache V., Băncilă R.I., Bodescu F. & Onete M. 2016. The influence of the environment variables on soil mite communities from overgrazed grassland ecosystems–Romania. Ital. J. Zool. 83 (1): 89–97. 1080/11250003.2015.1091897Search in Google Scholar

Manu M. & Onete M. 2013. Structural characteristics of soil mite populations (Acari- Mesostigmata) from oak-hornbeam forests from southern-Romania. Muzeul Olteniei Craiova. Oltenia. Studii şi comunicări. Ştiinţele Naturii 29 (1): 306–312.Search in Google Scholar

Manu M. & Onete M. 2015. Diversity of oil mite fauna (Acari: Mesostigmata) from some cliff ecosystems – Romania. Muzeul Olteniei Craiova. Oltenia. Studii şi comunicări. Ştiinţele Naturii 31 (2): 95–100.Search in Google Scholar

Marchenko I.I. 2011. Spatial typological organization of the soil Gamasina mite (Acari, Mesostigmata) community of the Northeastern Altai. Communication I, Contemp. Probl. Ecol. 4 (4): 379–387. 10.1134/S1995425511040059Search in Google Scholar

Marchenko I.I. 2012. Spatial typological organization of the soil Gamasina mite (Acari, Mesostigmata) community of the Northeastern Altai. Communication II. Contemp. Probl. Ecol. 5 (1): 23–33. 10.1134/S1995425512010031Search in Google Scholar

Marchenko I.I. & Bogomolova I.N. 2015. Spatial–typologic organization of populations of soil gamasid mites (Acari, Mesostigmata) in Northern Altai Mountains. Contemp. Probl. Ecol. 8 (2): 202–210. 10.1134/S1995425515020122Search in Google Scholar

Mašán P., Fenďa P. & Mihál I. 2008. New edaphic mites of the genus Veigaia from Slovakia and Bulgaria, with a key to the European species (Acari, Mesostigmata, Veigaiidae). Zootaxa 1897: 1–19. 10.5281/zenodo.184452Search in Google Scholar

Mašán P. & Madej G., 2011. Description of two cave-dwelling mites of the genus Veigaia (Acari: Mesostigmata: Veigaiidae) from Belgium: V. hubarti sp. n. and V. leruthi Willmann, 1935. J. Nat. Hist. 45 (13-14): 751–765. 10.1080/00222933.2010.535913Search in Google Scholar

Munteanu I. & Florea N. 2001. Present – day status of soil classification in Romania, pp. 55–62. In: Micheli E., Nachtergaele F.O., Jones R.J.A. & Montanarella L. (eds), Soil Classification 2001, European Soil Bureau Research Report No.7, EUR 20398 EN, (2002), 248pp. Office for Official Publications of the European Communities, Luxembourg.Search in Google Scholar

Nielsen U.N., Osler G.H.R., Campbell C.D., Burslem D.F.R.P. & van der Wal R. 2010. The influence of vegetation type, soil properties and precipitation on the composition of soil mite and microbial communities at the landscape scale. J. Biogeogr. 37 (7): 1317–1328. 10.1111/j.13652699.2010.02281.xSearch in Google Scholar

Osman K.T. 2013. Forest Soils. Properties and Management. Springer International Publishing, Switzerland, 217 pp. ISBN: 978-3-319-02540-7Search in Google Scholar

Pavlova A. 2009. [Methodical review of the re-search about cave fauna in western Rhodope, Bulgaria]. Ecol. Balk. 1: 103–120. (In Bulgarian)Search in Google Scholar

Radu V. Gh. & Domocoş M. 1965. Contribuţii la studiul acarienilor din sol (Mesostigmata – Parasitoidea). Sesiunea Centrului de Cercetări biologice ale Academiei Române, Cluj, pp. 91–96.Search in Google Scholar

Rennert T., Gockel K.F. & Mansfeldt T. 2007. Extraction of water-soluble organic matter from mineral horizons of forest soils. J. Soil. Sci. Plant. Nutr. 170 (4): 514–521. 10.1002/jpln.200625099Search in Google Scholar

Romanian Official Monitor no. 442 from 29 June 2007. Emergency Ordinance no. 57 from 20 June 2007 on the protected sites status, on conservation of natural habitats, flora and wild fauna.Search in Google Scholar

Ruf A. & Beck L. 2005. The use of predatory soil mites in ecological soil classification and assessment concepts, with perspectives for oribatid mites. Ecotox. Environ. Safe. 62 (2): 290–299. 10.1016/j.ecoenv.2005.03.029Search in Google Scholar

Rumpela C., Kögel-Knabnera I. & Bruhn F. 2002. Vertical distribution, age, and chemical composition of organic carbon in two forest soils of different pedogenesis. Org. Geochem. 33 (10): 1131–1142. 10.1016/S0146-6380(02)00088-8Search in Google Scholar

Sabbatini Peverieri G., Romano M., Pennacchio F., Nannelli R. & Roversi P.F. 2011. Gamasid soil mites (Arachnida Acari) as indicators of the conservation status of forests. Redia 94: 53–58.Search in Google Scholar

Salmane I. 2001. A check list of Latvian Gamasina mites (Acari, Mesostigmata) with short notes to their ecology. Latvijas Entomologs. 38: 21–26.Search in Google Scholar

Salmane I. & Brumelis G. 2008. The importance of the moss layer in sustaining biological diversity of Gamasina mites in coniferous forest soil. Pedobiologia 52 (1): 69–76. 10.1016/j.pedobi.2008.03.002Search in Google Scholar

Salmane I. & Brumelis G. 2010. Species list and habitat preference of mesostigmata mites (Acari, Parasitiformes) in Latvia. Acarologia 50 (3): 373–394. 10.1051/acarologia/20101978Search in Google Scholar

Santamaría J.M., Moraza M.L., Elustondo D., Baquero E., Jordana R., Lasheras E., Bermejo R. & Arino A.H. 2012. Diversity of acari and collembola along a pollution gradient in soils of a Pyrenean forest ecosystem. Environ. Eng. Manag. J. 11 (6): 1159–1169.10.30638/eemj.2012.140Search in Google Scholar

Skorupski M., Belter W., Kamczyc J. & Wierzbicka A. 2008. Soil mites (Acari, Mesostigmata) of the ‘Torfowiska Doliny Izery’ Reserve in the Sudety Mountains. Soil Organisms 80 (2): 261–270.Search in Google Scholar

Solomon L. 1982. First investigation on the Mesostigmatic mites in the Călimani Mountains. Analele Ştiinţifice ale Universităţii ”Alexandru Ioan Cuza”, Iaşi, Secţiunea I. Biologie Animalăa 28: 79–86.Search in Google Scholar

Solomon L. 1985a. Zoocoenotical researches on the Veigaiaidae from the Slătioara-Rarău secular forest. Annuarul Muzeului Judeţean Suceava. Fascicola Ştiinţele Naturi 8: 139–142.Search in Google Scholar

Solomon L. 1985b. The structure and biomass of the gamasidocenosis from a mountain forest ecosystem. Scientific Annals of “Alexandru Ioan Cuza” University of Iasi. (New Series), Section 1. Animal Biology 31: 21–28.Search in Google Scholar

Solomon L. & Roznovăţ A. 1969. Cecetări asupra acarienilor din sol (Mesostigmata, Parasitiformes). ComunicăRi Ştiinţifice. Univ. ”Al.I. Cuza”, Iaşi, Institutul Pedagogic de 3 ani, pp. 285–292.Search in Google Scholar

Stănescu M. & Honciuc V. 2004. Structure and dynamics of the edaphic acari (Mesostigmata, Oribatida) in Quercus cerris and Quercus pubescens forest from the south of the Romanian field. Proceedings of the Institute of Biology, Romanian Academy, Bucharest 6: 149–155.Search in Google Scholar

Stănescu M. & Juvara Balş I. 2005. Biogeographical distribution of Gamasina mites from Romania (Acari-Mesostigmata). Rom. J. Biol. – Zool. 50 (1-2): 57–74.Search in Google Scholar

Ţărău D., Rogobete Gh., Dicu D. & Niţă L. 2012. Romanian Soil Taxonomy System Srts-2012. Res. J. Agr. Sci. 44 (3): 140–145.Search in Google Scholar

Walter D.E. & Proctor H. 2013. Mites: Ecology, Evolution and Behaviour: Life at a Microscale. 2nd Edn, Springer, 494 pp. ISBN: 978-94-007-7163-510.1007/978-94-007-7164-2Search in Google Scholar

Received: 2017-1-9
Accepted: 2017-3-30
Published Online: 2017-6-30
Published in Print: 2017-6-27

© 2017 Institute of Zoology, Slovak Academy of Sciences

Downloaded on 29.3.2024 from https://www.degruyter.com/document/doi/10.1515/biolog-2017-0072/html
Scroll to top button