Species diversity and composition of Oribatida (Acari: Sarcoptiformes) in former breeding colonies of the great cormorant (Phalacrocorax carbo) in Poland

Oszust, Mateusz; Klimaszyk, Piotr

doi:10.22073/pja.v12i4.80674

Species diversity and composition of Oribatida (Acari: Sarcoptiformes) in former breeding colonies of the great cormorant (Phalacrocorax carbo) in Poland

Authors

Mateusz Oszust ¹

Piotr Klimaszyk ²

¹ Zakład Dydaktyki, Wielkopolska Akademia Społeczno-Ekonomiczna w Środzie Wlkp.- Akademia Nauk Stosowanych, Środa Wielkopolska, Poland

² Department of Water Protection, Faculty of Biology, Adam Mickiewicz University, Poznań, Poland

10.22073/pja.v12i4.80674

Abstract

The great cormorant (Phalacrocorax carbo) is a species that alters ecosystems significantly, mainly by depositions of guano, which changes the chemical properties of soil and can lead even to deforestation as well as have a significant impact on soil mite communities. The study was conducted on three islands: abandoned by cormorants recently (Z1), abandoned three years ago (LI) and a site without cormorants (Z2) for comparison. The species composition of island Z1 did not differ significantly from the fauna of the previously studied colonies. Many xerophilous and meadow species occurred on LI island, which was likely caused by deforestation because of cormorant activity.

Keywords

Deforestation

guano

soil mites

species composition

xerophilous