Effects of Liming and Artificial Acid Rain on the Mite (Acari) Fauna in Coniferous Forest

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Abstract
Increased soil acidity induced by artificial acid rain (diluted H2SO4) and lowered soil acidity after liming (CaCO3); influenced the abundance of several species and groups of Acari. Liming reduced the abundance of various Oribatei (Tectocepheus velatus, Nothrus silvestris, Nanhermannia sp., Brachychochthonius zelawaiensis), the Gamasina species Parazercon sarekensis and total Oribatei, total Mesostigmata and total Acari. Trachytes sp., increased on limed plots. Acidification gave increased abundance of T. velatus and Brachychthoniidae except B. zelawaiensis, while the abundance of P. sarekensis, Trachytes sp., total Mesostigmata, total Prostigmata and total Acari decreased. Increased soil acidity gave higher dominance of Oribatei. Liming, and to a smaller degree acidification, changed the vertical distribution pattern in Oribatei, giving a higher percentage in the Ac layer (3-6 cm) compared to the O layer (0-3 cm). In Prostigmata, liming resulted in an increased percentage in the O layer. Results could not be explained in relation to predation pressure by the larger Gamasina or to the amount of fungal hyphae. Reproduction success in several species was related to soil pH.

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