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Reclamation of agricultural soil and forest succession after afforestation proceeds slowly and at many levels. Therefore, the history of land use is recorded in the soil's physical, chemical and ecological parameters for many decades. This process depends on time and the form of afforestation, which primarily includes tree species. In our study, we analyzed differences in the physical and chemical characteristics of pine and oak stands on forest and post‐agricultural land at 22, 42 and 62 y/o. Our study revealed that 14 of 24 examined parameters (litter pH, soil pH, litter thickness, soil organic matter, Corg, bulk density, C/N ratio, soil moisture, soil K, Mg and Mn content, N and Ca litter content, Mg litter content) differed significantly among examined habitats (land use, stand age and tree species). We calculated the abundance, species richness and diversity of the mite communities (Acari, Mesostigmata) for each habitat type. In total, 6730 mites were classified into 72 taxa (60 species, 11 genera and one taxon as family). The highest abundance was recorded in 42 y/o. oak stands on post‐agricultural land, while the lowest is in 22 y/o. pine and oak stands on post‐agricultural land. The highest species richness and diversity were recorded in the oldest oak stand on post‐agricultural land. In contrast, the lowest diversity was recorded in the youngest oak and pine stands on post‐agricultural land. Our results demonstrate that the negative impact of the agricultural history of land use weakens over time and provides a better understanding of land use history on the relations between the soil environment and soil fauna, including mesostigmatid mite assemblages. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Decades of agriculture in a former—type of ecosystem, for example, deciduous forests—result in severe habitat degradation. The planted tree species encounter harsh conditions due to physically and chemically transformed soil environments. In addition, afforestation itself significantly modifies the upper soil horizons. It may impact the soil fauna communities, including mites from the Mesostigmata order (Mesostigmata = Gamasida). Due to their sensitivity, mesostigmatid mites are good bioindicators of changes in the soil. A decrease in the density, species richness, and diversity of mites indicates disturbances in the soil environment and may confirm the impact of agricultural practice on the soil environment. Our research aim was to examine the impact of soil properties and land use history on the mesostigmatid mite communities in stands growing on forest and post‐agricultural lands. These sites were afforested with different tree species (Betula pendula Roth., Fagus sylvatica L., Pinus sylvestris L., and Quercus robur L.). Thus, 21 research plots were established on forest and post‐agricultural land, each on rusty soils considered to be one of the most common in Central European forests. We collected a total of 567 soil samples during three sampling sessions in spring and autumn for soil Mesostigmata investigation. We also described the soil profile on each plot and collected soil and litter samples to measure pH, litter thickness, soil organic matter, bulk density, soil moisture, soil organic carbon, and elements content. Our study revealed that 16 out of 30 environmental parameters differed between habitat types. A total of 1355 mites were classified into 58 taxa (50 species and 8 genera). The most numerous species were Veigaia nemorensis (165 ind.; 12.2% of all mesostigmatid mites), Zercon peltatus (156; 11.5%), and Paragamasus conus (141; 10.4%). The highest abundance was recorded in birch stands on forest land, whereas the lowest abundance for oak stands growing on post‐agricultural land. Interestingly, in oak stands we recorded both the highest diversity of mite communities (forest land) and the lowest on post‐agricultural land. Furthermore, our study showed that post‐agricultural land and Na content in forest litter affected the abundance, species richness, and diversity of mesostigmatid mite communities. Species richness was additionally affected by tree species, that is, pine and oak. Our research indicated that long‐term agricultural practice negatively affected the density, species richness, and diversity of Mesostigmata communities 20 years after afforestation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Relationships between certain plant species and soil fauna assemblages in severe climatic conditions require scientific attention due to reported climatic changes. We investigated density, diversity, and community structure of soil mites (Mesostigmata) in tree biogroups of Betula pendula, Picea abies, and Pinus sylvestris with microhabitats represented by Calluna vulgaris, Dicranum scoparium, Vaccinium myrtillus, and Vaccinium vitis‐idaea plant patches and accumulated litter in humid and cold rock crevices a few meters deep. We analyzed the effects of climatic (light availability, precipitation, temperature) and environmental (litter pH, organic matter thickness, microhabitat type) conditions on mite communities based on 1080 samples collected during two vegetation periods (2004–2005). Results revealed that litter pH was shaped by microhabitat type (plant patches and rock crevices) whereas organic matter thickness depended on tree species and microhabitat type. Also, light availability differed between tree biogroups and microhabitats. This study documented that Mesostigmata abundance was shaped by maximum daily temperature while species richness was also affected by total monthly precipitation, tree species (P. sylvestris) and microhabitat (rock crevices). Results revealed that mite density ranged from 3001 ± 213 ind./m2 in the P. abies biogroup to 3310 ± 350 ind./m2 in P. sylvestris. On the microhabitat level, mite density ranged from 2571 ± 170 ind./m2 in V. myrtillus patches to 4137 ± 463 ind./m2 in rock crevices. Total number of recorded species was highest in rock crevices (41 species), and lowest in C. vulgaris (19). In conclusion, results indicated that climatic conditions modulate mite communities on an isolated rocky island. This study documented that maximum daily temperature during the vegetation period affected Mesostigmata abundance, whereas species richness and diversity were also shaped by total monthly precipitation and tree species (P. sylvestris). In addition, the community was also affected by litter acidity, organic matter and tree species. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Afforestation can make an important contribution mitigating the effects of changing climate and provide structural and functional benefits. Afforestation also provides challenges for forest managers connected with past land-use history; therefore, there is an urgent need to summarize knowledge about such habitats and point out the gaps in knowledge for planning future studies. Although post-agricultural forests cover a large forest area in Europe, our understanding of the mechanisms governing the below-ground environment is still poor, especially when soil fauna is considered. In this study, we revised knowledge about the soil environment and the response of soil fauna to afforestation on former agricultural lands located in Europe based on research articles from the ISI Web of Science database. Data came from various but distinct locations, compared forests with different types of agricultural lands, and presented previous knowledge about soil chemistry and accompanying soil fauna communities. Finally, we selected 15 studies, investigating soil fauna communities on post-agricultural lands. The meta-analysis was based on response ratio (R) for available data, although in many cases the data were incomplete. Results indicated that post-agricultural forests differ from arable lands in reference to soil pH, but not for soil organic matter and carbon content. Different soil animal groups were represented by a similar number of studies: microfauna (seven studies) and mesofauna (nine), whereas macrofauna were represented by five studies. Meta-analysis revealed that the response of soil fauna to afforestation differed between soil fauna size classes. Additionally, in total, 18 tree species, 12 soil types, and 20 soil parameters were provided in the literature but only a few of them were presented in a single study. Future studies should include the impact of microclimate, detailed stand characteristics and soil conditions, which could help to clearly describe the impact of certain tree species growing on certain soil types. In future soil fauna ecological studies, the data should include mean values, standard deviation (SD) and/or standard effort of means (SE) for abundance, species richness, diversity indices and number of collected samples. Providing the above mentioned information will give the broad audience the opportunity to include data in future comparative analyses. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• Tree species litter affect gamasid mite species richness and diversity. • Soil mean temperature and litter mass loss affect mesostigmatid abundance and species richness. • Soil mean temperature and litter mass loss do not affect gamasid mite diversity. • Mesostigmatid mite communities did not differ among sampling periods. Decomposition and topsoil microclimate, mainly humidity and soil temperature, affects the availability of nutrients, as well as the edaphon structure, including soil mites, springtails, nematodes, insects and oligochaetes. Soil arthropod decomposers are the food base for predators in the soil trophic chains, including mesostigmatid (gamasid) mites. The aim of our study was to describe the succession of mesostigmatid assemblages on decomposed litter of 14 tree species in mixed stands growing on a reclaimed post-mining site. We hypothesized that litter species would significantly affect the gamasid abundance, species richness and diversity. Moreover, we hypothesized that mesostigmatid abundance, species richness and diversity would be higher in deciduous litter compared to pioneer Scots pine litter. Additionally, along with the decomposition process, the gamasid diversity, species richness and abundance would be significantly affected by soil temperature and differ among collection dates, with the lowest values at the beginning and the end, and with the highest values in the middle of the study period. In December 2011, 1389 litterbags (mesh size = 1 mm) containing leaf litter (initial dry mass = 8.004–10.772 g) were placed on research plots and collected after 3, 6, 9, 13, 19, 25, 31, 37, 43 and 58 months after the experiment started. We determined the percentage litter mass loss for each sample and mean soil temperature on each research plot. Soil microarthropods were extracted from litterbag samples using Berlese-Tullgren funnels, and mesostigmatid mites were selected using a stereomicroscope. The mites were identified to genus and/or species level including developmental stages, using a microscope with high magnification and acarological keys. In total, 19,296 gamasid mites were selected and classified into 52 taxa. The dominant species were Trachytes aegrota (C.L. Koch) (49.9% of all gamasid mites found), Veigaia nemorensis (C.L. Koch) (8.9%) and Gamasellodes bicolor (Berlese) (7.7%). We found that time of litterbag sampling did not affect abundance, species richness and diversity of gamasid mites. Moreover, litter species affected species richness and diversity of gamasid mite assemblages, however, abundance was affected when calculated per sample, but not when calculated per dry litter mass. Additionally, we found that mean soil temperature and percentage litter mass loss also significantly affected abundance and species richness, however, the impact on diversity was insignificant. Our results may help to better understand of the importance of soil fauna that has a decisive impact on soil-forming processes on degraded areas. Results could also help to choose the right tree species to improve revitalization of degraded areas by creating better conditions for edaphic fauna, including species not directly involved in the decomposition process. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Mites significantly contribute, prevalently by vertical movement, to mixing of the organic layer with the mineral soil, thus they may be important in renewing soils. Our aim was to analyze the changes in abundance and species richness of mesostigmatid assemblages on decomposing leaves of Alnus glutinosa (L.) Gaertn., Betula pendula Roth, Pinus sylvestris L. and Quercus robur L. in pine and birch stands growing on a reclaimed spoil heap and adjacent forests. In December 2013, 1024 litterbags (mesh size = 1 mm) containing leaf litter of broadleaved and coniferous trees (mean initial dry weight per sample = 5.789 g) were laid out in the same number and kind in each of the two sites. Mites were extracted from litterbags which were collected every 3–6 months for 3 years. In total, 6466 mites were identified in 59 taxa. Total abundance was higher on forest habitats (5174 specimens) compared to the spoil (1292), and in birch compared to pine stands, both in forest (3345, 1829, respectively) and spoil habitats (981, 311). Throughout the experiment, mites were most abundant on oak litter samples (2063 specimens), while the remaining litter types had similar abundances (1455–1482). At the beginning of the experiment (3–6 months) mite abundance was very low, but was higher on forest habitats. The highest abundance was found after 9 months—144 specimens in pine stands on the spoil heap and 685 in birch stands on forest habitats. During the study, 49 taxa were found on forest and 29 on heap habitats. In birch stands, 37 and 22 taxa were found, whereas in pine 30 and 21, on forest and heap, respectively. The most frequent species on the heap were Amblyseius tubae Karg, Asca bicornis Canestrini et Fanzago, and Asca aphidioides Linneaeus, whereas in forest habitat—Zercon peltatus C.L. Koch, Veigaia nemorensis C.L. Koch, and Trachytes aegrota C.L. Koch. Habitat conditions, tree species and litter type significantly determined the mesostigmatid species composition, richness and abundance. By selection of dominant tree species during afforestation, it is possible to significantly affect the soil fauna composition, and thus indirectly the rate of decomposition. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Large forest complexes with few human inhabitants provide a valuable resource for understanding natural processes in an environment not directly impacted by humans. However, studies of such systems are difficult to conduct due to the frequent need for collected samples to be subjected to lengthy laboratory processing protocols that require them to be transported to often distant laboratories. The objective of this study was to devise an easy-to-transport field device for sampling soil invertebrates with a simple single-day protocol of extraction. Studies were conducted in order to compare the quantitative and qualitative extraction efficiency of soil invertebrates using this new method (8 h for extraction) and a well-established one, using the Tullgren funnel (168 h for extraction). We also tested the influence of cooling collected microarthropod samples for 7 days on extraction efficiency. Data indicated that the field extraction device was comparable in efficiency to the standard Tullgren extraction funnels and did not affect the results obtained on abundance, species richness and diversity. In addition, the methods did not differ in reference to unique species and the proportional abundance of extracted developmental stages. Results suggest that the field extraction device is time-efficient compared to currently used extraction protocols. Most importantly, the new device allows researchers to study and analyze soil mesofauna directly in the field without needing to transport samples back to the laboratory, thus decreasing the risk of losing sample integrity and spreading soil pathogens. We suggest it will be useful as a complement to other older techniques in the future. • The field extractor can be used to describe soil Mesostigmata communities. • Extraction efficiency for fast moving soil mesofauna depends on extraction time. • Shorten extraction protocol in 8 h provides 50% abundance and 90% of species richness. • Cooling samples for seven days do not impact fast moving soil mites. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]