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The wood warbler, Phylloscopus sibilatrix (Aves: Passeriformes), is a well-known model organism for studying bird migration, breeding habitat selection and nest predation. The nest acarofauna of this bird species has not been extensively studied so far. To provide a comprehensive report on mite species inhabiting wood warbler nests and to assess infestation parameters (prevalence, intensity, and abundance) for mite species and orders, we collected 45 nests of this bird species in the Wielkopolska National Park in western Poland. Analyses revealed a huge diversity (198 species) of mites inhabiting wood warbler nests. We found individuals belonging to the Mesostigmata, Trombidiformes and Sarcoptiformes. The Trombidiformes, represented in our study only by the Prostigmata, achieved statistically significantly lower intensity and abundance, compared to representatives of other orders. However, the number of recorded prostigmatid species was high (65). The most common were: Stigmaeus sphagneti (22 nests), Stigmaeus longipilis (16), Eupodes voxencollinus (15), Cunaxa setirostris (14), Stigmaeus pilatus (11), and Linopodes sp. 2 (10). The prevalence of Mesostigmata and Sarcoptiformes was equal, reaching 91.1%. Most of Gamasina (Mesostigmata) species found in this study were more characteristic of the soil environment and forest litter than bird nests, but there was also a typical bird parasite, viz. Ornithonyssus sylviarum. None of the observed species of Uropodina (Mesostigmata) or Oribatida (Sarcoptiformes) was typical for bird nests. Among the Uropodina, the highest parameters of nest infestation were achieved by Oodinychus ovalis, whereas among the Oribatida, they were achieved by Metabelba pulverosa. We discuss the importance of wood warbler nests for mite dispersal, survival and reproduction.

We are witnessing a clash of (i) biocentric or ecocentric ideologies that grant equal rights to all living creatures, with (ii) an ideology that arose on the basis of anthropocentrism that gives the palm of priority to man. Hunters who are accused of killing defenseless animals for entertainment are at the heart of this dispute. Meanwhile, hunters argue that their activity results from the need to manage game populations, thus the necessity to limit the threats to human life and health and to minimize the extent of damage to field crops or forests. In the atmosphere of such public disputes between activists and hunters, decisions are made by politicians who shape specific legal solutions. In 2018, the Hunting Law (Polish Act of 13 October 1995, Journal of Laws of 2020.) in Poland was amended and children and adolescents under 18 were banned from participating in hunting. It has aroused dissatisfaction of hunters who have taken initiatives to amend these legal provisions, e.g. a complaint to the Constitutional Tribunal, a social draft amendment to the act. The legal initiatives of hunters have been fuelling a broad social debate that often have gone beyond the scope of sustainable hunting management. The amendment has been questioned by a group of Polish MPs as infringing the constitutional right of parents to bring up and educate their children in accordance with their worldviews. Moreover, the teenagers, frequently considered as adults under numerous provisions of Polish law, have been deprived of their constitutional freedom of making decisions about their pastimes. The opponents in turn claim that under the Constitution of the Republic of Poland (Polish Act of 21 August 1997, Journal of Laws of 2020.) children must be protected against violence and cruelty. The aim of the study is to present the mechanisms of a legal, political, sociological and ideological dispute and to provide some basic insight into the Parliamentary debate and the outcome of legislation process as a result of which children have been deprived of the right to accompany their parents during hunting expeditions also in the character of passive observers. The research methods applied included the following ones: the analysis of the discourses and legislation under scrutiny in Poland and a few selected countries, and empirical observation of debates carried out in public space. The research material encompassed the recorded Parliament speeches focusing on the issue in question, legislative process, social media posts and various blogs. The assessment of the current legal solutions and the analysis of the attitudes of both parties to the dispute leads to a reflection that the problem of prohibiting the participation of children under 18 in hunting is not solved. There is a need to search for new solutions on the basis of substantive knowledge, including, inter alia, legal science or social psychology. Politicians should be aware that the emotional pressure may not and should not be the basis for law amendments.

Six new species from Crete belonging to the family Neanuridae are described and illustrated in detail. Friesea schulzi sp. nov. is characterized by having white body, 3 + 3 ocelli, 4 anal spines and furca and retinaculum absent (stage 5). Friesea cretensis sp. nov. can be easily identified by 5 + 5 ocelli, 4 anal spines and 6 microchaetae in furcal field. Characteristic and recognizable character of Pseudachorutella ellisi sp. nov. is very long buccal cone. Deutonura schulzi sp. nov. differs from other taxa in the genus in the presence of internal tooth on claw. Endonura zelkovae sp. nov. is especially distinctive due to the presence 3+s and 4+s chaetae De on Th. II and III. The main characteristics of Cryptonura ellisi sp. nov. include a massive mandibles and high number of mandibular teeth.

Marine birds and pinnipeds which come to land to breed, rest and moult are widely known to fertilize adjacent terrestrial ecosystems, with cascading effects on vegetation and other trophic levels. We provide a synthesis of the consequences of allochthonous nutrient enrichment for terrestrial invertebrate communities within and around marine vertebrate aggregation sites and nutrient sources in the High Arctic and Continental and Maritime Antarctic, the most nutrient-poor and environmentally extreme parts of the polar regions. Using a combination of literature review (identifying 19 articles from the Arctic Svalbard archipelago and 12 from different Antarctic locations) and new analyses of available datasets of springtail, mite and tardigrade community composition, we confirmed that terrestrial invertebrate abundance and species richness tended to increase, and their community compositions changed, as a result of marine vertebrate fertilisation in both polar regions. These changes were significantly greater on talus slopes enriched by kittiwakes, guillemots and little auks in the Arctic, as compared to the edges of penguin colonies in the Antarctic. Both these habitat areas were typically abundantly vegetated and provided the most favourable microhabitat conditions for terrestrial invertebrates. The most heavily disturbed and manured areas within Antarctic penguin rookeries and seal wallows, generally on flat or gently sloping ground, were typically characterised by extremely low invertebrate diversity. In the Arctic, only sites directly beneath densely-occupied bird cliffs were to some extent comparably barren. Invertebrate responses are dependent on a combination of vertebrate activity, local topography and vegetation development.

The work presents a description of female, male, deutonymph and protonymph stages of Sejus persicus sp. nov. collected from leaf-litter, Kheyroud forest in Northern Iran (Mazandaran Province). This...

The fruiting bodies of bracket fungi are a specific microhabitat colonized by various invertebrates of which mites (Acari) are rarely studied, and if they are, the study is usually faunistic. The aim of the research was to determine whether the diversification of mite assemblages (Mesostigmata, Oribatida) inhabiting the fruiting bodies of Fomitopsis pinicola (Sw.) P. Karst. (Polyporales) are connected with the character of the forests and/or the degree of decay (DD) of the fruiting bodies. The research was conducted at Białowieża National Park (BNP), in forests close to natural ones and in Karkonosze National Park (KNP) which was affected by a large-scale forest dieback in the 1980s. Eighty fruiting bodies (40 at each study site) of F. pinicola belonging to four DD categories were collected. In total, 4,345 individuals of 120 mite species were recorded at BNP, and 13,912 individuals of 96 species were recorded at KNP. Analyses revealed that the sample dispersion at each study site was comparable, nevertheless the samples from each study site were clearly grouped into slightly overlapping sets which allow observation of the differences between them. In the less decayed fungi (DD 1 and 2) there were fewer mite species and individual mites than in the more decayed samples (DD 3 and 4). There were also significant differences between the fauna of the fungi in each particular DD: the fauna of DD 1 differed from all others, whereas the fauna of heavily decayed fungi (DD 3 and 4) was more comparable. Supplementary Information The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1007/s10493-021-00635-1.

Bracket fungi are seen mainly as the cause of economic losses in forestry, and their role as creators of biodiversity is relatively poorly understood. The aim of the study was defining the manner in which the degree of decay (DD) of the fruiting bodies determines the character of the invertebrate assemblages colonising them. The effect of this group of fungi on the modification of biodiversity of invertebrates (Aranae, Opiliones, Pseudoscorpionida, two groups of mites—Mesostigmata and Oribatida, and Collembola and Insecta) was investigated by analyzing 100 fruiting bodies of 10 species of bracket fungi divided into four DD classes. The material was collected at Białowieża National Park, which is considered to be the largest area of natural forests in the North European Plain. 16 068 invertebrate individuals classified into 224 species were obtained. Oribatid mites (12 543 individuals) constituted the largest group of individuals, which were classified into 115 species with the most numerous Carabodes femoralis (8,811 individuals). Representatives of this group of mites have been reported previously in the publications on bracket fungi; however, the contributions of Oribatida and other groups of invertebrates were not broadly compared. Moreover, the species such as Hoploseius mariae and H. oblongus, which were predominantly found in fruiting bodies of bracket fungi, have also been discerned. The invertebrate fauna differs depending on DD of the samples: In the more decayed samples, a higher number of both individuals and species were recorded compared to the samples with lower DDs; however, this trend proved to be nonlinear. The DCA and cluster analysis revealed a similarity of the invertebrate assemblages from the 2 DD and 4 DD samples. They also indicated that the group 3 DD differed the most from all the other samples. The indicator species analysis identified species characteristic to individual DDs: For group 1 DD, it was, for example, Hoploseius oblongus; for 2 DD—Orchesella bifasciata; and for 3 DD—Chernes cimicoides, while for 4 DD—Dinychus perforatus., From the viewpoint of forest management, wood‐decaying fungi are mainly perceived in terms of financial losses resulting from the deteriorating timber value. Nevertheless, these fungi create a unique microhabitat of decaying wood; hence, their fruiting bodies play a significant role in promoting biodiversity of many groups of invertebrates.

The paper focuses on genocide and its multidimensional emanations. First, the authors present the definition of genocide and its types as elaborated by Lemkin (Axis rule in occupied Europe: laws of occupation, analysis of government, proposals for redress. Carnegie Endowment for International Peace Division of International Law, Columbia University Press, Washington, DC, New York, 1944): physical, political, social, cultural, economic, biological, religious, and finally moral genocide. Next, ten stages of genocide by Stanton (Genocide Watch, 2016) are scrutinized with some emphasis placed on the verbal issues enabling polarization and dehumanization. The authors point out that modern means of communication, ubiquitous nowadays, make it possible to dehumanize and discriminate against groups of people on an unprecedented scale. Therefore, hate speech and infodemic spread on the Internet, especially social media may be a skillfully used tool of lynch and genocide incitement.

A new laelapid genus, Chapalaelaps gen. nov. is erected and described to accommodate Chapalaelaps granulatus comb. nov. and C. latisternalis comb. nov. Important differences exist between Chapalael...

The paper focuses on hunting as cultural heritage from the semiotic and legal perspectives. The aim of the paper is to determine whether the UNESCO Convention for the Safeguarding of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of 2003 allows recognizing the transmission and exercise of hunting skills within the Polish Hunting Association as a manifestation of intangible cultural heritage. The main research method applied in this research is the test of legal rationality encompassing five elements: (1) the generic coherence of hunting knowledge and skills in Poland; (2) the lack of conflict with the principles arising from universal human rights instruments; (3) the significance of hunting knowledge and skills for nature protection and conservation; (4) the significance of hunting knowledge and skills for economic balance and internal security; and (5) the hunting knowledge and skills versus the idea of nature-related cultural identity. The newspaper and political discourse is highly emotional loaded and frequently instead of merits is based on propaganda and half-truths. Nowadays hunting in general is perceived as the so-called blood sport not an element of ecology in the nature disturbed by humans. Therefore, the paper is intended to present the UNESCO Convention and facts about Polish hunting model as an element of sustainable nature and environment conservation and protection as well as a tool of biodiversity preservation.

Hitherto, around 50 species of the genus Ameroseius are known worldwide, among 12 recorded in Europe. Commonly the descriptions concern females only, thus males or nymphal stages remain unknown. Ai...

Genocide as a part of nation or ethnic group extermination process is not a well-defined concept. Its meaning is understood intuitively. When law intervenes, the issue of defining the term comes back. Nevertheless, the Polish nation has been recognized as subjected to genocide activities during the Second World War by the Nazi Germany and Soviet Union. The paper focuses on the genocide against mainly one group of Poles that is to say foresters. The martyrologic evidence proves that foresters were an occupation group which for a variety of reasons suffered most. The research carried out in this respect by the National Forests in Poland has revealed that over 20% of pre-war staff of the institution actually lost their lives. They were killed by the German and Soviet occupiers, as well as the Ukrainian Insurgent Army (https://www.lasy.gov.pl/pl/wideo/telewizja-lasow-panstwowych/wideo/martyrologia-lesnikow-Katyń-sybir-kresy). In the eastern parts of Poland foresters and their families were deported and sent to various labour and extermination camps e.g. in Siberia. The aim of the paper is to present the scale of genocide with the main emphasis on genocide against foresters. The definition of genocide provided by Lemkin (Axis rule in occupied Europe: laws of occupation, analysis of government, proposals for redress, Carnegie Endowment for International Peace Division of International Law, Columbia University Press, Washington, DC, New York, 79–95, 1994), who coined the term, is a starting point for the analysis. The main research methods included the analysis of pertinent literature and source materials as well as the semiotic analysis of genocide circumstances. The thesis put forward by the authors is that foresters due to their education, practical skills, professional experience and insight knowledge turned out to be the group especially vulnerable and subjected to extermination on purpose.

The aim of the paper is to focus on cyberbullying (Donegan in Elon J Undergrad Res Commun 3(1):33–42, 2012) affecting the community of hunters in Poland. The investigation reveals that linguistic aggression pervades more and more spheres of our lives and the Internet, which gives anonymity and physical distance, is the main forum of cyberbullying. The researchers investigate the material gathered from websites such as “Ludzie przeciw myśliwym” [Humans against hunters], hunting-related blogs and Facebook sites devoted to hunting and related to persons who are known to be hunters (e.g. spokesmen of the Polish Hunting Association). The problem of the stereotypical perception of hunting is also raised (Bartmiński and Chlebda in Etnolingwistyka 25:69–95, 2003. https://doi.org/10.17951/et.2013.25.69). The issues of prejudice, stereotyping and lack of knowledge result in the possibility of inciting people to cyberbully others. People brought up in cities, far away from nature, are easily convinced to attack other groups which they perceive as deviant (Bartmiński and Chlebda 2003). The verbal aggression deeply rooted in stereotypes and prejudice based on limited knowledge of nature, overly idealistic and naïve worldviews becomes more and more widespread. Therefore, the authors intend to provide some insight into the problem of cyberbullying of hunters in Poland in order to find the patterns of that activity from socio-semiotic perspective analyzing verbal signs and symbols used to justify that sort of behaviour as well as socio-linguistic perspective concerning the usage of emotion-loaded language. Additionally psycho-linguistic issues will be touched upon as well as the problem of shaping the image of hunters by media will be discussed.

The aim of the paper is to present the phenomenon of cyberbullying in Poland via emojis. Linguistic aggression is nowadays present in many spheres of human life and social media seem to be the main...

The incorporation of Lucanus cervus (L.) in Annex 2 of the EU Habitats Directive imposed on EU member countries the obligation to prepare protection plans and undertake adequate measures aimed at the preservation of this species. A necessary precondition for their implementation was connected with the identification of current localities of L. cervus. This paper presents the distribution of L. cervus localities in Poland, identified on the basis of a survey conducted in the areas administered by the State Forests. Habitat preferences for the selection of biotopes by stag beetles were evaluated in terms of forest-site types. This will facilitate effective protection of L. cervus by indicating potential biotopes for this species, particularly in areas with high abundance. The survey showed the presence of L. cervus in 176 localities distributed in 47 forest districts. Most of them were found in three main areas comprising forests in the areas of Zielona Góra, Wrocław and the Świętokrzyskie Mts. They constitute large-scale refuges. In 98% of cases the development of L. cervus was associated with oaks Quercus robur and Quercus petraea. Other host plants included Fagus sylvatica and Acer pseudoplatanus. The age of trees colonised by stag beetles ranged from 70 to 248 years, 134 years on average. Lucanus cervus was most frequently found in deciduous mesic forest sites (41% of localities) and deciduous mixed mesic forest sites (24% of localities). Over 90% of recorded localities are situated in forested areas, understood to include stands, residual trees and stumps, as well as localities at forest edges and along roads in the vicinity of forests.

Summer droughts strongly affect soil organic carbon (SOC) cycling, but net effects on SOC storage are unclear as drought affects both C inputs and outputs from soils. Here, we explored the overlooked role of soil fauna on SOC storage in forests, hypothesizing that soil fauna is particularly drought-sensitive, thereby reducing litter incorporation into the mineral soil and, eventually, long-term SOC storage.In a drought-prone pine forest (Switzerland), we performed a large-scale irrigation experiment for 17 years and assessed its impact on vertical SOC distribution and composition. We also examined litter decomposition of dominant tree species using litterbags of different mesh sizes and determined soil fauna abundance and community composition.Long-term irrigation resulted in a C loss in the organic layers (-1.0 kg C m-2) and a comparable C gain in the mineral soil (+0.8 kg C m-2) in the first decade of irrigation, and thus did not affect total SOC stocks. Irrigation increased the mass loss of Quercus pubescens and Viburnum lantana leaf litter more strongly when meso- and macrofauna were included (+215%) compared to excluded (+44%). The enhanced faunal-mediated litter decomposition was paralleled by a many-fold increase in the abundance of meso- and macrofauna during irrigation. Moreover, irrigation led to a shift in Acari and Collembola community composition, with irrigation characterized by the presence of drought-sensitive species. In comparison, microbial SOC mineralization was less responsive to lower soil moisture. Our results suggest that the vertical redistribution of SOC with irrigation was mainly driven by litter incorporation through meso- and macrofauna, here accelerated by irrigation and suppressed by naturally occurring summer droughts.Our study shows that soil fauna is highly sensitive to natural drought reducing the incorporation of C from organic layers to the mineral soil. In the longer term, this potentially affects SOC storage, decreasing the C stored in mineral soil. Therefore, soil fauna plays a key but so far largely overlooked role in shaping SOC responses to drought.

Summer droughts strongly affect soil organic carbon (SOC) cycling, but net effects on SOC storage are unclear as drought affects both C inputs and outputs from soils. Here, we explored the overlooked role of soil fauna on SOC storage in forests, hypothesizing that soil faunal activity is particularly drought-sensitive, thereby reducing litter incorporation into the mineral soil and, eventually, long-term SOC storage. In a drought-prone pine forest (Switzerland), we performed a large-scale irrigation experiment for 17 years and assessed its impact on vertical SOC distribution and composition. We also examined litter mass loss of dominant tree species using different mesh-size litterbags and determined soil fauna abundance and community composition. The 17-year-long irrigation resulted in a C loss in the organic layers (−1.0 kg C m−2) and a comparable C gain in the mineral soil (+0.8 kg C m−2) and thus did not affect total SOC stocks. Irrigation increased the mass loss of Quercus pubescens and Viburnum lantana leaf litter, with greater effect sizes when meso- and macrofauna were included (+215%) than when excluded (+44%). The enhanced faunal-mediated litter mass loss was paralleled by a many-fold increase in the abundance of meso- and macrofauna during irrigation. Moreover, Acari and Collembola community composition shifted, with a higher presence of drought-sensitive species in irrigated soils. In comparison, microbial SOC mineralization was less sensitive to soil moisture. Our results suggest that the vertical redistribution of SOC with irrigation was mainly driven by faunal-mediated litter incorporation, together with increased root C inputs. Our study shows that soil fauna is highly sensitive to natural drought, which leads to a reduced C transfer from organic layers to the mineral soil. In the longer term, this potentially affects SOC storage and, therefore, soil fauna plays a key but so far largely overlooked role in shaping SOC responses to drought., Global Change Biology, 28 (9), ISSN:1354-1013, ISSN:1365-2486

Staff working with nocturnal mammals at Poznań Zoo, noticed erythematous bite marks on their hands and parts of their necks. No perpetrators were immediately obvious, but the bite marks were experienced mainly by persons caring for the slow loris Nycticebus pygmaeus. The purpose of this study was to collect ectoparasites from four N. pygmaeus, to identify the species involved and to ascertain whether they carry any pathogenic organisms that might pose a health risk to people who have been bitten. A total of 51 Ornithonyssus bacoti (Mesostigmata: Macronyssidae) mites were collected from the coats of four slow loris, 37 of which were used for molecular analysis to determine if the mites were carrying any disease-causing organisms. DNA was extracted and screened for candidate pathogens including Babesia spp. and Rickettsia spp., but none were identified. The authors suspect that because the zoo differs in its sanitary and veterinary conditions from those found in nature, the results obtained here may differ markedly from those existing in the natural environment. Although we cannot be certain at this stage that the mites did not carry other pathogens in addition to those that were detectable by the primers that were used, the erythematous reaction to bite marks likely reflects a response to secretions of the mites rather than to transmitted pathogens.

Vegetation is widely used in the assessment of the quality of peatlands, while the invertebrate fauna of peatlands is relatively poorly studied. We compared the bioindicator values of vegetation with two arthropod groups widespread in peatlands, saprophagous Oribatida (Acariformes) and predatory Mesostigmata (Parasitiformes) mites. Samples were collected from ecotones at the edges of peatland ponds in Poland, including four in near-natural condition (i.e., peatlands unaffected by human activity) and three in previously disturbed but now recovering peatlands. A set of abiotic parameters was measured at each site: pond area, mean annual temperature, annual precipitation, and water parameters (pH, conductivity, colour, total nitrogen, phosphorus, calcium, and organic carbon). Overall, 63,635 specimens of Oribatida and 448 of Mesostigmata were recovered in the sampling. Species richness of Oribatida (56 species) was higher than that of flora (46) and Mesostigmata (15). Vegetation was significantly associated with annual precipitation in the years 1998–2007 which accounted for 29.1 % of the variation in vegetation communities. Oribatida variability was significantly associated with the content of organic carbon in water accounting for 32.4 % of variation. In contrast, variation in the Mesostigmata was not significantly associated with any of the abiotic parameters. Vegetation at ponds in previously disturbed and now recovering peatlands had higher bush cover than at near-natural ponds and the pond in the cutaway peat had lowest moss cover and the highest number of associate species (i.e., species with wide tolerance not characteristic of the certain community). Mite communities did not differ consistently between near-natural and recovering peatlands. Sphagnum divinum Flatberg et Hassel was recorded from Poland for the first time. publishedVersion

Pollen used as an alternative or supplementary food source for a predatory mite not only provides important nutrients but also allows the predator to establish a population before prey becomes available. In this study, we compared the pollen of apricot, pear, hollyhock, opium poppy, and date palm, and a factitious prey, UV-irradiated eggs of Ephestia kuehniella, as food sources for Amblyseius swirskii. Different food items affected all development stages differently, except for hollyhock pollen, where eggs failed to develop to maturity. Food type affected the reproductive ability of females, which did not reproduce when fed on opium poppy during immature stages. Most eggs per female were produced when feeding on the factitious prey, and second most with apricot pollen. Feeding on factitious prey compared with pollen, resulted in greater longevity of both female and male adults. Feeding on pear pollen or factitious prey caused, respectively, the lowest and highest population growth rates (r and λ). Both net (R0) and gross (GRR) reproductive rates were highest when the factitious prey was the food source. Among the pollen diets, apricot was the most beneficial food item. Because of their effects on rates of population increase, either apricot pollen or the factitious prey could be further utilized as cost-effective alternative food diets for both experimental and commercial mass rearing of A. swirskii.

Individuals of Proctolaelaps parvanalis collected in the area around Longyearbyen, Svalbard, which is terra tipica, are described. Due to the lack of type material (holotype and paratypes) and complete description, the material became the basis for a detailed description of the species.

In the present paper four new species records of Gaeolaelaps (Mesostigmata: Laelapidae) mites to the fauna of the the United States including Gaeolaelaps elimatus (Berlese, 1920), Gaeolaelaps praesternalis (Willmann, 1949), Gaeolaelaps subterraneus (Willmann, 1952) and Gaeolaelaps zhoumanshuae (Ma, 1997) have been recorded for the first time. The description of two new species for science belonging to the mentioned genus: Gaeolaelaps klompenisp. nov., and G. americanussp. nov. have been presented based on morphological characters of adult females.

This study was carried out at Ny-&Aring, lesund on Spitsbergen in Svalbard (High Arctic). Eight study sites were established along a transect from the fjord to the snout of the glacier. The sites differed from each other by the type of vegetation cover and soil characteristics. Soil samples were collected and placed in Tullgren funnels. Extracted arthropods were represented by two groups of mites (Mesostigmata and Oribatida) and springtails (Collembola). The pioneer species that occurred first after retreat of the glacier were representatives of the Collembola (Agrenia bidenticulata and Hypogastrura concolor). Later, other springtails appeared including Folsomia alpha, Folsomia quadrioculata, Hypogastrura concolor, Isotoma anglicana, Sminthurinus concolor and the first species of oribatid mites, Camisia foveolata and Tectocepheus velatus velatus. Arthropod communities recorded along the transect were characterized by large variations in both species composition and abundance of individuals. The greater the distance from the glacier snout, the greater the species richness (2 to 22 species). The mean number of species per sample was the lowest at site 8 (1 &plusmn, 0.71) (the closest to the glacier) and greatest at site 1 (14 &plusmn, 1.41) (furthest from the glacier). The Simpson&rsquo, s diversity index (D) was distinctly greater at sites 1 (4.61 &plusmn, 0.06) and 3 (3.94 &plusmn, 0.11) than at other sites, especially site 8 (1.07 &plusmn, 0.06). Densities were least in the samples closest to the glacier (30 to 101 individuals, density 3000-10,100 individuals/m2). At the other locations, abundance was highly variable (905 to 7432 individuals, density 90,500-743,200 individuals/m2). The mean abundances were greatest at sites 2 and 3. The great variations in total abundances observed were often due to the presence or absence of one or more dominant species exhibiting extreme abundance variability between sites. The microarthropod community of the High Arctic is composed of heterogeneous circumpolar species, yet on a landscape scale is extremely dependent on local environmental conditions which may be subject to rapid change.

Zelkova abelicea is an endemic tree species growing in several localities in the mountainous regions of Crete, Greece. To date, the microarthropod species associated with this tree species have not been identified. Since Z. abelicea populations are isolated and fragmented, it was hypothesized that the characteristics of microarthropod assemblages, particularly in the case of springtails (Collembola), would vary and differ among localities. Moreover, rare microarthropod species that colonize microhabitats not included in previous studies on Zelkova trees were expected to be recorded. Samples were collected from the bark and twigs of Z. abelicea at eight localities in all main mountain ranges. Among the collected material, Collembola were the most numerous (10,285), followed by Acari (2237) and representatives of Psocoptera (422). The obtained material and statistical analyses showed that the arthropod assemblages differed considerably at each experimental site, with the most distinct assemblage characteristics observed at the Gerakari site on Mt. Kedros in central Crete. The most numerous specimens were species of Collembola: Xenylla maritima (3844), Xenylla sp. 2 (maritima complex) (3364) and Xenylla sp. 1 (maritima complex) (2631). A total of 33 Collembola species were recorded, of which 19 had not been previously reported in Crete. Among them, 11 species were likely new to science and will be the subject of separate taxonomic studies.

A previously unknown male of Cilliba erlangensis (Hirschmann, Zirngiebl-Nicol, 1964) is described based on specimens from Northern Iran. Representatives of the species were found in soil, leaf-litter and moss or in galleries of bark beetles. Th e fi rst description of the male of Cilliba erlangensis and an updated identifi cation key to the known males of Cilliba are also presented.

A reanalysis of the type material of Laelaps elegantulus demonstrates that this species belongs to the Androlaelaps genus. Previously, this species was incorrectly considered to be synonymous with Gaeolaelaps brevipilis (Hirschmann, Bernhard, Greim & Gotz) and G. franzi (Van Aswegen & Loots). A redescription of Gaeolaelaps brevipilis and a key to Gaeolaelaps species of Iran are presented.

There are diverse relationships between mites and birds or mammals. These mites may play an important role in epizootics and in the perpetuation of some significant diseases. The purpose of this study is to revise the current knowledge of mesostigmatic mites occurring on birds, including their nests and mammals and their substrates, in Iran and to compare the results with other regions of the Palearctic ecozone. This study presents a revised list of 38 species of mesostigmatic mite occuring on birds (17 species) and mammals (24 species) or in their nests/substrates in Iran. Dermanyssus gallinae, Ornithonyssus sylviarum and Parasitus hyalinus were found on both birds and mammals. The species composition of mites reported in Iran was compared with other regions of the Palearctic ecozone. Parasites, specifically those from genera Dermanyssus, Ornithonyssus and Liponyssoides, may be hazardous to human health. Species from these genera were predominant among the reported mites.

Despite widespread recognition of the crucial role seabirds play in the fertilization of nutrient-poor polar terrestrial ecosystems, no studies have attempted a concurrent analysis of the entire or large proportion of an ornithogenically-supported food web. The aim of the current study was to assess the significance of allochthonous nutrient enrichment of key elements of the Bjornoya (Svalbard) terrestrial ecosystem by investigating how different seabird species influenced the characteristics of soil, vegetation, and soil invertebrates (direct ornithogenic effects), and also how those characteristics were interrelated (indirect ornithogenic effects). We sampled in the vicinity of a little auk ( Alle alle ) colony, and in areas occupied by great skua ( Stercorarius skua ) and glaucous gull ( Larus hyperboreus ) nests. Our data demonstrate clear, multi-trophic-level, ornithogenic impacts across the terrestrial ecosystem, with most of the measured parameters of soil, vegetation and invertebrates being altered by proximity to bird nesting areas, though to varying degrees. The ornithogenic effects tended to weaken with increasing complexity of interactions between the ecosystem components, with progression through successive trophic levels. The clearest responses were observed for soil (higher nitrogen stable isotope ratio δ 15 N, nitrogen and water content) and vegetation characteristics (higher δ 15 N, N content and total cover, lower diversity and species number, and modified community composition). The responses seen in the invertebrate communities were less clear (community composition change), and were only apparent when major invertebrate groups were considered together and for the assumed decomposers: springtails and oribatid mites, while not in the case of predators (mesostigmatid mites and one spider species). There were also suggestions in the data that different seabird species may have different impacts on the surrounding environment, probably due to their different diet and nesting area topography. However, generally, the species of bird was a weaker factor than the presence of a seabird colony or nest itself.

The multicoloured Asian ladybird Harmonia axyridis is an invasive insect that can negatively influence biodiversity and human economy in invaded areas. According to the enemy release hypothesis, invasive alien species are often little affected by parasites and other enemies. We studied the prevalence of common parasites of insects infesting and infecting H. axyridis in NW Poland. A large sample of 2351 individuals was collected and divided into two groups: 1180 beetles were dissected and examined for the presence of eugregarines, nematodes and Laboulbeniales fungi, and 751 were checked for phoretic mites. Our results show that H. axyridis is indeed parasitized infrequently. The prevalence of eugregarines and nematodes was very low (1.5% and 0.4%, respectively). No specimens of Laboulbeniales or phoretic mites were found. Our study indicates that in NW Poland H. axyridis is rarely infested or infected by parasites. This paper reports for the first time the infection of H. axyridis by the eugregarine Gregarina barbarara.

The article describes the general taxonomical characteristics of the genus Halolaelaps and the description of a new species, Halolaelaps coulsoni n. sp.. Morphological details of the female, male and deutonymph are presented.

Colonisation and immigration history is often neglected as a factor when investigating community or species distribution patterns. However, for dynamic systems that are still reacting to large-scale environmental change, such as the retreat of the ice since the last glacial maximum, colonisation history may explain a large amount of the variation between geographically distinct communities. The High Arctic archipelago of Svalbard presents an opportunity to test whether it is possible to observe the effects of large-scale biogeographical patterns on species distribution at landscape scales. Svalbard has one of the best described inventories of the invertebrate fauna in the Arctic. Nonetheless, the majority of the species records originate from the more accessible west coast and the invertebrate fauna of the whole eastern region, including Edgeøya, is virtually unknown. Edgeøya is located at the eastern fringe of the archipelago on the boundary between Palaearctic and Nearctic faunas. It was expected that post-colonisation dispersal within Edgeøya would conceal routes to the archipelago. Samples were obtained from six locations along the coast of Edgeøya between 2009 and 2010. 140 invertebrate species were identified belonging to 69 different genera of which 16 are new records for Svalbard. Most new species present an eastern Palaearctic distribution. Habitat variables (percentage cover of moss, lichen, vascular plant, or bare soil) fail to explain 35.5% of the differences among sites. However, cluster analysis reveals a clear east–west distribution pattern across the island suggesting that pan-Arctic dispersal routes can be identified even at relatively short geographical scales. © The Author(s) 2019 Open Access. This article is distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/)

In this study we investigated the mesostigmatid mite communities of starling (Sturnus vulgaris) nest boxes. We analysed material from 69 nest boxes collected from a park in Warsaw (Poland). Berlese funnels were used to extract the mites, which were subsequently sorted manually under a binocular microscope and preserved in ethanol. Mites were mounted on glass slides and identified under a microscope. Three species of mites were recorded, namely L. orbicularis (50), which is a granary mite and two parasite mites - Dermanyssus gallinae (3975 specimens) and Androlaelaps casalis (610). In conclusion, the high abundance of the parasites justifies the need to regularly clean the nest boxes.

Two new species records of Oplitidae, Oplitis exopodi Hunter & Farrier, 1975 and Oplitis sarcinulus Hunter & Farrier, 1976 are redescribed based on Iranian specimens from leaf-litter forest in Mazandaran province, northern Iran. A key to the Iranian species of Oplitis is presented.

During the process of slow decay, dead wood is colonized by a diverse group of invertebrates. Pioneer communities of insects are composed of representatives of two families of beetles: Cerambycidae and Curculionidae, which may be carriers for mites. In this paper, we check which species of mites are carried by Monochamus sartor (Fabricius, 1787) in the largest natural forest complex in the North European Plain – The Bialowieza Primeval Forest. Individuals of the species were collected in June and July 2012 with 64 intercept traps. In the context of the previous studies on phoresy of mites on the bark beetle Ips typographus (Linnaeus, 1978) in Bialowieza Primeval Forest, we conclude that the process of colonization of decaying wood by diverse species of insects entails increase in mite species diversity in this habitat (merocenosis). Our research indicates that mites travel on elytra and pronota of M. sartor; however, dimensions (width and length) of these parts of body as well as the sex of the be...

Bromeliads accumulate water in the leaf axils (forming phytotelmata), which may then form a habitat for many animal species of both invertebrates and vertebrates. In temperate regions, bromeliads are commonly displayed in palm houses and distributed by florist wholesalers. Taking into account the fact that global plant trade can be a source of spreading alien species, the phytotelmata that had formed within the bromeliads were examined here in order to study the protists and invertebrates associated with this habitat. In the examined Bromeliaceae micro-reservoirs representatives of testate amoebae (Euglyphida and Arcellinida), Gastrotricha, Nematoda, Rotifera, Polychaeta, Cladocera, Copepoda and mites (Oribatida, Mesostigmata and Heterostigmatina) were found. Additionally, unidentified Nemertea, Turbellaria, Insecta larvae and single representative of Mollusca were also found. Thirty taxa are recorded for the first time from bromeliads micro-reservoirs. Among the identified taxa, the gastrotrich Chaetonotus (Hystricochaetonotus) furcatus Kisielewski, 1991 was found, which was previously known only from bromeliads in the natural environment in South America. Nematodes belonging to Clarkus spp. were found in the Bromeliaceae reservoirs for the first time. Additionally, the tropical mite Phthiracarus (Phthiracarus) phoxos Niedbala, 2004, previously known from Cuba in the natural environment and other greenhouses in Poland, was also found in the studied phytotelmata. Steneotarsonemus ananas (Tryon, 1898) sensu Beer, 1954 was recorded from Poland for the first time. Some of the mite specimens, e.g., Mesostigmata and Heterostigmatina, had most likely accidentally been caught in the phytotelmatum, which acted like a trap; but others, especially freshwater fauna representatives can be a constant element of the phytotelmata merocenoses. Our study provides comprehensive analysis of fauna living in these exceptional micro-habitats, and it underlines the possibility of passive invertebrate dispersal within bromeliad micro-reservoirs and between different localities, e.g., florist shops and markets as well as greenhouses.