The community characteristics of soil mites under different land uses in Changchun metropolitan area, China

Soil mites were investigated under different land uses in Changchun metropolitan area (Jilin Province, China). The soil mites were extracted using modified Tullgren funnels and were identified to the genus level. A total of 8 703 soil mites belonging to 92 genera were found. The community characteristics of soil mites were analyzed using individual density, number of taxon, diversity, abundance, and evenness as well as MGP analysis and the MI index. Litter removal considerably decreased the numbers of soil mite taxon, abundance and diversity, and tillage changed the vertical distribution of soil mite individual density in the soil profile and accelerated their move to lower soil layers. The results suggest that the land-use types significantly affect the community structures of soil mites, and litter removal and conventional cultivation are the main factors in play. The studies also suggest that the type of vegetation above ground appears to have little influence on the ecological structures of the soil mite community.