Biodiversity of oribatid mites (Acari: Oribatida) along an altitudinal gradient in the Central Alps Author Fischer, Barbara M. Author Schatz, Heinrich text Zootaxa 2013 3626 4 429 454 journal article 10.11646/zootaxa.3626.4.2 c44b4b59-b563-465c-bd4b-0c3b4a8c90bc 1175-5326 216337 6D8C178A-C46B-4595-84F5-9D732CBAF7C8 Ceratozetidae Jacot, 1925 Ceratozetes thienemanni Willmann, 1943 Distribution: Holarctic, Neotropical region Habitat: forest soils Obergurgl area: pine forest at 2050 m (Zirbenwald) Diapterobates humeralis (Hermann, 1804) Distribution: Holarctic Habitat: forest soils, in moist meadows, also arboricolous Obergurgl area: pine forest at 2050 m (Zirbenwald) Edwardzetes edwardsi (Nicolet, 1855) Distribution: Europe, Caucasia Habitat: in forest soils and heathes Obergurgl area: pine forest at 2050 m (Zirbenwald), Androsacetum alpinae at 2900 m (Liebener Rippe); previous studies: 1960–1980 m (hay meadows), pine forest at 2050 m (Zirbenwald) Remark: Frequently occurring in alpine habitats. In previous investigations this species was detected only at lower altitudes compared to our recent study—it seems that E. edwardsi has expanded its habitat. Fuscozetes intermedius Caroli & Maffia, 1934 Distribution: Northern Italy—Prov. Bolzano, Trento; Austria , Iberian Peninsula, Western Siberia, Kazachstan Habitat: high-montane and alpine meadows and moss cushions Obergurgl area: pine forest at 2050 m (Zirbenwald), Nardetum at 2300 m (Schönwieskopf), Caricetum at 2600 m (Hohe Mut), Androsacetum alpinae at 2900 m (Liebener Rippe) Remark: This species seems to be restricted to montane and alpine habitats. Fuscozetes setosus (C.L. Koch, 1839) Distribution: Holarctic Habitat: preferably moist soils, in bogs and forests Obergurgl area: pine forest at 2050 m (Zirbenwald), Caricetum at 2600 m (Hohe Mut) Jugatala angulata (C.L. Koch, 1840) Distribution: Central Europe: Northern Italy—Prov. Bolzano, Trento; Austria , Switzerland—Valais, Basel (canopy), Slovenia , Germany , Czech Republic , Slovakia , Poland Habitat: frequently arboricolous Obergurgl area: pine forest at 2050 m (Zirbenwald) Taxonomic and distributional remarks: See Bayartogtokh and Schatz (2008) Jugatala cribelliger (Berlese, 1904) Distribution: Northern Italy—Prov. Bolzano, Trento; Austria , Switzerland—Grisons; Iberian Peninsula Habitat: unknown Obergurgl area: Androsacetum alpinae at 2900 m (Liebener Rippe) Taxonomic and distributional remarks: See Bayartogtokh and Schatz (2008) Melanozetes meridianus Sellnick, 1929 Distribution: Holarctic Habitat: alpine grassland, bogs, wet mosses, forest litter Obergurgl area: Nardetum at 2300 m (Schönwieskopf), Androsacetum alpinae at 2900 m (Liebener Rippe); previous studies: 1960–1980 m (hay meadows), pine forest at 2050 m (Zirbenwald), 2100–2190 m (dwarf shrub community), 2250 m (alpine meadows with lichen communities), 2500 m (scree slope), 2650 m (alpine meadow), 2800–3100 m (Androsacetum alpinae) Oromurcia sudetica Willmann, 1939 Distribution: Central and Southeastern Europe, Caucasia Habitat: high montane and alpine meadows, in moss, frequently in moist to wet habitats Obergurgl area: Caricetum at 2600 m (Hohe Mut), Androsacetum alpinae at 2900 m (Liebener Rippe); previous studies: 1960–1980 m (hay meadows), pine forest at 2050 m (Zirbenwald) Remark: In the present investigation this species has been found only above the timberline. It is the second most common species of Liebener Rippe representing more than 21% of the oribatid mite community. In earlier investigations in Obergurgl O. sudetica occurred solely in meadows on the edge of the timberline reaching high abundances with more than 2400 individuals per m2 representing more than 10% of the community (Schatz 1978, 1979). It is an extraordinary finding that this species obviously migrated from comparatively low altitudes to the high alpine zone and seems to have established a stable population. In 2001 O. sudetica was recorded in the Rotmoos valley (Schatz unpubl.). Trichoribates scilierensis Bayartogtokh & Schatz, 2008 Distribution: North Tyrol, East Tyrol, Vorarlberg ( Austria ); Northern Italy—Prov. Bolzano, Trento Habitat: unknown, hitherto only found in alpine meadows. Obergurgl area: pine forest at 2050 m (Zirbenwald), Nardetum at 2300 m (Schönwieskopf), Caricetum at 2600 m (Hohe Mut), Androsacetum alpinae at 2900 m (Liebener Rippe) Remarks: Trichoribates scilierensis has been recorded at high altitudes of the Central Alps and Southern Alps and therefore seems to be alpine-endemic (Bayartogtokh & Schatz 2008). Remark: This species seems to be restricted to high altitudes of the Central and Southern Alps. In earlier investigations in Obergurgl this species has also been recorded as “ Trichoribates trimaculatus ” (Schatz 1978, 1979). Trichoribates trimaculatus (C.L. Koch, 1835) Distribution: Holarctic Habitat: meadows, dry moss cushions Obergurgl area: pine forest at 2050 m (Zirbenwald), Androsacetum alpinae at 2900 m (Liebener Rippe); previous studies: pine forest at 2050 m (Zirbenwald), 2100–2190 m (dwarf shrub community), 2230–2340 m (alpine meadows with lichen communities), 2500 m (scree slope), 2650 m (alpine meadow), 2800–3100 m (Androsacetum alpinae) Remark: Part of the material from the previous investigations belongs to T. scilierensis (see above). Nomenclatural remark: Validity of name see Weigmann and Norton (2009)