Do oribatid mites (Acari: Oribatida) show a higher preference for ubiquitous vs.specialized saprotrophic fungi from pine litter?

Abstrakt

We examined the preference of seven oribatid mite species for nine autochthonous saprotrophic fungi from pine litter (Pinus sylvestris). Among the fungal species offered were specific coniferous litter colonizers and two ubiquitous species.

Our main hypothesis, that oribatid mites (usually occurring in more than one type of ecosystems) would prefer the ubiquitous fungal species rather than those specific to pine litter, was supported only partly. The ubiquitous Cladosporium herbarum was highly preferred by all studied mites, but most of them preferred one or more of the specialized fungi with simile intensity.

The basidiomycete Marasmius androsaceus along with sterile needles were consistently avoided by all mites in all experiments. Our results do not support the hypothesis, that the „true“ fungivorous oribatid mites in traditional sense are more selective fungal feeders than are the „unspecialized“ panphytophagous ones.