Journal of SOIL BIOLOGY and ECOLOGY

Foraging behaviour of brachypyline oribatid mites (Acari: Oribatei)

Authors: E. JULIE AND N. RAMANI

Abstract:

Brachypyline oribatid mites are panphytophagous in nature, feeding on a wide range of food resources comprising both lower and higher plant materials and exert an energetic influence on the soil humification process, leading to enrichment of soil fertility. They show the uniform worldwide distribution and high adaptability to survive and replenish in altering environmental conditions. The present study was envisaged to carry out biological details of some brachypyline taxa of oribatid mites. For making detailed biological studies of higher oribatid mites, soil samples from various litter accumulated areas were collected. Collected samples were extracted under a modified Berlese-Tullgren funnel apparatus in the laboratory. Live mites for biological studies were extracted into collecting vials containing water/moistened leaf/wood pieces. To ascertain the food preference of field-collected oribatid mites, a gut content analysis of 20 species was performed. Food boli and gut contents of live mites were dissected on microscopic slides, spread out evenly in glycerin and observed under a research microscope. Appropriate stains were applied for better observation. The Results of gut content analysis of the 20 species of oribatid mites collected during the present study revealed that Pheroliodes sp. is the only species that showed a deviation in the nutritional habit. The remaining species showed the presence of varied food items like fungal hyphae, spores and remnants of leafy/woody litter components in various stages of digestion, pollen grains etc., along with some unidentified particles in the highly advanced stage of digestion. The food choice test was conducted under laboratory conditions by providing an array of test food items comprised of varied species of fungi, leaf litter of different plants, coconut pith, decayed pneumatophores, cow dung, filter paper etc. Ten of the 20 species considered for gut content analysis were subjected to a food choice test. Of these, Pheroliodes sp. was proved to be macrophytophagous species, while the other nine were categorized as panphytophagous.

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