Vertical Distribution Patterns Of Soil Oribatid Mite Diversity On The North Slope Of Changbai Mountain

Soil animals are an integral part of terrestrial ecosystem.They play an important role in promoting energy flow and material circulation of ecosystem.As one of the most abundant and diverse soil animals,Oribatida contribute significantly to major ecosystem processes such as decomposition and fertility promotion.Changbai Mountain has always been a hot spot to study the vertical gradient pattern of mountain ecosystem,but there are few reports about the vertical gradient pattern of typical soil fauna in this area.In this paper,oribatid mites on the northern slope of Changbai Mountain were sampled to investigate their diversity in four habitats of litter,soil,moss and dead wood at 10 elevation gradients,and a systematic taxonomic study of this group were also carried out according to their morphological characteristics.So we can try to reveal the vertical gradient distribution pattern of oribatid mites on the northern slope of Changbai Mountain.The main results are as follows:1.A total of 27368 oribatid mites were collected at different elevation gradients on the northern slope of Changbai Mountain,belonging to 34 families,40 genera and 47 species.The dominant species were Tectocepheus velatus,Suctobelbella singularis and Ceratozetes mediocris.2.The diversity,richness and evenness index of oribatid mites in litter,moss and dead wood habitats showed a single peak pattern,and reached a peak at 1050 meters above sea level.The trend of dominance index was opposite to that of diversity index.The dominance index reached its lowest peak at 1050 meters above sea level,and then rose along the elevation.3.The MGP analysis of oribatid mites at different elevation gradients showed that the oribatid mites community on the northern slope of Changbai Mountain belonged to G type,and G group > M group > P group.4.A total of 14173 oribatid mites were collected in June and 13195 in September in 2017 on the northern slope of Changbai Mountain.The species number of oribatid mite decreased with the increase of altitude gradient.In low and middle altitudes,the number of species in June is higher than that in September,and in high altitudes,the number of species in June is lower than that in September.5.The cluster analysis based on of diversity index of oribatid mite community showed that the oribatid mites communities on 10 different elevation gradients on the northern slope of Changbai Mountain were divided into three types.The diversity index of oribatid mite community at 900,1050 and 1200 meters are higher,which is different from other elevation gradients.The diversity index of oribatid mite community at 1800,2000 and 2150 meters are lower,and they were divided into one type.