Biodiversity of oribatid mites in two different microhabitats of Khuzestan province (Southwestern Iran)

Two different microhabitats (cropped fields versus established date-palm farms) in two different cities in Khuzestan Province, Southwestern Iran, were sampled monthly during ۲۰۱۱-۲۰۱۲ in order to assess the role of anthropic uses of soil on the biodiversity of oribatid mites. A total of ۱۷ species of oribatid mites belonging to ۱۰ families and ۱۵ genera were identified (nine species were collected from the fields and ۱۷ species were collected from date-palm farms). Among the collected species, Scheloribates fimbriatus with ۲۲% relative abundance and Acrotritia ardua with ۱۹% were dominant species. The Shannon index of species diversity and equitability was used to analyze data. Species diversity of oribatid mites and equitability were significantly greater in the date-palm farms than in the cropped fields. Time of year had no significant effect on biodiversity.

Keywords:

Acari , Oribatida , Biodiversity , Date-Palm , Equitability