Oribatid mites (Acari: Oribatida) from the Patagonian steppe, Argentina

MANZO, R.M.; MARTINEZ, P.A; RUIZ, E. V; RIZZUTO, S.

ZOOTAXA

MAGNOLIA PRESS

Lugar: Auckland; Año: 2019 p. 241 - 252

1175-5326

Knowledge of the oribatid mite community from Patagonian steppe is scarce compared with other environments, such asthe Andean-Patagonian forest. In the present research we identified oribatid mites under different environmental conditions:two Patagonian steppe types (grass and shrub), two soil characteristics (bare and covered soil) and two different seasons(autumn and spring). A total of 42 species/morphospecies were found, 13 were new records for Chubut and one was a newrecord for Argentina. In view of its ecological role in soil formation, it is fundamental that knowledge about this fauna isenhanced in order to provide baselines for study and to aid further understanding about its ecology.