Effect of copper smelting air pollution on the mites (ACARI) associated with young scots pine forests polluted by a copper smelting works at Głogów, Poland. II. Soil mites

Abstract

The soil mites were investigated in the areas covered with dead needles in young Scots pine forests (plant associationLeucobryo-Pinetum), polluted by a copper smelting works at Głogów, and in a control plot. The concentration of heavy metals, mainly copper and lead, was the lowest in the control plot, and increased towards the pollution source. A high concentration of these metals reduced the density of mites and species number of Oribatida and Gamasida, while small concentrations were associated with the increasing abundance of mites and species number of Oribatida. Among mites, the following categories were distinguished: a) sensitive to heavy metals, b) sensitive to a high concentration, but tolerant of small concentrations, and c) tolerant of these metals. The changed vertical distribution of mites in the most polluted soil was also observed, due to accumulation of heavy metals in the Of/h horizon.