The effect of fire on soil oribatid mites (Acari: Oribatida) in a South African grassland*

摘要: Fire is a natural disturbance factor in southern African grasslands, and has become an important management tool for conservation of these habitats. Information on the impact fire any aspect biodiversity will assist land managers to make more informed decisions regime that conserve grasslands. This first study examine responses mite assemblages South The was conducted Erfenis Dam Nature Reserve central Africa. An area burned with fast, hot while another left unburned as control. Soil oribatid mites were collected over period one year from control areas. Oribatid exhibited seasonal patterns, species richness abundance slightly higher early late autumn spring. Four months after fire, there no residual effect total richness. However, composition relative abundances particular species, e.g. Multioppia wilsoni Aoki, 1964, Scheloribates confusia Coetzer, 1968 Anellozetes auriculatus (Mahunka, 1984), differed between plots, demonstrating how targeted can be investigated indicators post-fire recovery.