Ecological indication potential of oribatid mites

Abstract

Ecological indication potential of oribatid mites has been emphasized by researchers for several decades. These small arthropods possess biological characteristics through which they are able to indicate different changes in their environment. Oribatid mites can be found in almost every kind of habitat worldwide: terrestrial and aquatic habitats, and a lot of types of microhabitats (e.g, soil, lichen, moss, tree bark, foliage). Apart from the diversity of habitats, their huge adaptation ability is also shown by great abundance and species richness. In most habitats, they constitute the largest proportion of microarthropods. This study deals with works whose results point to the characteristics of oribatid mites that would allow their wider use in the ecological indication than at present.