Next Article in Journal
A Translational Model for Repeated Episodes of Joint Inflammation: Welfare, Clinical and Synovial Fluid Biomarker Assessment
Next Article in Special Issue
Tenuipalpus Sensu Lato Donnadieu (Acari: Prostigmata: Tenuipalpidae); New Species Groups, a New Species, and Keys to the World Species
Previous Article in Journal
Efficacy of Liquid Smoke to Mitigate Infestations of the Storage Mite, Tyrophagus putrescentiae, in a Model Semi-Moist Pet Food
Previous Article in Special Issue
Diversity and Distribution of Mites (ACARI) Revealed by Contamination Survey in Public Genomic Databases
 
 
Search for Articles:
Title / Keyword
Author / Affiliation / Email
Journal
Article Type
 
 
Advanced Search
 
Section
Special Issue
Volume
Issue
Number
Page
 
Journals
Animals
Volume 13
Issue 20
10.3390/ani13203189
animals-logo
Submit to this Journal Review for this Journal Propose a Special Issue
► Article Menu

Article Menu

share Share announcement Help format_quote Cite question_answer Discuss in SciProfiles thumb_up
...
Endorse textsms
...
Comment
first_page
settings
Order Article Reprints
Font Type:
Arial Georgia Verdana
Font Size:
Aa Aa Aa
Line Spacing:
Column Width:
Background:
Article

Mites Living in the Nests of the White Stork and Black Stork in Microhabitats of the Forest Environment and Agrocenoses

by
Radomir Graczyk
1,*,
Piotr Indykiewicz
1,
Adam Olszewski
2 and
Marcin Tobółka
3
1
Department of Biology and Animal Environment, Faculty of Animal Breeding and Biology, Bydgoszcz University of Science and Technology, Mazowiecka 28 Str., 85-084 Bydgoszcz, Poland
2
Kampinos National Park, Tetmajera 38 Str., 05-080 Izabelin, Poland
3
Department of Zoology, Poznań University of Life Sciences, Wojska Polskiego 71c Str., 60-625 Poznan, Poland
*
Author to whom correspondence should be addressed.
Animals 2023, 13(20), 3189; https://doi.org/10.3390/ani13203189
Submission received: 4 September 2023 / Revised: 7 October 2023 / Accepted: 8 October 2023 / Published: 12 October 2023
(This article belongs to the Special Issue The Ecology, Evolution, Systematics and Behaviour of Mites)
Browse Figures
Review Reports Versions Notes

Abstract

:

Simple Summary

Mites are one of the most diverse groups of invertebrates that inhabit a wide range of environments. The acarofauna, and in particular Oribatida, inhabiting the nests of the White Stork and the Black Stork has not been thoroughly explored so far. The material collected from White and Black Stork nests in Poland was analyzed. This study presents original data on species diversity, abundance, density, and the age structure of Oribatida mites inhabiting the nests of two stork species that breed in Poland. Of the mites, the most numerous group was Mesostigmata. The average number of Oribatida (80.2 individuals in 500 cm3) was several times higher in the Black Stork nests than in the White Stork nests. Also, the species diversity of oribatid mites was greater in the Black Stork nests (47 species). The species diversity of oribatid mites was also greater in the Black Stork nests. In addition, we noted the potential importance of White and Black Stork nests for mite dispersion and the evolution of interspecies interactions.

Abstract

The White Stork (Ciconia ciconia) and the Black Stork (Ciconia nigra) are well-known model organisms for the study of bird migration, as well as the selectivity of nesting sites and the choice of living environment. The former breeds mainly in open areas, while the latter inhabits forest areas. The acarofauna, and in particular Oribatida, inhabiting the nests of these species, has not been thoroughly explored so far. Therefore, we analyzed the material collected from 70 White Stork nests and 34 Black Stork nests in Poland, between Poznań and Rawicz, and in Kampinos National Park. Our research has increased the faunal and ecological knowledge of the mite fauna inhabiting the nests of large migratory bird species. Oribatida constituted 5–12% of the total mites identified in the nests of White and Black Storks. Their average number was several times higher in the Black Stork nests (80.2 individuals in 500 cm3). Also, the species diversity of moss mites was greater in the Black Stork nests (47 species). In total, the nests of the two stork species were inhabited by 62 moss mite species, with only 22 recorded in both the White and the Black Storks’ nests. The most numerous species included Ramusella clavipectinata, R. fasciata, Oppiella subpectinata, Acrogalumna longipluma, and Scheloribates laevigatus. In addition, we found that juvenile oribatid mites accounted for 0.6% of all the mites in the White Stork nests, with tritonymphs having the largest share, while juveniles in the Black Stork nests comprised 1.4%, of which larvae and protonymphs had the largest share. Our research shows that the nests of large migratory birds provide living space for many mite species. In addition, we noted the potential importance of White and Black Stork nests for mite dispersion and the evolution of interspecies interactions.

1. Introduction

Mites are among the most diverse groups of invertebrates, inhabiting a wide range of environments. Some of them form periodic associations with vertebrates, especially mammals [1,2,3,4] and birds [5,6,7,8]. According to Proctor and Owens [9], at least 2500 species of mites from 40 families periodically reside on the bodies of birds or their nests. Mites present in the burrows and nests of birds function as free-living predators [10,11,12], ectoparasites [13,14,15,16], or coprophilous or edaphic organisms, thus becoming an accompanying fauna that is associated with the micro-environment of the nest or burrow rather than with the birds themselves [5,17,18]. However, bird nests are unstable microhabitats (merocenoses) characterized by specific food, physicochemical, and microclimatic conditions [5,19]. Depending on the type of nest and the bird species it is used by, nests are inhabited by different groups and species of mites, as evidenced, inter alia, by the results of species composition analyses of mites identified in cup nests of the Barn Swallow (Hirundo rustica) [20], Red-backed Shrike (Lanius collurio) and Great Grey Shrike (Lanius excubitor) [15,21] and ground cup nests of the Wood Warbler (Phylloscopus sibilatrix) [22], in natural cavities used by the Red-cockaded Woodpecker (Leuconotopicus borealis) [23], in nest boxes occupied by the Saddleback (Philesturnus carunculatus rufusater) [24] and Starling (Sturnus vulgaris) [16] or in platform nests of the Greater Spotted Eagle (Clanga clanga) and White-tailed Sea Eagle (Haliaeetus albicilla) [25,26]. It is known, however, that the variability of microhabitat conditions in bird nests is determined, among others, by the shape and size of the nest, the type of building material [27,28], the duration of nest occupancy [25], and the setting/location of the nest [13]. These, in turn, significantly affect the composition and abundance of the mite fauna. For example, studies of platform nests built by the White-tailed Eagle have demonstrated that the number of invertebrates present in nests used by birds for many breeding seasons was significantly greater than in nests utilized during one season only [26,29].
The White Stork and the Black Stork build platform nests equal in size to those of eagles. These species breed in Europe in different environments and are characterized by a slightly different biology depending on the breeding season. The areas preferred by the White Stork during the breeding season consist of a mosaic of agrocenoses with a significant proportion of meadows and pastures in river valleys or lake districts and with rural buildings [30,31]. These birds build relatively large platform nests; in Poland, their average diameter is 141 cm (range: 80–230 cm) [32]. The structure of the nest is composed of sticks and branches, usually 3–4 cm thick, arranged in the form of a ring. It is lined with hay, straw, fragments of sod, couch grass, rags, pieces of foil and paper, and sometimes manure [33,34,35]. Storks use the nests for many years (even more than 100 years) [30], building them up and supplementing them with new material almost throughout the breeding season, which means that a single nest can weigh several hundred kilograms or even more than 1 ton [32]. White Stork nests are usually built on power line poles, roofs of houses, chimneys, and trees [31] (Figure 1). Quite frequently, the empty niches located in the base of White Storks’ nests are used as breeding sites by other bird species, e.g., House Sparrows (Passer domesticus), Eurasian Tree Sparrows (Passer montanus), or Common Starlings [36,37,38]. The food brought to the nestlings for about 8–9 weeks, whose remains are left in the nest, is usually obtained from grassy meadows, fields, and shallow swamps located a short distance from the nest, and sometimes also from landfills or slaughterhouse waste [39,40,41,42]. The White Stork is an opportunistic feeder, having a diet composed of earthworms (Lumbricidae), insects (mainly beetles Coleoptera and locusts Orthoptera), as well as fish, amphibians, and small mammals (mainly voles Microtus sp.) [34,43,44,45].
Unlike the White Stork, the Black Stork is a woodland species that, during the breeding season, prefers large patches of moist deciduous or mixed forests, alder trees, and moist coniferous forests. However, it is also found in fresh coniferous forests and coniferous swamps [46,47]. It prefers nesting areas a short distance from rivers, oxbow lakes, streams, and peat bogs [48,49]. It chooses 100+-year-old trees for nest sites, usually oaks (Quercus sp.), pines (Pinus sp.), and black alders (Alnus glutinosa); occasionally, it places its nest on the tops of wooden towers or on the roofs of hunting pulpits [50,51,52,53]. Black Storks can have more than one nest in their breeding area, in which case they change them every few years. They place their nests at a height between 3 and 25 m, but in almost half of the cases, no higher than 15 m above the ground [51,54,55] (Figure 1). Most often, the Black Stork nests in trees with crowns large enough to keep the nest away from the main trunk and, at the same time, in the lower part of the tree crown to ensure good access. The nests are built of branches and sticks, as a rule, no thicker than 3 cm, and the lining consists of dry grass, moss, sod, animal hair, leaves, soil, and clay [54,55,56]. In common with the White Stork, the Black Stork uses its nest for several decades and, in each breeding season, expands it by adding another layer of branches and lining, as a result of which the nest ranges 49–115 cm in diameter, has a height of up to 1.55 m, and may weigh more than 1 ton [57].
Unlike the White Stork, the food brought to the Black Stork’s nestlings is not very varied. For the first 7–9 weeks of their lives, nestlings are fed almost exclusively fish and amphibians, with only a marginal proportion of invertebrates in their diet. Fish account for up to 65% of prey items and more than 85% of the total weight of prey [58,59].
It might be worth mentioning that the micro-environmental conditions in the nests of the two stork species are subject to significant periodic changes. This is because storks are migratory birds, and each year, they use their nests only during the breeding season, i.e., usually from the end of March or April until July or August, and sometimes even until September. During that period, the microclimate and nutritional conditions created by the adult birds incubating their eggs and later by the nestlings (food remains, fragments of feathers, feces, soil, and plants) are far more favorable for the mite fauna than in the autumn and winter periods, when the nest remains empty and the weather conditions are much more severe.
Bird nests as microarthropod habitats have long been of interest to many researchers [2,3,4,27,60,61,62,63]. Until now, most of these studies, including those concerning stork nests, have focused on Mesostigmata mites [35,64,65]. More recently, however, more and more attention has been given to Oribatida mites, both those inhabiting migratory bird nests [7,28,66,67,68,69] and those found in the feathers of these birds [70,71,72]. That latter aspect is important because it concerns the hitherto insufficiently explored role of birds in carrying microarthropods over long distances, e.g., from wintering to breeding grounds, and thus the role of birds in increasing the diversity of mites in northern latitudes and expanding their ranges [27,70].
The present study was conducted to compare the species diversity, abundance, and density, as well as the age structure of Oribatida mites inhabiting the nests of White and Black Storks that breed in different environments, i.e., in agrocenoses and forest communities. In addition, we want to verify the hypothesis that the species composition of mites in the nests of the two species of storks is significantly different due to the fact that the Black Stork and the White Stork enter reproduction in different environments, i.e., in forest communities and agrocenoses (different building materials and food are available). Our research was designed to verify the hypothesis that stork nests provide optimal micro-environmental conditions for the development of Oribatida juveniles. As our research is limited (spatially and numerically), we want to indicate, based on the factual data collected, the direction of future research on Oribatida, including the revision of species found in the national populations of the White and Black Stork.

2. Materials and Methods

The material for the study was collected from 70 White Stork nests and 34 Black Stork nests between 6 May and 2 July 2015 as part of an annual nest in central Poland along a north-south transect between Poznań and Rawicz (51°59′59″ N, 16°52′20″ E) (hereinafter referred to as “Poznań”) and within the boundaries of Kampinos National Park (52°19′1″ N, 20°34′1″ E) (hereinafter referred to as “KPN”) (Figure 2).
The samples with mites, each with a volume of 500 cm3, were obtained from the central part of the nest, from the upper layer of the lining (from a depth of no more than 7 cm), and contained raw organic matter (plant fragments, branches, leaves, feces, etc.) [35,64,73,74,75]. The samples were taken by hand, without mechanical instruments, and then subjected to the extraction process in the Tullgren funnel for 14 days. The Tullgren funnels have glass funnels, each with a diameter of 12 cm. The heating source is 250-watt, 1.0-m-long heaters, two heaters for eighteen stations, and has adjustable height relative to the funnels. Alcohol vials, as a preservative, into which the mites fall, are cooled in the housing and closed; there is no exchange with the temperature of the room. Baskets are composed of plastic and have a height of 7cm.
The extracted mites were preserved in 90% ethanol. The adult and juvenile stages of Oribatida were identified with accuracy to species or genus [76,77,78,79,80,81,82,83,84,85,86,87,88,89], while the remaining mites were identified to order [90]. The mites were characterized using the parameters of abundance (A, in individuals in 500 cm3), the Shannon index (H’), and the Jaccard index [91,92,93,94]. In Section 3, Results, the name White Stork is replaced by the abbreviation WS and Black Stork by the abbreviation BS. Functional groups of Oribatida are given after Weigmann [95], Schatz [96], Bernini et al. [97], Domes-Wehner [98], Fischer et al. [99,100], Weigmann and Schatz [101], and Schatz and Fischer [102].
The basic statistical descriptors included the mean values and standard deviation. Normality of the distribution was tested with the W Shapiro–Wilka test, while the equality of variance in different samples, with the Levene test. To find significant differences between the means, the analysis of variance was conducted [103,104]. The level of significance for all statistical tests was accepted at α = 0.05. The above calculations were carried out with MS Excel 2019 software (Microsoft, Redmond, WA, USA, 2019) and STATISTICA 13.1 (Dell, Round Rock, TX, USA, 2022) software.

3. Results

Based on the research and analysis conducted, it was established that of the 71.72 thou. individuals of mites identified in the nests of White (WS) and Black (BS) Storks, a significantly greater number was found in the nests of the former (respectively: WS—49.55 thou. mites, BS—22.18 thou. mites) (Table 1).
The most numerous group of mites inhabiting the stork nests were Mesostigmata, with a similar share in the total population of Acari in both cases (WS—52% and BS—46%). Although there were 2.5 times more Mesostigmata individuals found in the nests of the White Stork compared with the nests of the Black Stork, their proportion to Oribatida was different; specifically, in the Black Stork nests, the proportion of Oribatida relative to Mesostigmata was 12% to 46%, and in the White Stork nests it was 5% to 52% (Table 1).
Apart from soil mites, also present in significant numbers were groups of ectoparasitic mites (in both stork species—42% each), pest mites (WS—16%, BS—10%), and Dermanyssus (storage) mites.
In addition, it was found that, among the identified mites, the proportion of Oribatida in the entire population ranged from about 5% (in WS nests) to more than 12% (in BS nests). It should be mentioned, however, that the nests of both bird species were inhabited by a similar number of Oribatida (Table 1).
It was also established that the proportion of juvenile Oribatida forms was 11% in the nests of both stork species. In the nests of White Storks, the predominant juvenile Oribatida forms were tritonymphs and deutonymphs (78% and 15%, respectively). In contrast, in the case of Black Stork nests, larvae and protonymphs were the most numerous (38% and 43%, respectively) (Table 1).
In the nests of both stork species, 62 Oribatida species were found, including 22 common species and a relatively large number of exclusive species. In the case of White Stork nests, there were 15 (40%), and in Black Stork nests, there were 25 such species (53%) (Table 2). In addition, in 16 species (26%) of all the identified Oribatida, both adult individuals and juvenile forms were found to be present. Jaccard’s similarity for Oribatida adults identified in White and Black Stork nests equals 47.4%, and for Oribatida juveniles equals 11%.
Most of the Oribatida identified in the nests of both stork species were eurytopic species that prefer grassland habitats, although there were also species typical of woodland and arboreal communities (Table S1). Nearly half of the Oribatida species found belonged to the panphytophage group (29 species, 47.5%). Other groups represented were microphytophages (15 species, 24.6%), macrophytophages (8 species, 13.1%), necrophages (2 species, 3.3%), and coprophages 1 (1.6%) (Table S1).
Furthermore, analyses revealed that the following species were among the most abundant in the White Stork nests: Scheloribates laevigatus, Ramusella fasciata, Punctoribates punctum, Tectocepheus velatus, Oribatula exilis, and Liebstadia similis (Table 3). It might be worth mentioning that all the above species were also found in the nests of other stork species. However, the most numerous species in the Black Stork nests were Ramussela clavipectinata, Oppiella subpectinata, and Acrogalumna longipluma, which were also species found exclusively in the Black Stork nests (Table 3).
It is noteworthy that, of the mite species found in the nests of the two stork species, three were represented only by juvenile forms. These were P. peltifer that were found in the nests of both stork species, N. silvestris (exclusively in the White Stork nests), and A. longipluma (exclusively in the Black Stork nests) (Table 4).

4. Discussion

In this study, we present for the first time some original data on the mites of the Oribatida group inhabiting the nests of two stork species during the breeding season. We show here not only the species diversity and abundance of these mites but also the age structure with the respective proportions of the individual juvenile stages. Of the 62 species we found, as many as 16 (26%) species were represented by juvenile forms. One of the reasons why this is important is that the presence of juvenile forms of oribatid mites can determine the development and survival of predatory species of Mesostigmata. Another reason is that, because of their more abundant intestinal microflora, juveniles show higher metabolic activity in the decomposition of organic matter than adults [105,106,107].
We identified 47 species of Oribatida in the nests of the Black Stork, and a similar or greater number of these mite species have been found so far in relatively poor European forest communities and in fertile deciduous forests [75,108,109,110,111,112,113]. The species diversity of Oribatida in the nests of the White Stork we analyzed was similar in open, moist, and extensively used grasslands [110,111,114,115].
Verifying the hypothesis of environmental influence on species diversity, we found that the greater species diversity discovered in the nests of Black Storks compared with the nests of White Storks may be because Black Stork nests are an integral part of the forest environment since they are set in trees just below the wide crown, and the building and lining material is obtained from the immediate vicinity of the nest. Meanwhile, in the case of the White Stork, nests are set on anthropogenic elements of agrocenoses (buildings, chimneys, poles), which have a natural or direct contact with grassland microhabitats or cultivated fields. As a result, mites have an impediment to vertical migration into the nest.
The majority of the oribatid mites identified in stork nests are eurytopic species, and nearly half of them are representatives of the groups of panphytophages, microphytophages, macrophyphages, necrophages, and coprophages. As is well known, their presence is directly related to the fact that decomposing organic matter of plant and animal origin, together with soil microorganisms and saprotrophic mycelia brought by storks to the nest as building and lining material or food for the nestlings, constitutes a basic diet for the majority of Oribatida [116,117,118,119,120].
Furthermore, the results of our research, particularly the age structure of selected species of Oribatida we have identified, prove that the presence of adult storks and their chicks in nests may alter the living conditions and development of the individual species of mites. Specifically, the presence of juvenile forms in the nests in June may prove the birds’ role in the change in seasonal dynamics of the mite population. However, it cannot be ruled out that the age structure of Oribatida observed in stork nests may be a consequence of dramatic climate changes. Nevertheless, verifying each of the above hypotheses would require in-depth research over multiple seasons.
An intriguing problem that needs further research is the response of Oribatida to an increasing carbon, nitrogen, and phosphorus content in their living environment. This change has been reported to cause an increase in the number of Oribatida in forest soil [121,122], and mixed-species leaf litter [123,124]. Therefore, the nestlings’ excrement with the remaining undigested food residues present in the nest may be expected to periodically increase the nitrogen and phosphorus content and thus affect the abundance of Oribatida. However, the results of studies carried out in the breeding colonies of Great Cormorants (Phalacrocorax carbo) proved that the birds’ excrement, which increases the concentration of nitrogen, phosphorus, and organic matter in the soil under the nests, does not cause an increase in the abundance of Oribatida [125]. It may be worth adding here that nests used by White and Black Storks for many breeding seasons, and thus regularly supplemented with organic matter, contained significantly higher numbers of Oribatida than nests used by these birds during a single season only [64,65]. Finally, it might be worth pointing out that although White and Black Storks are migratory species, we found in their nests no live or dead representatives of African mite species that inhabit the wintering grounds of these birds.
When planning future research, it seems appropriate to focus on determining the seasonal dynamics of mites in stork nests. To achieve this goal, it is necessary, among other things, to collect material at least four times during the season, i.e., before the birds return from the wintering grounds to their nests (in the second half of March), during overbuilding, replenishment of nesting material, and laying of eggs (May), during the rearing of chicks (June), and after the birds leave the nests (August). In addition, it would be necessary to take into account the size, mass, and structure of the nest, determining the microclimate and thus affecting the diversity and abundance of mites.

5. Conclusions

This study presents original data on species diversity, abundance and density, as well as on the age structure of Oribatida mites inhabiting the nests of two stork species that breed in Poland.
The species diversity of Oribatida identified in the nests of both stork species was considered to be average compared to that found in forest communities and agrocenoses. Most of these are eurytopic species typical of the above environments, representing the groups of panphytophages, microphytophages, macrophytophages, necrophages and coprophages.
Scheloribates laevigatus, Ramusella fasciata, Punctoribates punctum, Tectocepheus velatus, Oribatula exilis and Liebstadia similis, were found to be most numerous in the white stork nests, while the most abundant species in the black stork nests included Ramusella clavipectinata, Oppiella subpectinata and Acrogalumna longipluma.
Of all the Oribatida species, only three were represented exclusively by juvenile forms: Nothrus silvestris and Platynothrus peltifer in white stork nests, and (also) P. peltifer and Acrogalumna longipluma in black stork nests.

Supplementary Materials

The following supporting information can be downloaded at: https://www.mdpi.com/article/10.3390/ani13203189/s1. Table S1: List of Oribatida taxons and their preferences, found in the nests of the White Stork and the nests of the Black Stork.

Author Contributions

Conceptualization R.G. and P.I.; methodology R.G. and P.I.; formal analysis R.G. and P.I.; sampling A.O. and M.T.; writing—original draft preparation R.G. and P.I.; writing—review and editing R.G. and P.I. All authors have read and agreed to the published version of the manuscript.

Funding

This research received no external funding.

Institutional Review Board Statement

The animal study protocol was approved by the Institutional Review Board of Regional Director for Environmental Conservation in Poznań (Permit No: WPN-II.6401.167.2015.AS.2) and the Local Ethical Commission in Poznań (43/2010, 44/2015).

Informed Consent Statement

Not applicable.

Data Availability Statement

Data sharing not applicable.

Acknowledgments

We thank the editor and anonymous reviewers for constructive and helpful suggestions that considerably improved the scientific value of this paper.

Conflicts of Interest

The authors declare no conflict of interest.

References

  1. Mašan, P.; Stanko, M. Mesostigmatic mites (Acari) and fleas (Siphonaptera) associated with nests of mound-building mouse, Mus spicilegus Petenyi, 1882 (Mammalia, Rodentia). Acta Parasitol. 2005, 50, 228–234. [Google Scholar]
  2. Napierała, A.; Mądra, A.; Leszczyńska-Deja, K.; Gwazdowicz, D.J.; Gołdyn, B.; Błoszyk, J. Community structure variability of Uropodina mites (Acari: Mesostigmata) in nests of the common mole, Talpa europaea, in Central Europe. Exp. Appl. Acarol. 2016, 68, 429–440. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef] [PubMed]
  3. Kaminskienė, E.; Radzijevskaja, J.; Balčiauskas, L.; Gedminas, V.; Paulauskas, A. Laelapidae mites (Acari: Mesostigmata) infesting small rodents in the Curonian Spit Lithuania. Biologija 2017, 63, 169–176. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef]
  4. Celebias, P.; Melke, A.; Gwiazdowicz, D.J.; Przewoźny, M.; Komosiński, K.; Baraniak, E.; Winnicka, K.; Melosik, I.; Ziomek, J. Species composition, diversity, and the abundance of arthropods inhabiting burrows of the common hamster (Cricetus cricetus L.). Bull. Entomol. Res. 2019, 109, 781–793. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef] [PubMed]
  5. Błoszyk, J.; Bajerlein, D.; Gwiazdowicz, D.; Halliday, R.; Dylewska, M. Uropodine mite communities (Acari: Mesostigmata) in birds’ nests in Poland. Belgian J. Zool. 2006, 136, 145–153. [Google Scholar]
  6. Davidova, R.D.; Vasilev, V.M. Mite Fauna (Acari: Parasitiformes) in Nests of Eurasian Blue Tit Cyanistes caeruleus (Linnaeus, 1758) (Passeriformes: Paridae) and a Comparison with Two Other Passerine Bird Species. Acta Zool. Bul. 2020, 72, 217–224. [Google Scholar]
  7. Napierała, A.; Maziarz, M.; Hebda, G.; Broughton, R.K.; Rutkowski, T.; Zacharyasiewicz, M.; Błoszyk, J. Lack of specialist nidicoles as a characteristic of mite assemblages inhabiting nests of the ground-nesting wood warbler, Phylloscopus sibilatrix (Aves: Passeriformes). Exp. Appl. Acarol. 2021, 84, 149–170. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef]
  8. Malekhina, E.N.; Korolev, A.N.; Selivanova, N.P. Oribatid Mites (Oribatida) Associated with Nests of Hollow-Nesting Birds, on the Example of a Model Species, the European Pied Flycatcher (Ficedula hypoleuca), in the Taiga Forests of the European North-East of Russia. Diversity 2023, 15, 765. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef]
  9. Proctor, H.; Owens, I. Mites and birds: Diversity, parasitism and coevolution. Trends Ecol. Evol. 2000, 15, 358–364. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef]
  10. Fain, A.; Vangeluwe, D.; Defreef, M.; Wauthy, G. Observations on mites inhabiting nests of Bubo bubo (L.) (Strigiformes, Strigidae) in Belgium. Belg. J. Zool. 1993, 123, 3–26. [Google Scholar]
  11. Solarz, K.; Szilman, P.; Szilman, E.; Krzak, M.; Jagla, A. Some allergenic species of astigmatid mite (Acari, Acaridida) from different synanthropic environments in southern Poland. Acta Zool. Cracov. 2004, 47, 125–145. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef]
  12. Ardeshir, F. A preliminary study on mite fauna of bird nests in Iran. Podoces 2010, 5, 112–115. [Google Scholar]
  13. Ambros, M.; Krištofik, J.; Šustek, Z. The mites (Acari, Mesostigmata) in the birds’ nests in Slovakia. Biologia 1992, 47, 369–381. [Google Scholar]
  14. Philips, J.R. A review and checklist of the parasitic mites (Acarina) of the Falconiformes and Strigiformes. J. Raptor Res. 2000, 34, 210–231. [Google Scholar]
  15. Mašan, P.; Fenďa, P.; Krištofik, J.; Halliday, B. A review of the ectoparasitic mites (Acari: Dermanyssoidea) associated with birds and their nests in Slovakia, with notes on identification of some species. Zootaxa 2014, 3893, 77–100. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef]
  16. Błoszyk, J.; Gwiazdowicz, D.J.; Kupczyk, M.; Książkiewicz-Parulska, Z. Parasitic mesostigmatid mites (Acari)—Common inhabitants of the nest boxes of starlings (Sturnus vulgaris) in a Polish urban habitat. Biologia 2016, 71, 1034–1037. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef]
  17. Fendá, P.; Schniererová, E. Mites (Acarina: Mesostigmata) in the nests of Acrocephalus spp. and inneighbouring reeds. Biologia 2004, 59 (Suppl. S15), 41–47. [Google Scholar]
  18. Napierała, A.; Konwerski, S.; Gutowski, J.M.; Błoszyk, J. Species diversity of Uropodina communities (Acari: Parasitiformes) in soil and selected microhabitats in the Białowieża Primeval Forest. In Mites (Acari) of the Białowieża Primeval Forest; Błoszyk, J., Napierała, A., Eds.; Kontekst: Poznań, Poland, 2020; pp. 11–60. [Google Scholar]
  19. Castaño-Vázquez, F.; Merino, S. Differential effects of environmental climatic variables on parasite abundances in blue tit nests during a decade. Integr. Zool. 2022, 17, 511–529. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef] [PubMed]
  20. Møller, A.P. Effects of parasitism by a haematophagous mite on reproduction in the Barn Swallow. Ecology 1990, 71, 2345–2357. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef]
  21. Komczyc, J.; Teodorowicz, E.; Gwiazdowicz, D.J. Mites (Acari, Mesostigmata) in the red-backed shrike Lanius collurio and great grey shrike Lanius excubitor nests. Acta Sci. Pol. Silv. 2011, 10, 37–42. [Google Scholar]
  22. Laska, A.; Puchalska, E.; Mikołajczyk, M.; Gwiazdowicz, D.J.; Kaźmierski, A. Mites inhabiting nests of wood warbler, Phylloscopus sibilatrix (Aves: Passeriformes), in the Wielkopolska National Park in western Poland. Exp. Appl. Acar. 2023, 89, 393–416. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef] [PubMed]
  23. Pung, O.J.; Carlile, L.D.; Whitlock, J.; Vives, S.P.; Durden, L.A.; Spadgenske, E. Survey and host fitness effects of red-cockaded woodpecker blood parasites and nest cavity arthropods. J. Parasitol. 2000, 86, 506–510. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef]
  24. Stamp, R.K.; Brunton, D.H.; Walter, B. Artificial nest box use by the North Island Saddleback: Effects of nest box design and mite infestations on nest site selection and reproductive success. N. Z. J. Zool. 2002, 29, 285–292. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef]
  25. Gwiazdowicz, D.J.; Mizera, T.; Skorupski, M. Mites in greater spotted eagle nests. J. Raptor. Res. 1999, 33, 257–260. [Google Scholar]
  26. Gwiazdowicz, D.J.; Błoszyk, J.; Mizera, T.; Tryjanowski, P. Mesostigmatic mites (Acari: Mesostigmata) in white-tailed sea eagle nests (Haliaeetus albicilla). J. Raptor. Res. 2005, 39, 60–65. [Google Scholar]
  27. Pilskog, H.E.; Solhoy, T.; Gwiazdowicz, D.J.; Grytnes, J.A.; Coulson, S.J. Invertebrate communities inhabiting nests of migrating passerine, wild fowl and sea birds breeding in the High Arctic, Svalbard. Polar Biol. 2014, 37, 981–998. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef]
  28. Gwiazdowicz, D.J.; Niedbała, W.; Skarżyński, D.; Zawieja, B. Occurrence of mites (Acari) and springtails (Collembola) in bird nests on King George Island (South Shetland Islands, Antarctica). Polar Biol. 2022, 45, 1035–1044. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef]
  29. Gwiazdowicz, D.J.; Błoszyk, J.; Bajerlein, D.; Halliday, R.B.; Mizera, T. Mites (Acari: Mesostigmata) inhabiting nests of the while-tailed sea eagle Haliaeetus albicilla (L.) in Poland. Entomol. Fennica 2006, 8, 366–372. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef]
  30. Indykiewicz, P. White Stork Ciconia ciconia (L.); LOGO: Bydgoszcz, Poland, 2004; p. 96. [Google Scholar]
  31. Guziak, R.; Jakubiec, Z. White stork Ciconia ciconia (L.) in Poland in 2004. In Results of the VIth International White Stork Census; PTPP Pro Natura: Wrocław, Poland, 2006; p. 432. [Google Scholar]
  32. Zbyryt, A.; Dylewski, Ł.; Neubauer, G. Mass of white stork nests predicted from their size: Online calculator and implications for conservation. J. Nat. Conservation 2021, 60, 125967. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef]
  33. Creutz, G. Der Weissstorch Ciconia ciconia; NBB 375; A. Ziemsen Verlag: Lutherstadt, Germany, 1985; p. 216. [Google Scholar]
  34. Schulz, H. Ciconia ciconia White Stork. BWP Update 1998, 2, 69–105. [Google Scholar]
  35. Bajerlein, D.; Błoszyk, J.; Gwiazdowicz, D.J.; Ptaszyk, J.; Halliday, B. Community structure and dispersal of mites (Acari, Mesostigmata) in nests of the white stork (Ciconia ciconia). Biologia 2006, 61, 525–530. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef]
  36. Indykiewicz, P. House Sparrow Passer domesticus, Starling Sturnus vulgaris, Tree Sparrow Passer montanus and other residents of the White Stork Ciconia ciconia. In The White Stork in Poland: Studies in Biology, Ecology and Conservation; Tryjanowski, P., Sparks, T.H., Jerzak, L., Eds.; Bogucki Wydawnictwo Naukowe: Poznań, Poland, 2006; pp. 225–235. [Google Scholar]
  37. Tobółka, M. Roosting of tree sparrow (Passer montanus) and house sparrow (Passer domesticus) in white stork (Ciconia ciconia) nests during winter. Turk. J. Zool. 2011, 35, 6. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef]
  38. Zbyryt, A.; Jakubas, D.; Tobółka, M. Factors determining presence of passerines breeding within White Stork Ciconia ciconia nests. Sci. Nat. 2017, 104, 71. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef] [PubMed]
  39. Tortosa, F.S.; Manez, M.; Barcell, M. Wintering white storks (Ciconia ciconia) in South West Spain in the years 1991 and 1992. Die Vogelwarte 1995, 38, 41–45. [Google Scholar]
  40. Tortosa, F.S.; Pérez, L.; Hillström, L. Effect of food abundance on laying date and clutch size in the White Stork Ciconia ciconia. Bird Study 2003, 50, 112–115. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef]
  41. Johst, K.; Brandl, R.; Pfeifer, R. Foraging in a Patchy and Dynamic Landscape: Human Land Use and the White Stork. Ecol. Appl. 2001, 11, 60–69. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef]
  42. Kruszyk, R.; Ciach, M. White Storks, Ciconia ciconia, Forage on Rubbish Dumps in Poland—A Novel Behaviour in Population. Eur. J. Wild Res. 2010, 56, 83–87. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef]
  43. Cramp, S.; Simmons, K.E.L. The Birds of the Western Palearctic; Oxford University Press: Oxford, UK, 1977; Volume 1. [Google Scholar]
  44. Antczak, M.; Konwerski, S.Z.; Grobelny, S.; Tryjanowski, P. The food composition of immature and non-breeding White stork in Poland. Waterbirds 2002, 25, 424–428. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef]
  45. Kosicki, J.Z.; Profus, P.; Dolata, P.T.; Tobółka, M. Food composition and energy demand of the White Stork Ciconia ciconia breeding population. Literature survey and preliminary results from Poland. In The White Stork in Poland: Studies in Biology, Ecology and Conservation; Tryjanowski, P., Sparks, T.H., Jerzak, L., Eds.; Bogucki Wydawnictwo Naukowe: Poznań, Poland, 2006. [Google Scholar]
  46. Del Hoyo, J.; Elliot, A.; Sargatal, J. Handbook of the Birds of the World. Volume 1: Ostrich to Ducks; Lynx Edicions: Barcelona, Spain, 1992; Volume 1. [Google Scholar]
  47. Snow, D.W.; Perrins, C.M. The Birds of the Western Palearctic, Volume 1: Non-Passerines; Oxford University Press: Oxford, UK, 1998. [Google Scholar]
  48. Keller, M.; Profus, P. Present situation, reproduction and food of the Black Stork in Poland. In Les Cigognes d’Europe, Actes du Colloque International; Meriaux, J.L., Schierer, A., Tombal, C., Tombal, J.C., Eds.; Institut Europeen d’Ecologie: Metz, France, 1992; pp. 227–236. [Google Scholar]
  49. Profus, P.; Wojciak, J. Bocian czarny Ciconia nigra [Black Stork Ciconia nigra]. In The Atlas of Breeding Birds in Poland 1985–2004; Sikora, A., Rohde, Z., Gromadzki, M., Neubauer, G., Chylarecki, P., Eds.; Bogucki Wyd. Nauk: Poznań, Poland, 2007; pp. 126–127. [Google Scholar]
  50. Kołudzki, Z.; Wężyk, M.; Kociniak, M.; Zieliński, P. Occurrence of the Black Stork Ciconia nigra in the former Piotrków Voivodship in the years 1994–2001. Chrońmy Przyr. Ojczystą 2003, 59, 5–19. [Google Scholar]
  51. Lõhmus, A.; Sellis, U. Nest trees—A limiting factor for the Black Stork (Ciconia nigra) population in Estonia. Aves 2003, 40, 84–91. [Google Scholar]
  52. Cano Alonso, L.S.; Franco, C.; Pacheco, C.; Reis, S.; Rosa, G.; Fernandez-Garcia, M. The breeding population of black stork Ciconia nigra in the Iberian Peninsula. Biota 2006, 7, 15–23. [Google Scholar]
  53. Vlachos, C.G.; Bakaloudis, D.E.; Alexandrou, O.G.; Bontzorlos, A.; Papakosta, M.A. Factors affecting the nest site selection of the black stork, Ciconia nigra in the Dadia-Lefkimi-Soufli National Park, north-eastern Greece. Folia Zool. 2008, 57, 251–257. [Google Scholar]
  54. Hancock, J.; Kushlan, J.A.; Kahl, M.P. Storks, Ibises and Spoonbills of the World; Bloomsbury Publishing: London, UK, 2010; pp. 70–74. [Google Scholar]
  55. Pottetz, L.; Barowski, A. Black Stork—White Shadow; Pekrul and Sohn GbR, Godern: Pinnow, Germany, 2016; Volume 3. [Google Scholar]
  56. Janssen, G.; Hormann, M.; Rohde, C. Der Schwarzstorch. Die Neue Brehm-Bücherei Bd. 468; Westarp Wissenschaften: Hohenwarsleben, Germany, 2004; p. 414. [Google Scholar]
  57. Strazds, M. Longevity of Black Stork (Ciconia nigra) nests and nest site protection in Latvia. Aves 2003, 40, 69–71. [Google Scholar]
  58. Hampl, R.; Bures, S.; Balaz, P.; Bobek, M.; Pojer, F. Food provisioning and nestling diet of the black stork in the Czech Republic. Waterbirds 2005, 28, 35–40. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef]
  59. Kamiński, M.; Bańbura, J.; Janic, B.; Marszał, L.; Minias, P.; Zieliński, P. Intra-Seasonal and Brood-Size Dependent Variation in the Diet of Black Stork (Ciconia nigra) Nestlings. Waterbirds 2018, 41, 268–275. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef]
  60. Kristofik, J.; Sustek, Z.; Masan, P. Arthropods (Pseudoscorpionida, Acari, Coleoptera, Siphonaptera) in the nests of red-backed shrike (Lanius collurio) and lesser grey shrike (Lanius minor). Biologia 2002, 57, 603–613. [Google Scholar]
  61. Kristofik, J.; Masan, P.; Sustek, Z. Arthropods in the nests of marsh warblers (Acrocephalus palustris). Biologia 2005, 60, 171–177. [Google Scholar]
  62. Kaźmierski, A.; Marciniak, M.; Sikora, B. Tydeinae mites (Acariformes: Prostigmata: Tydeidae) from bird nests with description of three new species. Syst. Appl. Acarol. 2018, 23, 803–823. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef]
  63. Kaźmierski, A.; Laniecka, I.; Laniecki, R. A review of the genus Primotydeus (Acariformes: Tydeoidea: Iolinidae). Syst. Appl. Acarol. 2021, 26, 2320–2337. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef]
  64. Błoszyk, J.; Gwiazdowicz, D.J.; Bajerlein, D.; Halliday, R.B. Nests of the white stork Ciconia ciconia (L.) as a habitat for mesostigmatic mites (Acari, Mesostigmata). Acta Parasitol. 2005, 50, 171–175. [Google Scholar]
  65. Błoszyk, J.; Gwiazdowicz, D.J.; Halliday, R.d.B.; Dolata, P.T.; Gołdyn, B. Nests of the black stork Ciconia nigra as a habitat for mesostigmatid mites (Acari: Mesostigmata). Biologia 2009, 64, 962–968. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef]
  66. Shakhab, S.V. Oribatid mites (Oribatei, Acariformes) in nests of passerine birds. Entomol. Rev. 2006, 86, 173–176. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef]
  67. Coulson, S.J.; Moe, B.; Monson, F.; Gabrielsen, G.W. The invertebrate fauna of High Arctic seabird nests: The microarthropod community inhabiting nests on Spitsbergen, Svalbard. Polar Biol. 2009, 32, 1041–1046. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef]
  68. Makarova, O.L.; Osadtchy, A.V.; Melnikov, M.V. Gamasid Mites (Parasitiformes, Mesostigmata) in Nests of Passerine Birds on the Arctic Seven Islands Archipelago, the Barents Sea. Entomol. Rev. 2010, 90, 643–649. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef]
  69. Melekhina, E.N.; Matyukhin, A.V.; Glazov, P.M. Oribatid mites in nests of the Lapland Bunting (Calcarius lapponicus) on the arctic island of Vaygach (with analysis of the islands fauna). Proc. Karelian Sci. Cent. Russ. Acad. Sci. 2019, 8, 108–122. [Google Scholar]
  70. Lebedeva, N.V.; Krivolutsky, D.A. Birds Spread Soil Microarthropods to Arctic Islands. Doklady Biol. Sci. 2003, 391, 329–332. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef]
  71. Krivolutsky, D.A.; Lebedeva, N.V. Oribatid mites (Oribatei) in bird feathers. Part 2. Passeriformes. Acta Zool. Litu. 2004, 14, 19–38. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef]
  72. Krivolutsky, D.A.; Lebedeva, N.V.; Gavrilo, M.V. Soil microartrhropods in the feathers of Antarctic birds. Doklady Biol. Sci. 2004, 397, 342–345. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef]
  73. Napierała, A.; Błoszyk, J. Unstable microhabitats (merocenoses) as specific habitats of Uropodina mites (Acari: Mesostigmata). Exp. Appl. Acarol. 2013, 60, 163–180. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef]
  74. Lebedeva, N.; Poltavskaya, M. Oribatid mites (Acari, Oribatida) of plain area of the Southern European Russia. Zootaxa 2013, 3709, 101–133. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef] [PubMed]
  75. Skubała, S. Microhabitats and oribatid fauna: Comparison of 2 sampling approaches. Biol. Lett. 2016, 53, 31–47. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef]
  76. Seniczak, S. Revision of the family Oppiidae Grandjean 1953 (Acarina, Oribatei). Acarologia 1975, 17, 331–345. [Google Scholar]
  77. Seniczak, S. The morphology of juvenile stages of soil mites of the family Achipteriidae (Acari: Oribatei), I. Ann. Zool. 1978, 34, 89–99. [Google Scholar]
  78. Seniczak, S. The morphology of the juvenile stages of moss mites of the family Scheloribatidae Grandjean, 1953 (Acari, Oribatei), I. Acta Zool. Cracov. 1980, 24, 487–500. [Google Scholar]
  79. Seniczak, S. The morphology of juvenile stages of moss mites of the subfamily Trichoribatinae (Acari: Oribatei), II. Ann. Zool. 1980, 35, 221–231. [Google Scholar]
  80. Seniczak, S. The morphology of juvenile stages of moss mites of the family Pelopidae Ewing (Acarida, Oribatida), II. Ann. Zool. 1988, 41, 383–393. [Google Scholar]
  81. Seniczak, S. The morphology of juvenile stages of moss mites of the family Scheloribatidae (Acarida, Oribatida), II. Ann. Zool. 1990, 43, 299–308. [Google Scholar]
  82. Seniczak, S. The morphology of juvenile stages of moss mites of the family Nanhermanniidae (Acari: Oribatida). I. Zool. Anz. 1991, 227, 300–319. [Google Scholar]
  83. Seniczak, S. The morphology of juvenile stages of moss mites of the family Trhypochthoniidae (Acari: Oribatida), I. Zool. Jahr. 1992, 229, 413–423. [Google Scholar]
  84. Seniczak, S. The morphology of juvenile stages of moss mites of the family Nothridae (Acari: Oribatida). I. Zool. Anz. 1992, 229, 134–148. [Google Scholar]
  85. Seniczak, S. The morphology of juvenile stages of moss mites of the subfamily Trichoribatinae (Acari, Oribatida). IV. Zool. Anz. 1993, 230, 137–151. [Google Scholar]
  86. Seniczak, S.; Klimek, A. The morphology of juvenile stages of moss mites of the family Camisiidae (Acari, Oribatida). I. Zool. Anz. 1990, 225, 71–86. [Google Scholar]
  87. Seniczak, S.; Seniczak, A. Morphology of juvenile stages of three species of the genus Punctoribates Berlese, 1908 (Acari: Oibatida: Mycobatidae). Ann. Zool. 2008, 58, 473–485. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef]
  88. Seniczak, S.; Iturrondobeitia, J.C.; Seniczak, S. The ontogeny of morphological traits in three species of Galumnidae (Acari: Oribatida). Int. J. Acar. 2012, 38, 612–638. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef]
  89. Ermilov, S.G.; Weigmann, G.; Tolstikov, A.V. Morphology of adult and juvenile instars of Galumna obvia (Acari, Oribatida, Galumnidae), with discussion of its taxonomic status. ZooKeys 2013, 357, 11–28. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef] [PubMed]
  90. Lindquist, E.E.; Krantz, G.W.; Walter, D.E. Classification. In A Manual of Acarology; Krantz, G.W., Walter, D.E., Eds.; TTU Press: Lubbock, TX, USA, 2009; pp. 97–103. [Google Scholar]
  91. Niedbała, W. Mosses-Mites of Terrestrial Ecosystems; PWN: Warszawa, Poland, 1980. (In Polish) [Google Scholar]
  92. Odum, E.P. Basics of Ecology; PWRiL: Warszawa, Poland, 1982. (In Polish) [Google Scholar]
  93. Boczek, J. Outline of Agricultural Acarology. A Textbook for Students of Plant Protection; PWN: Warszawa, Poland, 1999; p. 358. (In Polish) [Google Scholar]
  94. Czachorowski, S. Describing Biocenosis—Zoocenology. Master’s Thesis, University of Warmia and Mazury, Olsztyn, Poland, 2006. [Google Scholar]
  95. Weigmann, G. Hornmilben (Oribatida). Die Tierwelt Deutschlands 76 Teil; Goecke & Evers: Keltern, Germany, 2006. [Google Scholar]
  96. Schatz, H. Catalogus Fauna Austriae Teil IXi, U. Ordn.: Oribatei, Hornmilben; Akademie der Wissenschaften: Vienna, Austria, 1983. [Google Scholar]
  97. Bernini, F.; Avanzati, A.M.; Bernini, S. Notulae Oribatologicae XXXVII. Gli Acari Oribatei del Massiccio del Pollino (Italia Meridionale): Aspetti faunistici e biogeografici. Biogeogr. J. Integr. Biogeogr. 1987, 10, 379–488. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef]
  98. Domes-Wehner, K. Parthenogenesis and Sexuality in Oribatid Mites, Phylogeny Mitochondrial Genome Structure and Resource Dependence. Ph.D. Thesis, Fachbereich Biologie der Technischen Universität, Darmstadt, Germany, 2009. [Google Scholar]
  99. Fischer, B.M.; Schatz, H.; Maraun, M. Community structure, trophic position and reproductive mode of soil and bark-living oribatid mites in an alpine grassland ecosystem. Exp. Appl. Acarol. 2010, 52, 221–237. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef]
  100. Fischer, B.M.; Meyer, E.; Maraun, M. Positive correlation of trophic level and proportion of sexual taxa of oribatid mites (Acari: Oribatida) in alpine soil systems. Exp. Appl. Acarol. 2014, 63, 465–479. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef] [PubMed]
  101. Weigmann, G.; Schatz, H. Redescription of Coronoquadroppia monstruosa (Hammer, 1979) (Acari, Oribatida, Quadroppiidae) from Java and variability of the species in Europe. Zootaxa 2015, 3926, 329–350. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef] [PubMed]
  102. Schatz, H.; Fischer, B.M. Hornmilben (Acari, Oribatida). In Tag der Artenvielfalt 2015 in Weissenbach (Gemeinde Sarntal, Südtirol, Italien); Schatz, H., Wilhalm, T., Eds.; Gredleriana 2016; Volume 16, pp. 113–132. Available online: https://www.zobodat.at/pdf/Gredleriana_016_0181-0234.pdf (accessed on 3 September 2023).
  103. McDonald, J.H. Handbook of Biological Statistics, 2nd ed.; Sparky House Publishing: Baltimore, MD, USA, 2009; p. 319. [Google Scholar]
  104. Stanisz, A. Easy Course of Statistic Using Statistica PL and Medicine Examples, 1. In Basic Statistic; StatSoft Polska: Kraków, Poland, 2006; p. 532. (In Polish) [Google Scholar]
  105. Seniczak, S. Juvenile Stages (Acai, Oribatei) as an Important Component of the Groupings of These Mites that Process Soil Organic Matter; Scripts and Supporting Texts; UMK Toruń: Toruń, Poland, 1978. (In Polish) [Google Scholar]
  106. Seniczak, S.; Stefaniak, O. The microflora of the effect of the alimentary canal of Oppia nitens (Acarina, Oribatei). Pedobiologia 1978, 18, 110–119. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef]
  107. Siepel, H.; De Ruiter-Dijkman, E.M. Feeding guilds of oribatid mites based on their carbohydrase activities. Soil Biol. Biochem. 1993, 25, 1491–1497. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef]
  108. Seniczak, S.; Graczyk, R.; Seniczak, A.; Faleńczyk-Koziróg, K.; Kaczmarek, S.; Marquardt, T. Microhabitat preferences of Oribatida and Mesostigmata (Acari) inhabiting lowland beech forest in Poland and the trophic interactions between these mites. Eur. J. Soil Biol. 2018, 87, 25–32. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef]
  109. Graczyk, R. Moss Mites (Acari, Oribatida) of Selected Microhabitats of One-Storey Dry Coniferous Forests Cladonio-Pinetum on Forest and Post-Agricultural Soil; University of Technology and Life Sciences Publishing House: Bydgoszcz, Poland, 2020; p. 204. (In Polish) [Google Scholar]
  110. Olszanowski, Z.; Rajski, A.; Niedbała, W. Catalog of the Fauna of Poland. Mites (Acari), Mosses (Oribatida); Sorus: Poznań, Poland, 1996; Volume 34, pp. 1–243. (In Polish) [Google Scholar]
  111. Norton, R.A.; Behan-Pelletier, V.M. Suborder Oribatida. In A manual of Acarology, 3rd ed.; Krantz, G.W., Walter, D.E., Eds.; Texas Tech University Press: Lubbock, TX, USA, 2009; pp. 430–564. [Google Scholar]
  112. Sokołowska, M.; Duras, M.; Skubała, P. Oribatid Mites Communities (Acari: Oribatida) in Dead Wood of Protected Areas under Strong Anthropogenic Pressure Contributions to Soil Zoology in Central Europe III; Tajovský, K., Schlaghamerský, J., Pižl, V., Eds.; ISB BC AS CR, v.v.i.: České Budějovice, Czech Republic, 2009; pp. 151–155. [Google Scholar]
  113. Skubała, S.; Sokołowska, M. Oribatid fauna (Acari, Oribatida) in fallen spruce trees in the Babia Góra National Park. Biol. Lett. 2006, 43, 243–248. [Google Scholar]
  114. Rajski, A. Ecological and faunal study of mosses (Acari, Oribatei) in several plant communities. I. Ekologia. Prace Kom. Biol. PTPN. 1961, 25, 123–283. [Google Scholar]
  115. Rajski, A. Autecological—Zoogeographical analysis of moss mites (Acari, Oribatei) on the basis of fauna in the Poznań environs. Part II. Fragm. Faun. 1968, 12, 277–405. [Google Scholar]
  116. Hag, M.A. Role of Oribatid Mites in Soil Ecosystem. In Ecology and Biology of Soil Organisms; Agrotech Publishing Academy: Udaipur, India, 1994; pp. 143–177. [Google Scholar]
  117. Labandeira, C.C.; Phillips, T.L.; Norton, R.A. Oribatid mites and the decomposition of plant tissues in Palaeozoic coal swamp forests. Palaios 1997, 12, 319–353. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef]
  118. Smrž, J. Interactions between oribatids and micro-organisms: A complex method of study. Appl. Soil Ecol. 1998, 9, 109–110. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef]
  119. Walter, D.E.; Proctor, H.C. Mites: Ecology, Evolution and Behavior: Life at a Microscale, 2nd ed.; Springer: Dordrecht, The Netherlands; Heidelberg, Germany; New York, NY, USA; London, UK, 2013. [Google Scholar]
  120. Vu, Q.M. The Oribatid Mite Fauna (Acari: Oribatida) of Vietnam—Systematics, Zoogeography and Formation; Pensoft: Sofia, Bulgaria; Moscow, Russia, 2015. [Google Scholar]
  121. Salamon, J.A.; Alphei, J.; Ruf, A.; Schaefer, M.; Scheu, S.; Schneider, K.; Sührig, A.; Maraun, M. Transitory dynamic effects in the soil invertebrate community in a temperate deciduous forest: Effects of resource quality. Soil Biol. Biochem. 2006, 38, 209–221. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef]
  122. Huhta, V. The role of soil fauna in ecosystems: A historical review. Pedobiologia 2007, 50, 489–495. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef]
  123. Gartner, T.B.; Cardon, Z.G. Decomposition dynamics in mixed-species leaf litter. Oikos 2004, 104, 230–246. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef]
  124. Wardle, D.A. The influence of biotic interactions on soil biodiversity. Ecol. Lett. 2006, 9, 870–886. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef] [PubMed]
  125. Oszust, M.; Klimaszyk, P. Soil conditions under cormorant colonies favor for mites excepting Oribatida. Acarologia 2022, 62, 974–988. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef]
Animals 13 03189 g001
Figure 1. Black Stork nests located in the branches of old trees (top row, fot. Adam Olszewski) and White Stork nests located on a power pole, building roof, and chimney (fot. Marcin Tobółka).
Figure 1. Black Stork nests located in the branches of old trees (top row, fot. Adam Olszewski) and White Stork nests located on a power pole, building roof, and chimney (fot. Marcin Tobółka).
Animals 13 03189 g001
Animals 13 03189 g002
Figure 2. Map of the study area; the black circle denotes localities with Black Stork nests, and the white circle denotes localities with White Stork nests; shades of green indicate terrain.
Figure 2. Map of the study area; the black circle denotes localities with Black Stork nests, and the white circle denotes localities with White Stork nests; shades of green indicate terrain.
Animals 13 03189 g002
Table 1. Density [individuals in 500 cm3 ± SD (standard deviation)] of mites in the nests of the White Stork and the nests of the Black Stork.
Table 1. Density [individuals in 500 cm3 ± SD (standard deviation)] of mites in the nests of the White Stork and the nests of the Black Stork.
GroupWhite StorkBlack Stork ANOVA
MeanSDTotal%MeanSDTotal%Total Number of IndividualsFp
Oribatida A 117.127.323874.871.4167.0242911.0481613.59<0.001
Oribatida L0.10.480.023.49.01140.512219.06<0.001
Oribatida PN0.10.5120.023.814.11280.61409.630.002
Oribatida DN0.31.0460.10.83.6270.1731.720.191
Oribatida TN1.74.62390.50.92.3310.12700.970.327
Oribatida Juv2.25.53050.68.824.42991.36048.680.004
Oribatida Tot19.229.926925.480.2182.6272812.3542014.29<0.001
Mesostigmata184.6286.725,85052.2299.7447.410,19146.036,0413.460.065
Other150.0361.621,00342.4272.2783.6925641.730,2591.830.178
Acari353.9483.249,545100652.2933.522,17510071,7206.840.010
1 A—adults, L—larvae, PN—protonymphs, DN—deutonymphs, TN—tritonymphs, Tot—totally.
Table 2. Number of species (S) of Oribatida and Shannon index (H’) in the nests of the White Stork and the nests of the Black Stork.
Table 2. Number of species (S) of Oribatida and Shannon index (H’) in the nests of the White Stork and the nests of the Black Stork.
White StorkBlack Stork
Total number of species62
S37 (59.7%)47 (75.8%)
Common species22 (35.5%)
Exclusive species15 (40.5%)25 (53.2%)
Number of species with juveniles10 (1 1)11 (3 1)
H’2.4651.952
1 the numbers of exclusive species.
Table 3. Average density [individuals in 500 cm3 ± SD (standard deviation)] and total number of individuals species of Oribatida in the nests of the White Stork and the nests of the Black Stork.
Table 3. Average density [individuals in 500 cm3 ± SD (standard deviation)] and total number of individuals species of Oribatida in the nests of the White Stork and the nests of the Black Stork.
TaxonWhite StorkBlack Stork
MeanSDTotalMeanSDTotal
Scheloribates laevigatus (C. L. Koch, 1835)3.811.65311.73.059
Ramusella fasciata (Paoli, 1908)3.214.84470.42.615
Punctoribates punctum (C.L. Koch, 1839)2.97.94121.44.049
Tectocepheus velatus (Michael, 1880)1.32.31800.92.231
Oribatula exilis (Nicolet, 1855)1.13.01482.810.094
Liebstadia similis (Michael 1888)0.92.51271.03.633
Oppia denticulata (Canestrini, 1882) 0.93.11201.68.855
Oribatula pannonica (Willmann, 1949)0.96.6120nf 1nfnf
Trichoribates trimaculatus (C. L. Koch, 1835)0.81.51070.41.814
Eupelops occultus (C. L. Koch, 1835)0.71.7950.10.55
Galumna obvia (Berlese, 1915)0.52.3710.10.32
Achipteria nitens (Nicolet, 1855)0.53.5700.62.221
Achipteria coleoptrata (Linné, 1758)0.30.7402.26.374
Platynothrus peltifer (C.L. Koch, 1839)0.31.2360.82.327
Scheloribates palidulus (C.L. Koch, 1841)0.20.733nfnfnf
Tectoribates ornatus (Schuster, 1958)0.20.924nfnfnf
Trichoribates incisellus (Kramer, 1897)0.10.619nfnfnf
Pergalumna nervosa (Berlese, 1914)0.10.7131.14.039
Chamobates cuspidatus (Michael, 1884)0.10.5130.31.110
Neoribates aurantiacus (Oudemans, 1914)0.10.512nfnfnf
Diapterobates humeralis (Hermann, 1804)0.10.310nfnfnf
Eupelops subuliger (Berlese, 1916) 0.10.410nfnfnf
Oppiella nova (Oudemans, 1902)<0.10.452.29.875
Eniochtchonius minutissimus (Berlese, 1903)<0.10.35nfnfnf
Ceratozetes gracillis (Michael, 1884)<0.10.35nfnfnf
Carabodes labyrinthicus (Michael, 1879)<0.10.240.61.621
Liacarus coracinus (C.L. Koch, 1841)<0.10.240.10.32
Spatiodamaeus verticilipes (Nicolet, 1855)<0.10.240.10.32
Eupelops plicatus (C.L. Koch, 1836) <0.10.24nfnfnf
Nothrus silvestris (Nicolet, 1855)<0.10.34nfnfnf
Minutozetes pseudofusiger (Schweizer, 1922)<0.10.230.20.98
Phthiracarus sp. (Perty, 1841)<0.10.23<0.10.21
Punctoribates hexagonus (Berlese, 1908)<0.10.13nfnfnf
Ramusella furcata (Willmann, 1928)<0.10.13nfnfnf
Peloptulus phenotu (C. L. Koch, 1844)<0.10.23nfnfnf
Nanhermannia nana (Nicolet, 1855)<0.10.220.20.66
Adoristes ovatus (C.L. Koch, 1839)<0.10.22nfnfnf
Ramusella calvipectinata (Michael, 1885)nfnfnf38.5110.51308
Oppiella subpectinata (Oudemans, 1900)nfnfnf9.656.3328
Acrogalumna longipluma (Berlese, 1904)nfnfnf8.429.1287
Oribella pectinata (Michael, 1885)nfnfnf1.88.661
Suctobelbella subtrigona (Oudemans, 1916)nfnfnf0.42.213
Suctobelbella sarekensis (Forsslund, 1941)nfnfnf0.41.613
Autogneta longilamellata (Michael, 1885)nfnfnf0.21.08
Phthiracarus italicus (Oudemans, 1906)nfnfnf0.21.48
Scheloribates initialis (Berlese, 1908)nfnfnf0.21.08
Hypochthonius rufulus (C.L. Koch, 1835)nfnfnf0.20.97
Liebstadia humerata (Sellnick, 1928)nfnfnf0.20.87
Steganacarus carinatus (C.L. Koch, 1841)nfnfnf0.20.56
Subiasella quadrimaculata (Evans, 1952)nfnfnf0.20.66
Phauloppia rauschenensis (Sellnick, 1908)nfnfnf0.10.74
Microppia minus (Paoli, 1908)nfnfnf0.10.44
Carabodes willmani (Bernini, 1975)nfnfnf0.10.53
Licneremaeus licnophorus (Michael, 1882)nfnfnf0.10.53
Licnodamaeus pulcherimus (Paoli, 1908)nfnfnf0.10.32
Eueremaeus oblongus (C.L. Koch, 1835)nfnfnf0.10.22
Oribatella reticulata (Berlese, 1916)nfnfnf0.10.22
Carabodes ornatus (Štorkán, 1925)nfnfnf0.10.32
Furcoribula furcillata (Nordenskiöld, 1901)nfnfnf<0.10.21
Metabelba pulverosa (Strenzke, 1953)nfnfnf<0.10.21
Zetorchestes falzonii (Coggi, 1898)nfnfnf<0.10.21
Fuscozetes fuscipes (C. L. Koch, 1844)nfnfnf<0.10.21
1 nf—not found.
Table 4. Age structure [average density of individuals in 500 cm3 ± SD (standard deviation) and total number of individuals] of Oribatida species with identified juveniles in the nests of the White Stork and the nests of the Black Stork.
Table 4. Age structure [average density of individuals in 500 cm3 ± SD (standard deviation) and total number of individuals] of Oribatida species with identified juveniles in the nests of the White Stork and the nests of the Black Stork.
TaxonSymbol 1White StorkBlack Stork
MeanSDTotalMeanSDTotal
Scheloribates laevigatusJuv0.72.597nf 2nfnf
Tot3.811.65311.73.059
Punctoribates punctumJuv0.31.244nfnfnf
Tot2.97.94121.44.049
Platynothrus peltiferJuv0.31.2360.51.917
Tot0.31.2360.82.327
Liebstadia similisJuv0.21.1300.21.06
Tot0.92.51271.03.633
Trichoribates trimaculatusJuv0.20.7290.21.06
Tot0.81.51070.41.814
Galumna obviaJuv0.21.021nfnfnf
Tot0.52.3710.10.32
Eupelops occultusJuv0.20.621nfnfnf
Tot0.71.7950.10.55
Oribatula exilisJuv0.10.8161.05.035
Tot1.13.01482.810.094
Tectocepheus velatusJuv0.10.570.20.66
Tot1.32.31800.92.231
Nothrus silvestrisJuv<0.10.34nfnfnf
Tot<0.10.34nfnfnf
Acrogalumna longiplumaJuvnfnfnf5.922.1200
Totnfnfnf8.429.1287
Achipteria coleoptrataJuvnfnfnf0.41.612
Tot0.30.7402.26.374
Pergalumna nervosaJuvnfnfnf0.41.512
Tot0.10.7131.14.039
Hypochthonius rufulusJuvnfnfnf0.10.43
Totnfnfnf0.20.97
Chamobates cuspidatusJuvnfnfnf<0.10.21
Tot0.10.5130.31.110
Eueremaeus oblongusJuvnfnfnf<0.10.21
Totnfnfnf0.10.22
1 Juv—juveniles, Tot—totally, 2 nf—not found.
Disclaimer/Publisher’s Note: The statements, opinions and data contained in all publications are solely those of the individual author(s) and contributor(s) and not of MDPI and/or the editor(s). MDPI and/or the editor(s) disclaim responsibility for any injury to people or property resulting from any ideas, methods, instructions or products referred to in the content.

Share and Cite

MDPI and ACS Style

Graczyk, R.; Indykiewicz, P.; Olszewski, A.; Tobółka, M. Mites Living in the Nests of the White Stork and Black Stork in Microhabitats of the Forest Environment and Agrocenoses. Animals 2023, 13, 3189. https://doi.org/10.3390/ani13203189

AMA Style

Graczyk R, Indykiewicz P, Olszewski A, Tobółka M. Mites Living in the Nests of the White Stork and Black Stork in Microhabitats of the Forest Environment and Agrocenoses. Animals. 2023; 13(20):3189. https://doi.org/10.3390/ani13203189

Chicago/Turabian Style

Graczyk, Radomir, Piotr Indykiewicz, Adam Olszewski, and Marcin Tobółka. 2023. "Mites Living in the Nests of the White Stork and Black Stork in Microhabitats of the Forest Environment and Agrocenoses" Animals 13, no. 20: 3189. https://doi.org/10.3390/ani13203189

Note that from the first issue of 2016, this journal uses article numbers instead of page numbers. See further details here.

Article Metrics

Back to TopTop