Soil mite communities structure (Acari, Mesostigmata) during litter decomposition of seven tree species in pure Scots pine stands (Pinus sylvestris L.) growing on a reclaimed post‐industrial area

Our knowledge about mites, including mesostigmatids, compared to their significantrole in soil-forming processes on post-industrial areas, is currently insufficient. There-fore, our study aim was to analyze the succession of mesostigmatid communities inrelation to litter decomposition of seven tree species [Acer pseudoplatanus L., Alnusglutinosa (L.) Gaertn., Fagus sylvatica L., Pinus sylvestris L., Prunus serotina Ehrh., Quer-cus rubra L., Robinia pseudoacacia L.] in pure Scots pine stands growing on a reclaimedspoil heap. In December 2011, 1439 litterbags were placed on plots and collectedafter ca. 3, 6, 9, 13, 19, 25, 31, 37 months since the experiment started. In total, werecorded 9653 mites classified into 67 taxa. The mesostigmatid abundance wasaffected by percentage initial litter mass loss. Interestingly, litter type shaped speciesrichness and diversity, but not abundance. The highest abundance, almost two-timeshigher compared to other tree species, was recorded in Prunus serotina litter (352.73± 105.22 ind.; calculated per 100 g of dry litter mass) and the lowest in Quercus rubra(81.23 ± 9.82 ind.). Furthermore, the lowest richness (2.39 ± 0.07; calculated persample) and diversity (0.33 ± 0.02; calculated per sample) was recorded in Pinus syl-vestris litter, therefore, our results are in contradiction to the home-field advantageassumptions that the ‘home’ litter has a positive effect on soil fauna structure com-pared to the ‘foreign’ litter. Nevertheless, the greatest abundance share of Ascabicornis and Amblyseius tubae, the most numerous species, was recorded for Pinus syl-vestris litter.