Microarthropods of burned and unburned tallgrass prairie

TitleMicroarthropods of burned and unburned tallgrass prairie
Publication TypeJournal Article
Year of Publication1984
AuthorsSeastedt, TR
JournalJournal of the Kansas Entomological Society
Volume57
Pagination468 -476
Accession NumberKNZ0072
Keywordstallgrass prairie
Abstract

Microarthropod densities in the top 5 cm of soil of tallgrass prairie averaged 47,700 individuals/m2 on burned sites versus 73,800 individuals/m2 on sites not burned for the last 5 years. Oribatid mites, mesostigmatid mites and collembolans were more numerous on unburned sites while prostigamatid mite numbers were not affected by burning. Densities of microarthropods in the uppermost 5 cm of soil were correlated with the amount of litterfall at various sites, but were not correlated with indices of plant productivity. Numbers of microarthropods at the 5-10 cm layer of soil were not different on burned and unburned sites and averaged 20,200 individuals/m2. A preliminary survey of the mites (Acari) on Konza Prairie indicated a minimum of 81 species. The mite fauna appears as diverse as other temperate ecosystems

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