The oribatid mite fauna of soil under different vegetation cover in Ile-Ife, Nigeria

The oribatid mite fauna of seven terrestrial environments which differ in physiognomy and floristic composition was sampled during the wet season for five months both in 1989 and 1994. The density of oribatid mites in a fallow that was burnt annually had decreased over the five year period of sampling unlike in an undisturbed bush fallow where oribatid mite density had increased. More taxonomic groups were identified in the forest reserve and bush fallow than at other sites with less heterogeneous vegetation. Haplozetes was the dominant genus in all sites except a cocoa plot and derived savanna where Annectacarus and Pilizetes respectively were the most dominant genera. The data presented suggest that Haplozetes, Pilizetes, Scheloribates and Nothrus are hardy genera that are more ubiquitous in distribution than fragile genera such as Dolicheremaeus, Epilohmannia, Rhysotritia and Basilobelba.