Species associations of oribatid mites in lichens on the island of Ailsa Craig, Firth of Clyde (Acarei: Cryptostigmata)

Species associations of oribatid mites in maritime lichens on the island of Ailsa Craig, Firth of Clyde, were investigated. The thirteen lichen species examined yielded a total of seventeen oribatid species assignable to two discrete associations. One was characteristic of foliose lichens on exposed rocks and the other was found in terricolous fruticose lichen on acid healthland. Morphology of the lichen thallus and altitude of the collection site were found to influence the abundance, occurrence and species diversity of the mites.