Oribatid mites, also called beetle or moss mites, include more than 10,000 named species representing 172 families worldwide. This book provides an identification key to the 96 families, 250 genera and the c.580 described species for Canada and Alaska, a fauna that encompasses more than 50% of Northern Hemisphere genera. It includes known data on the ecology of species, their distribution in the Holarctic region, and relevant literature. Oribatid mites are model arthropods in studies on development, morphology, ecology, physiology, and biomechanics. Growing recognition of the importance of soil systems for agriculture, reclamation, carbon storage and climate mitigation has spurred recent interest in the vast soil biodiversity that provide these ecosystem services. Yet the major barrier to exploring and understanding soil biodiversity is lack of comprehensive and functional taxonomic and ecological treatments of key biotic groups; groups such as the oribatid mites. Oribatid Mites is unparalleled in the comprehensive nature of the information provided. The authors, two leading global experts for this group, hope that readers will come to share their understanding of oribatid mites as part of the charismatic microfauna, the imagery in this book conveying their unique beauty.

"The Atlas describes soil as habitat for the diversity of organisms that live under our feet. At the same time, it draws attention to the threats to soil biodiversity, such as invasive species, pollution, intensive land use practices or climate change. The Atlas provides current solutions for a sustainable management of soils. It was coordinated by the JRC and the Global Soil Biodiversity Initiative (www.globalsoilbiodiversity.org) with more than 70 contributing organisations and several hundred individual contributions. It illustrates the diversity of soil organisms, explains their geographical and temporal distribution, the ecosystem functions and services provided by soil biota. Most importantly, it draws attention to the myriad of threats to soil biodiversity. These include inappropriate land management practices (e.g. deforestation, land take for infrastructure development), agricultural systems, over-grazing, forest fires and poor water management (both irrigation and drainage). Other practices such as land conversion from grassland or forest to cropped land result in rapid loss of soil carbon, which indirectly enhances global warming. The Atlas shows that mismanaging soils could exacerbate the effects of climate change, jeopardise agricultural production, compromise the quality of ground water and worsen pollution. It also proposes solutions to safeguard soil biodiversity through the development of policies that directly or indirectly target soil health, leading to a more sustainable use."--

Published by the American Geophysical Union as part of the Antarctic Research Series, Volume 10. The existence of insects, mites, and their relatives on the antarctic continent is of great interest to many. These terrestrial arthropods may be said to be the dominant land animals in the absence of land vertebrates and many major groups of invertebrates. They are important in the simple food cycles which involve most segments of the land flora and microorganisms, and they play a part in soil formation. Thus a knowledge of their ecology is essential to the understanding of various biotic balances and processes. That several species live in the area of 85°S latitude in the face of harsh climatic factors is of great concern to the ecologist and the physiologist—therin lie many unanswered questions for future research.

Reducing environmental hazard and human impact on different ecosystems, with special emphasis on rural landscapes is the main topic of different environmental policies designed in developed countries and needed in most developing countries. This book covers the bioindication approach of rural landscapes and man managed ecosystems including both urbanised and industrialised ones. The main techniques and taxa used for bioindication are considered in detail. Remediation and contamination is faced with diversity, abundance and dominance of biota, mostly invertebrates. Invertebrate Biodiversity as Bioindicators of Sustainable Landscapes provides a basic tool for students and scientists involved in landscape ecology and planning, environmental sciences, landscape remediation and pollution.

Oribatid mites are ancient, minute arthropods that live in soil, plant litter, mosses and lichens, and on trees and shrubs. Prior to the production of this catalogue, Australian Oribatid mites had been poorly documented. This catalogue summarises our knowledge of the fauna of Australian Oribatid mites, including many new records of species and genera. It forms a fundamental resource for anyone interested in these important organisms and their role in soil ecology and as environmental indicators.

Held in Prague, August 31-September 6, 1971

Publisher Description