The oribatid mite (Acari: Oribatida) community of a high-Andean cushion peatland in southern Peru

The oribatid mites of a high-Andean cushion peatland in southern Peru were investigated. A total of 17 oribatid mite species, belonging to eight families, could be identified in five different microhabitats. A rarefaction analysis showed a potential mite community of maximum 18 taxa per 1000 specimens for this peatland site. Ranked species abundance analysis revealed three dominant, five subdominant, three recedent, two subrecedent and four sporadic occurring taxa. The abundance of oribatid mites was 3.0 specimens cm <(-3)(SD = 5.9) in mean. However, significantly higher oribatid mite densities were detected in muddy soils and scarcely vegetated parts in comparison to soils covered by dense vegetation cushions. The identification of deposited and damaged remains of oribatid mites is discussed