Mite (Acari) Communities Associated with 'Ohi'a, Metrosideros polymorpha (Myrtaceae), at Hono O Nal Pali and Kui'a Natural Area Reserves on Kaua'i Island, Hawaiian Islands

Date
2001-01
Authors
Swift, Sabina F.
Goff, M.L.
Contributor
Advisor
Department
Instructor
Depositor
Speaker
Researcher
Consultant
Interviewer
Annotator
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
University of Hawai’i Press
Volume
Number/Issue
Starting Page
Ending Page
Alternative Title
Abstract
Native 'Ohi'a trees (Metrosideros polymorpha) were sampled for mites at two natural area reserves on Kaua'i Island, Kui'a and Hono O Na Pali. Ninety samples of leaves, flowers, bark, leaf litter, and soil under the 'Ohi'a canopies were taken. Mites were extracted with use of Berlese-Tullgren funnels. One hundred sixty-four species were found, with the suborder Prostigmata having the greatest number of species (74), followed by Mesostigmata (43), Oribatida (43), and Astigmata with the least (4). Leaf litter, leaf litter with soil, and bark have the most species, composed of predaceous mesostigmatic and prostigmatic mites, but a certain amount of overlap of mite species between the leaf litter and soil habitats was observed. The predominance of Collembola in the soil and litter samples indicates a stable food source for the predaceous mites, partly explaining the high number of mites in those habitats. Oribatid mites were collected from leaves, but the species composition differs from that on flowers and litter. Preliminary residency status of identified taxa shows 12% endemic, 17% adventive, and 71% of unknown status.
Description
Keywords
Citation
Swift SF, Goff ML. 2001. Mite (Acari) communities associated with 'Ohi'a, Metrosideros polymorpha (Myrtaceae), at Hono O Nal Pali and Kui'a natural area reserves on Kaua'i Island, Hawaiian Islands. Pac Sci 55(1): 23-40.
Extent
Format
Geographic Location
Time Period
Related To
Table of Contents
Rights
Rights Holder
Local Contexts
Email libraryada-l@lists.hawaii.edu if you need this content in ADA-compliant format.