土壤節肢動物是熱帶地區落葉分解重要的調控因子之ㄧ，而甲蟎通常是落葉層節肢動物中數量最多的一群。牠們體型微小、行動力弱且繁殖速度緩慢，故對於外來的干擾相當敏感，可做為環境變動的指標。山崩（landslide）為大量降水或地震造成的土石崩塌，為台灣森林常見的干擾。本研究於2003年在南仁山森林探討山崩對落葉層甲蟎密度及群落組成的影響。每兩個月從三個樣區採集兩年內曾經山崩及未曾山崩林地，落葉層中之甲蟎進行分析。結果共發現49科87個形態種；平均密度為每平方公尺1766.8隻，成體與幼體甲蟎的密度在有無山崩干擾的林地間並無顯著差異；但甲蟎群落結構在有無山崩干擾的林地間則有顯著的差別，且會隨時間變動。一種屬於孤雌生殖分類群的甲蟎（Trhypochthoniidae sp.）的幼體為山崩干擾林地的優勢種，其密度遠高於未受干擾林地。上述結果顯示落葉層甲蟎的密度不受山崩干擾影響或是干擾後可以迅速恢復，但甲蟎群落結構則受山崩干擾影響無法在短期內恢復；此外也支持孤雌生殖的甲蟎密度在干擾地區較未受干擾地區多的假說。

Soil arthropods are important in controlling the rate of litter decomposition in tropical forests. Oribatid mites are often the most abundant group among litter arthropods. The low mobility and low fecundity indicate that they may be sensitive to disturbances and are ideal for detecting environmental changes. Landslide is a frequent disturbance to tropical forests as a result of heavy rain fall. In this study, effects of landslide disturbance on density and composition of the oribatid mites were investigated in Nanjenshan forest. Oribatid mites collected bimonthly in 2003 from litter layers of the undisturbed and landslide forests were analyzed. A total of 87 morphospecies of oribatid mites across 49 families were identified from the litter samples. Mean density of oribatid mites was 1766.8 individuals / m2 and did not differ significantly between the undisturbed and landslide forests. However, composition of the oribatid mites varied significantly between the undisturbed and landslide forests and time within each site. Juveniles of Trhypochthoniidae sp. 1 were more abundant in the landslide forests than the undisturbed forests. These results suggest that landslide disturbance does not change oribatid density but alter its composition in litter layer and support the hypothesis that parthenogenetic oribatid mites are more abundant in the disturbed area than in the undisturbed area.

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