The study investigated the effects of grazing by geese, goats, and fallow deer on soil mites. It included a total of 360 samples collected in the spring, summer, and autumn of 2016 and 2017 in north-central Poland. Study plots were situated in three pastures grazed by geese, goats, and fallow deer, and three meadows near the pastures served as controls. All study plots were fenced. In total 22,561 mites (Acari) were obtained, including 15,641 Oribatida (), 4926 Mesostigmata (), and 1994 other mites (). Only the abundance of Oribatida (therefore, also total Acari) differed significantly in pastures grazed by different animal species. |
