Ceratozetidae Jacot 1925

Ceratozetidae Jacot, 1925

Ceratozetes thienemanni Willmann, 1943 Distribution: Holarctic, Neotropical region Habitat: forest soils

Obergurgl area: pine forest at 2050 m (Zirbenwald)

Diapterobates humeralis (Hermann, 1804)

Distribution: Holarctic

Habitat: forest soils, in moist meadows, also arboricolous Obergurgl area: pine forest at 2050 m (Zirbenwald)

Edwardzetes edwardsi (Nicolet, 1855)

Distribution: Europe, Caucasia

Habitat: in forest soils and heathes

Obergurgl area: pine forest at 2050 m (Zirbenwald), Androsacetum alpinae at 2900 m (Liebener Rippe); previous studies: 1960–1980 m (hay meadows), pine forest at 2050 m (Zirbenwald)

Remark: Frequently occurring in alpine habitats. In previous investigations this species was detected only at lower altitudes compared to our recent study—it seems that E. edwardsi has expanded its habitat.

Fuscozetes intermedius Caroli & Maffia, 1934

Distribution: Northern Italy—Prov. Bolzano, Trento; Austria, Iberian Peninsula, Western Siberia, Kazachstan

Habitat: high-montane and alpine meadows and moss cushions

Obergurgl area: pine forest at 2050 m (Zirbenwald), Nardetum at 2300 m (Schönwieskopf), Caricetum at 2600 m (Hohe Mut), Androsacetum alpinae at 2900 m (Liebener Rippe)

Remark: This species seems to be restricted to montane and alpine habitats.

Fuscozetes setosus (C.L. Koch, 1839)

Distribution: Holarctic

Habitat: preferably moist soils, in bogs and forests Obergurgl area: pine forest at 2050 m (Zirbenwald), Caricetum at 2600 m (Hohe Mut)

Jugatala angulata (C.L. Koch, 1840)

Distribution: Central Europe: Northern Italy—Prov. Bolzano, Trento; Austria, Switzerland—Valais, Basel (canopy), Slovenia, Germany, Czech Republic, Slovakia, Poland

Habitat: frequently arboricolous

Obergurgl area: pine forest at 2050 m (Zirbenwald)

Taxonomic and distributional remarks: See Bayartogtokh and Schatz (2008)

Jugatala cribelliger (Berlese, 1904)

Distribution: Northern Italy—Prov. Bolzano, Trento; Austria, Switzerland—Grisons; Iberian Peninsula Habitat: unknown

Obergurgl area: Androsacetum alpinae at 2900 m (Liebener Rippe) Taxonomic and distributional remarks: See Bayartogtokh and Schatz (2008)

Melanozetes meridianus Sellnick, 1929

Distribution: Holarctic

Habitat: alpine grassland, bogs, wet mosses, forest litter

Obergurgl area: Nardetum at 2300 m (Schönwieskopf), Androsacetum alpinae at 2900 m (Liebener Rippe); previous studies: 1960–1980 m (hay meadows), pine forest at 2050 m (Zirbenwald), 2100–2190 m (dwarf shrub community), 2250 m (alpine meadows with lichen communities), 2500 m (scree slope), 2650 m (alpine meadow), 2800–3100 m (Androsacetum alpinae)

Oromurcia sudetica Willmann, 1939

Distribution: Central and Southeastern Europe, Caucasia

Habitat: high montane and alpine meadows, in moss, frequently in moist to wet habitats

Obergurgl area: Caricetum at 2600 m (Hohe Mut), Androsacetum alpinae at 2900 m (Liebener Rippe); previous studies: 1960–1980 m (hay meadows), pine forest at 2050 m (Zirbenwald)

Remark: In the present investigation this species has been found only above the timberline. It is the second most common species of Liebener Rippe representing more than 21% of the oribatid mite community. In earlier investigations in Obergurgl O. sudetica occurred solely in meadows on the edge of the timberline reaching high abundances with more than 2400 individuals per m2 representing more than 10% of the community (Schatz 1978, 1979). It is an extraordinary finding that this species obviously migrated from comparatively low altitudes to the high alpine zone and seems to have established a stable population. In 2001 O. sudetica was recorded in the Rotmoos valley (Schatz unpubl.).

Trichoribates scilierensis Bayartogtokh & Schatz, 2008

Distribution: North Tyrol, East Tyrol, Vorarlberg (Austria); Northern Italy—Prov. Bolzano, Trento

Habitat: unknown, hitherto only found in alpine meadows.

Obergurgl area: pine forest at 2050 m (Zirbenwald), Nardetum at 2300 m (Schönwieskopf), Caricetum at 2600 m (Hohe Mut), Androsacetum alpinae at 2900 m (Liebener Rippe)

Remarks: Trichoribates scilierensis has been recorded at high altitudes of the Central Alps and Southern Alps and therefore seems to be alpine-endemic (Bayartogtokh & Schatz 2008). Remark: This species seems to be restricted to high altitudes of the Central and Southern Alps. In earlier investigations in Obergurgl this species has also been recorded as “ Trichoribates trimaculatus ” (Schatz 1978, 1979).

Trichoribates trimaculatus (C.L. Koch, 1835)

Distribution: Holarctic

Habitat: meadows, dry moss cushions

Obergurgl area: pine forest at 2050 m (Zirbenwald), Androsacetum alpinae at 2900 m (Liebener Rippe); previous studies: pine forest at 2050 m (Zirbenwald), 2100–2190 m (dwarf shrub community), 2230–2340 m (alpine meadows with lichen communities), 2500 m (scree slope), 2650 m (alpine meadow), 2800–3100 m (Androsacetum alpinae)

Remark: Part of the material from the previous investigations belongs to T. scilierensis (see above).

Nomenclatural remark: Validity of name see Weigmann and Norton (2009)