DOI: 10.31594/commagene.1933531 ISSN: 2602-456X

An Evaluation of the Effects of Some Abiotic Factors on the Abundance of Zercon colligans (Acari: Zerconidae)

Davut Rıza Bulut, Raşit Urhan
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This study presents an ecological evaluation of the effects of selected abiotic factors on the abundance and seasonal dynamics of Zercon colligans in Spil Mountain National Park (Manisa, Türkiye). Zerconid mites were monitored monthly between September 2022 and August 2023 on 18 sampling sites. A total of 216 soil and litter samples described ten Zerconidae species, among which Z. colligans was the dominant and constant species, representing 70.9% of the total abundance. Soil pH, moisture, and temperature were recorded monthly to evaluate their influence on Z. colligans population density. We hypothesized that soil moisture, pH, temperature, and seasonal variation significantly influence the abundance of Z. colligans. Environmental and temporal effects on abundance were analyzed using a Generalized Linear Mixed Model (GLMM). The results demonstrated significant effects of soil pH (F₁,₁₆₈ = 46.716, p

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