SOIL AND SOIL MITES (Acari) OF THE SKI SLOPE IN NÍZKE TATRY MTS

During the years 1996-1998 the attention was paid on the ski slope in Jasná (Nízke Tatry Mts). Using the method of soil samples the basic soil characters and soil mites (Acari) of study sites at three different altitudes were studied. In higher situated sites (1600 and 1450 m a.s.l.) with original soil surface and natural plant growth the porosity of the soil was 60-64% and average water content 35-38%. The lowest situated site (1300 m a.s.l) with artificial soil showed comparable porosity, but very low average water content (16-23%). Soil porosity changed during the season, the values are higher in summer and decrease during spring and the autumn. The span of these values in higher study sites was more expressive (4.6-13.6%), in the lowest situated site was 1.5-3.1% only. The majority of forest inhabiting and rare mite species occurred in the soil of natural higher situated parts of the ski slope. The species with the highest prevalence there were Cocceupodes molicellus, Tydeus wainsteini and Coccorhagidia clavifrons. More epigeic and predatory mites occurred in the soil with disturbed surface, while mycetophagous and edaphic ones occurred mainly in natural soil of the slope.