Soil conditions under cormorant colonies favor for mites excepting Oribatida

Over the last few decades, population of great cormorant (Phalacrocorax carbo L., 1758) in Europe has been rising. The formation large nesting and roosting colonies relatively small areas, their rapid metabolism excretion significant amounts guano can have a marked environmental impact. This study aimed to investigate how cormorants affect biodiversity density soil mites under breeding colonies. Soil samples from three located on lake islands were compared adjacent areas unaffected by birds. was characterised higher concentration nitrogen, phosphorus organic matter as well abundance (except Oribatida). diversity adult Oribatida lower than control sites.