Gli Acari Oribatei: un gruppo negletto di artropodi edafici. Possono esserci di aiuto?

The definition “neglected species” is a term without any systematic or biological meaning. Although all small animal species that live hidden or far from our eyes don’t seem to possess any appeal they make up the rich mosaic of fauna which populates both large ecosystems and small biotopes. In this context I would like to consider oribatid mites, one of the most species-rich components of terrestrial ecosystems, that unfortunately is unknown to most part of the people, as a good tool to access the soil quality. To study species composition, distribution patterns of individuals within communities, physiological adaptations and behavioral strategies of these animals can represent a useful and economic instrument of investigation in quantifying qualitative and quantitative effects that environmental factors (natural, induced, stochastic) exert on communities structures evaluating their ability to reconstitute the communities after a disturbance.