SOIL ORIBATID MITE COMMUNITIES (ACARI, ORIBATIDA) FROM HIGH SHABA (ZAIRE) IN RELATION TO VEGETATION

Soil oribatid mite communities from three vegetation types (forest, wo odland and savanna) are described in Luiswishi (high Shaba, Zaire) and 151 species were recorded. Oribatid communities are organized along a successional gradient which parallels the regressive sere defined by phytosociologists and going from the dense forest (''muhulu''), the lo cal climax, to the savanna, passing through the woodland (''miombo''). Within this gradient, oribatid communities may vary depending on the habitat (presence of grass, high termitaria). The impact of seasons (d ry vs. rainy season) is weak in the forest but drastic in savanna. The various soil oribatid communities are related to man's activities sin ce the regressive sere results from repeated burnings and associated a gricultural practices.