Maka Murvanidze

Ivane Javakhishvili Tbilisi State University | TSU

Chamobates spinosus from Georgia

Metabelba (Pateribelba) flagelliseta Bulanova-Zachvatkina, 1965 is redescribed based on the newly sampled material from Crimea and investigation of the specimens from the collection of Bulanova-Zachvatkina. Metabelba (Metabelba) pseudoflagelliseta Kolesnikov & Murvanidze sp. nov. is described from Caucasus, Georgia. Both species have similar morpho...

The checklist of oribatid mites from Georgia is updated using sampling data from more than 230 locations during field works conducted between 2016 and 2022. We report 32 species of oribatid mites, sixteen of them were collected between 2017 and 2019, six were missing in Checklist I, while eleven species are new records for the country. The genus Am...

The aim of our investigation was to study the community composition and distribution of oribatid mites in high altitudinal ecosystems of Great and Lesser Caucasus mountains.

Background Land-use is a major driver of changes in biodiversity worldwide, but studies have overwhelmingly focused on above-ground taxa: the effects on soil biodiversity are less well known, despite the importance of soil organisms in ecosystem functioning. We modelled data from a global biodiversity database to compare how the abundance of soil-d...

Lamellovertex caelatus

Arthrodamaeus femoratus

Cultroribula lata

Sphaerozetes orbicularis

Four genera and 12 species of drosophilid flies have been recorded during our survey in five regions of Georgia in 2021. Two genera, Amiota (Loew, 1862) and Gitona Meigen, 1830, and four species (Amiota subtusradiata Duda 1934, Drosophila busckii Coquillett 1901, D. kuntzei Duda, 1924, and Gitona distigma Meigen, 1830) represent new records for the...

Fuscozetes fuscipes

Hoplophthiracarus vicinus

Mycobates patrius

Carabodes intermedius

Distribution and management of Halyomorpha halys (Stål) in commercial hazelnut orchards were investigated during 2019 and 2020. Efficacies of management strategies including attract and kill strategy and border sprays were compared to grower's standard management practices. Seasonality of H. halys were similar during both years with the first H. ha...

Four genera and 12 species of drosophilid flies have been recorded during our survey provided in five regions of Georgia. Two genera: Amiota (Loew, 1862) and Gitona Meigen, 1830, and four species: A. subtusradiata Duda, Drosophila busckii Coquillett, D. kuntzei Duda, 1924 and G. distigma Meigen, 1830 are new records for fauna of Sakartvelo (Georgia...

Here we introduce the Soil BON Foodweb Team, a cross-continental collaborative network that aims to monitor soil animal communities and food webs using consistent methodology at a global scale. Soil animals support vital soil processes via soil structure modification, consumption of dead organic matter, and interactions with microbial and plant com...

Here we introduce the Soil BON Foodweb Team, a cross-continental collaborative network that aims to monitor soil animal communities and food webs using consistent methodology at a global scale. Soil animals support vital soil processes via soil structure modification, direct consumption of dead organic matter, and interactions with microbial and pl...

Oribatid mite diversity was investigated in the most understudied region of Georgian South-Eastern Caucasus – open arid ecosystems, which are under heavy natural and anthropogenic disturbance. Field sampling was performed in three geographical units and in each unit three types of ecosystems with different disturbance classes were studied: (1) Arab...

Fifty two species/subspecies of oribatid mites are identified from forest areas in the central Black Sea basin and Central Anatolia. Seventeen species among them are new records for the country. For each species GPS coordinates, habitat, regional and global distribution data are provided and for new records additional remarks with taxonomic, ecolog...

In order to establish or regenerate ecosystems in severely disturbed mining sites, reclamation activities are common practice. However, the effectiveness of reclamation strategy might be depended on the specific conditions of the area under question. To evaluate the effect of provided reclamation activities, we investigated structure and compositio...

We provide new records of five oribatid and 10 mesostigmatic mite species for Georgia. As a result, the number of oribatid mites registered for Georgia increased to 548 and the preliminary number of Mesostigmata species to 136. For each record, diagnostic characters, coordinate data, habitat and information about regional and world distribution are...

The dominance of sex in Metazoa is enigmatic. Sexual species allocate resources to the production of males, while potentially facing negative effects such as the loss of well-adapted genotypes due to recombination, and exposure to diseases and predators during mating. Two major hypotheses have been put forward to explain the advantages of parthenog...

The impact of conventional pesticide treatment and deep ploughing on oribatid mite communities was investigated in an abandoned arable land. The experimental plots were divided in "pesticide and ploughed" (PPL), "ploughed" (PL) and a" meadow" as control (Ctr). Soil samples were taken monthly during the vegetation period (March-August) and once in t...

During the 2017 season we investigated the occurrence and biology of the brown marmorated stink bug (BMSB), Halyomorpha halys, a new invasive insect pest in two commercial hazelnut orchards located in the Samegrelo Region, Republic of Georgia. The first stink bug adults from the overwintering generation appeared on sticky traps at the end of May, w...

Lucoppia nicora Djaparidze, 1986 was found in garlic fields in the Kastamonu region of Turkey. This finding is a new record for Turkey and also the first finding after its description from Nikortsminda cave and a vegetable garden in Tbilisi, Georgia. Redescription of the species is accompanied by a discussion of its taxonomic status. Based on diffe...

Belba paracorynopus Bulanova-Zachvatkina, 1962 is redescribed on the basis of new material collected in Georgia and damaged paratypes of Bulanova-Zachvatkina. The species belongs to the Belba corynopus group and differs from other species of the group by the size and form of notogastral setae, formation of the prodorsum and detailed chaetotaxy of l...

Elevational gradients in species diversity and species area relationships are two well established patterns that are not mutually exclusive in space and time. Elevation and area are both considered as good proxies to detect and characterize the patterns of species diversity distribution. However, such studies are hampered by the incomplete biodiver...

Six species of oribatid mites are found first time for Georgian fauna: Eobrachychthonius latior(Berlese, 1910), Graproppia paraanalis Subias & Rodrigues, 1985, Mongaillardia grandjeani Calugar & Vasiliu 1984, Tritegeus bisulcatus Grandjean 1953, Podoribates longipes (Berlese, 1887), Chamobates birulai Kuiczinsky, 1092 and Oribatula (Zygoribatula) s...

Faunal surveys were performed in Mtirala National Park (Georgia, Caucasus). Oribatid mites were collected from four microhabitats (soil, moss, litter, decaying wood) at 15 locations from 250 to 1000 m a.s.l. Forest types included walnut (Juglans regia) plantations, mixed chestnut (Castanea sativa) forests, and beech (Fagus orientalis) forests. Our...

A new updated checklist of Georgian oribatid mites is based on the critical review of existing literature data and new findings. The list includes 534 oribatid species of which 21 species are new for the country recorded from more than 390 locations. For each species information of the global and regional distribution is presented with notes on eco...

Four species of springtails and four species of oribatid mites were identified as new records for the Georgian fauna from different regions of the country: Coecobrya tenebricosa (Folsom, 1902); Entomobrya muscorum (Nicolet, 1842) Rondani, 1861; Heteromurus major (Moniez, 1889); Pseudosinella octopunctata Börner, 1901; Austrocarabodes ensifer (Selln...

Oribatid mite diversity along an altitudinal gradient from 10 m to 850 m a.s.l was investigated on the twigs and leaves of Rhododendron ponticum L. in Mtirala National Park. Forest floor sampling (mineral soil and litter) was also performed in the same locations. Altogether, 77 species of oribatid mites were identified. 31 species were found in the...

Many aboveground animals and plant communities have been studied along elevational gradients whereas studies on soil animals are scarce. Here, we studied oribatid mite community distribution along an elevational gradient from 600 to 2200 m in forest ecosystems of the Western Lesser Caucasus Mountains in Georgia. Overall, 86 oribatid mite species we...

Annotated list of the invertebrates in the caves of Racha region (Western Georgia) is made based on proper and literature data. 73 species of the invertebrates are recorded in the karst caves, 29 species of which belong to the oribatid mites, 12 species-to collembolans, 8 species – to spiders and insects, 5 species – to myriapods, 4 species – to mo...

We studied oribatid mite diversity in two sites of virgin Pleistocene forests in Borjom-Kharagauli National Park in Georgia. The aim was to explore the effects of microhabitat and tree species on the composition and the relative abundance of oribatid mites. Investigations revealed high species richness (96 species in total) with community compositi...

The checklist of 67 oribatid mite species found in 21 limestone caves of Georgia is provided. A new species Ghilarovus kvavadzei sp. nov. is described, the first record of Ghilarovus species in the Caucasus area. A table of characters of all known species of Ghilarovus Krivolutsky, 1966 is given. Taxonomic remarks on Phauloppia pilosa (CL Koch, 184...

We studied the colonization patterns of oribatid mites on post-industrial sand and manganese tailing sites, reclaimed areas, natural meadows and forests in the Chiatura region. A total of 89 species were recorded. In forests, the total number of species was high and the oribatid community was made up mainly of forest-specific species. Scheloribates...

FREE EDITION Soil inhabiting oribatid mites (Acari: Oribatida) are one of the most interesting groups of animals because of their ecological characteristics at the community level. However, existing knowledge does not provide comprehensive explanations of the mechanisms underlying their community or metacommunity structure. The aim of this study is...

Two new species of oribatid mite, one each from the genera Haplozetesand Scutovertex,are described based on adult specimens. The H. longisacculus n. sp. specimens were found in manganese mining areas of Chiatura region (Western Georgia) and one individual of S. armazi n. sp. was found in open arid woodlands in Mtskheta surroundings (Eastern Georgi...

ABSTRACT: The key subject of this investigation was to study distribution patterns of oribatid mites in the main habitats and ecosystems of Kolkheti National Park. Oribatida were studied in 1) sand dunes, 2) Juncus bogs, 3) flooded alder (Alnus barbata C. A. Mey) forests, and 4) humid alder forests. Sampling was conducted in November 2009 at 18 sit...

Comparison of Earthworms (Lumbricidae) and Oribatid Mite (Acari, Oribatida) Communities in Natural and Urban Ecosystems This study investigates earthworm and oribatid mite communities in urban, semi-natural and natural ecosystems of Tbilisi (Georgia). Ten species of earthworms and 100 species of oribatid mites were registered in 45 soil samples. Tw...

A new species of oribatid mite of the genus Striatoppia is described on the basis of adult specimens from natural and urban habitats in Tbilisi, Georgia, the first record of the genus for the western Palaearctic. Based on character states of this species, arguments are presented for Striatoppia being a possible member of the Autognetidae.

The key subject of this investigation was to study distribution patterns of oribatid mites in the main habitats and ecosystems of Kolkheti National Park. Oribatida were studied in 1) sand dunes, 2) Juncus bogs, 3) flooded alder (Alnus barbata C. A. Mey) forests, and 4) humid alder forests. Sampling was conducted in November 2009 at 18 sites along t...

This study investigates earthworm and oribatid mite communities in urban, semi-natural and natural ecosystems of Tbilisi (Georgia). Ten species of earthworms and 100 species of oribatid mites were registered in 45 soil samples. Two species of oribatid mites, Microzetes auxilaris Grandjean, 1936 and Multioppia laniseta Moritz, 1966, are new for the...

The bogs of Colchic Lowland are of great international importance, because they are a foraging site on the route for many migrating and hibernating birds. Productivity of the bogs is very high and they create a large mass of dead organic matter. We made an inventory of the oribatid mites in three types of bogs: peat, cereal-Carex, and Juncusbogs. A...

The effect of fire disturbance on the composition of oribatid mite communities was studied in riv. Vere canyon (Tbilisi, Georgia). Oribatid mites in a severely burnt shrub area and a less severely burnt artificial pine forest were investigated. Two unburnt sites were used as controls. 105 species were registered. Graptoppia paraanalis was new for C...

A revised checklist is presented for the 28 species in the oribatid mite genus Carabodes (Carabodidae) that are known from the Caucasian region, including distributional data and new records from Georgia. An identification key for Caucasian Carabodes species and a table of characters are included. A new species from the West Georgian subtropical re...

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For the purpose to study of urban environment condition in Tbilisi and in its environs samples of soil nematodes and oribatid mites were collected. In all was derteminated 44 species of nematodes and 76 species of oribatid mites. Pair faunal likeness by Jaccards coeffcient, Renconen’s coefficient of dominance and Sympson’s index of diversity was ca...

The annotated list of Pseudoscorpions of Georgia is given that unites 41 species and one subspecies. Critical analyses of information on Pseudoscorpions of Georgia is provided is given 5 species (Neobisium amicitta Kobachidze, N. saqartvelosi Kobachidze, Allowithius thbilissicus Kobachidze, Withius lomanderi Kobachidze and Rhacochelifer schirakiens...