Correlation between mite community structure and gross N fluxes

Net nitrogen (N) mineralisation rate is the result of two independent processes: gross N mineralisation and N immobilisation. Techniques for determining these rates have only been developed recently and no studies have examined the relationship between soil fauna and these two components of net N mineralisation. We present data which demonstrates that mite community structure, described using the Shannon index, is correlated with gross N immobilisation rates in the Western Australian wheat belt. These results suggest that examining the impacts of mites on gross N fluxes is warranted.