Gamasid mites are top predators and occupy a central position of the soil food web in the forest ecosystem. This study investigated the soil dwelling gamasid mite community during 8-9 years after the massive mountain fire which occurred in April 2000. Total of 11 families, 44 species and 943 individuals were found. Abundance and species richness of soil gamasid mites was high in less fire-impacted sites (C2 and T3) including unburned control site (Con) than in severely impacted sites (T1 and T2). Genus Holaspina comprised 40-84% of the total abundance of gamasid mites indicating the group may play the key role in soil food web. Dominant species of gamasid mite was H. alstoni, H. communis, H. dentaus, H. ochraceus, H. trifucatus of the Genus Holaspina 5 species in all sites. Some detail biological information was pursued in this group. After 8-9 years from the massive fire, it was noted that the soil gamasid mite communities were recovered from the less severely burned sites but not from the severely burned sites.

Gamasid mites are free living predators of soil mites, collembolans, nematodes and other small insects in soil surface. We studied the faunal assemblages of gamasid mites in the severely disturbed mountain sites by fire. Total 12 families 55 species were found from this study. From all sites, species in the family of Parholaspidae were dominant; Holaspina alstoni and H. dentatus. Also, Rhodacarus dentitulatus was also abundant regardless of fire disturbance. In control site, Asca aphidioides was also abundant but not in any of the fire disturbed sites. The abundance was highest in control site followed by IC2, IT3 and lower in IT2 and IT1. Species richness was in the same order of abundance ranging from 2.6 to 12.8 per site. In all sites, species diversities were relatively low ranging from 0.6 to 1.7, but it was higher in control site and lower in IT1. Further discussion will be made on the recovery process of soil inhabiting mites.