A major inventory of tardigrades in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park was conducted and we compared tardigrade species composition in moss and lichen samples and analysed environmental correlates of tardigrade community structure. We also compared these tardigrades with those collected from soil. The basic dataset from tree mosses and lichens consisted of 336 samples, 9200 individuals and 43 species. The supplemental dataset from rock mosses and lichens consisted of 29 samples, 811 individuals, and 41 species. Collectively, there were 57 species present in mosses and lichens. Eleven species were found uniquely on rock habitats. Two-way ANOVAs for various community metrics showed no significant differences between substrate (moss versus lichen) or height (ground level versus breast height); however, there were significant differences between ATBI plots. Tardigrade communities were not significantly different between mosses and lichens, but soil tardigrade communities were quite distinct from these moss/lichen communities. We analysed the impact of 17 environmental variables on community structure using partition tree analyses. SOx deposition explained most of the variation in species richness and evenness in moss tardigrades. Forest disturbance regime had the greatest impact on abundance in lichen tardigrades. Other environmental factors influencing community structure are discussed.

中文翻译：

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大烟山国家公园（田纳西州和北卡罗莱纳州）的苔藓和地衣中的缓坡群落结构与环境的相关性

在大烟山国家公园中进行了一次主要的节肢动物盘点，我们比较了苔藓和地衣样品中的节肢动物物种组成，并分析了节肢动物群落结构的环境相关性。我们还比较了这些节肢动物与从土壤中收集的那些。来自树木苔藓和地衣的基本数据集包括336个样本，9200个个体和43种。岩石苔藓和地衣的补充数据集包括29个样本，811个个体和41种。苔藓和地衣共有57种。在岩石栖息地上发现了11种独特的物种。各种社区指标的双向方差分析显示底物（苔藓与地衣）或身高（地面与乳房高度）之间无显着差异。然而，ATBI图之间存在显着差异。苔藓和地衣之间的节肢动物群落没有显着差异，但是土壤节肢动物群落与这些苔藓/地衣群落完全不同。我们使用分区树分析法分析了17个环境变量对社区结构的影响。SOx沉积解释了苔藓缓坡中物种丰富度和均匀度的大部分变化。森林扰动制度对地衣节肢动物的丰度影响最大。讨论了影响社区结构的其他环境因素。我们使用分区树分析法分析了17个环境变量对社区结构的影响。SOx沉积解释了苔藓缓坡中物种丰富度和均匀度的大部分变化。森林扰动制度对地衣节肢动物的丰度影响最大。讨论了影响社区结构的其他环境因素。我们使用分区树分析法分析了17个环境变量对社区结构的影响。SOx沉积解释了苔藓缓坡中物种丰富度和均匀度的大部分变化。森林扰动制度对地衣节肢动物的丰度影响最大。讨论了影响社区结构的其他环境因素。