Oribatid mites 1998 [Countryside Survey]

This dataset consists of oribatid mite species records (a component of the soil mesofauna), extracted from soils sampled across Great Britain in 1998, as part of the Countryside Survey monitoring programme. The Countryside Survey is a unique study or 'audit' of the natural resources of the UK's countryside. The sample sites are chosen from a stratified random sample, based on a 15 by 15 km grid of GB. Surveys have been carried out in 1978, 1984, 1990, 1998 and 2007 by the Centre for Ecology & Hydrology, with repeated visits to the majority of squares. The countryside is sampled and surveyed using rigorous scientific methods, allowing us to compare new results with those from previous surveys. In this way we can detect the gradual and subtle changes that occur in the UK's countryside over time. In addition to soil data, habitat areas, vegetation species data, linear habitat data, and freshwater habitat data are also gathered by Countryside Survey.

本数据集包含甲螨（Oribatid mite）物种记录——其为土壤中型动物群（soil mesofauna）的组成类群——数据提取自1998年英国全境采集的土壤样本，该采样工作作为“乡村调查（Countryside Survey）”监测项目的一部分实施。
“乡村调查”是一项针对英国乡村自然资源开展的特色研究或“普查”。
调查样点基于英国15×15公里网格，采用分层随机抽样方法选取。
生态与水文中心（Centre for Ecology & Hydrology）已于1978年、1984年、1990年、1998年及2007年开展多轮调查，对绝大多数网格样方进行了重复采样。
本次乡村调查采用严谨的科学方法完成采样与监测，可将最新调查结果与过往调查数据进行对比分析。
借此可精准识别英国乡村随时间推移发生的渐进式细微变化。
除土壤数据外，“乡村调查”还采集了生境面积、植被物种、线性生境及淡水生境相关数据。