Crenal Habitats: Sources of Water Mite (Acari: Hydrachnidia) Diversity

Many studies emphasized the role that water mites play within the invertebrate communities of spring ecosystems, regarding species diversity and its significance within the crenal food web, as well as the specific preferences water mites exhibit towards spring typology. In pristine natural springs with permanent flow, water mites are nearly always present and usually display high diversity. This study aimed to determine whether significant differences in water mite assemblages between rheocrene (river-forming springs with dominant riffle habitats) and limnocrene (lake-forming springs with dominant pool habitats) karst springs could be detected in terms of species richness, diversity and abundance, but also in different ratios of specific synecological groups: crenobiont (exclusively found in springs), crenophilous (associated with springs) and stygophilous (associated with groundwater) water mite taxa. Our research was carried out on four limnocrenes and four rheocrenes in the Dinaric karst region of Croatia. Seasonal samples (20 sub-samples per sampling) were taken at each spring with a 200-µm net, taking into consideration all microhabitat types with coverage of at least 5%. Water mite abundance was found not to differ between morphological spring types. Significantly higher values of species richness and diversity indices were found in rheocrenes compared to limnocrenes, like those usually reported for this type of springs. However, unlike the studies previously reported, in this case, the higher shares of crenophilous and crenobiont water mite individuals were found in limnocrenes. The differences between stygophilous water mite taxa ratios among spring morphotypes were not statistically significant, indicating that the degree of the groundwater/surface water interaction (and water mite interaction therein) does not seem to be directly influenced by spring morphotype. Within this research, 40% of identified water mite species (eight out of twenty) were recorded for the first time in Croatia, thus highlighting again a huge gap in water mite knowledge of karst springs.

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Parasitism of Odonata by Arrenurus (Acari: Hydrachnidia) larvae in the Lake Świdwie, nature reserve (NW Poland)

Acta Parasitologica ◽

10.2478/s11686-013-0162-6 ◽

2013 ◽

Vol 58 (4) ◽

Cited By ~ 8

Author(s):

Andrzej Zawal ◽

Paweł Buczyński

Keyword(s):

Host Species ◽

Mite Species ◽

The Body ◽

Water Mites ◽

Water Mite ◽

New Localities ◽

Size Growth ◽

Body Sizes ◽

First Time ◽

Nw Poland

AbstractLarvae of a vast majority of water mite species are parasites of aquatic insects. Owing to this, they migrate to new localities, and are able to survive unfavourable environmental conditions. This also concerns species from subgenus Arrenurus s. str., parasites of dragonflies. The detailed analysis of this phenomenon, however, has only been possible in the last several years, since the key to the identification of larvae from genus Arrenurus Dug. was published. In 2010, the parasitism of Arrenurus s. str. larvae on dragonflies in the Lake Świdwie reserve (NW Poland) was analysed. Larvae of 9 species of water mites were recorded on 107 imagines of dragonflies from 8 species. The following were identified as hosts of water mites for the first time: Anax imperator, Libellula quadrimaculata, and Leucorrhinia caudalis. The highest prevalence occurred in the case of: Erythromma najas and Lestes dryas (100%), Coenagrion pulchellum (96.5%), and C. puella (80.0%). Coenagrion pulchellum was infested by 9 species of parasites, C. puella by 6, and Erythromma najas and Lestes dryas by three species. The highest number of host species occurred in the case of Arrenurus maculator (5); followed by A. cuspidator, A. batillifer cf., A. bicuspidator, and A. tetracyphus (3 each); A. papillator, A. tricuspidator, and A. bruzelii (2 each), and A. claviger (1). Differentiation of preferences of particular parasites towards various parts of the host body was observed, probably related to the coevolution of parasites and hosts, and competition between the host species. The body sizes of the parasites suggest that approximately 50% of body size growth of water mites from subgenus Arrenurus s. str. occurs at the stage of parasitic larva.

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New water mites species of the genus Aturus Kramer (Acariformes, Aturidae) from the Far East of Russia

Zootaxa ◽

10.11646/zootaxa.2933.1.1 ◽

2011 ◽

Vol 2933 (1) ◽

pp. 1 ◽

Cited By ~ 1

Author(s):

KSENIA A. SEMENCHENKO ◽

PETR V. TUZOVSKIJ

Keyword(s):

Far East ◽

Mite Species ◽

Running Waters ◽

Far East Of Russia ◽

Water Mites ◽

Water Mite ◽

The Far East ◽

First Time

Illustrated descriptions of seven water mite species, Aturus triangularis sp. n., Aturus similis sp. n., Aturus sikhotealinensis sp. n., Aturus primoryensis sp. n., Aturus polysetus sp. n., Aturus pulcher sp. n., Aturus insolitus sp. n., from running waters of the Far East of Russia are presented. Aturus multiclavus Kim & Chung, 1993 and Aturus multisetus Kim & Chung, 1993 are reported from Russia for the first time.

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Water mites of the family Aturidae Thor, 1900 from Turkey (Acari: Hydrachnidia), with description of two new species

Zootaxa ◽

10.11646/zootaxa.2746.1.3 ◽

2011 ◽

Vol 2746 (1) ◽

pp. 25 ◽

Cited By ~ 1

Author(s):

YUNUS ESEN ◽

VLADIMIR PEŠIĆ ◽

ORHAN ERMAN

Keyword(s):

New Species ◽

Mite Species ◽

Running Waters ◽

Water Mites ◽

Water Mite ◽

The Family ◽

Two New Species ◽

First Time

This paper deals with the water mite species of the family Aturidae Thor, collected from running waters in Bingöl Province, Turkey. Javalbia (Javalbicula) turcica sp. nov. and Barbaxonella bingolensis sp. nov. are described as new species; Axonopsis armata Chaudonneret & Angelier, 1949 is synonymized with A. romijni Viets, 1923; Kongsbergia (Kongsbergia) persica Pešić, 2005, Albaxona lundbladi Motaş & Tanasachi, 1947, Axonopsis (Hexaxonopsis) romijni Viets, 1923, A. (Navinaxonopsis) persica Pešić, 2004 and A. (Paraxonopsis) vietsi Motaş & Tanasachi, 1947 are reported for the first time for Turkey.

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A description of two new species of water mites of the genus Torrenticola Piersig, 1896 (Acariformes: Hydrachnidia: Torrenticolidae) from the Krasnodar Kray, Russia

Zoosystematica Rossica ◽

10.31610/zsr/2013.22.2.181 ◽

2013 ◽

Vol 22 (2) ◽

pp. 181-188

Author(s):

P.V. Tuzovskij

Keyword(s):

New Species ◽

Mite Species ◽

Running Waters ◽

Water Mites ◽

North Caucasus ◽

Water Mite ◽

The North ◽

Two New Species

Two new water mite species, Torrenticola amplexella and T. krasnodarensis, from running waters of the North Caucasus (Krasnodar Kray) are described with illustrations.

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Chinese water mites of the genus Torrenticola Piersig, 1896 (Acari, Hydrachnidia, Torrenticolidae), with descriptions of two new species and a new record from Foding Mountain

Systematic and Applied Acarology ◽

10.11158/saa.23.10.9 ◽

2018 ◽

Vol 23 (10) ◽

pp. 1972 ◽

Cited By ~ 1

Author(s):

Xinyao Gu ◽

Daochao Jin ◽

Tianci Yi ◽

Jianjun Guo

Keyword(s):

New Species ◽

New Record ◽

Nature Reserve ◽

Mite Species ◽

Guizhou Province ◽

Water Mite ◽

Type Specimens ◽

Chinese Water ◽

Two New Species ◽

First Time

Three water mite species of the genus Torrenticola Piersig, 1896 are reported from Foding Mountain National Nature Reserve, Guizhou Province, China. Torrenticola fodingensis Gu & Guo, n. sp. and T. tenuichelicera Gu & Guo, n. sp. are described and illustrated as new to science, and T. nipponica (Enami, 1940) is recorded in China for the first time, with the first description and illustration of its deutonymph. In addition, a key to the species ofTorrenticola in China is presented in this paper. The type specimens of the new species are deposited in Institute of Entomology, Guizhou University, Guiyang, P. R. China (GUGC).

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Drifting Behaviour of Aquatic Mites and Regulating Ecological Parameters in Khankragad Stream, A Springfed Trubutary of Alaknanda River, Rudrarayag, Garhwal, Uttarakhand, India

Journal of Mountain Research ◽

10.51220/jmr.v16i1.6 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 16 (1) ◽

Author(s):

Shailza Negi ◽

Pankaj Bahuguna ◽

Anoop Dobriyal

Keyword(s):

Water Quality ◽

Environmental Changes ◽

Sampling Period ◽

Mite Species ◽

Water Mites ◽

Water Mite ◽

Physico Chemical ◽

Ecological Parameters ◽

Drift Behavior ◽

Set Up

Water mites are a large group of macroinvertebrates that are very vulnerable to contamination and environmental changes. As a result, they are often used to monitor water quality. Khankra gad stream, a third-order perennial spring-fed stream of the Alaknanda River in Uttarakhand, India, was studied to determine the drift behavior of water mites and water quality. Drift nets were set up for 24 hours in both spots of the Khankra stream where there was little or no human influence over a two-year sampling period (June 2018-20). Every four hours, the nets were changed out with new ones. Water mites signify a particular drift month and diel drift pattern. The majority of the drift mite species were present in considerably higher numbers in the daytime. During the two-year study period, a total of 2503 mite samples were collected from the Khankra stream, from which 204 water mite species drifted. The least number of Hydrachnidia (694) were collected from Spot-1, and the highest (1809) were collected from Spot-2, with 106 water mites drifting from Spot-1 and 134 mites drifting from Spot-2 during the study period. From Spot-2 maximum 25 mite species were collected and minimum 19 mite species were collected from Spot-1. For various mite species, the DBDI value ranged from 0.155 (July) to 0.204 (April) in Spot-1 and 0.134 (July) to 0.149 (February) in Spot-2. It was also observed that maximum water mite species were day-drifter. The physico-chemical parameters of the Khankra stream were also reported. The effect of ecological parameters on mite drift was investigated using Canonical correspondence analysis (CCA).

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New water mites species (Acariformes: Hydrachnidia) from the Far East of Russia

Zootaxa ◽

10.11646/zootaxa.2241.1.1 ◽

2009 ◽

Vol 2241 (1) ◽

pp. 1-21

Author(s):

PETR V. TUZOVSKIJ ◽

KSENIA A. SEMENCHENKO

Keyword(s):

Far East ◽

Mite Species ◽

Far East Of Russia ◽

Water Mites ◽

Water Mite ◽

The Far East ◽

Standing Waters

Illustrated descriptions of five water mite species, Sperchon (Hispidosperchon) nevelskoii sp. n., Teutonia (Subteutonia) minor sp. n., Lebertia (Mixolebertia) sokolowi sp. n., Mixobates amurensis sp. n. and Feltria (Feltria) orientalis sp. n., from running and standing waters of the Far East of Russia are presented.

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New records of water mites (Acari: Hydrachnidia) from Sri Lanka with description of four new species and some remarks of relationships

Systematic and Applied Acarology ◽

10.11158/saa.25.9.6 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 25 (9) ◽

pp. 1589-1610

Author(s):

Andrzej Zawal ◽

Izabela Szućko ◽

Magdalena Szenejko ◽

Lidia Skuza ◽

Aleksandra Bańkowska ◽

...

Keyword(s):

New Species ◽

Sri Lanka ◽

New Records ◽

Dna Barcodes ◽

Water Mites ◽

Water Mite ◽

Standing Waters ◽

First Time

New records of water mites (Acari: Hydrachnidia) from the standing waters of Sri Lanka are presented. Fifteen species have been registrated, among them four species, i.e. Piona srilankana (Pionidae), Neumania edytae (Unionicolidae), Krendowskia (Krendowskiella) srilankana (Krendowskiidae), and Mideopsis ewelinae (Mideopsidae) are described as new to science. DNA was extracted from 18 water mite specimens and DNA barcodes are given for the first time for nine species.

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Water mites of the genus Sperchon Kramer (Acari: Hydrachnidia: Sperchontidae) from Turkey, with description of two new species

Zootaxa ◽

10.11646/zootaxa.2514.1.3 ◽

2010 ◽

Vol 2514 (1) ◽

pp. 35 ◽

Cited By ~ 3

Author(s):

YUNUS ESEN ◽

VLADIMIR PEŠIĆ ◽

ORHAN ERMAN

Keyword(s):

New Species ◽

New Records ◽

First Record ◽

Mite Species ◽

Published Data ◽

Water Mites ◽

Water Mite ◽

Two New Species

A survey is given of the distribution of the water mite species of the genus Sperchon Kramer (Acari: Hydrachnidia: Sperchontidae) in Turkey, based on all published data and numerous new records. Sperchon (Hispidosperchon) oezkani and S. (Sperchon) ayyildizi are described as new species; Sperchon fundamentalis Bader & Sepasgozarian, 1980 is synonymized with S. glandulosus Koenike, 1886; the first record from Turkey is given for Sperchon (Hispidosperchon) tarnogradskii Sokolow, 1927.

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Does parasitism mediate water mite biogeography?

Systematic and Applied Acarology ◽

10.11158/saa.25.9.3 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 25 (9) ◽

pp. 1552-1560

Author(s):

Hiromi Yagui ◽

Antonio G. Valdecasas

Keyword(s):

Geographic Distribution ◽

Larval Stage ◽

Extreme Values ◽

Empirical Distribution ◽

Distribution Patterns ◽

Mite Species ◽

Distribution Functions ◽

Dispersal Ability ◽

Water Mites ◽

Water Mite

The biogeography of organisms, particularly those with complex lifestyles that can affect dispersal ability, has been a focus of study for many decades. Most Hydrachnidia, commonly known as water mites, have a parasitic larval stage during which dispersal is predominantly host-mediated, suggesting that these water mites may have a wider distribution than non-parasitic species. However, does this actually occur? To address this question, we compiled and compared the geographic distribution of water mite species that have a parasitic larval stage with those that have lost it. We performed a bootstrap resampling analysis to compare the empirical distribution functions derived from both the complete dataset and one excluding the extreme values at each distribution tail. The results show differing distribution patterns between water mites with and without parasitic larval stages. However, contrary to expectation, they show that a wider geographic distribution is observed for a greater proportion of the species with a non-parasitic larval stage, suggesting a relevant role for non-host-mediated mechanisms of dispersal in water mites.

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