Water Mites (Acariformes: Hydrachnidia, Halacaroidea) of Bogs of Western Siberia (Russia)

Abstract

Water mites (Acariformes, Hydrachnidia, Halacaroidea) were studied in 8 different bogs and fens of Western Siberia. 28 species of Hydrachnidia and 5 species of Halacaridae were found in them. The species composition in the bogs was very different. In the fens the abundance and species diversity were higher than in sphagnum bogs and the fauna were based on spring species. The representatives of the halacarid mites dominated in sphagnum bogs, which were not found in the fens. The specific similarity of the studied bogs was low. At the same time, the peculiarities of seasonal dynamics in bogs and fens were similar and resembled temporary water bodies: high numbers in the spring and an abruptly decline in the summer, with a slight increase in autumn.

Inclusion of juvenile stages improves diversity assessment and adds to our understanding of mite ecology – A case study from mires in Norway

“…water mites (Hydrachnidia) and terrestrial Parasitengonina. In Europe, there have been a large number of studies on water mites inhabiting peatlands (e.g., Smit & van der Hammen, 1996;Stolbov et al, 2018;Więcek et al, 2012Więcek et al, , 2013aWięcek et al, , 2013b, and water mites seem to be represented in these habitats by relatively few species.…”

“…One of the trombidiform groups important in mires is the cohort Parasitengonina which comprises two main ecological groups: water mites (Hydrachnidia) and terrestrial Parasitengonina. In Europe, there have been a large number of studies on water mites inhabiting peatlands (e.g., Smit & van der Hammen, 1996; Stolbov et al, 2018; Więcek et al, 2012, 2013a, 2013b), and water mites seem to be represented in these habitats by relatively few species. For example, in Canada, where more than 500 species of water mite species are known, only about 30 were found in peatlands (Smith, 1987).…”

Water mites (Acari: Hydrachnidia) of the „Golczewskie Uroczysko” nature reserve

“…However, most studies refer to bogs degraded by human activities (draining, peat extraction), where water mites can be used for monitoring purposes (Wiecek et al, 2013b). There are only few studies on raised bogs in more natural conditions (Cichocka, 1996a(Cichocka, , b, 1998Stolbov et al, 2018). Many of these studies pointed to the low specificity of the water mite fauna of peatlands, where eurytopic species predominated (Kleiber, 1911;Harnisch, 1924;Viets, 1938;Schieferdecker 1966;Lundblad, 1968).…”

Parasitism of Odonata by Arrenurus water mites (Acariformes, Hydrachnidia, Arrenuridae) in Western Siberia

“…In the study area near Lake Kuchak, high rates of infestation and parasite loads of water mites larvae of the genus Arrenurus on Odonata were recorded. At the same time, nymphs and adult mites of Arrenurus were not abundant in the lake, with only three out of six species of mites found as larvae on dragonflies being found free-living in the water (Stolbov et al 2018a(Stolbov et al , 2018b. Perhaps this is due to the migration of odonates from neighbouring reservoirs.…”