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Diversity
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Diversity, Biogeographic, and Evolutionary Research in Acarology
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Diversity, Biogeographic, and Evolutionary Research in Acarology

A special issue of Diversity (ISSN 1424-2818). This special issue belongs to the section "Animal Diversity".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: closed (20 January 2023) | Viewed by 10130

Special Issue Editor

Dr. Agnieszka Napierała

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Department of General Zoology, Faculty of Biology, Adam Mickiewicz University, 61-614 Poznań, Poland
Interests: acarology; bioindicators; ecology; nature conservation; Uropodina mites; zoogeography
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

“Diversity” is a term which in one word can aptly describe mites (Acari). The oldest fossil evidence of mites comes from the Devonian. Molecular analyses show that mites do not form a monophyletic group, but rather derive from two evolutionary trajectories: Actinotrichida (Acariformes) and Anactinotrichida (Parasitiformes). Their evolutionary divergence took place quite early and since then they evolved separately. However, the age of the whole group and the exact time of radiation are still the focus of research. The major similarities between these two evolutionary lines are the following characteristics: the body structure and miniaturisation of body size, presence of gnathostoma, segmentation and complex development process.

These little arthropods have already colonised almost all types of habitats, and they can be found at any latitude. Due to this fact, they are also characterised by uniquely high morphological diversity, and different adaptation capabilities and life history strategies. Mites occur commonly in soil and humus, where they are the most numerous components of mesofauna and play a pivotal role in the process of humification. Many mite species are closely associated with other animals and plants, both as commensals and parasites, with which they form various close evolutionary correlations. Both free-living mites and those which are parasites are an important element of many ecosystems.

Mites have been the major research focus of many acarologists for a very long time. However, our knowledge about this group of organisms, regarding both their phylogenesis and geographical distribution, is still fragmentary and uneven. In the case of free-living mites, many species have been described on the basis of specimens from only one location, which may suggest high endemism or the sparce occurrence of such species. On the other hand, the geographical range of occurrence of parasite mite species is directly dependent on the range of occurrence of the host organism. In such cases, the gradual extinction of species is a significant factor, which in turn often results in the extinction of the accompanying fauna, including parasitic mites. This phenomenon, in addition to the degradation of habitats, leads to the loss of mite biodiversity.

This Special Issue, "Diversity, Biogeographic, and Evolutionary Research in Acarology", will facilitate the review of current knowledge on the subject.  We invite both original research and review papers that address the current research problems, as well as indicate research trends for the future.

Dr. Agnieszka Napierała
Guest Editor

Manuscript Submission Information

Manuscripts should be submitted online at www.mdpi.com by registering and logging in to this website. Once you are registered, click here to go to the submission form. Manuscripts can be submitted until the deadline. All submissions that pass pre-check are peer-reviewed. Accepted papers will be published continuously in the journal (as soon as accepted) and will be listed together on the special issue website. Research articles, review articles as well as short communications are invited. For planned papers, a title and short abstract (about 100 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for announcement on this website.

Submitted manuscripts should not have been published previously, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere (except conference proceedings papers). All manuscripts are thoroughly refereed through a single-blind peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. Diversity is an international peer-reviewed open access monthly journal published by MDPI.

Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. The Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal is 2600 CHF (Swiss Francs). Submitted papers should be well formatted and use good English. Authors may use MDPI's English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions.

Keywords

  • biodiversity
  • geographical distribution
  • mites
  • phylogenesis
  • zoogeography

Published Papers (6 papers)

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Research

22 pages, 3335 KiB  
Article
The Pleistocene Glaciations as One of the Major Factors Having Impact on the Current Range of Occurrence and Species Diversity of Mites from the Suborder Uropodina (Acari: Mesostigmata) in Poland
by Jerzy Błoszyk, Marta Kulczak and Agnieszka Napierała
Diversity 2023, 15(3), 355; https://doi.org/10.3390/d15030355 - 1 Mar 2023
Cited by 1 | Viewed by 1101
Abstract
On the basis of data collected since 1961, the authors of the current article conducted an analysis of the distribution of Uropodina (Acari: Mesostigmata) species in Poland. The areas of occurrence of the species were compared with the range boundaries of the successive [...] Read more.
On the basis of data collected since 1961, the authors of the current article conducted an analysis of the distribution of Uropodina (Acari: Mesostigmata) species in Poland. The areas of occurrence of the species were compared with the range boundaries of the successive Pleistocene glaciations in Poland. The second aim of the study was to establish the importance of the former nunataks (paleonunataks) for the preservation of biodiversity of this group of mites in Poland. The study has revealed that there are six types of distribution of Uropodina species in the area of Poland: (i) species distributed consistently in the whole area of the country, (ii) species having their northern range of occurrence in Poland, (iii) species having their north-western range of occurrence, (iv) species having their north-eastern range of occurrence, (v) species of boreal-mountainous distribution with evident disjunction in central Poland, and (vi) Carpathian species migrating northwards along the Vistula River. The analyses of the species composition of Uropodina communities on nunataks shows that the concave nunatak in Jura Krakowsko-Czestochowska, described in the literature as the “Jurassic Inland Oasis”, turned out to be the location with the highest Uropodina diversity, whereas on the nunatak of the Ślęża Massif, which was covered by two glaciations, the Uropodina diversity was the lowest. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Diversity, Biogeographic, and Evolutionary Research in Acarology)
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30 pages, 28364 KiB  
Article
A Review of the Asexual Mite Genus Paralycus Womersley, 1944 (Acari: Oribatida: Pediculochelidae), with Description of Three New Species and A Key to Species of the World
by Vasiliy B. Kolesnikov, Barry OConnor, Sergey G. Ermilov and Pavel B. Klimov
Diversity 2023, 15(2), 160; https://doi.org/10.3390/d15020160 - 22 Jan 2023
Cited by 1 | Viewed by 1808
Abstract
Mites of the genus Paralycus (Oribatida: Pediculochelidae) are minute, asexual, paedomorphic oribatids that have been largely overlooked by major biodiversity surveys. Here, we review this genus and describe three new species based on adult females: Paralycus persephone sp. n. and Paralycus daeira sp. [...] Read more.
Mites of the genus Paralycus (Oribatida: Pediculochelidae) are minute, asexual, paedomorphic oribatids that have been largely overlooked by major biodiversity surveys. Here, we review this genus and describe three new species based on adult females: Paralycus persephone sp. n. and Paralycus daeira sp. n. from deep soil in Colorado, USA and Paralycus pricei sp. n. from South Africa. We provide the first complete ontogenetic series in the family using P. daeira sp. n. as a model, clarify the species boundaries in several species, and compile an annotated checklist and key to species of Paralycus of the World. Our work suggests that the pediculochelid biodiversity is underappreciated as these mites may be common in subterranean habitats/deep soil. Further discoveries of the Paralycus diversity in these habitats are anticipated. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Diversity, Biogeographic, and Evolutionary Research in Acarology)
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12 pages, 1660 KiB  
Article
Longitudinal Changes in Diverse Assemblages of Water Mites (Hydrachnidia) along a Lowland River in Croatia
by Tia Žeželj Vidoša, Ivana Pozojević, Iva Vidaković Maoduš and Zlatko Mihaljević
Diversity 2023, 15(2), 139; https://doi.org/10.3390/d15020139 - 19 Jan 2023
Cited by 1 | Viewed by 1151
Abstract
Water mites are the most diverse freshwater group of Acari and despite growing research interest in the ecology of this group, the environmental influences along longitudinal river gradients on their assemblages are still not fully understood. The objective of this study was to [...] Read more.
Water mites are the most diverse freshwater group of Acari and despite growing research interest in the ecology of this group, the environmental influences along longitudinal river gradients on their assemblages are still not fully understood. The objective of this study was to determine how physico-chemical water properties and hydromorphological alterations affect the composition and distribution of water mite assemblages along a longitudinal river gradient. Macroinvertebrate samples were collected from 20 study sites distributed longitudinally along the entire 106 km course of a lowland river (Bednja River) in the Pannonian Lowlands ecoregion of Croatia. At each site, 20 samples were collected with regard to microhabitat composition (+400 samples in total). In parallel with the sampling of macroinvertebrates at each site, the physico-chemical water properties were measured and the degree of hydromorphological alteration was assessed (European Standard EN 15843:2010). Both the number of taxa and water mite abundance were found to increase significantly with increasing distance from the source. However, the assemblages from the upper reaches and those from the lower reaches shared very few species, emphasizing the importance of species-level identification. Water mite species richness and diversity were not reduced with increased levels of variables associated with organic enrichment and eutrophication pressures. Similarly, hydromorphological alteration did not reduce either water mite abundance or species richness and was positively correlated with both. Furthermore, a correspondence analysis on water mite microhabitat preferences revealed that 32% of all species were positively associated with artificial microhabitats (technolithal). These positive associations may be the result of reduced competitive pressure from other larger invertebrates, as well as a possible preference for higher velocity, which usually occurs on smooth technolithal surfaces. A total of 22 different species of water mites were found during this study, 8 of which (or 36% of all species found) were recorded for the first time in Croatia. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Diversity, Biogeographic, and Evolutionary Research in Acarology)
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9 pages, 813 KiB  
Article
Mite Fauna of the Family Syringophilidae (Acariformes: Prostigmata) Parasitizing Darwin’s Finches in Galápagos Archipelago
by Maciej Skoracki, Bozena Sikora, Markus Unsoeld and Martin Hromada
Diversity 2022, 14(8), 585; https://doi.org/10.3390/d14080585 - 22 Jul 2022
Cited by 3 | Viewed by 1691
Abstract
Due to the biological uniqueness of the Galápagos Islands, ectoparasites of their avian fauna are relatively well-studied compared with other oceanic islands. However, in this study, quill mites (Acariformes: Prostigmata: Syringophilidae) were investigated for the first time in this archipelago. We investigated 7 [...] Read more.
Due to the biological uniqueness of the Galápagos Islands, ectoparasites of their avian fauna are relatively well-studied compared with other oceanic islands. However, in this study, quill mites (Acariformes: Prostigmata: Syringophilidae) were investigated for the first time in this archipelago. We investigated 7 species (out of 9) and 133 specimens of Darwin’s Finches of the genus Geospiza. Quill mite parasites were confirmed in two host species, Vampire Ground-Finch G. septentrionalis (Prevalence Index = 5%) and Small Ground-Finch G. fuliginosa (PI = 4%). Both hosts were infested by a new mite species, Aulonastus darwini sp. n., inhabiting the quills of their contour feathers. The host–parasite relationship is discussed. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Diversity, Biogeographic, and Evolutionary Research in Acarology)
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9 pages, 3998 KiB  
Article
Range of Occurrence of Bisexual and Parthenogenetic Populations of Labidostomma luteum (Acari: Prostigmata) in Europe
by Jerzy Błoszyk, Agnieszka Napierała, Zbigniew Adamski and Michał Zacharyasiewicz
Diversity 2022, 14(7), 504; https://doi.org/10.3390/d14070504 - 22 Jun 2022
Cited by 1 | Viewed by 1290
Abstract
The current article describes an interesting case of geographic parthenogenesis among European mites from the Labidostommidae family (Acari: Prostigmata). In earlier publications on Labidostomma luteum Kramer, 1879, the authors pointed out that most of the populations of this species in Europe consisted of [...] Read more.
The current article describes an interesting case of geographic parthenogenesis among European mites from the Labidostommidae family (Acari: Prostigmata). In earlier publications on Labidostomma luteum Kramer, 1879, the authors pointed out that most of the populations of this species in Europe consisted of parthenogenetic females. Until now, populations of both sexes were known only in southwestern France. In the north–west areas, the number of males in the populations has gradually decreased, and in the populations found west of Paris there are no males at all. During the research project carried out in 2018, Błoszyk found the presence of populations which consisted of both sexes of the species in question near the town of Bény (60 km NE of Lion). This is the easternmost site of L. luteum in France where males have been found. All other known sites located east and north of the Bény–Paris line have only parthenogenetic females. Thus, this line can be considered as the boundary of L. luteum populations reproducing sexually. However, establishing the exact course of this range requires further research. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Diversity, Biogeographic, and Evolutionary Research in Acarology)
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19 pages, 5875 KiB  
Article
Towards Solving the “Colomerus vitis Conundrum”: Genetic Evidence Reveals a Complex of Highly Diverged Groups with Little Morphological Differentiation
by Davina L. Saccaggi, Palesa Maboeei, Chanté Powell, Nompumelelo P. Ngubane-Ndhlovu, Elleunorah Allsopp, James Wesley-Smith and Barbara van Asch
Diversity 2022, 14(5), 342; https://doi.org/10.3390/d14050342 - 28 Apr 2022
Cited by 2 | Viewed by 2009
Abstract
Colomerus vitis is a pest of grapevine worldwide that includes three strains recognised by plant symptoms (bud, erineum, and leaf curl), which could represent cryptic species. We approached this long-standing question by integrating genetic and morphological methods. COI sequences of mites from South [...] Read more.
Colomerus vitis is a pest of grapevine worldwide that includes three strains recognised by plant symptoms (bud, erineum, and leaf curl), which could represent cryptic species. We approached this long-standing question by integrating genetic and morphological methods. COI sequences of mites from South Africa and other countries showed five phylogenetic groups (G1 to G5) with intergroup p-distances up to 23% and intragroup divergence lower than 2%. The three groups found in South Africa (G1, G2, and G3) were screened from a variety of grapevine samples using a novel multiplex PCR method. Only G1 and G3 were significantly associated with erinea and buds, respectively, and the three groups were frequently co-present in the same plant sample. Cryo-SEM showed adults with five- and six-rayed empodia, variable microtubercle shape, and prodorsal shield patterns. Specimens with six-rayed empodia and a smooth prodorsal shield were more often associated with buds, while specimens from erinea were variable. These results support the genetic evidence in that particular groups or morphotypes are not associated exclusively with specific plant niches. We propose that C. vitis is a complex of at least five genetically distinct but morphologically similar species, and that no one species can be assigned to a particular grapevine symptom. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Diversity, Biogeographic, and Evolutionary Research in Acarology)
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