engleski

SPATIAL DISTRIBUTION AND SEASONAL CHANGES OF WATER MITE ASSEMBLAGES (HYRACHNIDIA) IN DINARIC KARST SPRINGS

Complex life history traits of water mites, including numerous stages and overlapping life cycles with emergent freshwater insects, make them extremely important components of freshwater fauna in terms of spatial distribution and diversity. Karst springs are particularly important on various ecoscales, housing undiscovered water mite resources. Thus, the aims of this study were to analyze water mite assemblages of Mediterranean and alpine karst springs and their seasonal changes in Croatia. The water mites were represented by 11 genera, decreasing in taxa richness from alpine to Mediterranean springs. Diversity and abundance were significantly higher in alpine springs during fall compared to Mediterranean springs and other seasons. Spatial patterns of water mite assemblages at a regional scale were best explained by water temperature, dissolved oxygen and velocity. Water mite taxa Pseudotorrenticola sp. and Oxus sp. were exclusively found or abundant and positively associated with higher water temperature and velocity, while Aturus sp. and Woolastookia sp. were exclusively recorded in the alpine springs, where oxygen concentrations were significantly higher. Atractides sp., Lebertia sp. and Sperchon sp. were recorded in most springs with domination of the genus Atractides during winter. Regional differences in seasonality of water mite abundances were most likely patterned by emergence of insect crenofauna.

water mites, Hydrachnidia, karst springs, Mediterranean, alpine

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