Naslov
The influence of predatory behavior on spatial distribution of lentic water mite (Acari: Hydrachnidia) assemblages

Autori
POZOJEVIĆ Ivana, JURŠIĆ Lara, VUČKOVIĆ Natalija, DORIĆ Valentina, MIHALJEVIĆ Zlatko

Vrsta, podvrsta i kategorija rada
Sažeci sa skupova, sažetak, znanstveni

Skup
3rd Central European Symposium for Aquatic Macroinvertebrate Research (CESAMIR)

Mjesto i datum
Łódź, Poljska, 08.07.2018. - 13.07.2018

Vrsta sudjelovanja
Predavanje

Vrsta recenzije
Međunarodna recenzija

Ključne riječi
meiofauna food-web, predator-prey interactions, water mite predation

Sažetak
Predation is a biotic interaction that links water mites to different taxonomic groups and life stages of benthic invertebrate communities. Diptera larvae (Chironomidae, Ceratopogonidae) and microcrustaceans (Cladocera, Copepoda, Ostracoda) are determined as most common water mite prey preferences. Although these predation interactions are known from observations and ex-situ investigations, the distribution patterns and co-occurrence of water mites and their prey in littoral lentic habitats are not well known. Our goal was to determine if predation was a significant driver in water mite assemblage composition and distribution. Samples were taken from at least two littoral sites of twenty-one man-made lakes in the Dinaric ecoregion of Croatia (larger lakes had up to 6 sites). At every site ten samples were collected with regard to microhabitat composition and shore slope (depth). In total 490 samples were taken. On a longitudinal benthic profile (shoreline to one meter depth) of the littoral zone water mites showed no specific tendencies of grouping according to neither depth (p>0.05), nor microhabitat composition (p>0.05) but rather to other invertebrate groups they are known to prey on. Water mite abundances were found to positively correlate with those of Cladocera, Copepoda, Ostracoda, Ceratopogonidae, Chironomidae (p<0.05). Abundance values were log(x+1) transformed and tested for regression patterns, with the prey groups representing independent variables and water mites representing dependent variables. The strongest regression was found between water mite and chironomid abundance followed by microcrustations, which is in concordance with ex situ research. No regression was determined between Ceratopogonidae and water mite abundances. Predation was determined as a key biotic interaction, governing both spatial distribution and the composition of water mite assemblages.

Izvorni jezik
Engleski

Znanstvena područja
Biologija

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