Mites (Oribatida and Mesostigmata) and Vegetation as Complementary Bioindicators in Peatlands

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

“…Mire communities include habitat‐specific Mesostigmata species that makes these habitats particularly important in terms of biodiversity (Kaczmarek et al, 2006, 2011; Kaczmarek & Marquardt, 2007, 2008; Marquardt & Kaczmarek, 2009; Salmane, 2006, 2009; Salmane & Spuņģis, 2015; Skorupski et al, 2008). The bioindicative reaction of Mesostigmata is less pronounced, that is, in contrast to Oribatida, none of the environmental variables were significantly associated with variation in the Mesostigmata communities, but the Mesostigmata results often support those of Oribatida (e.g., high dominance of aquatic species or a shift to generalists is often observed in both groups) (Seniczak et al, 2022).…”

“…Oribatida are closely dependent on microhabitat conditions, most notably the moisture level (Lehmitz et al, 2020) or the genus of Sphagnum present (Minor et al, 2016; Seniczak, Seniczak, Iturrondobeitia, et al, 2020; Seniczak, Seniczak, Schwarzfeld, et al, 2020), but also water chemistry (Seniczak et al, 2022). Therefore, any changes in peatlands, either due to climate change or human activities that affect water level or water chemistry, have strong impacts on the oribatid communities (Lehmitz et al, 2020; Markkula 1981, 1982; Seniczak et al, 2016; Seniczak et al, 2022). Dramatic changes in oribatid communities can be observed very quickly, even between different seasons (Seniczak, Seniczak, Graczyk, et al, 2019), so Oribatida seem to be very good bioindicators for short‐term changes in peatlands (Lehmitz et al, 2020; Seniczak et al, 2022).…”

“…Oribatid mites can live in different parts of Sphagnum : on drier apical parts; in more basal parts; or in the spaces between Sphagnum leaves. Oribatida are closely dependent on microhabitat conditions, most notably the moisture level (Lehmitz et al, 2020) or the genus of Sphagnum present (Minor et al, 2016; Seniczak, Seniczak, Iturrondobeitia, et al, 2020; Seniczak, Seniczak, Schwarzfeld, et al, 2020), but also water chemistry (Seniczak et al, 2022). Therefore, any changes in peatlands, either due to climate change or human activities that affect water level or water chemistry, have strong impacts on the oribatid communities (Lehmitz et al, 2020; Markkula 1981, 1982; Seniczak et al, 2016; Seniczak et al, 2022).…”

“…Therefore, any changes in peatlands, either due to climate change or human activities that affect water level or water chemistry, have strong impacts on the oribatid communities (Lehmitz et al, 2020; Markkula 1981, 1982; Seniczak et al, 2016; Seniczak et al, 2022). Dramatic changes in oribatid communities can be observed very quickly, even between different seasons (Seniczak, Seniczak, Graczyk, et al, 2019), so Oribatida seem to be very good bioindicators for short‐term changes in peatlands (Lehmitz et al, 2020; Seniczak et al, 2022).…”