Sharp claws beneath our feet – the diversity of tarsal attachment devices of oribatid mites (Acari, Chelicerata, excluding Astigmata) – a review

Pfingstl, Tobias

doi:10.1080/01647954.2023.2223214

Cited by 4 publications

(5 citation statements)

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“…Mites also often show additional adhesive pads for attachment ( e.g. , Dunlop, 2002 ) but the majority of soil-dwelling oribatid mites lack these structures ( Pfingstl, 2023 ). There are presently ca.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…, Behan-Pelletier & Walter, 2000 ). A recent review article ( Pfingstl, 2023 ) highlighted a huge variety of claw expressions in oribatid mites and demonstrated that almost nothing is known about the interaction of these claws with specific environments. Despite ongoing research, little is currently known about the precise reasons behind the development of specific claw formations or the existence of varying numbers of claws.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Claw shape variation in oribatid mites of the genera Carabodes and Caleremaeus: exploring the interplay of habitat, ecology and phylogenetics

Kerschbaumer,

Schäffer,

Pfingstl

2023

PeerJ

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Background Claws are a commonly observed biological adaptation across a wide range of animal groups. They serve different functions and their link to evolution is challenging to analyze. While there are many studies on the comparative anatomy and morphology of claws in reptiles, birds and several arthropods, knowledge about claws of soil-living oribatid mites, is still limited. Recent research on intertidal oribatid mites has shown that claw shape is strongly correlated with microhabitat and is subject to ecological selective pressures. However, the selective constraints shaping claws in terrestrial oribatid mites are still unknown. Methods In this study, 300 specimens from 12 different species and two genera were examined. Geometric morphometrics were used to quantify claw length and curvature, and to analyze two-dimensional claw shape. In combination with molecular phylogenetic analyses of investigated populations phylogenetic signal was quantified within genera using Blomberg’s K and random replicates. Additionally, ecological information on the investigated species was gathered from previous studies and compiled into tables. Results The claw shapes of Carabodes species vary moderately, with the three species C. reticulatus, C. rugosior and C. tenuis deviating the most from the others. These three species are only found in a small number of habitats, which may require a more specialized claw shape. Our results show that there is a phylogenetic influence on claw shape in Carabodes but not in Caleremaeus. Additionally, habitat specificity and lifestyle were found to have ecological impact on claw shape in both genera. The present results demonstrate that characteristics of the claws of terrestrial oribatid mites are correlated with ecology, but this correlation is apparently weaker than in intertidal oribatid mites that are prone to strong external forces.

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Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Claw shape variation in oribatid mites of the genera Carabodes and Caleremaeus: exploring the interplay of habitat, ecology and phylogenetics

Kerschbaumer,

Schäffer,

Pfingstl

2023

PeerJ

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“…These crotonioid species often occurring in wet habitats show the shortest claws in our dataset, which raises the question how they ensure firm attachment while being flooded. In contrast to the littoral and most semiaquatic species, these Crotonioidea possess thickened and barbed distal tarsal setae which are supposed to support the claws in attaching to the substrate during submergence in water 15 and this could explain the shortness of their claws.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…For example, most insects and some mites possess adhesive pads or other structures, in addition to the claws, to maintain grip on a variety of surfaces (e.g. 14 , 15 . The pads are mainly used to cling to smooth surfaces while the claws allow attachment to rougher ground 16 .…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Especially oribatid mites, also known as moss mites, inhabit all soil-type habitats from tropical rainforest to polar deserts 23 . Moreover, the vast majority of Oribatida only possesses claws and no additional adhesive structures 15 , which allows to focus on the interaction of the claws with the environment. On that note, the first geometric morphometric study on claw shapes of intertidal oribatid mites 24 revealed a clear correlation between claw shape and inhabited substrate.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Multiple factors influence claw characteristics in oribatid mites (Acari)

Kerschbaumer,

Pfingstl

2024

Sci Rep

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Claws, as nature's multifaceted instruments, play fundamental roles across the animal kingdom, aiding in prey capture and enabling movement across diverse terrains. Claw features often reflect the ecologies of the respective taxa and thus can provide important insights into the different lifestyles. This study explores the claw morphology of monodactylous oribatid mites through geometric morphometrics, analyzing 559 specimens from 49 species across various ecosystems. The research identifies distinct claw characteristics associated with specific habitats, revealing a significant correlation between claw morphology and the mites' environmental adaptations. Littoral mites exhibit notably larger claws compared to terrestrial counterparts, with aquatic and semiaquatic species presenting intermediate traits. The analysis shows an inverse relationship between claw curvature and sharpness, differing from patterns observed in larger animals. A trend of increasing claw bluntness with body size in terrestrial mites echoes biomechanical constraints seen in larger species. The study also observes consistent claw shapes within oribatid superfamilies, suggesting a potential, albeit muted, phylogenetic influence alongside environmental factors. These findings reveal how ecological, evolutionary, and functional aspects influence claw morphology in oribatid mites, enhancing our knowledge of arthropod biology and potentially inspiring biomimetic advances in material science and engineering.

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Colonization of mudflat substrate by microarthropods: the role of distance, inundation frequency and body size

Haque,

Rinke,

Chen

et al. 2024

Oecologia

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Salt marshes represent a unique ecosystem at the marine-terrestrial boundary of shallow protected coastlines. Microarthropods form an essential component of soil food webs, but how they colonize new intertidal habitats is little understood. By establishing two experimental systems without animals, we investigated microarthropod colonization (1) at the seashore from the pioneer zone to the lower and upper salt marsh and (2) at the same tidal height on artificial islands 500 m from the seashore. Potential source populations of microarthropods in the respective zones were also investigated. Colonization of microarthropods after 5 years was consistently faster on the seashore than on the artificial islands. Collembola and Mesostigmata colonized all the zones both on the seashore and on the artificial islands, with colonization being faster in the upper salt marsh and in the pioneer zone than in the lower salt marsh. Oribatida colonized the new habitats on the seashore, but only little on the artificial islands. Variations in species composition were more pronounced between salt marsh zones than between experimental systems, indicating that local environmental conditions (i.e., inundation frequency) are more important for the assembly of microarthropod communities than the distance from source populations (i.e., dispersal processes). Variations in community body size of Oribatida and Mesostigmata indicated environmental filtering of traits, with smaller species suffering from frequent inundations. Notably, Mesostigmata most successfully colonized the new habitats across salt marsh zones on both systems. Overall, the results document major mechanisms of colonization of intertidal habitats by microarthropods with different life histories and feeding strategies.

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Sharp claws beneath our feet – the diversity of tarsal attachment devices of oribatid mites (Acari, Chelicerata, excluding Astigmata) – a review

Cited by 4 publications

References 154 publications

Claw shape variation in oribatid mites of the genera Carabodes and Caleremaeus: exploring the interplay of habitat, ecology and phylogenetics

Claw shape variation in oribatid mites of the genera Carabodes and Caleremaeus: exploring the interplay of habitat, ecology and phylogenetics

Multiple factors influence claw characteristics in oribatid mites (Acari)

Colonization of mudflat substrate by microarthropods: the role of distance, inundation frequency and body size

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