The association of oribatid mites with lichens

Abstract

Oribatei (Acari, Cryptostigmata) are found in a variety of terrestrial habitats, and many are associated with lichens; the relationship ranges from casual to highly dependent. Eighty‐three species associated with lichens have been surveyed, and a tentative classification, based on their ecological requirements, is presented: Group A consists of species restricted to lichens as a biotope, though occasionally occurring as accidentals in other habitats; Group B consists of species which while preferring lichens as a habitat and feeding source are also adapted to existence on other plants (though in some cases their immatures may be lichen‐restricted); Group C consists of species which, though frequently found on lichens, are equally common in other biotopes, particularly mosses, and must be regarded as much more generalized in their feeding habits. Certain aspects of oribatid‐lichen specificity are discussed. The importance of oribatid‐lichen associations from the point of view of soil fertility and energetics is emphasized.

Multiple convergent evolution of arboreal life in oribatid mites indicates the primacy of ecology

“…All specimens were collected from the field and determined to species level. Habitat (soil or bark), reproductive mode, feeding mode and type of sensillus were extracted from the literature (Seyd & Seaward 1984;Cianciolo & Norton 2006;Weigmann 2006;Erdmann et al 2007) or determined by us (table 1). The degree of sclerotization was estimated from the darkness of the cuticle of mature adults.…”

“…It is not known why sexual reproduction is advantageous for arboreal species but it is probably related to food resources. While soilliving taxa predominantly feed on little defended food substrates, such as dead organic material, arboreal species predominantly feed on algae and lichens that at least in part are heavily defended (Seyd & Seaward 1984;Erdmann et al 2007). Sexual reproduction therefore may be necessary for the co-evolutionary arms race between predators and prey (Red Queen hypothesis; Hamilton 1980).…”

“…Soil oribatid mites are characterized by a large and often ornamented sensillus, whereas in tree-living species a capitate sensillus predominates (Aoki 1973). Further, in contrast to soilliving oribatid mites, many tree-living oribatid mite species feed on lichens (Seyd & Seaward 1984;Erdmann et al 2007).…”

“…We also tested whether tree-living in oribatid mites is correlated with the traits noted above, sexual reproduction, a capitate sensillus and strong sclerotization, using information from the literature (e.g. Seyd & Seaward 1984;Weigmann 2006;Erdmann et al 2007;B. Fischer 2007, unpublished data).…”

Xanthoria Parietina as a Food Resource and Shelter For the Land Snail Balea Perversa

“…A variety of species of oribatid mites, beetles, and Lepidopteran larvae live in and feed on lichens (Gerson & Seaward 1977;Seyd & Seaward 1984;Sochting & Gjelstrup 1985). However, relatively little is known about lichen-gastropod associations (Coker 1967;Peake & James 1967;Froberg et al 1993).…”