The life strategies of mites

Lebrun, P.; Impe, Georges Van; Georges-Gridelet, D. De Saint; Wauthy, G.; André, H. M.

doi:10.1007/978-94-011-3102-5_1

Cited by 20 publications

(9 citation statements)

References 28 publications

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“…Although the Cryptostigmata generally are known to have long life cycles (typically 1-2 years egg to egg) (Weigmann, 1975;Mitchell, 1977;Norton, 1994), the five years required by Alaskozetes is exceptional. However, with growth rates during summer of similar magnitude to temperate cryptostigmatid species (Lebrun et al, 1991;Convey, 1994b) (Fig. 2), the life-cycle extension observed is probably simply due to cessation of growth during the long (6-8 month) Antarctic winter.…”

Section: Life Stages and Life Historymentioning

confidence: 75%

The biology, life cycle and ecophysiology of the Antarctic miteAlaskozetes antarcticus

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Convey

1995

Journal of Zoology

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The cryptostigmatid mite Alaskozetes antarcticus (Michael) is a dominant member of many terrestrial communities in the maritime Antarctic, where it survives extreme temperatures, short cold summers, numerous freeze-thaw cycles, desiccating conditions and a limited season for growth and reproduction. However, examination of features of its biology, from morphology, through life-history strategy to physiology, indicate very little specialization to the Antarctic environment. Alaskozetes antarcticus is a herbivore/detritivore, typical of the Cryptostigmata in general, with low feeding and growth rates, long life span and low reproductive output. Physiological specializations exist in the form of low enzyme activation energies and elevated metabolic rates at low temperatures when compared with temperate species, and associated low optimum temperatures for activity, feeding and growth. Growth rates comparable with temperate species are achieved in the field, with an extended life cycle of five years or more as a result of the short growing season, and the ability of all life stages to overwinter equally successfully. Overwintering survival, involving supercooling enhanced by the use of antifreezes such as glycerol, although initially described in Antarctic species, is now known to be characteristic of many temperate relatives, so it is not a specific adaptation to the polar environment. The obvious success of A . antarcticus in maritime Antarctic terrestrial environments must be attributed to a combination of several features characteristic of the Cryptostigmata in general, rather than to specific polar adaptations.

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Section: Life Stages and Life Historymentioning

confidence: 75%

The biology, life cycle and ecophysiology of the Antarctic miteAlaskozetes antarcticus

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Convey

1995

Journal of Zoology

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“…The strain "White Eye", easily identifiable with its unpigmented eyes, was used because of our knowledge of its biology (Van Impe 1985, 1991Lebrun et al 1991;Nihoul et al 1991). A stock of teleochrysalids was gathered the evening before the infestation.…”

Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Effect of elevated CO 2 on the demography of a leaf-sucking mite feeding on bean

Joutei

Roy²,

Impe

et al. 2000

Oecologia

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The effect of elevated CO on the demography of the arachnid species Tetranychus urticae feeding on Phaseolus vulgaris plants was analysed. This class of herbivores (Arachnida) and its feeding guild (cell content feeders) are under-represented in studies of the combined effects of herbivory and CO. The growth of bean was strongly stimulated by elevated CO. The number of leaves on lateral stems and of flowers increased but pod weight decreased. Leaf nitrogen content was 25% lower at elevated CO due to an increase in non-structural sugar concentration. Leaf water content was lower at elevated CO while leaf-specific mass and epidermis thickness were higher. Females of the mite raised at ambient or elevated CO, but all fed with leaves grown at ambient CO, had similar progenies. When females were raised on plants grown at elevated CO, the numbers of their progeny were reduced by 34% and 49% in the first and second generation respectively. Later stages of development were more reduced in elevated CO, suggesting that both fecundity and rate of development were affected. This study suggests that the abundance of T. urticae, and consequently the damage to the many crops it infests, might decrease in a future elevated-CO environment.

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“…Some of the humus and mineral-soil species (for example, those in the Oppiidae and Euphthiracaridae) seem to be generalists; they have a high ecological valence, and are tolerant of disturbance. Euedaphic and humicolous species such as Elliptochthonius profundus, Gehypochthonius rhadamanthus, and Eulohmannia ribagai seem to be specialized (Norton, 1975;Lebrun and Wauthy, 1981), and the latter at least is highly susceptible to disturbance (Aoki and Kuriki, 1978). Parthenogens may dominate the oribatid fauna of the lower soil horizons but all examples cannot be explained with the same evolutionary rationale.…”

Section: Vertical Distribution In Soilmentioning

confidence: 98%

The distribution, mechanisms and evolutionary significance of parthenogenesis in oribatid mites

1991

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Highly derived oribatid mites (Brachypylina) seem to fit most predictions of evolutionary theory regarding the ecological, geographical and taxonomic distribution of parthenogenesis. Earlier derivative groups generally do not. We suggest that the ancestors of large, completely parthenogenetic families (for example, Brachychthoniidae, Lohmanniidae, Camisiidae, Trhypochthoniidae, Malaconothridae, Nanhermanniidae) were themselves parthenogenetic, and that 'speciation' and radiation occurred in the absence of sexual reproduction. Further, it is speculated that automixy (meiotic thelytoky) was the process involved -even though some extant species may prove to be secondarily apomictic, just as apomicts evolve from sexually reproducing lineages. If mechanisms for maintaining heterozygosity are effective, automixy can provide all the advantages of parthenogenesis, plus the DNArepair advantage of meiosis. Genotypes can be diversified by the formation of distinct clones, thereby providing the raw material for successful radiation. The disadvantage of such a system would be its slow rate of change due to the absence of an allele-recruitment mechanism. Much of the above remains speculative since available data are meagre. Future work should include surveys of thelytokous mechanisms in oribatid mites, the genetic characterization of populations of a variety of parthenogenetic and sexual species, and the refinement of hypotheses on phylogenetic relationships of parthenogenetic taxa• Invited paper. R. Schuster et al., The Acari

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The life strategies of mites

Cited by 20 publications

References 28 publications

The biology, life cycle and ecophysiology of the Antarctic miteAlaskozetes antarcticus

The biology, life cycle and ecophysiology of the Antarctic miteAlaskozetes antarcticus

Effect of elevated CO 2 on the demography of a leaf-sucking mite feeding on bean

The distribution, mechanisms and evolutionary significance of parthenogenesis in oribatid mites

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