Biodiversity of Water Mites (Acari: Hydrachnida)

Water mites are an abundant, diverse, and ecologically important group of invertebrates found in most freshwater ecosystems including streams, rivers, ponds, and lakes. They are important in regulating other invertebrates, particularly aquatic insect larvae, through parasitic and predatory stages in their life cycle. Abundant and diverse water mite populations have has been shown to be associated with good environmental quality. Over 5,000 species have been recognized worldwide, and over 1,500 species are currently estimated to occur in North America, north of Mexico. The principal investigator has collected water mites for the past 40 years in North America and estimates that there are several hundred species living in the southeastern United States. Our objectives are to contribute information on water mite diversity to the All Taxa Biodiversity Inventory, use this information for taxonomic revision, and provide taxonomic information to aquatic ecologists that study the structure and dynamics of freshwater communities.