(Acari: Halacaridae and Pontarachnidae) Associated with Mangroves
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Research Article ISSN 2336-9744 (online) | ISSN 2337-0173 (print) The journal is available on line at www.ecol-mne.com A checklist of halacarid and pontarachnid mites (Acari: Halacaridae and Pontarachnidae) associated with mangroves TAPAS CHATTERJEE Department of Biology, Indian School of Learning, I.S.M. Annexe, P.O. – I.S.M., Dhanbad – 826004, Jharkhand, India. E–mail: [email protected] Received 14 June 2015 │ Accepted 23 June 2015 │ Published online 25 June 2015. Abstract This paper is a compilation of the records for halacarid and pontarachnid mite species associated with mangroves. A total of 23 halacarid species (Acari: Halacaridae) belonging to the five genera Acarothrix, Agauopsis, Copidognathus, Isobactrus and Rhombognathus and six pontarachnid species (Acari: Pontarachnidae) belonging to the genus Litarachna are associated with various microhabitats of mangroves. Mites are found mainly in the algae and sediment covering pneumatophores and aerial roots. Key words: Checklist, Mangrove, Halacaridae, Pontarachnidae. Introduction Tidal mangrove forests cover a vast area of world’s coastlines and are precious resources for multiple economic and ecological reasons. As much as 39.3 million acres of mangrove forests are present along the warm-water coastlines of tropical oceans all over the world. However, mangroves are diminishing worldwide at a faster rate than other terrestrial forests, making them one of the most threatened ecosystems in the world. Mangroves are habitats for a diverse aerial, terrestrial and marine fauna (Nagelkerken et al. 2008). Vast amounts of intertidal small fauna and meiofauna are associated with mangroves, mainly on turf growing on mangrove aerial roots and pneumatophores (e.g. Farnsworth & Ellison 1996; Gwyther 2000; Procheş et al. 2001; Procheş 2002, 2004; Procheş & Marshall 2002a; Bartsch 2003a, b, c, 2006a, b; Chatterjee et al. 2012a, b, 2013), litter falls of mangrove leaves (eg. Alongi 1989, 1990; Gee & Somerfield 1997; Somerfield et al. 1998; Torres–Pratts & Schizas 2007), and mud flats in mangrove zones (e.g. Hodda & Nicholas 1985, 1986a, b, 1987, 1990; Nicholas et al. 1991; Sasekumar 1994; Ólafson et al. 2000; Netto & Gallucci 2003). Mites are found mainly in the algal or sediment cover on pneumatophores, stems and branches. The major groups of mites reported from mangroves are halacarids (Halacaridae, Prostigmata) (e.g. Bartsch 1990, 1991, 1997; Chatterjee et al. 2012a, b, 2013), oribatids (Oribatida, including the cohort Astigmatina) (e.g. Marshall & Pugh 2000, 2002; Ermilov et al. 2013) and pontarachnids (Pontarachnidae, Hydrachnidia, Prostigmata) (e.g. Pešić et al. 2008, 2011, 2012, 2013), alongwith some Mesostigmata. In the present paper, a checklist of halacarid and pontarachnid mites associated with mangroves is presented. Ecol. Mont., 2 (4), 2015, 334-341 CHATTERJEE Methods This checklist was compiled using published records (up to June 13th, 2015). The genera and species are arranged in alphabetical sequence. Results Halacarid mites associated with mangroves: Family Halacaridae Murray, 1877 Acarothrix ampliumeris Bartsch, 2006 Record associated with mangroves: Cladophora mat, Chlorophyta, on muddy and sandy sediments in mangrove area, Singapore – Bartsch (2006a). Distribution: Singapore. Acarothrix grandocularis Chatterjee et al., 2012 Record associated with mangroves: From algal turf growing on Rhizophora sp. pneumatophores at Batu Marang, Brunei Darussalam – Chatterjee et al. (2012a); from algal turf growing on Avicennia sp. pneumatophores at Chorao Island, North Goa, India – Chatterjee et al. (2012a). Remarks: Acarathrix grandocularis was also mentioned from Singapore along with Rhombognathus amplus in algae on mangroves (Bartsch 2013). Distribution: Brunei Darussalam; India; Singapore. Acarothrix longiunguis Bartsch, 1997 Record associated with mangroves: In soft mud from mangrove area, Sadgroves Creek, near Darwin, Northern Australia – Bartsch (1997). Distribution: Northern Australia. Acarothrix palustris Bartsch, 1990 Record associated with mangroves: Algal turf on salt marshes and mangrove flats, Hong Kong, southern China – Bartsch (1990); green algae and epibiota on Avicennia pneumatophores in a rockpool, Pandan River, southern coast of Singapore – Bartsch (2006a); northern coast of Singapore, end of Lim Chu Kang Road from Cladophora mat on muddy and sandy sediment in mangrove area – Bartsch (2006a); from algal turf growing on Avicennia pneumatophores at Chorao Island, North Goa, India – Chatterjee et al. (2013). Distribution: Southern China; Singapore; India. Acarothrix umgenica Procheş, 2002 Record associated with mangroves: Beachwood and Bayhead Lagoon, near Durban, KwaZulu Natal, South Africa, sediment on Avicennia pneumatophores – Procheş et al. (2001). South Africa, KwaZulu–Natal, Beachwood mangroves in Durban, and Richards Bay (South Africa, KwaZulu–Natal) from sediment or algae covering the pneumatophores of the mangrove tree Avicennia marina – Procheş (2002). Distribution: South Africa; Mozambique. Agauopsis arborea Bartsch, 2003 Record associated with mangroves: Western Australia, Dampier, on the Burrup Peninsula; in muddy algal turf (Bostrychia – Calloglossa algal association) on the lower trunks and pneumatophores of mangroves – Bartsch (2003b). Distribution: Western Australia. Agauopsis dasyderma Bartsch, 2003 Record associated with mangroves: Western Australia, east coast of the Burrup Peninsula; turf on trunk of Avicennia marina, also among epibionts (barnacles, mussels, turf) on the underside branches of A. marina – Bartsch (2003a). Distribution: Western Australia. Ecol. Mont., 2 (4), 2015, 334-341 335 HALACARID AND PONTARACHNID MITES ASSOCIATED WITH MANGROVES Copidognathus balakrishnani Chatterjee, 2000 Record associated with mangroves: Among algal turf growing on Avicennia pneumatophores at Chorao Island, North Goa, western India – Chatterjee (2015). Remarks. Chatterjee (2000) described this species from intertidal algae in Cochin, Kerala, India. Distribution: India. Copidognathus bruneiensis Chatterjee, Marshall & Pešić, 2012 Record associated with mangroves: On mud flat and in algae covering the pneumatophores of Avicennia marina trees; Brunei Darussalam, Kota Batu, Sungai Brunei Estuary and Bay – Chatterjee et al. (2012b). Distribution: Brunei Darussalam. Copidognathus caloglossae Procheş, 2002 Record associated with mangroves: South Africa, Eastern Cape, Mtakatye Estuary; KwaZulu–Natal, Bayhead Lagoon in the Durban Harbour; Richards Bay, Isipingo and Beachwood mangrove forests in KwaZulu – Natal and Inhambane (Mozambique) from an algal association known as `Bostrychietum’, covering the pneumatophores of Avicennia marina – Procheş (2002); in sediment covering pneumatophore in Baywood mangrove forest – Procheş & Marshall (2002b). Beachwood and Bayhead Lagoon, near Durban, KwaZulu- Natal, South Africa, sediment on Avicennia pneumatophores – Procheş et al. (2001). Distribution: South Africa; Mozambique. Copidognathus lutarius Bartsch, 2003 Record associated with mangroves: Western Australia, east coast of the Burrup Peninsula; algal turf on pneumatophores of Avicennia – Bartsch (2003a). Distribution: North western Australia. Copidognathus mangrovorum Chatterjee, Marshall & Pešić, 2012 Record associated with mangroves: On mud flat and in algae covering the pneumatophores of Avicennia marina; Brunei Darussalam, Kota Batu, Sungai Brunei Estuary and Bay – Chatterjee et al. (2012b). Distribution: Brunei Darussalam. Copidognathus paluster Bartsch, 1991 Record associated with mangroves: Hong Kong, southern China; algae (Cladophora) on mangrove flats – Bartsch (1991). Distribution: Southern China. Copidognathus piger Bartsch, 2003 Record associated with mangroves: Western Australia, east coast of the Burrup Peninsula; turf on pneumatophores of Avicennia marina – Bartsch (2003a). Distribution: Western Australia. Copidognathus rhombognathoideus Bartsch, 2006 Record associated with mangroves: Singapore, among mangrove areas – Bartsch (2006a); among algal turf growing on Rhizophora pneumatophores at Batu Marang, Brunei Darussalam – Chatterjee et al. (2012b). Distribution: Singapore; Brunei Darussalam. Isobactrus australiensis Bartsch, 2003 Record associated with mangroves: Western Australia, east coast of the Burrup Peninsula; underside of Avicennia branches among barnacles – Bartsch (2003c). Distribution: Western Australia. Isobactrus obesus Bartsch, 1992 Record associated with mangroves: Western Australia, Dampier, east coast of the Burrup Peninsula; underside of Avicennia marina branches among barnacles; also found in coarse sediments in small mangrove area – Bartsch (2003c). 336 CHATTERJEE Remarks: Bartsch (1992) described this species among shells of rock oysters (Saccostrea cucullata), sediment and pebbles with green algae from Hong Kong, southern China. Distribution: Southern China; Western Australia. Rhombognathus abirus Pepato & Da Silveira, 2015 Record associated with mangroves: Algal turfs on aerial roots, trunks and pneumatophores of mangroves Rhizophora mangle and Avicenia schaueriana from Ubatuba, São Paulo, Brazil along the Fazenda River – Pepato and Da Silveira (2015). Distribution: Brazil. Rhombognathus amplus Bartsch, 2013 Record associated with mangroves: Singapore, among green and red algae on trunks of Rhizophora sp. – Bartsch (2013). Distribution: Singapore. Rhombognathus aspidotus Bartsch, 2006 Record associated with mangroves: Singapore, among Bostrychia mats (Rhodophyta) on Avicennia pneumatophores – Bartsch (2006b). Distribution: