AQUATIC MITES OF GREAT SMOKY AQUATIC MITES OF GREAT SMOKY MOUNTAINS NATIONAL PARKMOUNTAINS NATIONAL PARK

Southern Appalachian Information Node

National Biological Information Infrastructure

http://sain.nbii.gov/

East Fork of Flat Creek Great Smoky Mountains National Park

[Photo: Dr. Andrea Radwell, University of Arkansas at Fayetteville]

Superfamily Hygrobatoidea Family Aturidae       Aturus sp. (male)

Middle Prong of the Little River Great Smoky Mountains National Park

[Photo: Dr. Andrea Radwell, University of Arkansas at Fayetteville]

Superfamily Hydryphantoidea Family Hydryphantidae

Big Creek Great Smoky Mountains National Park

[Photo: Dr. Andrea Radwell, University of Arkansas at Fayetteville]

Superfamily Hydryphantoidea Family Rhynchohydracaridae

Clathosperchon sp.

Forney Creek Great Smoky Mountains National Park

[Photo: Dr. Andrea Radwell, University of Arkansas at Fayetteville]

Superfamily Eylaoidea Family Limnocharidae Rhyncholimnochares sp.

Bradley Fork Great Smoky Mountains National Park

[Photo: Dr. Andrea Radwell, University of Arkansas at Fayetteville]

Superfamily Lebertioidea Family Sperchonidae Sperchon sp.

East Fork of Flat Creek Great Smoky Mountains National Park

[Photo: Dr. Andrea Radwell, University of Arkansas at Fayetteville]

Superfamily Lebertioidea Family Sperchonidae Sperchon sp.

Middle Prong of the Little RiverGreat Smoky Mountains National Park

[Photo: Dr. Andrea Radwell, University of Arkansas at Fayetteville]

Superfamily Lebertioidea Family Sperchonidae Sperchon sp.

Tributary West Prong of the Little RiverGreat Smoky Mountains National Park

[Photo: Dr. Andrea Radwell, University of Arkansas at Fayetteville]

Superfamily Lebertioidea Family Sperchonidae Sperchonopsis sp.

East Fork of Flat Creek Great Smoky Mountains National Park

[Photo: Dr. Andrea Radwell, University of Arkansas at Fayetteville]

Superfamily Lebertioidea Family Sperchonidae Sperchonopsis sp.

Hazel CreekGreat Smoky Mountains National Park

[Photo: Dr. Andrea Radwell, University of Arkansas at Fayetteville]

Superfamily Lebertioidea Family Torrenticolidae Torrenticola sp.

East Fork of Flat CreekGreat Smoky Mountains National Park

[Photo: Dr. Andrea Radwell, University of Arkansas at Fayetteville]

Superfamily Lebertioidea Family Torrenticolidae Testudacarus sp.

Roaring Fork Great Smoky Mountains National Park

[Photo: Dr. Andrea Radwell, University of Arkansas at Fayetteville]

Superfamily Hygrobatoidea Family Feltriidaedae       Feltria sp.

East Fork of Flat Creek Great Smoky Mountains National Park

[Photo: Dr. Andrea Radwell, University of Arkansas at Fayetteville]

Superfamily Hygrobatoidea Family Aturidae       Aturus sp. (male)

Walker Camp Prong of the Little Pigeon RiverGreat Smoky Mountains National Park

[Photo: Dr. Andrea Radwell, University of Arkansas at Fayetteville]

Superfamily Hygrobatoidea Family Aturidae Brachypoda sp.

Middle Prong of the Little River Great Smoky Mountains National Park

[Photo: Dr. Andrea Radwell, University of Arkansas at Fayetteville]

Superfamily Hygrobatoidea Family Aturidae Ljania sp.

Bradley ForkGreat Smoky Mountains National Park

[Photo: Dr. Andrea Radwell, University of Arkansas at Fayetteville]

Superfamily Arrenuroidea Family Momoniidae Stygomomonia sp.

Why are Aquatic Mites Important?

•Water mites are excellent indicators of environmental quality• Aquatic mite diversity declines sharply in chemically polluted or physically

disturbed aquatic ecosystems

Why are Aquatic Mites Important?

•Water mites are excellent indicators of environmental quality• Aquatic mite diversity declines sharply in chemically polluted or physically

disturbed aquatic ecosystems

•In the ecosystem, aquatic mites perform a regulatory function as consumers

• Larval water mites parasitize diverse aquatic insects• Pre-adult and mature water mites prey on insect and fish eggs, other

aquatic invertebrates, dead organisms, or parasitize bivalves.

Why are Aquatic Mites Important?

•Water mites are excellent indicators of environmental quality• Aquatic mite diversity declines sharply in chemically polluted or physically

disturbed aquatic ecosystems

•In the ecosystem, aquatic mites perform a regulatory function as consumers

• Larval water mites parasitize diverse aquatic insects• Pre-adult and mature water mites prey on insect and fish eggs, other

aquatic invertebrates, dead organisms, or parasitize bivalves.

•Aquatic mites are food for a wide variety of aquatic organisms• Freshwater cnidarians, insects, and other invertebrates use aquatic mites

as a food sources. • Aquatic mites are sometimes a significant part of fish and turtle diets.

Why are Aquatic Mites Important?

•Water mites are excellent indicators of environmental quality• Aquatic mite diversity declines sharply in chemically polluted or physically

disturbed aquatic ecosystems

•In the ecosystem, aquatic mites perform a regulatory function as consumers

• Larval water mites parasitize diverse aquatic insects• Pre-adult and mature water mites prey on insect and fish eggs, other

aquatic invertebrates, dead organisms, or parasitize bivalves.

•Aquatic mites are food for a wide variety of aquatic organisms• Freshwater cnidarians, insects, and other invertebrates use aquatic mites

as a food sources. • Aquatic mites are sometimes a significant part of fish and turtle diets.

Want to learn more about Aquatic Mites in Great Smoky Mountains National Park? For maps, host species, distribution, and more, visit:

http://sain.nbii.gov/species