Karst Springs: Isolated Ecosystem Ecology from the Water Mite Perspective

Abstract

AbstractKarst springs are known to host a great diversity of water mites that include euryvalent generalists, but also a highly specialized crenobiont species (exclusively found in springs). A total of 44 crenobiontic water mite species has been reported in the springs of the Western Balkans, which is about 32% of the crenobiontic species known in Europe. Most of the crenobiontic species of the Dinaric karst are inhabitants of helocrene and rheohelocrene springs, and to a lesser extent inhabit rheocrenic springs, while only two species can be considered characteristic representatives of limnocrenic springs. Recent studies on the karstic springs of the Western Balkan have revealed that water mite richness as well as the number of crenobionts both decrease as we move from alpine to Mediterranean springs. The response of crenobiontic water mite assemblages in karstic springs is primarily driven by the crenic types and environmental variability, in particular in the geological and geographical context. Further research on the crenobiontic water mite fauna of karstic springs may help to assess the ecological challenges facing these fragile ecosystems, given increased water demand in the future and ongoing climate change.KeywordsSpringsKarstBalkanWater mitesCrenobiontsDiversity