Water mite assemblages reveal diverse genera, novel DNA barcodes and transitional periods of intermediate disturbance

Water mites are important constituents of aquatic ecosystems, but their biodiversity is poorly understood. The goal of this study was to improve knowledge of water mite assemblages in the Detroit River through combined use of morphological and cytochrome oxidase I (COI) DNA barcode data and to elucidate seasonal water mite diversity. The diversity of water mites collected from Blue Heron Lagoon at Belle Isle, an island in the Detroit River, is described. Novel DNA barcodes for Albia, Hydrochoreutes, Madawaska, and Axonopsis are reported with a species level barcode for Lebertia. Novel DNA barcodes may represent the presence of previously undescribed variants or new species of several genera. The prevalence of water mites is higher in the summer, but a different pattern is observed for diversity. The diversity of water mites, by several measures, varies seasonally with lower diversity in summer and winter months and higher diversity during seasonal transitions. For these organisms, we interpret seasonal change as an intermediate disturbance resulting in increased biodiversity.