Oribatid mites (Acariformes: Sarcoptiformes) in Sub-Antarctic Islands and Antarctica: a track analysis

A track analysis of oribatid mites (moss mites) in the Sub-Antarctic Islands and Antarctica reveals that South Georgia Island serves as a key hub for species dispersion, linking three distinct biogeographical tracks. One track connects South Georgia to the Sub-Antarctic Islands of the South Atlantic, southern Indian Ocean, and southern Australia and New Zealand; another links South Georgia to the Antarctic Peninsula; while a third extends from South Georgia to the Falkland Islands. This pattern suggests that South Georgia Island was likely the ancestral zone for these species, from which they spread to colonize Antarctica, the Falkland Islands, and potentially southern South America. The study combines literature analysis with track analysis to uncover these dispersion patterns, providing insights into the biogeographical history of non-marine mites in the Southern Hemisphere.

De los Ríos-Escalante, P. R., Jara-Seguel, P., Ahaotu, E. O.,. (2024). Oribatid mites (Acariformes: Sarcoptiformes) in Sub-Antarctic Islands and Antarctica: a track analysis. Ukrainian Antarctic Journal, 22(1(28)), 82–94. https://doi.org/10.33275/1727-7485.1.2024.729