| Research Abstract |
Fauna and distributions of Japanese aquatic mites were studied on the basis of the preceding studies and new investigations carried out at 185 sites in Hokkaido through Okinawa from 2001 to 2004. An inventory of Japanese aquatic mites was given under the thorough review of mite taxonomy.
We arranged the fauna, distribution and habitat environment of aquatic mites in our new investigations. Taxonomic information of aquatic mites was also obtained from collected. As the result, it was suggested that the aquatic mite genera Sperchon, Lebertia, Torrenticola, Hygrobates, and Atractides were widely distributed in streams and rivers throughout Japan. On the other hand, distributions of the genera Neumania, Unionicola, Piona, and Arrenurus can be regulated by some environmental factors concerning the habitats like bogs, ponds, lakes, etc., rather than a geographical factor.
We investigated taxonomic papers written by some Japanese acarologists with Dr.T.Imamura at the head of the researcher's list. And also we examined voucher specimens of aquatic mites in Japan. On the basis of the results, we gave an inventory of Japanese aquatic mites in accordance Viets' (1987) system. It was revealed that 119 species, 53 genera, 37 subfamilies, 28 families of Hydrachnellae and 37 species, 13 genera, 5 subfamilies, 1 family of Halacaroidea have been recorded from Japan. A specimens list was also given for 1541 glass slides of water mite specimens in the Taiji Imamura Collection after the restoration of several damaged specimens and the verification of the specimens with the original descriptions. In addition, a reference catalog concerning Japanese aquatic mites was presented to elucidate the up to date circumstances of aquatic mite taxonomy in Japan.
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