Title of the project: Diversity and Distribution of Water Mites (Acari: Hydrachnidiae) of the Interior Highlands of Arkansas

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1 Title of the project: Diversity and Distribution of Water Mites (Acari: Hydrachnidiae) of the Interior Highlands of Arkansas Project summary: The goal of this project is to survey invertebrate biodiversity of headwater streams of the Interior Highlands of Arkansas. Specifically, we propose to provide information on water mites, the most abundant, diverse, and ecologically important group of arachnids in freshwater. Products of this project are intended for resource managers and researchers to facilitate greater inclusion of water mites in biodiversity and biogeographic assessments, ecological studies, and conservation efforts. Outcomes are expected to increase awareness of Arkansas contribution to the aquatic biodiversity of North America. Project leader: Dr. Andrea J. Radwell, Research Assistant Professor Affiliation: Department of Biological Sciences, University of Arkansas, Fayetteville Mailing address: 26 Emporia Street, Eureka Springs, AR Telephone: Project partners: Dr. Ian M. Smith, Principal Research Scientist, Systematic Acarology, Biodiversity, Agriculture and Agri-food Canada, Ottawa. Curator of water mites in the Canadian National Collection of Insects and Arachnids Dr. Ashley Dowling, Assistant Professor, Department of Entomology, University of Arkansas, Fayetteville AR Dr. Henry W. Robison. Distinguished Professor of Biology (retired) Total amount of project cost: $80,300 Total amount of SWG money requested: $37,850 Matching funds and inkind services: $42,450 Canacoll Foundation travel grants (2 trips) to Canadian National Collection of Insects and $2,000 Arachnids for taxonomic work Dr. Andrea J. Radwell - 6 months of work (3 months per year) contributed without $20,000 compensation. (Additional time to be compensated appears in the budget.) Dr. Ian M. Smith - collection, curation, professional taxonomic expertise, and access to the $10,000 Canadian National Collection of Insects and Arachnids for taxonomic work Dr. Ashley Dowling laboratory expertise and facilities for molecular genetic research $5,000 Dr. Henry W. Robison - consultation for collection site selection and field assistance $2,500 University of Arkansas - laboratory facilities, website hosting including software $2,000 Ouachita Mountains Biological Station housing and lab facilities $450 National Park Service, Buffalo River National Park housing $500 TOTAL $42,450

2 Diversity and Distribution of Water Mites (Acari: Hydrachnidiae) of the Interior Highlands of Arkansas a) Need This project is intended to survey invertebrate biodiversity of headwater streams of the Interior Highlands of Arkansas. Specifically, we propose to provide information on water mites to resource managers and researchers for developing science-based strategies to assess, monitor, and conserve freshwater biodiversity. Documenting the presence of microfauna and raising awareness of the role it plays in maintaining aquatic ecosystem integrity is a priority that warrants greater attention. Establishing a database and photographic record, conducting workshops to engage the public, making presentations, and disseminating information via a website are expected to address this conservation priority. Freshwater-dependent animals such as mussels, crayfishes, stoneflies, amphibians, and fish are known to be among the most vulnerable and threatened biota in North America. In contrast, little is known of the biodiversity and conservation status of smaller aquatic invertebrate taxa that play an integral role in maintaining healthy aquatic communities. Hydrachnidiae, one of the largest and most ecologically important freshwater taxa, is comprised of the water mites that are found in all freshwater habitats including streams, springs, ponds, lakes, and wetlands. Since most species strongly interact with other aquatic invertebrates through a life cycle including parasitic and predatory stages, they potentially influence the structure and dynamics of freshwater communities. Preliminary studies of physicochemical and pollution ecology of the relatively well-known fauna of Europe have demonstrated that water mites are excellent indicators of habitat quality. Collecting for taxonomic work during the past century in North America has indicated that water mite species have highly specific habitat and host associations and that many of them have limited distributions, but the status of populations in the United States is generally inadequately documented. Over 6000 water mite species have been recognized worldwide, and over 2000 species in 140 genera and 42 families are currently estimated to occur in North America north of Mexico, but it is estimated that more than half of the North American species are not yet described. Inclusion of the group in freshwater research and in efforts to conserve biodiversity is currently hampered by lack of sufficient systematic and ecological information at the species level. This project is expected to contribute information to facilitate greater inclusion of water mites in biodiversity inventories, biogeographic assessments, ecological studies, and efforts to conserve unique aquatic fauna. b) Objective The major goal of this project is to establish a geo-referenced database and photographic record of the water mite fauna of the Interior Highlands of Arkansas and provide specimens for taxonomic, systematic, and ecological research. Few collections of water mites were made in Arkansas prior to 2003 when I began to collect water mites in headwater streams of the White River and Arkansas River watersheds. These preliminary collections, with those obtained in watersheds in the Ouachita Mountains from 2007 through 2009, support the expectation of high diversity associated with the unique geological history of the region. A comprehensive survey is expected to generate an estimated genera, with the potential of 200 or more species. From , we (A. Radwell and I. M. Smith) participated in the All Taxa Biological Inventory of Great Smoky Mountains National Park. Over the 5-year period, we developed a comprehensive geo-referenced database of water mite genera from all major watersheds of the park. Based on this experience, as well as the preliminary collections done in Ozark and Ouachita streams since 2003, it is a realistic expectation to provide a geo-referenced database of water mite genera from the headwaters of major watersheds of the Ozark Highlands, Boston Mountain, and Ouachita Mountain ecoregions in the two-year grant period. Many of the collected specimens are expected to represent species new to science. Preliminary work suggests the occurrence of endemic species is likely. We expect to initiate the process of 2

3 differentiating between described and undescribed species and report unique fauna in peer-reviewed publications. Data will be posted on the website transferred in the appropriate format to the Arkansas Natural Heritage Commission, and made available to other interested entities. c) Expected Results and Benefits We expect to provide a comprehensive collection of preserved water mites to represent the fauna from headwaters of major watersheds in the Ozark Highlands, Boston Mountain, and Ouachita Mountain ecoregions for taxonomic, systematic, and ecological research. It has been demonstrated that preserved water mites maintain all of their morphological characters for several decades. Thus, these specimens can serve as a source of information available to researchers now and well into the future. Information on all collections will be made available to aquatic resource managers and researchers in a geo-referenced database. This will serve as a historical record of water mite fauna that will be useful in assessing the status of aquatic communities in the future. General information on the project and a photographic record of water mites of Arkansas will be available to all interested parties at Dissemination of this information is expected to raise awareness of the importance of microfauna in maintaining the ecological integrity of Arkansas rivers and streams. Genetic sequences of selected water mite species will facilitate the process of identifying new species. Peer-reviewed publications and presentations associated with this project are expected to raise the profile of Arkansas biodiversity research and conservation efforts. Workshops open to all interested parties, including state and federal agency personnel, students, and citizens, are expected to increase awareness of the unique aquatic biota of Arkansas and promote conservation efforts. A summary report at the close of the grant period will provide an overview of the status of knowledge of water mites of the Interior Highlands of Arkansas. This will be useful for developing strategies for continuing efforts to document the aquatic biodiversity of the state. d) Approach Our approach to achieving the goals of this project will include the following components: All existing information on water mites of Arkansas will be entered into a database. This includes all collections dating as far back as 1960 that are currently stored in the Canadian National Collection of Insects and Arachnids (CNC) in Ottawa, Ontario, Canada and more recent collections made from (For additional information on the CNC, see page 5). We expect to make at least 50 new collections from headwaters streams over the two year period. All collections will be sorted to the genus level and entered into the database. The database will be made available to all interested parties. We will work with the Arkansas Natural Heritage Commission to provide information from the database in the appropriate format. Most specimens will be stored in modified Koenike s solution (50% glycerin, 10% acetic acid, and 40% water). These specimens will be used for traditional morphological taxonomy. Selected specimens will be preserved in 99% EtOH for DNA analysis to be done in Dr. Ashley Dowling s laboratory at the University of Arkansas. DNA sequences are expected to help to resolve whether populations represent new species. Selected slide-mounted specimens will be compared to specimens in the CNC to determine whether they represent described or new species. This process is expected to generate information for initiating new species descriptions. We expect to complete at least one 3

4 publication during the grant period and to continue to initiate new publications based on the collections we have made. A photographic library will be developed to document the diversity of collected specimens. Images from preliminary work are currently included on the website We propose to conduct two workshops to engage the public in collection. A. Radwell has conducted workshops in the Great Smoky Mountain National Park from that have engaged park personnel, volunteers, students, and interested citizens. These workshops, with those of other researchers, have resulted in a greater appreciation of the concept of biodiversity and support for conservations efforts. Proposed workshops to be held in the Ozarks and Ouachitas will be publicized and organized with assistance from the National Park Service (Buffalo River) and the U.S. Forest Service (Ouachitas). e) Location of work: Ozark Highlands, Boston Mountain, and Ouachita Mountain Ecoregions We propose to work in the headwaters of rivers and streams of the Interior Highlands of Arkansas, including the Ozark Highlands, Boston Mountain, and Ouachita Mountain ecoregions. This area is among the most important in North America for research on biodiversity, biogeography, and ecology of aquatic invertebrates, yet it has received relatively little attention. It is of particular interest because the region served as an unglaciated refugium in North America during the Pleistocene when biota migrated south as glaciers advanced from the north. Because of the unique geological history of the Interior Highlands and the fact that it remained unglaciated, it is rich with species including endemics. Our preliminary work suggests that water mite assemblages consist of a novel mixture of species including those that migrated from the north during periods of glaciation, those that are endemic to the area, as well as species that have migrated more recently from other parts of North America. Information from this project will raise the profile of the Interior Highlands of Arkansas as a significant contributor to the aquatic invertebrate biodiversity of North America. f) Proposed budget 1 Nov Oct 2011 Salary for A.J. Radwell - as a research assistant $10,000 professor, my research is funded by grants. I am (3 months pay) requesting 3 months compensation per year; I will contribute an additional 3 months of work per year. 1 Nov Oct 2012 $10,000 (3 months pay) Total $20,000 Operating expenses Travel to collection sties 8 trips (4 per year) to Ouachitas (550 miles) x $.50 $1,100 $1,100 $2, trips (6 per year) to Ozarks (125 miles) x $.50 $375 $375 $750 Travel for I.M. Smith from Ottawa, Ontario, Canada $1,250 $1,250 $2,500 Per diem for A.J. Radwell - food only 30 days (15 days per year) - $30 per day $450 $450 $900 Supplies for curation of specimens and maintenance $950 $950 $1,900 of collecting equipment Laboratory materials for DNA extraction and cost of $1,050 $1,050 $2,100 sequencing Technical support - website and database maintenance $750 $750 $1,500 Capital expenses *Camera, AutoMontage software $6,000 $6,000 TOTAL $21,925 $15,925 $37,850 4

5 * Because most water mites are very small ( microns), specialized equipment is needed to obtain high quality photographs. In 2009, funds were granted from the Bader Foundation of Switzerland for a research-grade microscope to be used for photography. However, funds were not available for the camera equipment and software. Hence, I am requesting funds for these items. Project Leader: Dr. ANDREA J. RADWELL, Research Assistant Professor, Department of Biological Sciences, University of Arkansas, Fayetteville. EDUCATION Ph.D. Biological Sciences, University of Arkansas, Fayetteville M.S. Biological Sciences, University of Arkansas, Fayetteville M.A. Secondary Teaching, Northwestern University, Evanston, Illinois B.A. Biological Science, Northwestern University, Evanston, Illinois CURRENT RESEARCH PROJECTS Hydrachnidiae - Water Mites of North America, a collaborative research effort initiated in 2003 between the University of Arkansas and Ian M. Smith, Canadian National Collection of Insects and Arachnids - see Diversity and Distribution of Water Mites of Great Smoky Mountains National Park, participation in All Taxa Biological Inventory since 2005 in collaboration with Dr. Ian M. Smith, funded by Discovering Life in America Testing Water Mite Species Hypotheses using Molecular Genetics initiated in Sept 2008 in collaboration with Dr. Ashley Dowling, Acarology and Molecular Genetics, Department of Entomology, University of Arkansas, funded by Honors College, University of Arkansas, Fayetteville Project Partners: Dr. IAN M. SMITH, Principal Research Scientist, Systematic Acarology, Biodiversity, Environmental Health Program, Agriculture and Agri-food Canada Dr. Smith is a leading researcher of water mites of the world with particular interest in North America species. He is author of over 80 scientific papers and articles on systematics and ecology of mites and related biodiversity issues, and he serves as the curator of the Canadian National Collection (CNC) of Acari in Ottawa, Ontario, Canada. The CNC is the depository for most water mite specimens collected in North America (including those from Arkansas) over the past century. The CNC provides access to water mite collections and supports visiting researchers through the Canacoll grant program. Dr. Smith has collected water mites in Arkansas and has offered to dedicate field and laboratory time and his professional expertise equivalent to at least $10,000 of his compensation to work on this project through Dr. ASHLEY DOWLING, Assistant Professor, Department of Entomology, University of Arkansas, Fayetteville Dr. Dowling joined the faculty of the Entomology Department at the University of Arkansas in His research interest is in the taxonomy, systematics, and ecology of terrestrial mites. He has extensive experience with molecular genetic techniques to extract and sequence DNA from mites. His role in this project is to provide the facilities and expertise for DNA analysis. Dr. HENRY W. ROBISON, Distinguished Professor of Biology (retired). 5

6 Dr. Robison has agreed to contribute consultation for site selection and assistance in the field to support this project. Having authored numerous publications, he is well recognized for his contribution to knowledge of the freshwater biota of Arkansas. 6