The effect of climatic factors of Karamık and Acıgöl lakes on the distribution of the species of water mites acari hydrochnida

Abstract

The purpose of this study was to assess water mites (Acari, Hydrochnida), which are biological indicator organisms of water fauna, in Acıgöl (Denizli province) which is a salt water lake situated in a prevalently semi-arid climate and Karamık Lake, which is a freshwater lake located in a subhumid climate. Specifically the lake waters being either salty or fresh are among the main dominant factors determining the number of water mite species. While the number of species in the salty waters with playa characteristics of Acıgöl were limited, it was observed that although the freshwater Karamık Lake had started to dry up because of global warming, the number of species was more plentiful. Both lakes were particularly studied from the perspective of climate characteristics and it was determined that both had entered the exsiccation process related to global climate change. While the climatic drought tendency has an effect on the low water level, it also reduces the habitats of the water mites. The study also includes the dissemination areas of watermites determined in the Republic of Turkey.