Study reveals high diversity of endemic water mites in Madeira

An international study, with the participation of a researcher from CIBIO-Azores, has revealed a surprising diversity of water mites (Hydrachnidia) in the Madeira archipelago, with over 80% of the identified species being endemic — that is, found exclusively in this region. Using modern DNA barcoding techniques, researchers analysed 584 specimens and identified 23 species, three of which had never been recorded in the archipelago. Among the findings, the revalidation of a species previously considered a synonym of another stands out, as well as the possible recent arrival of a non-native species, which may represent the first documented case of biological invasion by a water mite in Madeira’s freshwater ecosystems.