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7176313 
Journal Article 
Plastron respiration in marine intertidal oribatid mites (Acari, Fortuyniidae and Selenoribatidae) 
Pfingstl, T; Krisper, G; , 
2014 
1 
Zoomorphology
ISSN: 0720-213X
EISSN: 1432-234X 
SPRINGER 
NEW YORK 
133 
4 
359-378 
WOS:000344754000001 
Plastron respiration was investigated in the fortuyniid Alismobates inexpectatus, Fortuynia atlantica and the selenoribatid Carinozetes bermudensis. All these taxa inhabit intertidal zones of subtropical and tropical coasts and are exposed to tidal flooding. The utilization of plastron mechanisms enables these species to respire under water. Cerotegumental structures consisting of micropapillae and pillars bearing an outer sheet provide extensive areas where air is retained supplying the tracheal system with oxygen. A. inexpectatus and F. atlantica possess a dorsal and ventral plastron connected laterally by cuticular channels of the van der Hammen's organ, whereas the specific configuration of these channels varies between the genera. The plastron of Carinozetes species spans the whole body except for all movable parts as legs and genital and anal valves. Plastron structures in juveniles of the families Fortuyniidae and Selenoribatidae were investigated for the first time in detail. Air-retaining cerotegument is also present in immatures of these taxa but is concentrated along lateral and ventral folds where series of pores lead into supposed tracheal organs. In juveniles of A. inexpectatus and F. atlantica, these organs are tubes with a length of approximately 3-15 mu m, and in Carinozetes immatures, these organs are short saccules (0.5-1 mu m). 
Physical gill; Microstructure; Alismobates; Fortuynia; Carinozetes; Oribatida