The effect of cadmium on Archegozetes longisetosus (Acari, Oribatida) in laboratory conditions

The influence of cadmium (Cd) on a tropical, parthenogenetic oribatid species Archegozetes longisetosus Aoki, 1965 was investigated. Mites were fed on green algae (Protococcus sp.) collected from the bark of bird cherry trees and contaminated in the laboratory with Cd(NO3)2. The control group was fed on uncontaminated algae. A low concentration of Cd (121 μg•g–1) evidently did not affect the mites, but a concentration of 247 μgCd•g–1 was harmful to them. It reduced fertility, increased mortality and prolonged the time of development of their offspring, and reduced their growth, compared to the control group. The concentration of 340 μgCd•g–1 and higher was lethal to the mites, as almost all of them died at the larval or protonymphal stage.