Mariusz Więcek
 
Address: Department of Animal Morphology, Faculty of Biology, Adam Mickiewicz University
Umultowska 89
PL 61-614 Poznan
Poland
Phone:
Fax:
E-Mail: roztoc@wp.pl
Homepage: http://mpd.amu.edu.pl/projects/9.php
 
 
Research Topics
 
I\'m working on the evolution of male and female reproductive morphology and behaviour in Arrenurus, a very diverse genus of water mites with more than 800 species around the world. Males vary greatly in the structure of the hindbody (cauda), some being highly elongate with numerous bumps and protrusions, including intrommitent organs (the petiole), and others being quite plaine and not much different from the female. I\'m using a combination of molecular phylogenetic methods, scanning electron microscopy, and behavioural observations.

Furthermore, I\'m interesting in community ecology and distribution patterns of water mites in different types of habitats. I focus my research work on peatlands, which are a mosaic of aquatic and semiaquatic habitats differing inwater level, chemistry, vegetation structure and shadowing. Thus, they are suitable areas for studies concentrating on relationships between water mites and their environmental correlates but also to the study on their biotic interactions with their hosts and prey organisms.
 
 
Publications
 
Więcek, M., Martin, P., Burchardt, L., G±bka, M. & Lamentowicz, L. (2011 ): Zur Wassermilbenfauna (Hydrachnidia, Acari) ausgewählter Moore Westpommerns (Polen). - Deutsche Gesellschaft für Limnologie (DGL). Erweiterte Zusammenfassungen der Jahrestagung 2010 (Bayreuth), Hardegsen 2011, 89-93.
Więcek, M., Martin, P. & G±bka, M. (2012 ): Ecology and faunistics of water mites (Hydrachnidia, Acari) of peatland microhabitats in north-western Poland. - Deutsche Gesellschaft für Limnologie (DGL). Erweiterte Zusammenfassungen der Jahrestagung 2011 (Weihenstephan), Hardegsen 2012, 156-160.
Więcek, M., Martin, P. & G±bka, M. (2013 ): Distribution patterns and environmental correlates of water mites (Hydrachnidia, Acari) in peatland microhabitats. - Experimental & Applied Acarology.
Więcek, M., Martin, P. & Lipinski, A. (2013 ): Water mites as potential long-term bioindicators in formerly drained and rewetted raised bogs - Ecological Indicators.