Comparison of Scutacarid Mite Fauna Inside and Outside Ant Nests
Master’s Thesis – Supervisor: Julia Baumann
Description:
Many species of the mite family Scutacaridae live in close association with ants. This study aims to determine whether scutacarid mites also occur in the surrounding soil (indicating accidental dispersal) or if they are found exclusively within nests, suggesting a specialized relationship.
Methods:
Fieldwork: Sampling of ant nests
Laboratory work: Screening ants for mites; extracting mites from soil samples
Microscopy
Statistical analyses
Morphological and/or Genetic Studies of the Oribatid Mite Genus Eueremaeus in Austria
Master’s Thesis – Supervisor: Sylvia Schäffer
Description:
Previous genetic studies have yielded results that conflict with morphological and taxonomic classifications.
The aim of this thesis is to clarify these inconsistencies by applying an integrated approach combining morphology, morphometrics, and genetics.
Methods:
Molecular genetic analyses
Microscopy
Morphometric analyses
Ongoing theses
Helena Neubacher
Bachelorarbeit – Betreuerin: Julia Baumann
Thema: Biodiversität bodenbewohnender Mesostigmata steirischer Feuchtlebensräume
Marie-Christine Kindler
Bachelorarbeit – Betreuerin: Julia Baumann
Thema: Rasterelektronenmikroskopie in der Milbenfamilie Tenuipalpidae: Evaluierung unterschiedlicher Methoden
Elisabeth Edith Kräuter
Masterarbeit– Betreuerin: Sylvia Schäffer
Thema: Revision der Hornmilbenfamilie Brachychthoniidae
Anna Hojas
Masterarbeit– Betreuer: Tobias Pfingstl
Thema: Impact of different lawn mowing methods on the mite fauna of typical meadows.
Tobias P. Hessinger
Masterarbeit– Betreuer: Tobias Pfingstl
Thema: Abundance and spatial distribution of endophagous immature stages of different oribatid mites (Acari, Oribatida) associated with the lichen Cladonia rubrotincta.
Ali Ofi
Masterarbeit– Betreuer: Tobias Pfingstl
Thema: Morphological and molecular genetic identification of typical terrestrial oribatid mites (Acari, Oribatida) found in the marine coastal environment of South East Asia and the Caribbean.
Completed Theses at Our Department
Alexander Herlitz (2025) Bachelorarbeit – Betreuerin: Julia Baumann
Thema: Untersuchungen zu phoretischen Milben innerhalb und außerhalb von Ameisennestern
Bertram Valentin Schlemmer (2024) Bachelorarbeit – Betreuerin: Julia Baumann
Thema: Milben (Acari) auf ausgewählten Gefäßpflanzen im Grazer Raum im Winter
Elisabeth Edith Kräuter (2024) Bachelorarbeit – Betreuerin: Sylvia Schäffer
Thema: Species composition of oribatid mites associated with Fomitopsis pinicola
Katharina Putz (2023) Bachelorarbeit – Betreuerin: Julia Baumann
Thema: Neue Erkenntnisse über die Tenuipalpidae Österreichs mit Fokus auf der Steiermark
Charlotte Eissner-Eisenstein (2023/24) Masterarbeit- Betreuer: Tobias Pfingstl
Thema: Comparison of inter- and intraspecific variation of marine associated oribatid mites (Acari, Oribatida) – Continental coast versus oceanic islands.
Maria Liebmann-Reindl (2023/24) Masterarbeit- Betreuer: Tobias Pfingstl
Thema: Biology, ecology, and development of oribatid mites associated with the lichen Cladonia norvegica.
Hofstetter Patricia Rinky (2020) Masterarbeit- Betreuer: Tobias Pfingstl
Thema: The oribatid fauna of small habitats in urban concrete areas.
Körner Johanna (2019) Masterarbeit- Betreuer: Tobias Pfingstl
Thema: The impact of air pollution on the oribatid mite fauna (Acari, Oribatida) of typical grass habitats.
Bardel Lisa (2018) Masterarbeit- Betreuer: Tobias Pfingstl
Thema: Resistance to flooding of different species of terrestrial oribatid mites (Acari, Oribatida) in relation to their habitats.