This paper, which addresses the issue of the extinction of mite species at the global scale for the first time, highlights mite diversity, assesses the evidence for an extinction process, discusses contributing factors and estimates losses. The ~1 250 000 mite species occupy an enormous variety of terrestrial and freshwater ecosystems from the equator to the polar regions and to high altitudes. Some groups provide essential ecosystem services, including the incorporation of organic matter into the soil. The maintenance of mite diversity is inextricably linked to the continuance of floristic diversity, habitat complexity and insect diversity. The majority of mite species are assumed to be in the tropical rainforests, of which >50% has been destroyed or severely degraded. Most biodiversity hotspots are in tropical forests; endemic phytoseiid mite species are at least 17 times more concentrated in the hotspots than outside. Habitat destruction and degradation continue on an enormous scale, with increasing human population growth and resource consumption the overarching drivers of extinction. Moreover, climate change is likely to be worsening the effects of the other drivers at an increasing rate. The small body of direct evidence and a considerable body of indirect evidence strongly suggest the continuing, widespread extinction of mite species. Based on estimates of overall biodiversity loss, ~15% of mite species were likely to have become extinct by 2000, with losses currently expected to increase by between 0.6% and 6.0% by 2060. More detailed information on both spatial differences in mite assemblages and anthropogenic threats worldwide is crucial because they underpin the total number of species and their vulnerability to extinction, respectively. The rapid expansion of the protected area estate to capture the maximum possible area of ecosystem heterogeneity, especially in the biodiversity hotspots, is essential, as is best practice management of these areas.

中文翻译：

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在植物、昆虫和脊椎动物灭绝的阴影下，螨虫普遍灭绝的惊人证据

这篇论文首次解决了全球范围内螨类物种灭绝的问题，突出了螨类的多样性，评估了灭绝过程的证据，讨论了促成因素并估计了损失。约 1 250 000 种螨类占据了从赤道到极地地区和高海拔地区的各种陆地和淡水生态系统。一些团体提供必要的生态系统服务，包括将有机物质纳入土壤。螨类多样性的维持与植物区系多样性、栖息地复杂性和昆虫多样性的延续密不可分。大多数螨类物种被假定在热带雨林中，其中> 50% 已被破坏或严重退化。大多数生物多样性热点位于热带森林中；地方性植物螨类物种在热点地区的浓度至少是室外的 17 倍。栖息地遭到大规模破坏和退化，人口增长和资源消耗的增加是灭绝的首要驱动因素。此外，气候变化可能会以越来越快的速度加剧其他驱动因素的影响。少量的直接证据和大量的间接证据强烈表明螨类物种正在持续、广泛地灭绝。根据对总体生物多样性损失的估计，到 2000 年，约 15% 的螨类物种可能已经灭绝，目前预计到 2060 年，损失将增加 0.6% 至 6.0%。关于世界范围内螨类组合的空间差异和人为威胁的更详细信息至关重要，因为它们分别支撑了物种总数和它们对灭绝的脆弱性。迅速扩大保护区范围以获取最大可能的生态系统异质性区域，尤其是在生物多样性热点地区，是必不可少的，这些区域的最佳实践管理也是如此。