Scientific Literature and Experiences

Currently there is a lot of information available about the mite’s classification, gender, distinctive characteristics, morphological differences between genders and even differences between mites from the same lineage, like the astigmatism mites. Much is known about a wide variety of genres of mites in other countries and continents, but in Puerto Rico this issue has not been well researched and thats why there is not much available information. The only available web information that I found,  is a paper publicated by Preston E. Hunteer and Sidney L. Poe that talks about the first record of an Ereynetes coenobitus n. sp. that is associated with hermit crab, Coenobita clypeatus, from the area of Puerto Rico. Ereynetes mites are generally free living or associated with insects.   We are using basically information from acarology books, but we haven’t used too much internet information. The books we are using are “A Manual of Acarology”, Third Edition by Gerald W. Krantz and to study mite’s morphology, behavior (habits, associations with hosts, environments, dispersal, evolution of parasitism), life cycle (egg, prelarva, larva, protonymph, deutonymph, tritonymph, adult), etc. The information found in this book and others are basic information to study or comprehends the existing genres in Puerto Rico, because it helps us understand the diversity, where they even mostly can be found and others important things.

During this month we have experienced a lot of challenging things, basically we were collecting mites of hermit crabs, the hardest part of this task is to classify them. Classification is a little hard because mites are a very diverse group and another thing is that before classification we need to recollect them, start the process preparation of permanent slides, and it takes a long time. Finally begin with our goal, the classification. Classifying a mite can take up days and we need to have patience and perseverance, some of the characteristics that a person needs when they are working in a research. Team working is much more interesting because we share, help and we learn from each other. The characteristics that are important for me in a collaboration research team are: patience and perseverance like I has mentioned before, because in a research things are not always as you want them to be; be communicative, because this is the best way to gain confidence and this can lead a more effective teamwork; try to have a good interpersonal relationship with your fellow researchers, so you will enjoy and feel comfortable;  helping each other, is very important in a research because a team is composed of people who are seeking  the same goal;  knowing that we are human beings, we also need to know everyone else’s talents and intelligence within the team. Respecting everyone’s opinions and thoughts and never trying to intimidate anyone from the team because their educational background and the latest one is to be responsible and tidy.