An antarctic biogeographical anomaly resolved: the true identity of a widespread species of Collembola
- Authors: Greenslade, Penelope
- Date: 2018
- Type: Text , Journal article
- Relation: Polar Biology Vol. 41, no. 5 (2018), p. 969-981
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- Description: Springtails and mites are the most abundant and species rich micro arthropods in the Antarctic and species tend to be short-range endemics. It was thought that the Springtail (Collembola), Friesea grisea (Schäffer) was an exception. It was described briefly nearly 150 years ago from South Georgia and has not been redescribed from the type locality since. However, published localities include the South Shetland Islands, the Antarctic Peninsula, Enderby Land, Marguerite Bay and South and North Victoria Land suggesting that it is unusually widespread. Recent sequence data have indicated that some Antarctic populations could be putative species but individuals were allegedly morphologically identical. No sequence data were available for South Georgian specimens. These results suggested that a new examination of the South Georgian species’ morphology was needed in order to resolve the anomalous biogeographic patterns. I here redescribe F. grisea from South Georgia and show that it has subtle morphological characters that distinguish it from Antarctic individuals allowing it to be unambiguously distinguished from all known Antarctic populations. Consequently, Friesea antarctica is taken out of synonymy with F. grisea. These results emphasise the endemism of Antarctic faunas and allows more targeted conservation planning, especially for short-range endemic species located in likely refugia during glacial periods. Descriptions of putative species from the Continental populations are currently in progress. A new Friesea species from South Georgia, F. fantaba, is also described here. The genus Friesea is now the most species-rich genus of terrestrial arthropods in both the Antarctic and subantarctic and includes twelve species.
Montane Collembola at risk from climate change in Australia
- Authors: Greenslade, Penelope , Slatyer, Rachel
- Date: 2017
- Type: Text , Journal article
- Relation: European Journal of Soil Biology Vol. 80, no. (2017), p. 85-91
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- Description: Collembola are an important component of montane arthropod communities worldwide, where they are often the most abundant and active group. In Australia, montane ecosystems are predicted to contract with continued climate warming, yet little is known about the faunal composition of Collembola on mountains nor its level of endemism. We compared the composition of Collembola communities from five mountain summits along a latitudinal gradient in eastern Australia. Each mountain harboured a distinct Collembola community, with few shared species/morphospecies. Even at the genus and family level, however, mountains varied considerably in faunal composition. Although no latitudinal trends were detected, short range endemism of morphospecies was high. Year-to-year variation in community composition within sites was small compared to between-site variation, even when collections were made 10 years apart. These results suggest that montane Collembola taxa may be resilient, as far as short term variations in weather are concerned. However, there is no evidence as to whether longer-lasting warmer conditions would be tolerated. If not, large scale losses of locally endemic species but not genera, unless they are monobasic, are likely. © 2017 Elsevier Masson SAS
Western myall groves (Acacia papyrocarpa) determine the fine-scale distribution of soil Collembola in semi-arid South Australia
- Authors: Kwok, Alan , Greenslade, Penelope
- Date: 2016
- Type: Text , Journal article
- Relation: Austral Ecology Vol. 41, no. 6 (2016), p. 613-621
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- Description: Vegetation can exert a strong influence on the distribution and activity of biotic communities across a broad range of spatial scales, especially in arid and semi-arid ecosystems. At fine spatial scales, patches created by individual plants can support different faunal and floral communities even at locations distant from the plant. These differences can have profound effects on a range of ecosystem processes, including seed dispersal, nutrient cycling and resource distribution. In semi-arid Australia, areas surrounding groves of western myall (Acacia papyrocarpa) trees are largely devoid of vegetation, being referred to as ‘halos’. Here, we investigate the soil-dwelling Collembola in groves of western myall trees, the surrounding halos and nearby chenopod shrubland. We also investigated whether the abundance of Collembola was influenced by soil depth (0–5 cm layer vs. 6–10 cm layer) in groves. We found that collembolan density was approximately nine times lower and taxonomic richness half that in a halo compared with the grove and chenopod vegetation. Furthermore, analyses at finer taxonomic levels indicate that vegetation patches differed in species composition, with some species restricted to or preferring particular patches. In the grove, we found a higher abundance of Collembola in the 0–5 cm soil layer compared with the 6–10 layer. Our results indicate vegetation patches strongly influence collembolan abundance and species composition in bare patches around western myall. As patches created by vegetation are a common feature of semi-arid and arid regions, we suspect that these effects are widespread although seldom reported. Furthermore, as Collembola are involved in the decomposition process, Acacia papyrocarpa patches will be influencing nutrient cycling through their effects on the soil biota. Our results also emphasize that comprehensive fauna survey and management of woodland ecosystems need to consider fine-scale processes.
Collembola in Southland beech litter and soil
- Authors: Phillips, Craig , Brown, Samuel , Greenslade, Penelope , Reay, Stephen , Allen, Robert , Easdale, Tomás , Dickie, Ian
- Date: 2015
- Type: Text , Journal article
- Relation: New Zealand Entomologist Vol. 38, no. 2 (2015), p. 79-87
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- Description: Collembola were sampled from litter and soil in two regrowth Lophozonia menziesii (silver beech) forests situated 25 km apart in Southland, New Zealand, as part of a larger study investigating the ecological effects of selective timber harvesting. Over 2000 specimens were collected, representing three orders, 10 families, ≥ 20 genera and ≥ 23 species. Seventeen taxa were morphologically identified at least to genus. Sequencing within the barcode region of the mitochondrial cytochrome c oxidase 1 gene provided diagnostic sequences for many of the taxa, which will assist future identifications. Species belonging to the genera Quatacanthella Salmon and Spinotheca Stach, which are rarely collected in New Zealand, were present in the samples, as was the introduced species Hypogastrura purpurescens (Lubbock). The genus Vitronura Yosii is recorded in New Zealand for the first time. © 2015 AgResearch Ltd.
Synonymy of two monobasic Anurophorinae genera (Collembola: Isotomidae) from the Antarctic Continent
- Authors: Greenslade, Penelope
- Date: 2015
- Type: Text , Journal article
- Relation: New Zealand Entomologist Vol. 38, no. 2 (2015), p. 134-141
- Full Text: false
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- Description: Two monotypic endemic genera, Gressittacantha and Neocryptopygus, from Continental Antarctica, and erected on a single character respectively, are here synonymised with Cryptopygus, a genus with two already described species on the Antarctic Continent. A table of diagnostic characters for the now four Cryptopygus species from the Antarctic Continent is provided and comments made on habitats and Antarctic collembolan diversity. A possible new species of Cryptopygus from the Antarctic Continent is foreshadowed.
Changes in dominance of dipteran families on Coral Sea cays over ten years during a period of substantial vegetation change
- Authors: Rich, Deborah , Greenslade, Penelope , Bickel, Dan
- Date: 2014
- Type: Text , Journal article
- Relation: Northern Territory Naturalist Vol. 25, no. (2014), p. 64-76
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- Description: The habitat on the Coringa-Herald group of coral cays within the northern Coral Sea underwent profound change after about 2000 because of extensive dieback of the dominant forest trees. This work summarises surveys on these cays in 1995, 1996, 1997 and 2007, in order to understand the effect on the native insect fauna of the introduced biological control agent, the non-specific predatory ladybird beetle Cryptolaemus montrouzieri (Coleoptera: Coccinellidae), that was liberated to control scale insects (Hemiptera: Coccidae) whose infestation was responsible for the dieback of the forest trees. This paper documents the families of Diptera (flies) collected on the surveys and it records changes in presence and abundance of Chloropidae, Phoridae, Sarcophagidae, Canacidae, Lonchaeidae and Chironomidae sampled in pitfall traps and yellow pans. Despite some differences in collecting methods and seasons between surveys, there is evidence of substantial changes in the presence and relative abundance of these families. The decline of several families on Coringa Cay and on North East Herald Cay between 1995/96 and 2007 could be the result of a trophic cascade of species loss following tree dieback. One of the most conspicuous changes was that Chloropidae increased on North East Herald Cay between 1997 and 2007 following increases in populations of scale insects, but chloropids are not thought to have had a direct role in the control of scale insects.
The aerial invertebrate fauna of subantarctic Macquarie Island
- Authors: Hawes, Timothy , Greenslade, Penelope
- Date: 2013
- Type: Text , Journal article
- Relation: Journal of Biogeography Vol. 40, no. 8 (2013), p. 1501-1511
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- Description: Aim: The extent and diversity of invertebrate aerial dispersal both on remote islands and in polar regions has long been of interest to biogeographers. We therefore monitored the airborne dispersal of insects and other micro- and macroinvertebrates to and on Macquarie Island in order to assess (1) the magnitude and composition of local aerial dispersal activity by the island's invertebrate fauna, and (2) the potential for exotic arrival and establishment. Location: Macquarie Island. Methods: Two robust wind-traps were run year-round on Macquarie Island from 1991 to 1994 to collect airborne insects and other micro- and macroinvertebrates. Results: More than 3000 invertebrates were caught in these traps over the sampling period in the most comprehensive aerial survey of subantarctic invertebrates to date. Representatives of seven orders of Insecta were captured: Psocoptera, Thysanoptera, Hemiptera, Coleoptera, Diptera, Lepidoptera and Hymenoptera. Other taxa captured included other arthropods (Arachnida and Collembola) but also terrestrial Gastropoda. Evidence of possible long-distance dispersal (LDD) was limited to two exotic catches (one species of Collembolon, and one species of Thysanoptera). The abundance and composition of indigenous invertebrates caught in the traps indicates that the frequency of short-distance dispersal (SDD) movements on the island far exceeds that which had previously been realized. Main conclusions: More than half the total catch (53%) was of flightless (i.e. passively dispersed) invertebrates, with 84% of them flightless in one of the two traps. The extent of passive dispersal movements is consistent, with most invertebrates being widely distributed at a whole-island scale. Aerial dispersal may act as a conduit for non-indigenous arrivals but this occurs infrequently. Other explanations for exotic species in traps are equally likely. The implications of these findings are discussed in relation to terrestrial invertebrate biogeography. © 2013 Blackwell Publishing Ltd.
- Description: 2003011217
The rare collembolan genus, Temeritas (Symphypleona: Sminthuridae), in southern Australia : Systematics, distribution and conservation status
- Authors: Greenslade, Penelope
- Date: 2013
- Type: Text , Journal article
- Relation: Victorian Naturalist Vol. 130, no. 1 (2013), p. 45-48
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- Description: A brief summary of the genus Temeritas is given with distributions of the four described Australian species and records of other species in the genus. A spelling correction is documented for the Western Australian species and a new name for the Victorian species is formally proposed here as the original name is preoccupied. Characters that distinguish Temeritas from allied genera are noted and the conservation status of the three southern species and Collembola in general are discussed.
- Description: 2003011110
Ecology of Heard Island Diptera
- Authors: Greenslade, Penelope , Vernon, Philippe , Smith, Derek
- Date: 2012
- Type: Text , Journal article
- Relation: Polar Biology Vol. 35, no. 6 (2012), p. 841-850
- Full Text: false
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- Description: Phenology, distribution and abundance of three Diptera species on Heard Island were investigated to provide baseline data for monitoring the effect on climate change on populations. Five vegetation types at two localities were sampled in two different years, firstly in the summer of 1987–1988 at Atlas Cove and secondly at Spit Bay over 12 months from summer 1992 to summer 1993. Pitfall traps and soil core extractions were operated in summer at both localities and pitfalls alone for 12 months from Spit Bay. The wingless Anatalanta aptera was the most abundant species in traps at Atlas Cove with most individuals collected from Poa tussock grassland, half as many from Pringlea and Azorella vegetation and fewest with a significantly higher level of asymmetry in the large katepisternal setae, from Azorella and Fellfield. Calycopteryx moseleyi was the most abundant fly in traps at Spit Bay, and A. maritima was the least abundant at both localities. Monthly pitfall catches from 1992–1993 indicated that A. aptera was active in most months of the year apart from winter, females early in the season and males active throughout the summer; teneral individuals only detected in January. C. moseleyi was more strongly seasonal with peak adult numbers occurring in January. Amalopteryx maritima was least seasonal in activity. Asymmetry in A. aptera suggests that it was at the limit of its ecological tolerance in Fellfield and Azorella on Heard Island. Changes caused by climate warming or invasive species are mooted.
Potential effects of climatic warming on the distribution of Collembola along an altitudinal transect in Lamington National Park, Queensland, Australia
- Authors: Greenslade, Penelope , Kitching, Roger
- Date: 2011
- Type: Text , Journal article
- Relation: Memoirs of the Queensland Museum Vol. 55, no. 2 (2011), p. 333-347
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- Description: Collembola were collected from pitfall traps at each of five altitudes. 300, 500, 700, 900 and 1100 m above sea level (a.s.l.) in Lamington National Park. Queensland. All samples were collected in October 2006 (spring). Sites were located in subtropical rainforest except for those at 1100 m which were in cool temperate rainforest where Nothofagus moorei (F. Muell) Krasser was dominant Specimens collected were identified to species or morphospecies. Over 60 taxa (species and morphospecies) were identified from more than 7000 specimens. Species assemblages were significantly related to altitude generally showing a progressive change in composition with increasing altitude. Assemblages at the highest altitude of 1100 m were particularly distinct and several taxa were restricted to t11is altitude. Altitudinal patterns of assemblages of Collembola are compared with those of some other invertebrates from the same transect and suggestions for the differences offered. A review of altitudinal zonation in Collembola in various regions and climatic zones is provided.
Did alien ants initiate a population explosion of a coccoid plant pest on an islet in the Coral Sea?
- Authors: Greenslade, Penelope
- Date: 2010
- Type: Text , Journal article
- Relation: Journal of Insect Conservation Vol. 14, no. 4 (2010), p. 419-421
- Full Text: false
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- Description: The composition of the ant fauna of a Coral Sea islet, North East Herald Cay, is reported for several years from 1995 to 2007. A major change in composition was first noted in 2007 but probably occurred earlier. Tetramorium lanuginosum, present in 1997 and in previous years, was not found in 2007. Instead, Tetramorium bicarinatum, recorded for the first time in 2006, was abundant in 2007. This change, together with drier conditions, may have initiated a population explosion of a pest coccoid that caused serious damage to the tree, Pisonia grandis. Tetramorium bicarinatum also reduced the abundance of surface-active arthropods compared to their abundance when it was absent. Ants and other invertebrates on three other islets in the Coral Sea are also documented for 2007 and support the dominance effects of T. bicarinatums. © 2010 Springer Science+Business Media B.V.
Planned fires and invertebrate conservation in south east Australia
- Authors: New, Tim , Yen, A. L. , Sands, D. P. A. , Greenslade, Penelope , Neville, Peter , York, Alan , Collett, Nick
- Date: 2010
- Type: Text , Journal article
- Relation: Journal of Insect Conservation Vol. 14, no. 5 (2010), p. 567-574
- Full Text: false
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- Description: Unusually intense wildfires in south east Australia in early February 2009 led to the deaths of 173 people in Victoria and massive loss of property, with several towns essentially obliterated. More than 450,000 ha were burned. The severity of those fires has led to calls for massively increased planned burning for fuel reduction, with a Government Enquiry (a Royal Commission) currently considering all aspects of the fires and future policy, to help safeguard life and property. Public concerns are naturally high, and any measures suggested to reduce the likelihood and severity of future fires must be appraised seriously. However, the conservation of Victoria's heritage of biodiversity is also of major concern, and-in particular-the outcomes of the more extensive use of fire for invertebrates have scarcely been heeded even in current prescriptions for planned burning. In this essay, we assemble some information on invertebrate interactions with fire in the region, and use this to suggest guides for improved fire management practices that are based more on scientific principles that focus on invertebrate conservation. © 2010 Springer Science+Business Media B.V.
Short term effects of wild fire on invertebrates in coastal heathland in southeastern Australia
- Authors: Greenslade, Penelope , Smith, Derek
- Date: 2010
- Type: Text , Journal article
- Relation: Pacific Conservation Biology Vol. 16, no. 2 (2010), p. 123-132
- Full Text: false
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- Description: Differences in the assemblages of terrestrial arthropod communities in burnt and adjacent unburnt areas of coastal heathland are reported. The burnt site experienced a wildfire 20 months prior to sampling. Collections of invertebrates from pitfall traps in winter indicated that there was no difference in total species richness or total numbers of individuals trapped between burnt and unburnt plots. However, at species level, 60 percent of the taxa showed a strong preference for either burnt areas or unburnt areas with only a few species trapped in around equal numbers in both areas. Twenty percent of species were only found on the unburnt plots. The implications of these results for fire management are discussed.
Distribution patterns and diversity of invertebrates of temperate rainforests in Tasmania with a focus on Pauropoda
- Authors: Greenslade, Penelope
- Date: 2008
- Type: Text , Journal article
- Relation: Memoirs of Museum Victoria Vol. 65, no. (2008), p. 153-164
- Full Text: false
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- Description: Pauropoda are recorded for the first time from Tasmania. Nineteen species are listed from a large collection of specimens made during an intensive survey of temperate rainforest in Tasmania. A key is provided for the identification of Tasmanian species which are recorded by voucher number and the biogeographical affinities of the fauna are discussed. Taxic richness of Pauropoda in Tasmanian rainforests is compared with that of several other groups of litter and bark invertebrates from the same collections. All groups show similar patterns of high tax.ic richness in the northwest and southeast regions with lower richness at higher altitudes. The implications for the conservation of Tasmania's highly endemic invertebrate fauna is discussed.