Auditing revegetated catchments in southern Australia : decomposition rates and collembolan species assemblages
- Authors: Greenslade, Penelope , Bell, Lesa , Florentine, Singarayer
- Date: 2011
- Type: Text , Journal article
- Relation: Soil organisms Vol. 83, no. 3 (2011), p. 433-450
- Relation: http://purl.org/au-research/grants/arc/LP0990642
- Full Text: false
- Reviewed:
- Description: Major government funds have been allocated to revegetation of degraded catchments in Australia in order to enhance biodiversity, protect stock and improve water quality. However, the success or otherwise of the different restoration practices used has not been assessed. To redress this deficiency we audited these practices by measuring biotic and abiotic variables in two field surveys, one at a landscape scale and the second at a local scale. The landscape survey comprised 21 sites in western Victoria, a third of the sites were revegetated and were between 8 and 12 years old, a third carried remnant native vegetation and a third were degraded and not revegetated. In the local survey the results of the landscape survey were tested by sampling sites within a small area using the same methods but including pine plantations as an untreated site. Here we report on density and species composition of soil and surface active fauna. native and exotic Collembola and decomposition rates as measured with bait laminae. Fifty seven species of Collembola were found on the landscape survey and 47 on the local survey. Densities ranged from 17,000 to 45,000 m-2 in soil. In both the surveys we found decomposition was directly related to soil moisture and in the landscape survey exotic Collembola (Hypogastrura and Ceratophysella spp) to abundance of exotic grass species. MDS analysis of soil Collembola in the landscape survey placed remnant sites separate from the revegetated sites and untreated sites. which tended to cluster together. A suite of nine native Collembola species were found exclusively on remnant sites in the landscape survey. In the local survey, the revegetated sites. here with a ground cover of native not exotic grasses, were found to have nine characterising species, four of which were the same indicators as in the landscape survey. The pine plantations were dominated by acidophil exotic Collembola species. MDS analysis of pitfall data in local survey placed all sites in the same space, except for one remnant because of domination by the same exotic species as in the landscape survey. In contrast. MDS of the soil-core data separated all three treatments with the revegetated sites occupying the space between the remnants and the pines as in the landscape survey. When exotic species were removed. there was spatial separation of each treatment. We conclude that. in some circumstances, soil fauna of revegetated sites can develop characteristics of remnant sites in terms of native Collembola even after only 8 to 12 years. The bait lamina method must be used with caution as it is strongly influenced by soil moisture.
- Description: Major government funds have been allocated to revegetation of degraded catchments in Australia in order to enhance biodiversity, protect stock and improve water quality. However, the success or otherwise of the different restoration practices used has not been assessed. To redress this deficiency we audited these practices by measuring biotic and abiotic variables in two field surveys, one at a landscape scale and the second at a local scale. The landscape survey comprised 21 sites in western Victoria, a third of the sites were revegetated and were between 8 and 12 years old, a third carried remnant native vegetation and a third were degraded and not revegetated. In the local survey the results of the landscape survey were tested by sampling sites within a small area using the same methods but including pine plantations as an untreated site. Here we report on density and species composition of soil and surface active fauna. native and exotic Collembola and decomposition rates as measured with bait laminae. Fifty seven species of Collembola were found on the landscape survey and 47 on the local survey. Densities ranged from 17,000 to 45,000 m
Exotic Collembola on subantarctic islands : Pathways, origins and biology
- Authors: Greenslade, Penelope , Convey, Peter
- Date: 2011
- Type: Text , Journal article
- Relation: Biological Invasions Vol.14, no.2 (2012), p. 405-417
- Full Text: false
- Reviewed:
- Description: Three exotic species of Collembola are here identified in collections made during surveys on subantarctic South Georgia in the summers of 2005/2006 and 2009/2010. Previously, only two exotic species of Collembola were known from the island. Increased visitation by tourists, research and maintenance personnel seems an obvious cause despite strict quarantine controls imposed on all visitors. The biology, habitat and distribution of the new species records indicated that fresh vegetables, imported in past years, were their likely means of dispersal to the island. A risk analysis based on their current distribution and ecology was conducted for exotic collembolan species that could invade South Georgia. Pathway analysis of the species with the highest risk scores suggested additional quarantine management protocols could include fumigation of imported fresh food, and this is recommended to minimise the risk of further invasions. A review of exotic Collembola in the Antarctic and subantarctic is provided and the biological traits of Collembola are discussed in relation to their invasion potential. © 2011 Springer Science+Business Media B.V.
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
- Full Text: false
- Reviewed:
- 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.
New records of springtails in New Zealand pasture : How well are our pastoral invertebrates known?
- Authors: Greenslade, Penelope , Boyer, Stéphane , Wratten, Steve
- Date: 2013
- Type: Text , Journal article
- Relation: New Zealand Journal of Agricultural Research Vol. 56, no. 2 (2013), p. 93-101
- Full Text: false
- Reviewed:
- Description: Twenty-four collembolan species are recorded from improved pastures and clovers in New Zealand, of which 17 can be named to species or probable species, the others only to genus. Of the 17 named species, nine have been recorded before from New Zealand but the other eight are new records for the country. All named species are considered as introduced to New Zealand, probably originally from Europe and are unlikely to colonise native habitats. As all named species reported as new records can be abundant at times, this indicates poor knowledge of a major part of New Zealand's agricultural fauna. Collembola are a group of important microarthropod detritivores that make a significant contribution to ecosystem services. The absence so far of quantification of the contribution this and other soil groups make to ecological resilience and function is a serious problem. © 2013 The Royal Society of New Zealand.
- Description: 2003011135
New records of springtails in New Zealand pasture: how well are our pastoral invertebrates known?
- Authors: Greenslade, Penelope , Boyer, Stéphane , Wratten , Steve
- Date: 2013
- Type: Text , Journal article
- Relation: New Zealand Journal of Agricultural Research Vol. 56, no. 2 (2013), p. 93-101
- Full Text: false
- Reviewed:
- Description: Twenty-four collembolan species are recorded from improved pastures and clovers in New Zealand, of which 17 can be named to species or probable species, the others only to genus. Of the 17 named species, nine have been recorded before from New Zealand but the other eight are new records for the country. All named species are considered as introduced to New Zealand, probably originally from Europe and are unlikely to colonise native habitats. As all named species reported as new records can be abundant at times, this indicates poor knowledge of a major part of New Zealand's agricultural fauna. Collembola are a group of important microarthropod detritivores that make a significant contribution to ecosystem services. The absence so far of quantification of the contribution this and other soil groups make to ecological resilience and function is a serious problem.