Recent range expansions in non-native predatory beetles on sub-Antarctic South Georgia

Convey, Peter; Key, R.S.; Key, R.J.D.; Belchier, Mark; Waller, Catherine L.. 2011 Recent range expansions in non-native predatory beetles on sub-Antarctic South Georgia. Polar Biology, 34 (4). 597-602. 10.1007/s00300-010-0909-6

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Abstract/Summary

The human-assisted establishment of two non-native predatory carabid beetles (Merizodus soledadinus (Guerin-M,n,ville), Trechisibus antarcticus (Dejean)) on the sub-Antarctic island of South Georgia occurred 30-50 years ago, but the distribution of these species has never been the subject of regular monitoring, and was last assessed in the mid-1990s. Based on opportunistic collection records and directed field survey activities on South Georgia over four summer seasons between 2002/3 and 2008/9, we describe recent and important range expansions in both species on the island. The new distributional ranges of both species are highly suggestive of a continuing inadvertent human role in transferring them across the obstructions presented by tidewater glaciers or higher-altitude mountain passes. Both species now have the potential to spread unchecked by any other geographical obstructions across a large section of the north-east coast of the island and are likely to have considerable negative impacts on the elements of the native (including endemic) terrestrial invertebrate fauna

Item Type:	Article
Identification Number/DOI:	10.1007/s00300-010-0909-6
Programmes:	BAS Programmes > Polar Science for Planet Earth (2009 - ) > Ecosystems
ISSN:	0722-4060
Additional Keywords:	Carabidae; invasive species; endemic species; human impacts
NORA Subject Terms:	Zoology Ecology and Environment
Date made live:	20 Jun 2011 11:20
URI:	http://nora.nerc.ac.uk/id/eprint/14482

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