Habitat use and diet as biogeographic indicators for subantarctic Ectemnorhinini (Coleoptera: Curculionidae)

• Published in: Antarctic Science
• Main Author: Chown, S.L.
• Format: Article in Journal/Newspaper
• Language: English
• Published: Cambridge University Press (CUP) 1989
• Subjects: Geology; Ecology, Evolution, Behavior and Systematics; Oceanography; Indian; Antarctic Science
• Online Access: http://dx.doi.org/10.1017/s0954102089000052; https://www.cambridge.org/core/services/aop-cambridge-core/content/view/S0954102089000052

Most of the species in the Ectemnorhinin are cryptogam feeders, angiosperm feeders representing a minority. It is hypothesized that this dearth of angiosperm feeders is due to previous climatic conditions, which precluded angiosperm herbivory, but allowed for the exploitation of a diverse cryptogamic flora, and that only with the post-glacial warm-up of the Subantarctic has angiosperm herbivory become possible. When examined in the light of the Quaternary history of the South Indian Ocean Province islands, evidence obtained from a study of the habitat use, diet and morphology of species within the tribe supports this hypothesis.