Slow recovery of stream invertebrates on subantarctic Macquarie Island after eradication of introduced rabbits and regrowth of vegetation
Context. Streams on subantarctic Macquarie Island were first sampled for freshwater invertebrates in 1992 when rabbit numbers were low. Then an average 11.6 taxa per site were recorded. Between 2000 and 2011, vegetation was overgrazed as rabbit numbers increased. In 2008 and 2010, 7.4–8.4 taxa per s...
Published in: | Marine and Freshwater Research |
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Main Authors: | , , , , |
Format: | Article in Journal/Newspaper |
Language: | English |
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2023
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Online Access: | https://researchprofiles.canberra.edu.au/en/publications/ff4a52fc-49ea-479f-9fd9-174b271d9e47 https://doi.org/10.1071/MF23009 https://researchsystem.canberra.edu.au/ws/files/100770200/MF23009.pdf http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=85170550522&partnerID=8YFLogxK |
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ftcanberrauncris:oai:pure.atira.dk:publications/ff4a52fc-49ea-479f-9fd9-174b271d9e47 2024-09-30T14:38:22+00:00 Slow recovery of stream invertebrates on subantarctic Macquarie Island after eradication of introduced rabbits and regrowth of vegetation Marchant, R. Kefford, B. J. Houghton, M. Wasley, J. King, C. K. 2023-08-22 application/pdf https://researchprofiles.canberra.edu.au/en/publications/ff4a52fc-49ea-479f-9fd9-174b271d9e47 https://doi.org/10.1071/MF23009 https://researchsystem.canberra.edu.au/ws/files/100770200/MF23009.pdf http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=85170550522&partnerID=8YFLogxK eng eng info:eu-repo/semantics/closedAccess Marchant , R , Kefford , B J , Houghton , M , Wasley , J & King , C K 2023 , ' Slow recovery of stream invertebrates on subantarctic Macquarie Island after eradication of introduced rabbits and regrowth of vegetation ' , Marine and Freshwater Research , vol. 74 , no. 13 , pp. 1171-1177 . https://doi.org/10.1071/MF23009 article 2023 ftcanberrauncris https://doi.org/10.1071/MF23009 2024-09-18T23:41:39Z Context. Streams on subantarctic Macquarie Island were first sampled for freshwater invertebrates in 1992 when rabbit numbers were low. Then an average 11.6 taxa per site were recorded. Between 2000 and 2011, vegetation was overgrazed as rabbit numbers increased. In 2008 and 2010, 7.4–8.4 taxa per site were recorded, abundance of most taxa had decreased and greatest compositional changes occurred at sites exposed to moderate or severe vegetation damage. Rabbits were eradicated in 2011 and substantial regrowth of vegetation was evident by 2016. Aims. Sites were resampled in 2016 to determine the extent to which the invertebrate communities had changed after rabbit removal. Methods. In all, 13 of the original 15 sites sampled in 1992 were resampled. Five kick samples were taken at each site. Key results. Mean taxon richness (8.2 taxa per site) and community composition at individual sites remained, in 2016, very similar to that recorded in 2008 and 2010 when the island was heavily grazed. Conclusions. Recovery of stream invertebrate communities appeared to be slow, possibly because few refuges were available. Minor changes in climate and water quality did not influence recovery. Implications. Stream invertebrate communities could take a decade or more to recover. Article in Journal/Newspaper Macquarie Island University of Canberra Research Portal Marine and Freshwater Research 74 13 1171 1177 |
institution |
Open Polar |
collection |
University of Canberra Research Portal |
op_collection_id |
ftcanberrauncris |
language |
English |
description |
Context. Streams on subantarctic Macquarie Island were first sampled for freshwater invertebrates in 1992 when rabbit numbers were low. Then an average 11.6 taxa per site were recorded. Between 2000 and 2011, vegetation was overgrazed as rabbit numbers increased. In 2008 and 2010, 7.4–8.4 taxa per site were recorded, abundance of most taxa had decreased and greatest compositional changes occurred at sites exposed to moderate or severe vegetation damage. Rabbits were eradicated in 2011 and substantial regrowth of vegetation was evident by 2016. Aims. Sites were resampled in 2016 to determine the extent to which the invertebrate communities had changed after rabbit removal. Methods. In all, 13 of the original 15 sites sampled in 1992 were resampled. Five kick samples were taken at each site. Key results. Mean taxon richness (8.2 taxa per site) and community composition at individual sites remained, in 2016, very similar to that recorded in 2008 and 2010 when the island was heavily grazed. Conclusions. Recovery of stream invertebrate communities appeared to be slow, possibly because few refuges were available. Minor changes in climate and water quality did not influence recovery. Implications. Stream invertebrate communities could take a decade or more to recover. |
format |
Article in Journal/Newspaper |
author |
Marchant, R. Kefford, B. J. Houghton, M. Wasley, J. King, C. K. |
spellingShingle |
Marchant, R. Kefford, B. J. Houghton, M. Wasley, J. King, C. K. Slow recovery of stream invertebrates on subantarctic Macquarie Island after eradication of introduced rabbits and regrowth of vegetation |
author_facet |
Marchant, R. Kefford, B. J. Houghton, M. Wasley, J. King, C. K. |
author_sort |
Marchant, R. |
title |
Slow recovery of stream invertebrates on subantarctic Macquarie Island after eradication of introduced rabbits and regrowth of vegetation |
title_short |
Slow recovery of stream invertebrates on subantarctic Macquarie Island after eradication of introduced rabbits and regrowth of vegetation |
title_full |
Slow recovery of stream invertebrates on subantarctic Macquarie Island after eradication of introduced rabbits and regrowth of vegetation |
title_fullStr |
Slow recovery of stream invertebrates on subantarctic Macquarie Island after eradication of introduced rabbits and regrowth of vegetation |
title_full_unstemmed |
Slow recovery of stream invertebrates on subantarctic Macquarie Island after eradication of introduced rabbits and regrowth of vegetation |
title_sort |
slow recovery of stream invertebrates on subantarctic macquarie island after eradication of introduced rabbits and regrowth of vegetation |
publishDate |
2023 |
url |
https://researchprofiles.canberra.edu.au/en/publications/ff4a52fc-49ea-479f-9fd9-174b271d9e47 https://doi.org/10.1071/MF23009 https://researchsystem.canberra.edu.au/ws/files/100770200/MF23009.pdf http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=85170550522&partnerID=8YFLogxK |
genre |
Macquarie Island |
genre_facet |
Macquarie Island |
op_source |
Marchant , R , Kefford , B J , Houghton , M , Wasley , J & King , C K 2023 , ' Slow recovery of stream invertebrates on subantarctic Macquarie Island after eradication of introduced rabbits and regrowth of vegetation ' , Marine and Freshwater Research , vol. 74 , no. 13 , pp. 1171-1177 . https://doi.org/10.1071/MF23009 |
op_rights |
info:eu-repo/semantics/closedAccess |
op_doi |
https://doi.org/10.1071/MF23009 |
container_title |
Marine and Freshwater Research |
container_volume |
74 |
container_issue |
13 |
container_start_page |
1171 |
op_container_end_page |
1177 |
_version_ |
1811641033376661504 |