The non-native chironomid Eretmoptera murphyi in Antarctica: erosion of the barriers to invasion
Antarctica is the continent least affected by invasive species, but climate change and increasing human activity are increasing this threat. Antarctic terrestrial ecosystems generally have low biodiversity with simple community structures and little competition for resources. Consequently, species w...
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ftnerc:oai:nora.nerc.ac.uk:500189 2024-02-11T09:55:23+01:00 The non-native chironomid Eretmoptera murphyi in Antarctica: erosion of the barriers to invasion Hughes, Kevin A. Worland, M. Roger Thorne, Michael A.S. Convey, Peter 2013-02 http://nora.nerc.ac.uk/id/eprint/500189/ https://doi.org/10.1007/s10530-012-0282-1 unknown Springer Hughes, Kevin A. orcid:0000-0003-2701-726X Worland, M. Roger; Thorne, Michael A.S. orcid:0000-0001-7759-612X Convey, Peter orcid:0000-0001-8497-9903 . 2013 The non-native chironomid Eretmoptera murphyi in Antarctica: erosion of the barriers to invasion. Biological Invasions, 15 (2). 269-281. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10530-012-0282-1 <https://doi.org/10.1007/s10530-012-0282-1> Publication - Article PeerReviewed 2013 ftnerc https://doi.org/10.1007/s10530-012-0282-1 2024-01-19T00:03:13Z Antarctica is the continent least affected by invasive species, but climate change and increasing human activity are increasing this threat. Antarctic terrestrial ecosystems generally have low biodiversity with simple community structures and little competition for resources. Consequently, species with pre-adaptations or capabilities that allow them to tolerate polar conditions may have disproportionately large ecosystem impacts when introduced to Antarctica compared with other regions of the Earth. Here we investigate the invasion risk associated with the flightless chironomid midge, Eretmoptera murphyi, which was accidentally introduced from South Georgia (54°S) to Signy Island, South Orkney Islands (61°S), probably during plant transplantation experiments in the 1960s. Larval size class distribution analysis indicated that E. murphyi has a 2 year life cycle on Signy Island, supporting previous suggestions. Estimates of litter turnover show that recent large increases in E. murphyi population density and extent are likely to increase nutrient cycling rates on Signy Island substantially. Existing physiological adaptations may allow E. murphyi to colonise higher latitude locations. Growth rate and microhabitat climatic modelling show that temperature constraints on larval development on Anchorage Island (68°S) are theoretically similar to those on Signy Island even though it is ~750 km further south. Establishment of this non-native midge at climatically similar intervening locations along the western Antarctic Peninsula is therefore plausible. Currently, lack of effective natural dispersal mechanisms is probably limiting the spread of the midge. However, dispersal to other areas of the Antarctic Peninsula may occur via human-assisted transportation, highlighting the importance of appropriate biosecurity measures. Article in Journal/Newspaper Anchorage Island Antarc* Antarctic Antarctic Peninsula Antarctica Signy Island South Orkney Islands Natural Environment Research Council: NERC Open Research Archive Anchorage Anchorage Island ENVELOPE(-68.214,-68.214,-67.605,-67.605) Antarctic Antarctic Peninsula Signy Island ENVELOPE(-45.595,-45.595,-60.708,-60.708) South Orkney Islands ENVELOPE(-45.500,-45.500,-60.583,-60.583) The Antarctic Biological Invasions 15 2 269 281 |
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Open Polar |
collection |
Natural Environment Research Council: NERC Open Research Archive |
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ftnerc |
language |
unknown |
description |
Antarctica is the continent least affected by invasive species, but climate change and increasing human activity are increasing this threat. Antarctic terrestrial ecosystems generally have low biodiversity with simple community structures and little competition for resources. Consequently, species with pre-adaptations or capabilities that allow them to tolerate polar conditions may have disproportionately large ecosystem impacts when introduced to Antarctica compared with other regions of the Earth. Here we investigate the invasion risk associated with the flightless chironomid midge, Eretmoptera murphyi, which was accidentally introduced from South Georgia (54°S) to Signy Island, South Orkney Islands (61°S), probably during plant transplantation experiments in the 1960s. Larval size class distribution analysis indicated that E. murphyi has a 2 year life cycle on Signy Island, supporting previous suggestions. Estimates of litter turnover show that recent large increases in E. murphyi population density and extent are likely to increase nutrient cycling rates on Signy Island substantially. Existing physiological adaptations may allow E. murphyi to colonise higher latitude locations. Growth rate and microhabitat climatic modelling show that temperature constraints on larval development on Anchorage Island (68°S) are theoretically similar to those on Signy Island even though it is ~750 km further south. Establishment of this non-native midge at climatically similar intervening locations along the western Antarctic Peninsula is therefore plausible. Currently, lack of effective natural dispersal mechanisms is probably limiting the spread of the midge. However, dispersal to other areas of the Antarctic Peninsula may occur via human-assisted transportation, highlighting the importance of appropriate biosecurity measures. |
format |
Article in Journal/Newspaper |
author |
Hughes, Kevin A. Worland, M. Roger Thorne, Michael A.S. Convey, Peter |
spellingShingle |
Hughes, Kevin A. Worland, M. Roger Thorne, Michael A.S. Convey, Peter The non-native chironomid Eretmoptera murphyi in Antarctica: erosion of the barriers to invasion |
author_facet |
Hughes, Kevin A. Worland, M. Roger Thorne, Michael A.S. Convey, Peter |
author_sort |
Hughes, Kevin A. |
title |
The non-native chironomid Eretmoptera murphyi in Antarctica: erosion of the barriers to invasion |
title_short |
The non-native chironomid Eretmoptera murphyi in Antarctica: erosion of the barriers to invasion |
title_full |
The non-native chironomid Eretmoptera murphyi in Antarctica: erosion of the barriers to invasion |
title_fullStr |
The non-native chironomid Eretmoptera murphyi in Antarctica: erosion of the barriers to invasion |
title_full_unstemmed |
The non-native chironomid Eretmoptera murphyi in Antarctica: erosion of the barriers to invasion |
title_sort |
non-native chironomid eretmoptera murphyi in antarctica: erosion of the barriers to invasion |
publisher |
Springer |
publishDate |
2013 |
url |
http://nora.nerc.ac.uk/id/eprint/500189/ https://doi.org/10.1007/s10530-012-0282-1 |
long_lat |
ENVELOPE(-68.214,-68.214,-67.605,-67.605) ENVELOPE(-45.595,-45.595,-60.708,-60.708) ENVELOPE(-45.500,-45.500,-60.583,-60.583) |
geographic |
Anchorage Anchorage Island Antarctic Antarctic Peninsula Signy Island South Orkney Islands The Antarctic |
geographic_facet |
Anchorage Anchorage Island Antarctic Antarctic Peninsula Signy Island South Orkney Islands The Antarctic |
genre |
Anchorage Island Antarc* Antarctic Antarctic Peninsula Antarctica Signy Island South Orkney Islands |
genre_facet |
Anchorage Island Antarc* Antarctic Antarctic Peninsula Antarctica Signy Island South Orkney Islands |
op_relation |
Hughes, Kevin A. orcid:0000-0003-2701-726X Worland, M. Roger; Thorne, Michael A.S. orcid:0000-0001-7759-612X Convey, Peter orcid:0000-0001-8497-9903 . 2013 The non-native chironomid Eretmoptera murphyi in Antarctica: erosion of the barriers to invasion. Biological Invasions, 15 (2). 269-281. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10530-012-0282-1 <https://doi.org/10.1007/s10530-012-0282-1> |
op_doi |
https://doi.org/10.1007/s10530-012-0282-1 |
container_title |
Biological Invasions |
container_volume |
15 |
container_issue |
2 |
container_start_page |
269 |
op_container_end_page |
281 |
_version_ |
1790595500171329536 |