An insect introduction to the maritime Antarctic
Although several invertebrates have been introduced by Man into the Antarctic, no holometabolous insects have survived to colonize terrestrial habitats successfully. Data are presented on the survival of populations of a chironomid midge, together with an enchytraeid worm, for 17 years in a maritime...
Published in: | Biological Journal of the Linnean Society |
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1984
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Online Access: | http://nora.nerc.ac.uk/id/eprint/523805/ https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1095-8312.1984.tb00804.x |
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ftnerc:oai:nora.nerc.ac.uk:523805 2023-05-15T13:41:43+02:00 An insect introduction to the maritime Antarctic Block, William Burn, A.J. Richard, K.J. 1984 http://nora.nerc.ac.uk/id/eprint/523805/ https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1095-8312.1984.tb00804.x unknown Linnean Society Block, William; Burn, A.J.; Richard, K.J. 1984 An insect introduction to the maritime Antarctic. Biological Journal of the Linnean Society, 23 (1). 33-39. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1095-8312.1984.tb00804.x <https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1095-8312.1984.tb00804.x> Publication - Article PeerReviewed 1984 ftnerc https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1095-8312.1984.tb00804.x 2023-02-04T19:48:35Z Although several invertebrates have been introduced by Man into the Antarctic, no holometabolous insects have survived to colonize terrestrial habitats successfully. Data are presented on the survival of populations of a chironomid midge, together with an enchytraeid worm, for 17 years in a maritime Antarctic site at Signy Island, South Orkney Islands. Both species are thought to have been introduced on plant material transplanted from either South Georgia or the Falkland Islands or both in 1967. Population densities average 25718m-2 for the dipteran larvae and 3243 m-2 for the worms. Successful completion of the midge's life cycle was indicated by emergence of brachypterous adults and oviposition (the population is parthenogenetic with only females present). Although both taxa are capable of supercooling to between -13 and -26°C, this capacity may not be sufficient in a severe winter to avoid lethal freezing. Four potential cryoprotectants were found in insect extracts, but in concentrations (< 1 % fresh weight) unlikely to influence cold hardiness. Both invertebrates appear to be pre-adapted for survival in much harsher conditions than they normally experience, by the extension of existing physiological mechanisms. It is concluded that the main limitations to invertebrate colonization of suitable Antarctic land areas by soil-dwelling species are geographical. Article in Journal/Newspaper Antarc* Antarctic Signy Island South Orkney Islands Natural Environment Research Council: NERC Open Research Archive Antarctic The Antarctic South Orkney Islands ENVELOPE(-45.500,-45.500,-60.583,-60.583) Signy Island ENVELOPE(-45.595,-45.595,-60.708,-60.708) Biological Journal of the Linnean Society 23 1 33 39 |
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Open Polar |
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Natural Environment Research Council: NERC Open Research Archive |
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ftnerc |
language |
unknown |
description |
Although several invertebrates have been introduced by Man into the Antarctic, no holometabolous insects have survived to colonize terrestrial habitats successfully. Data are presented on the survival of populations of a chironomid midge, together with an enchytraeid worm, for 17 years in a maritime Antarctic site at Signy Island, South Orkney Islands. Both species are thought to have been introduced on plant material transplanted from either South Georgia or the Falkland Islands or both in 1967. Population densities average 25718m-2 for the dipteran larvae and 3243 m-2 for the worms. Successful completion of the midge's life cycle was indicated by emergence of brachypterous adults and oviposition (the population is parthenogenetic with only females present). Although both taxa are capable of supercooling to between -13 and -26°C, this capacity may not be sufficient in a severe winter to avoid lethal freezing. Four potential cryoprotectants were found in insect extracts, but in concentrations (< 1 % fresh weight) unlikely to influence cold hardiness. Both invertebrates appear to be pre-adapted for survival in much harsher conditions than they normally experience, by the extension of existing physiological mechanisms. It is concluded that the main limitations to invertebrate colonization of suitable Antarctic land areas by soil-dwelling species are geographical. |
format |
Article in Journal/Newspaper |
author |
Block, William Burn, A.J. Richard, K.J. |
spellingShingle |
Block, William Burn, A.J. Richard, K.J. An insect introduction to the maritime Antarctic |
author_facet |
Block, William Burn, A.J. Richard, K.J. |
author_sort |
Block, William |
title |
An insect introduction to the maritime Antarctic |
title_short |
An insect introduction to the maritime Antarctic |
title_full |
An insect introduction to the maritime Antarctic |
title_fullStr |
An insect introduction to the maritime Antarctic |
title_full_unstemmed |
An insect introduction to the maritime Antarctic |
title_sort |
insect introduction to the maritime antarctic |
publisher |
Linnean Society |
publishDate |
1984 |
url |
http://nora.nerc.ac.uk/id/eprint/523805/ https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1095-8312.1984.tb00804.x |
long_lat |
ENVELOPE(-45.500,-45.500,-60.583,-60.583) ENVELOPE(-45.595,-45.595,-60.708,-60.708) |
geographic |
Antarctic The Antarctic South Orkney Islands Signy Island |
geographic_facet |
Antarctic The Antarctic South Orkney Islands Signy Island |
genre |
Antarc* Antarctic Signy Island South Orkney Islands |
genre_facet |
Antarc* Antarctic Signy Island South Orkney Islands |
op_relation |
Block, William; Burn, A.J.; Richard, K.J. 1984 An insect introduction to the maritime Antarctic. Biological Journal of the Linnean Society, 23 (1). 33-39. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1095-8312.1984.tb00804.x <https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1095-8312.1984.tb00804.x> |
op_doi |
https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1095-8312.1984.tb00804.x |
container_title |
Biological Journal of the Linnean Society |
container_volume |
23 |
container_issue |
1 |
container_start_page |
33 |
op_container_end_page |
39 |
_version_ |
1766155185809260544 |