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

Key, R. J. D.; Convey, P.; Key, R. S.; Key, R. J. D.; Belchier, M.; Waller, C. L.

Abstract

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.

Citation

Convey, P., Key, R. S., Key, R. J. D., Belchier, M., & Waller, C. L. (2011). Recent range expansions in non-native predatory beetles on sub-Antarctic South Georgia. Polar Biology, 34(4), 597-602. https://doi.org/10.1007/s00300-010-0909-6

• Journal Article Type: Article
• Online Publication Date: Nov 2, 2010
• Publication Date: 2011-04
• Journal: POLAR BIOLOGY
• Print ISSN: 0722-4060
• Electronic ISSN: 1432-2056
• Publisher: Springer Verlag
• Peer Reviewed: Peer Reviewed
• Volume: 34
• Issue: 4
• Pages: 597-602
• DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00300-010-0909-6
• Keywords: Carabidae; Invasive species; Endemic species; Human impacts
• Public URL: https://hull-repository.worktribe.com/output/409543