Academic literature on the topic 'Arthropoda (Australia)'

Records of pentastomid arthropods parasitic in Australian reptiles and mammals are reviewed, with particular reference to material collected recently. Specimens representative of six genera are described. Sebekia sp. from the estuarine crocodile, Crocodylusporosus, is the first record of the genus in Australia and probably represents a new species. A nymph with double hooks, from the dasyurid marsupial Satanellus hallucatus, is determined as Waddycephalus sp. This represents the first evidence of double hooks in nymphal forms of the genus and of the role of marsupials as intermediate hosts of Waddycephalus. Nymphs from the peramelid marsupial, Isoodon macrourus, and from S, hallucatus are determined as Armillifer australis Riley & Self, 1981; those from Perameles nasuta are identified as A. arborealis Riley & Self, 1981. These represent the first records of marsupials as intermediate hosts of Armillifer. Adults of the genus Elenia Heymons, 1932 are confirmed as parasites of varanid lizards. E. australis Heymons, 1932 is recognized and it is suggested that specimens described by Heymons (1939), allegedly from Varanus varius at Townsville, Qld, may represent a new species. The cosmopolitan porocephalid Linguatula serrata Frolich, 1789 is recorded from the nasopharynx of the dingo or wild dog and the validity of the indigenous species, L. dingophila Johnson, 1910 is discussed. The cephalobaenid Raillietiella amphiboluri Mahon, 1954 is reported from Amphibolurus barbatus.

The marine offshore shelf mudstones of the Early Cambrian Buen Formation at Sirius Passet, North Greenland, contain a rich Konservat-Lagerstätte which includes abundant well-preserved material of the bivalved arthropod Isoxys volucris new species. The new material confirms Isoxys Walcott, 1890 as a component of the earliest arthropod faunas worldwide. Isoxys species are known from the Early Cambrian of Spain, Siberia, South Australia and Southwest China and also from the Early to Middle Cambrian of Laurentian North America. Isoxys occurs in the Redlichiid, Bigotinid and Olenellid trilobite faunal realms but is restricted to within tropical/subtropical regions, attesting to possible paleolatitudinal controls on its distribution. Isoxys resembles some phyllocarid and bradoriid arthropods but without knowledge of its soft-parts the affinity of the genus remains uncertain.

Although bradoriids locally are common components of the Cambrian biota, they have been reported previously from Antarctica only from Tertiary glacial deposits. Here, we describe the bradoriid,Bicarinella evansinew genus and species, collected in situ from the upper Lower Cambrian (Botomian) of the Pensacola Mountains in East Antarctica.Bicarinella evansin. gen and sp. is characterized by a subtriangular carapace with a well-defined marginal rim, subequal anterior and posterior lobes that are elongated into sharp ridges extending one-third the length of the carapace, and a broad dorsal node placed between the anterior and posterior lobes. The surface of the carapace exhibits three kinds of ornamentation: fine pitting, pustules, and reticulae. Several smaller carapaces with reduced ornamentation collected from the same bed are interpreted as instars of this species.Bicarinellan. gen. is assigned to the family Hipponicharionidae and appears to be closely related toAlbrunnicolaMartinsson, 1979, orHipponicharionMatthew, 1886. Although strong archaeocyath faunal similarities demonstrate a close biogeographic relationship between Australia and Antarctica in the Early Cambrian, the possible sister group relationship ofBicarinellan. gen. toHipponicharion, which is otherwise unknown from Gondwana, may suggest a separate biogeographic pathway to East Antarctica that did not involve Australia.

New species and new records of sea spiders for Australia were collected by the RV Southern Surveyor from deep waters off Western Australia during November and December 2005. This study reports fifty-three specimens from five families: Colossendeidae is represented by three species, one of them new to science, Hedgpethia calva n. sp.; there are eight species of the Callipallenidae, including Pseudopallene difficile n. sp.; two species of the Pallenopsidae, one of them a new record for Australia, and a single species of the Nymphonidae, Nymphon rottnesti. Ammotheids are represented by a juvenile of a Cilunculus and two new species, Paranymphon bifilarium n. sp. and Tanystylum zuytdorpi n. sp.

Following a morphometric and cladistic analysis of the Daviesia ulicifolia Andrews group (Chandler and Crisp 1997), a new species, D. sejugata, is described. It occurs disjunctly in eastern Tasmania and southern Yorke Peninsula, South Australia, and is closely related to D. arthropoda F.Muell., differing in a generally more robust habit, thicker fleshy phyllodes, and larger flowers. Even with this species removed from D. ulicifolia, the latter varies considerably over a wide geographic, edaphic and altitudinal range. Daviesia ulicifolia is divided into six subspecies based on distinct phenetic and phylogenetic groups delimited in the earlier study. These are subsp. aridicola (glaucous plants in arid regions), subsp. incarnata (reddish-flowered plants in the Mt Lofty Range, South Australia), subsp. ruscifolia (plants with ovate-acuminate leaves and orange flowers in Victoria and southern New South Wales (NSW), often at high altitude), subsp. stenophylla (a narrow-leaved form in northern NSW and Queensland), subsp. pilligensis (ovate-leaved plants on sandy soil in western NSW), and subsp. ulicifolia (a paraphyletic residual from south-eastern states).

This study was carried out in a woodland on the campus of University of Western Sydney at Richmond, Australia to investigate seasonal effects and recovery speed of arboreal arthropods after disturbance. Twenty one pairs of Melaleuca linariifolia Sm. trees were sampled using insecticide spraying in a log2 nine period sequence (1-32) of weeks supplemented by additional samples to incorporate seasonal (weeks 24 and 48) and annual (week 52) samples. Using species accumulation curves, it was found that four collectors provided a reasonable representation of a tree's fauna and that a single tree does not provide a representative sample of the arthropod fauna found on trees of this species in the study area. The application of richness and evenness indices in different seasons showed significant changes in diversity. It was clear from the findings of the study that careful attention needs to be paid to experimental design. Under replication is the normal situation in previous studies and the effects of location, season and disturbance are all critical factors affecting the estimation of diversity.
Doctor of Philosophy (PhD)

This study was carried out in a woodland on the campus of University of Western Sydney at Richmond, Australia to investigate seasonal effects and recovery speed of arboreal arthropods after disturbance. Twenty one pairs of Melaleuca linariifolia Sm. trees were sampled using insecticide spraying in a log2 nine period sequence (1-32) of weeks supplemented by additional samples to incorporate seasonal (weeks 24 and 48) and annual (week 52) samples. Using species accumulation curves, it was found that four collectors provided a reasonable representation of a tree's fauna and that a single tree does not provide a representative sample of the arthropod fauna found on trees of this species in the study area. The application of richness and evenness indices in different seasons showed significant changes in diversity. It was clear from the findings of the study that careful attention needs to be paid to experimental design. Under replication is the normal situation in previous studies and the effects of location, season and disturbance are all critical factors affecting the estimation of diversity.

The results of the 3-year project successfully indicated that petroleum-derived spray oils can be used for effective control of a range of citrus pests including citrus leafminer, Asiatic citrus psyllid, chaff scale, red scale, citrus red mite. The results suggested that it should be possible, through use of horticultural and agricultural mineral oils and enhanced natural enemy activity, to reduce the number of pesticide sprays applied annually in China from 14-16 sprays to significantly fewer sprays in most regions. The results are also valuable as references for the implementation of citrus integrated pest management programs in Australia and other citrus-growing countries. However, despite extensive use of PDSOs in citrus and other crops since the late 1800s, few studies have been undertaken to determine their disruptive effects on orchard ecosystems or to compare their effects with those of synthetic pesticides, and these studies are limited in their sc

Broadscale forest clearance is a major human-induced disturbance with devastating consequences for biodiversity. With a rise in public awareness of biodiversity, the last few decades have seen an increasing number of reforestation activities aimed at recreating natural habitat. To date, research on the outcomes of reforestation for biodiversity have mostly focused upon the recovery of vegetation structure and composition, with relatively little attention being paid to the recovery of fauna, especially invertebrates. Arthropods inhabiting soil and leaf litter constitute a considerable proportion of the biomass and diversity of a given faunal community, and exhibit strong associations with ecological functioning (i.e. soil formation, decomposition). The recovery of soil and litter arthropods in restored landscapes is therefore important, not only for the recovery of biodiversity but also for the re-development of a functioning ecosystem, a goal of most types of reforestation programs. However, we know little about the patterns of development of arthropod assemblages in reforested landscapes or the mechanisms underpinning any such patterns. The broad objective of this study was to investigate the effects of selected factors on the colonisation patterns of restored rainforest patches by soil and leaf litter arthropods. Criteria for selecting factors for study included their potential influence on the development of arthropod assemblages and their potential for manipulation by restoration practitioners. The study was conducted on the Blackall Range near Maleny, a mid-elevation (250-530 m a.s.l.) basaltic plateau in subtropical eastern Australia (26°S, 152°E). The plateau supported subtropical rainforest until European settlement in the 19th century, when most of the rainforest was cleared for pasture. The factors selected for study, in relation to the colonisation of restored habitat patches by soil and litter arthropods, were as follows: 1. the isolation of restored habitat patches from remnant forest; 2. the efficacy of inoculation (re-introduction of rainforest soil and litter arthropods) to restored habitat patches; 3. the quality and quantity of substrate (i.e. mulch) used during the initial stages of rainforest restoration; 4. the degree of shading and depth of substrate, and their interaction; and, 5. the short- and longer-term impacts of glyphosate herbicide on arthropod assemblages. To test explicitly the effects of these factors on arthropod colonisation of restored habitat patches, an experimental approach was adopted in this study. The first four factors were addressed by means of a manipulative field experiment. Small-scale habitat patches were created by adding sterilised mulch to an area previously treated with glyphosate herbicide, and covered with shadecloth, to simulate various conditions of forest restoration which may be experienced by colonising arthropods. In order to test for the impacts of a glyphosate herbicide on rainforest arthropods, I carried out a separate field experiment in which experimental patches were established within remnant rainforests. The experimental approach adopted in this study allowed for the construction of replicated units, while controlling for extraneous factors (e.g. heterogeneity of litter composition, habitat area, age of restoration), to enable robust examination of the effects of selected factors. To monitor assemblage composition, arthropods were collected using two methods: pitfall traps and extraction from litter. Responses of arthropods were analysed at two main levels of taxonomic resolution: ‘coarse’ arthropods (all arthropods sorted to Order/Class) and ants, identified to species. Before the field experiments, a survey was carried out to collect reference information on the distribution of soil and litter arthropods in remnant rainforests (undisturbed reference sites) and cleared pasture (disturbed reference sites) in the study region. Regardless of the sampling method (pitfall or litter extraction) or taxonomic resolution employed (coarse arthropods or ant species), the composition of arthropod assemblages clearly differed between rainforest and pasture. The information obtained from this survey generated potential bio-indicators of forested and cleared habitats, assisting interpretation of the data obtained from the field experiments. The effects of habitat isolation and inoculation were tested using ‘restored’ habitat patches which were established within cleared pasture at increasing distances (0, 15, 100 and ca. 400 m) from the edges of rainforest remnants. After nine months, rainforest-dependent taxa were found to have only colonised the habitat patches closely adjacent to rainforest remnants. Attempts to increase the extent of arthropod establishment by inoculation were unsuccessful: the majority of rainforest arthropods from the raw inoculum failed to persist within the isolated plots. The results indicated that many forest-dependent soil and litter arthropods may have a limited capacity to colonise isolated restoration sites, and/ or small experimental plots in the short term. Inference from the experiment was potentially limited by the relatively small temporal and spatial scales of restoration treatments. Avoiding these limitations in future research may require controlled and replicated efforts in experimental restoration over larger areas, based on collaborations between researchers and practitioners. To test the effects of quality and quantity of substrate on arthropod colonisation, habitat patches were established by adding either sterilised hay (a conventionally used mulching material in restoration projects) or woodchip mulch (a structurally more complex alternative), each at two depths (3-5 cm, 10-15 cm). Habitat patches were positioned within pasture adjacent to the edges of rainforest remnants to minimise the effect of isolation, and were all unshaded to create conditions similar to those during the initial stages of rainforest restoration. Despite its simple composition, hay performed better than woodchips in facilitating colonisation by arthropods characteristic of rainforest. However, neither hay nor woodchip mulch inhibited arthropods invading from the surrounding pasture. Shallow hay was favoured by ants characteristic of rainforest, but other groups of arthropods (e.g. Coleoptera, Isopoda) were associated with deep hay (10-15 cm). The optimum amount of hay may therefore vary among different groups of arthropods. The effects of shading and mulch depth, and potential interactions between them, were tested using habitat patches created with varying degrees of shading (none, 50% or 90% shading) and two depths of woodchip mulch (3-5 cm or 10-15 cm deep). The presence of shading, at both 50% and 90%, encouraged colonisation of habitat patches by arthropods characteristic of rainforest. However, only the more complete shading treatment (90%) inhibited re-invasion of restored patches by arthropods from the surrounding pasture habitat. Effects of mulch depth were significant only for rainforest-associated ant species which responded positively to shallow mulch within shaded plots. These results suggest that moderate levels of canopy closure, as produced by tree spacings typical of timber plantations, may be sufficient to facilitate colonisation of reforested land by rainforest arthropods. However, greater canopy shading (90%) is likely to be needed to inhibit re-invasion of arthropods from surrounding pasture habitat. Using deeper woodchip mulch does not necessarily create more suitable conditions for rainforest arthropods or offset the deleterious effects of the lower levels of shading. Paired herbicide-treated and control plots were created within rainforest remnants to test the short- (approximately three days) and long-term (approximately three months) impacts of herbicide application on soil and litter arthropod assemblages on the floor of the remnant rainforests. The results found no deleterious effects of glyphosate herbicide formulated as Roundup® Biactive™ on rainforest soil and litter arthropods; hence, this herbicide appears suitable for the control of unwanted plants in rainforest restoration projects, from the perspective of arthropod biodiversity. The outcomes of this study also have a number of important implications for the monitoring of the development of soil and litter arthropod assemblages in restored rainforests. First, pitfall traps (a commonly used sampling technique) can provide sufficient information on the state of arthropod assemblages in the context of subtropical rainforest restoration projects, although samples collected by this method alone do not necessarily represent the whole suite of soil and litter arthropods (e.g. cryptic arthropods that live in soil and litter). Second, a combination of higher-taxon sorting of all arthropods, together with species-level sorting of a significant major taxon (ants), provides a feasible compromise between comprehensiveness and detail in monitoring responses of arthropods. Third, ‘composite habitat indices’, such as those developed in this study to quantify the extent to which a site resembles rainforest or pasture in terms of its arthropod assemblage, can help alleviate problems associated with the patchy distribution of arthropod taxa in monitoring samples. The experimental approach adopted in this study provided information that would otherwise have been limited by post-hoc empirical studies alone. This study’s results demonstrated that the selected aspects of different restoration techniques and management affect the colonisation of soil and litter arthropod assemblages in rainforest restoration of old fields.
Thesis (PhD Doctorate)
Doctor of Philosophy (PhD)
Griffith School of Environment
Faculty of Science, Environment, Engineering and Technology
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Since European settlement, around 93% of the Western Australian wheatbelt has been cleared for agriculture, leading to a range of environmental problems, including erosion, salinity, and loss of biodiversity. Recently, oil mallees have been developed for use in the reduction and prevention of salinity, and in the production of oil, activated carbon, and electricity. While some work has been done on aspects of mallee ecology in order to maximize productivity, little is known about their usefulness as a source of biodiversity in natural and agricultural systems.This study concentrates on the canopy arthropod fauna of the mallees. While canopy research involving arthropods is common in tropical systems, there is limited information on temperate systems and still less relating to agro-forestry or conservation plantings in agricultural areas.Sampling was conducted in alleys of oil mallee vegetation and in remnant vegetation in the wheatbelt of Western Australia. Three mallee species: Eucalyptus polybractea, E. kochii subsp. borealis, and E. loxophleba subsp. lissophloia, and two native remnant species: Eucalyptus wandoo subsp. wandoo and E. astringens were used in the study. Trees were sampled for arthropods by canopy knockdown spraying in October 2005 and May 2006. Samples were sorted to the ordinal level in the laboratory. Coleoptera (beetle) specimens were identified to the species level. Leaf and soil samples were taken at each site and from each tree species in order to determine the levels of nutrition available to herbivorous arthropods. Leaves were also collected for terpenoid (essential oil) extraction and formylated phloroglucinol (sideroxylonal) analysis to determine the influence of leaf chemistry. Data were tested for homogeneity of variance and transformations were done where necessary. A range of statistical analyses including, analyses of variance, LSDs, coefficients of correlation, MDS ordinations, ANOSIM analysis, and the BEST procedure, were conducted on the data collected.It was determined that, for this study, chemical knockdown would be an ideal method for sampling such arthropods. A preliminary study examined the effect of repeated sampling of the same tree on canopy arthropod assemblages and found there was no effect of re-sampling on the ordinal level richness or total abundance of arthropods collected at the second sampling, six months later. As a consequence, we can be reasonably confident that the results in other sections of the thesis have not been confounded by the need to re-sample the same trees.The effect of oil mallee host species on canopy arthropod assemblages was examined. It was found that while there were minor differences in the presence or absence of some of the leaf blemishes recorded between species, with leaf folding being more prevalent on E. kochii and psyllids more common on E. loxophleba, there was no significant difference between the species in terms of ordinal richness or total abundance of arthropods. As there were very few differences observed between the three mallee species, it made it relatively simple to compare mallees generally with remnant vegetation. This was important, as mallees were treated as a single entity being compared to the two remnant species in other parts of the thesis.The ordinal richness and total abundance of canopy arthropods in two types of eucalypt vegetation, woodland eucalypts in remnant vegetation and mallee eucalypts in farm alley plantings was compared. Intuitively, we would expect native remnant vegetation to support a greater diversity of arthropods than any planted vegetation, simply by virtue of the native vegetation being in place for a longer period of time. The results of this study however, did not support this view. Arthropod richness and abundance were not significantly different between the tree species. Leaf blemishes and their associated sedentary arthropods also showed no significant differences between the species and overall very few differences between the mallee and remnant vegetation types were evident.The influence of major soil and leaf nutrients on arthropod assemblages, both in natural and planted eucalypt stands, were explored. It appears that arthropod abundance, in particular, is related to soil and leaf nutrient levels. There was, however, only limited evidence of increased arthropod ordinal richness in response to greater nutrient levels. Generally, high nutrient levels tended, instead, to reduce arthropod ordinal richness. Of the soil nutrients, phosphorus was the most influential, with high levels of phosphorus tending to relate to higher arthropod abundances. For leaf nutrients, phosphorus and nitrogen were important, with high levels of phosphorus being associated with lower ordinal richness, while high levels of leaf nitrogen were related to higher arthropod abundances. As high soil phosphorus and high leaf nitrogen tended to occur together, it is difficult to say whether one or the other is responsible for increases in arthropod abundance, though intuitively one would suggest that good soil nutrition led to enhanced plant quality, which in turn increased arthropod abundance.The role of leaf essential oils and other secondary plant compounds in determining arthropod abundance and ordinal richness was also examined. A number of secondary plant compounds were present in the host tree species tested, and there were wide variations in the levels of these compounds between the species tested. A range of relationships, including deterrent and attractant effects, were observed between arthropod assemblages and the various secondary plant compounds. Generally speaking, mallee species had high cineole and low pinene levels and remnant species had the opposite. Sideroxylonals showed no such pattern with vegetation type, being high in E. loxophleba and absent in the other mallee species. In terms of their influence on arthropods, the compounds varied in their effects. Pinene had a generally negative effect, while cineole had a generally positive one. Sideroxylonal, however, was more complicated in its effects as it had a negative effect on ordinal richness, but was positively correlated with Hemiptera numbers. This suggests that it is highly unlikely that any one of these compounds can explain the pattern of arthropod assemblages observed in isolation. It seems more probable that complex interactions between these chemicals cause changes in nutritional quality and palatability of foliage, influencing the feeding behaviour, development, distribution and abundance of herbivores, in turn affecting predator densities and feeding behaviour.The ways in which arthropod biodiversity may be influenced by the factors of host tree species, soil and plant nutrition and leaf chemistry were examined in more detail using the order Coleoptera as an example. Season of sampling was found to have an influence, with both beetle richness and abundance being higher at the first than the second sampling. Site, on the other hand, had very little influence. Of all the tree species, E. polybractea had both the highest beetle species richness, and high levels of beetle abundance. Strong similarities were apparent between beetle assemblages resident on the same tree species. No influence of soil or leaf nutrients on either beetle richness or abundance was observed. However, beetle abundance was found to have a negative relationship with leaf pinene. Cineole levels were lower in the remnant species (which tended to have similar assemblages), while pinene was high in E. loxophleba subsp. lissophloia and the remnant species. The other major leaf chemical examined, sideroxylonal had no significant impact on beetle richness or abundance. Statistical analysis selected cineole as the single factor best explaining the pattern of beetle assemblages observed, though this result should be treated with caution due to possible confounding of the results as a consequence of interaction between the factors.The broad aim of this research was to determine whether oil mallee plantings enhance arthropod biodiversity in agricultural landscapes. The results of this thesis show that oil mallees do support high levels of arthropod biodiversity. Overall, the mallees had a level of diversity, not dissimilar to that of high quality remnant vegetation. When planted in alleys across agricultural fields, they represent a significant change in the vegetative and architectural diversity of the landscape, and can have a positive influence on the environment by supporting beneficial arthropods and other native animals, reducing dryland salinity, and improving the aesthetics of the wheatbelt.Aside from their environmental credentials, oil mallees also provide the potential for farmers to make an income from something designed to benefit the environment. If oil mallee farming can be developed appropriately, it has the potential to benefit not only farmers and the environment, but the community of Western Australia as a whole.

Includes copies of author's previously published works
Guano deposits in caves form a rich food resource supporting diverse arthropod communities. Guano piles consist of distinct micro - habitats, fresh, moist, highly basic guano and older, dry, slightly acidic guano. Micro - habitat variation is strongly controlled by seasonal guano deposition that, in turn, effects the structure of arthropod communities. The maternity chamber of Bat Cave, Naracoorte, South Australia, contains extensive guano deposits supporting 38 species from three classes and 12 orders. This community was studied to determine spatial and temporal variation of arthropod communities, and biogeographic relationships between different regions in Australia. Species richness forms a positive linear relationship with pH, in situ moisture content and guano deposition. Many species show strong associations with fresh guano and hence are strongly seasonal, although some species are present throughout the year. Arthropod community structure in winter was found to be more closely related to prior summer arthropod structure than to subsequent seasons. Starlight Cave near Warrnambool, western Victoria, the only other maternity site for Miniopterus schreibersii bassanii, contained 43 species from 39 families and 14 orders. Seven species are common to both caves. The community structure of Starlight Cave was found to be more homogeneous than Bat Cave with samples clustering by season rather than sample year as was the case at Bat Cave. Different cave morphology was found to significantly alter the micro - habitat conditions and, hence, community structure in Starlight Cave compared with Bat Cave. Migration of guano associated arthropods at local, regional and continental scales was assessed using mtDNA and allozyme electrophoresis the pseudoscorpion genus Protochelifer as a model organism. Phylogenetic tree reconstruction revealed a wide geographic distribution of cavernicolous species across southern Australia. Cave colonisation is believed to have occurred only once, followed by dispersal to the Nullarbor Plain and other caves in south - eastern Australia. Dispersal was possibly phoretic on cave bats or occurred prior to aridification of surface environments that currently restricts migration. The distribution of guano - associated arthropods from arid, semi - arid and monsoonal karst areas in Australia are compared with temperate south - eastern Australia. Different climatic areas show large biogeographical differences in community structure, although similar families ( Urodinychidae, Reduviidae, Anobiidae, Carabidae and Tineidae ) are present in many Australian guano communities. Several potential mechanisms of dispersal are discussed including phoresy, colonisation from soil, terrestrial migration and interstitial cavities. Endemism to specific caves cannot be definitely assigned to any species, although 13 species show restricted distribution.
Thesis (Ph.D.)--School of Earth and Environmental Sciences, 2006.

Includes copies of author's previously published works
Guano deposits in caves form a rich food resource supporting diverse arthropod communities. Guano piles consist of distinct micro - habitats, fresh, moist, highly basic guano and older, dry, slightly acidic guano. Micro - habitat variation is strongly controlled by seasonal guano deposition that, in turn, effects the structure of arthropod communities. The maternity chamber of Bat Cave, Naracoorte, South Australia, contains extensive guano deposits supporting 38 species from three classes and 12 orders. This community was studied to determine spatial and temporal variation of arthropod communities, and biogeographic relationships between different regions in Australia. Species richness forms a positive linear relationship with pH, in situ moisture content and guano deposition. Many species show strong associations with fresh guano and hence are strongly seasonal, although some species are present throughout the year. Arthropod community structure in winter was found to be more closely related to prior summer arthropod structure than to subsequent seasons. Starlight Cave near Warrnambool, western Victoria, the only other maternity site for Miniopterus schreibersii bassanii, contained 43 species from 39 families and 14 orders. Seven species are common to both caves. The community structure of Starlight Cave was found to be more homogeneous than Bat Cave with samples clustering by season rather than sample year as was the case at Bat Cave. Different cave morphology was found to significantly alter the micro - habitat conditions and, hence, community structure in Starlight Cave compared with Bat Cave. Migration of guano associated arthropods at local, regional and continental scales was assessed using mtDNA and allozyme electrophoresis the pseudoscorpion genus Protochelifer as a model organism. Phylogenetic tree reconstruction revealed a wide geographic distribution of cavernicolous species across southern Australia. Cave colonisation is believed to have occurred only once, followed by dispersal to the Nullarbor Plain and other caves in south - eastern Australia. Dispersal was possibly phoretic on cave bats or occurred prior to aridification of surface environments that currently restricts migration. The distribution of guano - associated arthropods from arid, semi - arid and monsoonal karst areas in Australia are compared with temperate south - eastern Australia. Different climatic areas show large biogeographical differences in community structure, although similar families ( Urodinychidae, Reduviidae, Anobiidae, Carabidae and Tineidae ) are present in many Australian guano communities. Several potential mechanisms of dispersal are discussed including phoresy, colonisation from soil, terrestrial migration and interstitial cavities. Endemism to specific caves cannot be definitely assigned to any species, although 13 species show restricted distribution.
Thesis (Ph.D.)--University of Adelaide, School of Earth and Environmental Sciences, 2006.

Pycnogonida is a subphylum of marine arthropods showing unique characteristics. Their position within the Arthropoda is not yet clear, but strong evidence has, suggested they may be the extant sister taxon to all other arthropods. The phylogenetic affinities among the extant families of pycnogonids: Ammotheidae, Colossendeidae, Callipallenidae, Nymphonidae, Phoxichilidiidae, Pycnogonidae, Austrodecidae, Rhynchothoracidae, and the position of problematic genera such as Endeis, Pallenopsis and Tanystylum, are uncertain. Traditionally, it has been assumed that an evolutionary trend of gradual reduction of numbers of segments of the appendages, mainly involving chelifores, palps and ovigers (head appendages) has taken place within the group. Modern cladistic techniques have not been applied to resolve phylogenetic conflicts of the sea spiders. I approached the problem of the uncertain higher-level phylogenetic affinities of pycnogonids to propose hypotheses of relationships based on cladistic analysis of morphological characters, thereby testing the hypothesis of a reduction trend. Additionally, I used a preliminary molecular approach to confront the morphological results. This is one of the first attempts to use molecular data in the study of systematics of pycnogonids. Phylogenetic relationships among the main lineages of extant sea spiders were studied using cladistic analysis of 36 morphological characters and 38 species from all the recognized families. A preliminary exemplar method was employed, and different assumptions of multistate character transformations were used to trace the evolution of the head appendages. Fragments of nuclear ribosomal DNA (18S and 28S) were sequenced to reconstruct the phylogenetic relationships among six higher taxa of sea spiders. Hypotheses of relationships were obtained from separate and combined analyses of these data sets under both maximum parsimony and maximum likelihood criteria. Trees derived from the molecular data set were compared with those from the set of 36 morphological characters previously analysed. Estimates of phylogeny were found to be significantly different between the molecular and the morphological data set and possible causes for incongruence, such as the coding of inapplicable characters in morphology and a very reduced set of taxa in the molecular analysis, are discussed. The position of Colossendeidae was a major cause of conflict, being supported as a relative of Ammotheidae by morphological characters but appearing closely related to Callipallenidae and Nymphonidae with DNA data. With the molecular characters, Austrodecus is identified as a basal taxon for the rest of the pycnogonids included, differing from its close relationship to ammotheids shown by morphology. Using morphological data, the family Ammotheidae appeared as paraphyletic as did Callipallenidae. Pallenopsis was related to Anoplodactylus according to DNA but not morphology. Although no clear pattern of overall relationships among sea spiders is yet defined, several patterns useful for future systematic work have been noted. New sets of characters and compilation of data from all available sources will probably provide a better picture. Ontogenetic transformation could give some insights into character evolution, and knowledge of ecological traits is needed to complement morphological observations. A collection of fresh material of numerous species of sea spiders from the Great Barrier Reef and other localities of Queensland was useful for the phylogenetic analyses and also contributed to the knowledge of the marine fauna of Australia. Thirty-three species of tropical shallow-water sea spiders collected from the Queensland coast, the Great Barrier Reef and the Coral Sea are reported here. Among these were six undescribed species in the genera Austrodecus, Anoplodactylus and Pycnogonum, and other nine species, mostly of Indo-West pacific distribution not previously recorded for Australia.

There is currently little knowledge about the dynamics of invertebrates in Australian viticultural ecosystems. This study was conducted in Coonawarra vineyards over three seasons (years) and has focused on identifying natural enemies, their seasonal phenology, multiple species interactions, and potential for the suppression of the pest lepidopteran Epiphyas postvittana (Tortricidae). The work presented in this thesis shows that endemic natural enemies have far greater potential to control E. postvittana than has been realised. An initial survey identified a diverse and abundant range of potential natural enemies. Of these, the species most likely to attack E. postvittana include a predatory mite Anystis baccarum and a number of hymenopteran parasitoids. The most abundant parasitoid in the vineyards was a braconid, Dolichogenidea tasmanica. Understanding the characteristic behaviour of parasitoids in response to host density can help to gauge their potential for pest suppression. The results of large-scale field experiments showed that the response of D. tasmanica to the density of E. postvittana was inversely density-dependent, and that parasitism was consistently higher in Cabernet Sauvignon compared with Chardonnay varieties. Despite the fact that interactions among multiple species of natural enemies can increase or decrease pest suppression, particularly when they share a common prey/host, few multispecies interactions have been investigated. Laboratory studies identified a novel interaction between the predatory mite A. baccarum an abundant predator in the vine canopy, the parasitoid D. tasmanica and host E. postvittana larvae. Although A. baccarum readily ate E. postvittana eggs and free roaming larvae, they could not access larva in their silk leaf rolls. However, the addition of D. tasmanica significantly increased predation of E. postvittana larvae, by altering the behaviour of host larvae and increasing their vulnerability to the mite. Experiments conducted at a landscape level in the Coonawarra showed that D. tasmanica was also present in habitat other than vineyards including native vegetation. However, it was not present in highly disturbed habitats. Although the exact mechanism for this remains unknown, results indicate that viticultural practices and resources in the surrounding landscape can influence the presence of parasitoids. Together, the findings presented in this thesis make a significant contribution towards developing sustainable pest management in Australian viticulture.
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Thesis (Ph.D.) -- University of Adelaide, School of Earth and Environmental Sciences, 2008

There is currently little knowledge about the dynamics of invertebrates in Australian viticultural ecosystems. This study was conducted in Coonawarra vineyards over three seasons (years) and has focused on identifying natural enemies, their seasonal phenology, multiple species interactions, and potential for the suppression of the pest lepidopteran Epiphyas postvittana (Tortricidae). The work presented in this thesis shows that endemic natural enemies have far greater potential to control E. postvittana than has been realised. An initial survey identified a diverse and abundant range of potential natural enemies. Of these, the species most likely to attack E. postvittana include a predatory mite Anystis baccarum and a number of hymenopteran parasitoids. The most abundant parasitoid in the vineyards was a braconid, Dolichogenidea tasmanica. Understanding the characteristic behaviour of parasitoids in response to host density can help to gauge their potential for pest suppression. The results of large-scale field experiments showed that the response of D. tasmanica to the density of E. postvittana was inversely density-dependent, and that parasitism was consistently higher in Cabernet Sauvignon compared with Chardonnay varieties. Despite the fact that interactions among multiple species of natural enemies can increase or decrease pest suppression, particularly when they share a common prey/host, few multispecies interactions have been investigated. Laboratory studies identified a novel interaction between the predatory mite A. baccarum an abundant predator in the vine canopy, the parasitoid D. tasmanica and host E. postvittana larvae. Although A. baccarum readily ate E. postvittana eggs and free roaming larvae, they could not access larva in their silk leaf rolls. However, the addition of D. tasmanica significantly increased predation of E. postvittana larvae, by altering the behaviour of host larvae and increasing their vulnerability to the mite. Experiments conducted at a landscape level in the Coonawarra showed that D. tasmanica was also present in habitat other than vineyards including native vegetation. However, it was not present in highly disturbed habitats. Although the exact mechanism for this remains unknown, results indicate that viticultural practices and resources in the surrounding landscape can influence the presence of parasitoids. Together, the findings presented in this thesis make a significant contribution towards developing sustainable pest management in Australian viticulture.
Thesis (Ph.D.) -- University of Adelaide, School of Earth and Environmental Sciences, 2008

Ants are one of the most influential elements in Australian ecosystems, having a major impact on plant growth and reproduction, and soil structure. They act as predators and competitors of other arthropods, and are an important food source for other animals. The book provides details on separating genera from those which are superficially similar and those which are commonly confused. The distribution, habitat preferences and general biologies of each genus are discussed, and there is an introduction to the more important research papers investigating each group.

Oribatid mites are ancient, minute arthropods that live in soil, plant litter, mosses and lichens, and on trees and shrubs. Prior to the production of this catalogue, Australian Oribatid mites had been poorly documented. This catalogue summarises our knowledge of the fauna of Australian Oribatid mites, including many new records of species and genera. It forms a fundamental resource for anyone interested in these important organisms and their role in soil ecology and as environmental indicators.

The Hymenoptera is one of the largest orders of terrestrial arthropods and comprises the sawflies, wasps, ants, bees and parasitic wasps. Hymenoptera: Evolution, Biodiversity and Biological Control examines the current state of all major areas of research for this important group of insects, including systematics, biological control, behaviour, ecology, and physiological interactions between parasitoids and hosts. The material in this volume originates from papers presented at the Fourth International Hymenoptera Conference held in Canberra, Australia in early 1999. This material has been extensively rewritten, refereed and edited; culminating in this authoritative and comprehensive collection of review and research papers on the Hymenoptera. The authors include many world-leading researchers in their respective fields, and this synthesis of their work will be a valuable resource for researchers and students of Hymenoptera, molecular systematics and insect ecology.

Vital for a game of cricket or golf and enjoyable when picnicking in the park, turfgrass provides a wide range of aesthetic and recreational benefits. However, managed turfgrass is prone to damaging outbreaks of insects and mites. Pest Management of Turfgrass for Sport and Recreation is the first comprehensive work on the plant-eating insects and mites of the grass and non-grass species currently maintained as ornamental lawns and turfgrass playing surfaces throughout Australia, the South Pacific and South-East Asia. This book provides an industry reference for the identification of pests affecting the roots, stems and leaves of turfgrass and control of these species through integrated pest management. It contains information on the distribution, ecology and biology of pests and how to monitor them. The integrated pest management approach outlined in the book includes natural environmental controls, beneficial and predatory species of arthropods, resistant cultivars and insecticidal and miticidal pesticides. Pest Management of Turfgrass for Sport and Recreation is an essential manual for managers of sportsgrounds, bowling greens, lawn tennis courts, golf courses, racecourses, ornamental landscapes, amenity parklands, public reserves and turfgrass production farms.

Rickettsiae are obligate intracellular bacteria transmitted by arthropods to a vertebrate host. Clinically relevant rickettsioses have a similar clinical pattern, manifesting as an acute febrile disease accompanied by headache, articular and muscle pain, and malaise.Epidemic typhus is a worldwide distributed disease caused by the Rickettsia prowazekii, with a human louse as a vector. Data on epidemic typhus-related renal injury is extremely scarce.Murine typhus is caused by the Rickettsia typhi and has a rodent flea as the vector. It is one of the most frequent rickettsioses, and is usually a self-limited febrile illness. Proteinuria, haematuria, elevations in serum creatinine (SCr) and/or blood urea nitrogen (BUN) and AKI have been reported. The real frequency of renal involvement in murine typhus is unknown. Renal abnormalities recover after the infectious disease resolution.Scrub typhus, caused by the Orientia tsutsugamushi, has the Leptotrombidium mite larva as vector. It is endemic in the Tsutsugamushi triangle delimited by Japan, Australia, India, and Siberia. It can manifest either as a self-limiting disease or as a severe, life-threatening multiorgan illness. Early administration of adequate antibiotics is essential to prevent adverse outcomes. Proteinuria, haematuria, and acute kidney injury (AKI) are frequent.Tick-borne rickettsioses are caused by bacteria from the spotted fever group and have ticks as vectors. Rocky Mountain spotted fever (RMSF) is caused by Rickettsia rickettsii. It is the most severe of the spotted fever rickettsial diseases, causing significant morbidity and lethality. RMSF occurs in North, Central, and South America. Renal impairment is frequent in severe forms of RMSF. Mediterranean spotted fever is caused by Rickettsia conorii, and is endemic in the Mediterranean area. It is usually a benign disease, but may have a severe course, clinically similar to RMSF. Haematuria, proteinuria, increased serum creatinine, and AKI may occur. Japanese spotted fever is caused by Rickettsia japonica. Lethal cases are reported yearly and AKI has occurred in the context of multiple organ failure.

Anaplasmosis is an arthropod-borne disease of cattle caused by the rickettsia Anaplasmamarginale and is an impediment to efficient production of healthy livestock in both Israel and the United States. Currently, the only effective vaccines are derived from the blood of infected cattle. The risk of widespread transmission of both known and newly emergent pathogens has prevented licensure of live blood-based vaccines in the U.S. and is a major concern for their continued use in Israel. Consequently, development of a safe, effective vaccine is a high priority. Despite its drawbacks as a live, blood-based vaccine, the Israel vaccine strain protects against disease upon challenge with wild-type A. marginale in extensive experimental trials and during 50 years of deployment in Israel. Field studies in Australia and Argentina indicate that this protection is broadly effective. Thus, to identify antigens for development of a safe and effective recombinant vaccine, we have used a comparative genomics approach by sequencing the Israel vaccine strain and searching for shared surface antigens with sequenced wild-type U.S. strains. We have focused on Msp2, the immune-dominant but antigenically variable surface protein, based on shared structure among strains and demonstration that antibody from cattle immunized with the Israel vaccine strain binds Msp2 from the genetically and geographically distinct U.S. St. Maries strain, consistent with the ability to protect against St. Maries challenge. Importantly, we have defined the full repertoire of Msp2 simple variants encoded by the vaccine strain and hypothesize that a recombinant vaccine encoding this full repertoire will induce protection equivalent to that induced by the live vaccine strain. Any escape from immunity by generation of complex Msp2 variants is predicted to carry a severe fitness cost that prevents high-level bacteremia and disease— consistent with the type of protection induced by the live vaccine strain. We tested the hypothesis that the Msp2 simple variant repertoires in wild-type A. marginale strains are recognized by antibody from cattle immunized with the Israel vaccine strain and that immunization with the vaccine strain Msp2 repertoire can recapitulate the protection provided by the vaccine strain upon challenge with Israel and U.S. strains of A. marginale. Our findings demonstrate that a set of conserved outer membrane proteins are recognized by immune serum from A. centrale vaccinated animals but that this set of proteins does not include Msp2. These findings suggest that “subdominant” immunogens are required for vaccine induced protection.