Austromerope poultoni (Insecta, Mecoptera) in south-west Western Australia: occurrence, modelled geographical distribution, and phenology

2007·3.7 MB·English

by  I Abbott

Journal of the Royal Society of Western Australia, 90: 97-106, 2007
Austromerope poultoni (Insecta, Mecoptera) in south-west Western
Australia: occurrence, modelled geographical
distribution, and phenology
I Abbott, T Burbidge & A Wills
„ Department of Environment and Conservation,
Locked Bag 104, Bentley Delivery Centre,
Bentley 6983 Western Australia
Manuscript received November 2006; accepted May 2007
Abstract
Forest monitoring in the period 2001-2006, using pitfall and light trapping, resulted in the
collection of 27 specimens of the endemic earwig fly Austromerope poultoni. These new locality
records are combined with previously known records with precise locality data, and together with
detailed vegetation maps available for tire Regional Forest Agreement area, were used to model the
potential distribution of the earwig fly in south-west Western Australia forests. This species is likely
to occur widely in south-west forests and woodlands. Information collected from monitoring sites in
Jarrah Eucalyptus marginata forest provides no strong indication that this species shows a preference
for, or aversion to, a particular silvicultural treatment or period since the most recent fire.
Key words: Austromerope poultoni, modelled geographical distribution, phenology, south-west
Western Australia
Introduction Advancement of Science held its annual meeting for the
first time in Australia (Howarth 1922, Gilbert 2001). An
Austromerope poultoni is an insect species (earwig advance party of 70 scientists readied WA in July 1914.
fly) of scientific and conservation interest, being endemic The zoologists present visited Mundaring Weir and the
at the generic level to south-west Western Australia (WA) caves area near and south of Yallingup. One member of
and belonging to the primitive family (Meropeidae), the party, the distinguished Oxford University
which is unrepresented elsewhere in Australia (Riek entomologist Professor (later Sir) Edward Poulton,
1954, Smithers 1987, Smithers 1988). Earwig flies are chanced to collect on July 31 an insect 'under log or stone,
otherwise known only from eastern North America, in bush' between Yallingup and Mammoth and Lake
represented by the extant species Merope tuber Newman, Caves west of Forest Grove. Apparently Poulton did not
and from Siberia by fossils of the mid-Jurassic (Grimaldi appreciate the specimen's significance, as he lodged it in
and Engel 2005). Although first collected accidentally the insect collection in the Oxford University Museum of
nearly 100 years ago, the subsequent collection history of Natural History, Oxford. There it lay for nearly 20 years
A. poultoni is one of serendipity. This, its apparent until another entomologist, Frederick Killington, found
absence from many well-collected sites (Abbott 1995), it, realized its importance, erected a new genus, and
and its distribution as known in 2001 (when the present named it as a new species (Killington 1933).
study commenced), are suggestive of a species that is
The following abridged account of subsequent
rare and declining.
collection history of the species has been updated from
The remarkable charatteristics of A. poultoni include Faithfull et al. (1985). The second specimen of this species
(Fig. 1) the great length of the anal forceps of the male, was collected, also by accident, in 1962 by an American
the strong apical spine on its basal segment, the entomologist, Edward Ross, on a granite outcrop in jarrah
numerous veins of the wings (Byers 1991, Fig. 37.6A), forest at or near Dairy Road, Darlington (the first female).
and the dot-like thickenings on the margins of both pairs
The next collection was made in 1974 by John Penniket
of wings. Its evolutionary significance rests on its
of Curtin University near Manjimup (3 specimens, not
presumed close relationship to the common ancestor of
traceable; collecting method and geocode(s) unknown).
the insect orders Mecoptera and Siphonaptera (fleas)
Several collections were made in 1976: in Jarrah forest in
(Whiting 2002), and more distantly to the common
Plavins forest block near Dwellingup; and in Jarrah forest
ancestor of Diptera (flies), Lepidoptera (moths and
in Quilergup forest block east of Busselton. In 1978 the
butterflies) and Trichoptera (caddis flies) (Grimaldi &
species was collected in Karri forest in Crowea forest
Engel 2005).
block, south of Pemberton and again at Plavins. One
The circumstances of the discovery and subsequent specimen was pitfall-trapped by Jonathon Majer of
collections of this species prior to our study provide Curtin University near Kojonup on 17 October 1976. This
important context for assessing its distribution and specimen could not be located and it cannot be
abundance. In 1914, the British Association for the ascertained at which of the 5 plots sampled it was
collected (J. Majer, pers. comm.; this is indicated by ? in
Fig. 2). The specimens from Plavins, Quilergup and
© Royal Society of Western Australia 2007 Crowea forest blocks were collected by T. Burbidge.
97
Journal of the Royal Society of Western Australia, 90(2), June 2007
[!8Ure.]; cUJS%°ue'i0?(cid:8482)P?oL!ltnr!}i' and middIe Photo: male (showing claspers), and lower photo: female, Boddington Gold
Mme Mt Saddleback 32 58 00 S, 116 27 00"E. [Photos courtesy of Dr Jan Taylor], Body length: 5 mm (6), 7.5-10 mm (2); wing
length 9 mm (8), 10-14 mm (2). v ' v ’ b
98
Abbott et al: Austromerope poultoni in south-west Western Australia
Known distribution of
O Eneabba Austromerope poultoni
Scale 1:2 500 000
0 25 50 75 km
Pre - 1750 forest distribution
(cid:9632)I Karri forest
Jarrah forest
0 Austromerope poultoni
Produced by Information Management Branch
August 2006 IMB 03122311 b -
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Figure 2. Map of south-west Western Australia showing localities from which Austromerope poultoni has so far been recorded. ?
occurrence of specimen in the correct locality (of the 5 localities depicted) cannot be ascertained (see text and Table 1).
99
Journal of the Royal Society of Western Australia, 90(2), June 2007
A few years later further specimens were collected component of this program. An unexpected consequence
during a major pitfall trapping program run by J. Majer was the collection of further specimens of A. poultoni.
for Worsley Alumina (Worsley Alumina Pty Ltd 1985): in
The objectives of this paper are to:
Saddleback forest block, south of Boddington (in
heathland in July and October 1980; in Jarrah woodland 1. Assemble and assess all records of Austromerope
October 1980; in heath and Jarrah forest July 1982; and in poultoni, and collate information about the
Wandoo woodland October 1982) and in Hamilton forest phenology of, and optimal method of capture for,
block, northwest of Collie (in October 1982 in Jarrah the species;
forest). More than 40 specimens had been collected in a
2. Map the occurrence of all specimens;
period of 8 years. Although Poulton's original specimen
came from either Jarrah woodland or Karri forest, 3. Produce a preliminary pictorial model of potential
subsequent collections were from a greater variety of geographical distribution within the forested
habitat types, including Jarrah forest. Karri forest, south-west, based on the vegetation complexes
Wandoo woodland and heath. present in 1750 and mapped for the Regional
Forest Agreement (RFA); and
A significant extension of 240 km to the known
geographical range of A. poultoni was made in August 4. Examine the occurrence of the species in relation
1998, when R.P. McMillan and P. West collected a female to forest basal area, time since the most recent
in a pitfall trap near Eneabba. This specimen is lodged in logging, and time since the most recent fire.
the collection of the Western Australian Museum.
Between 2001 and 2006 the Department of Materials and methods
Conservation and Land Management implemented a
structured monitoring program in Jarrah forest, termed We located and reviewed all literature relating to A.
FORESTCHECK. FORESTCHECK is an integrated poultoni, as already indicated in the historical outline
monitoring system that is intended to provide relevant provided above. We attempted to clarify for each
information to forest managers in south-west WA about specimen the actual place of location (geocode), the
any changes and trends in key elements of forest method of collection, and the number and sex of
biodiversity' associated with forest management activities specimens collected (Table 1). For the specimens collected
(Abbott & Burrows 2004). Its initial focus is logging as part of FORESTCHECK, we also determined stand
activities undertaken since 1995, particularly release of basal area, the type of logging most recently applied, the
existing regeneration by the creation of gaps, and the period since the last logging, and the period since the
last fire (Table 2).
establishment of regeneration by shelterwood (These
terms are defined below). We were involved in the The major logging treatments sampled in the
planning and field sampling of the terrestrial invertebrate FORESTCHECK program are: Gap Release (removal of
Table 1
Collection data for Austromerope poultoni, 1914-1980, and for 1998-2006 (excluding FORESTCHECK, for which see Table 2).
Locality Latitude Longitude Most recent fire before No. collected, sex, and
(o ... S) (O ., E)
collection if known collection method if known
1914-1980
Between Yallingup and Forest Grove
Id, by hand, Jul 1914
Dairy Lodge 31.55.00 116.04.56 1 2, pitfall trap, Sep 1962
Quilergup forest block 33.48.05 115.39.20 Spring 1973 12, pitfall trap; 22, light trap, Jul 1976
Plavins forest block 32.47.34 116.11.40 Spring 1973 Id, 22, pitfall trap, Jul 1976; Id, Jul 1978
Mininup, Kojonup 34.06.00 116.49.00 1966/1967? 1, Berlese extractor, Oct 1976*
Narlingup Tank, Kojonup 33.52.00 116.52.00 1966/1967?
Mettabinup, Kojonup 34.00.00 116.49.00 1966/1967?
Jowerlup, Kojonup 34.00.00 117.00.00 1966/1967?
Toweriup Creek 34.02.00 117.00.00 Autumn & spring 1977
Crowea forest block 34.32.00 116.02.00 Spring 1975 2, light trap, Nov 1978
Boddington gold mine 32.58.00 116.27.00 2d, 22, photographs
Saddleback PIL H 32.56.21 116.26.65 Spring 1979 Id, pitfall trap, Oct 1980
Saddleback PfL I 32.57.14 116.26.12 Spring 1979 1, pitfall trap, Oct 1982
Hamilton R15Y 33.13.11 116.01.16 Spring 1980*'*’ 45+, pitfall trap, 1982***
Hamilton R16J 33.13.11 116.02.44 Spring 1980** Pitfall trap, 1982
Hamilton R17B 33.13.26 116.02.32 Spring 1980** Pitfall trap, 1982
Hamilton R18J 33.13.09 116.02.48 Spring 1980** Pitfall trap, 1982
1998-2006
RGC Sand mine, Eneabba 29.49.18 115.16.10 12, Aug 1998
London forest block 34.46.40 116.55.34 Spring 2002 12, Dec 2004
It cannot now be established from which of these 5 plots the specimen was collected.
** Prescribed burn over that part of the forest block.
Collected over entire area. It cannot be determined from which plot(s) specimens were collected.
100
Abbott et al: Austromerope poultoni in south-west Western Australia
iis'ootxr ii6*ocrocr nyoow ii8*o<ro<r
Modelled distribution of
Austromerope poultoni
45 60 km
kilometres
Legend
(cid:9632)(cid:9632) " —* RFA boundary
O Specimen of
Austromerope poultoni
Regional Forest Agreement
.00,00.2C JO EcologicaHl 1V6 egetation SysRte94m s
Rs3 Sw3
JW7 W12
Ks8 Mn6
Mp8 Bk7
NM6 NM5
JP6 JW5
JG5 Ia8
Ip3 GW5
Jp4
Produced by Information Management Branch, August 2006
IMB 03122311 c
ti5*o(ro(r 116’oowr 117*00W 118-00W
Figure 3. Map of lower south-west Western Australia showing the modelled distribution of Austromerope poultonibased on the
occurrence of vegetation complexes from which it has been collected.
101
Journal of the Royal Society of Western Australia, 90(2), June 2007
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103
Journal of the Royal Society of Western Australia, 90(2), June 2007
competing overstorey to encourage the development of occurrences near Eneabba and Kojonup indicate that the
existing advance growth); Shelterwood (reduction of species has been able to persist under a low average
competing overstorey but retention of sufficient overstorey annual rainfall (median = 487, 519 mm respectively).
to provide a seed source and other forest values); Coupe Extrapolation from accurately known occurrence at
Buffer (areas left unlogged between adjacent gaps or localities, based on vegetation complexes, indicates that
shelterwood forest); and External Reference (forest nearby the species is likely to occur widely within its known
that has not been recently logged). geographical range (Fig. 3).
Details and photographs of all 48 plots (each of 2 ha), Previous to the FORESTCHECK program, the limited
as well as the data collected twice each year (from spring data available (Table 1) indicated that A. poultoni had
2001 until autumn 2006), are available at URL: http:// been collected 2-10 years after fire (mode = 2 years,
www.nnturcbase.net/contcnt/view/23Sft/482 Invertebrates median = 2.5 years). The FORESTCHECK program was
were sampled in spring and autumn by active, ground- designed to assess the impact of a more intensive logging
based habitat searching, beating and sweeping, pitfall process, which commenced in Jarrah forest in 1989. A.
trapping, and light trapping. As A. poultoni was poultoni was collected on four of the 15 External
captured only by the last two methods, only these will be Reference sites (27%), five of the 14 Gap release sites
briefly described here. Ten pitfall traps (clear plastic (36%), two of the four Coupe Buffer sites (50%), four of
drink cups 85 mm in diameter and inserted into the 12 Shelterwood sites (33%), and on none of the three
permanently located PVC sleeves; each partially filled Selective sites (Table 2). Ten of the 15 External Reference
with 60 ml of ethylene glycol) per grid were left open for sites were oldgrowth (never logged) and on only one of
10 days in November and March 2001-2006. Light traps these plots was A. poultoni collected. The number of
are standard Australian Entomological Supplies 8 Watt specimens collected by treatment was as follows:
bucket UV light traps with a timer mechanism (details as External Reference (14), Gap Release (5), Coupe Buffer
at http://www.entosupplies.com.au/?path=l_2_2_20). (4) and Shelterwood (4). Although the number of
One light trap was operated, at 0.5 m above ground level, specimens captured is small, there is no strong indication
at each grid for three nights from dusk until dawn that the species is showing a preference for, or aversion
during the same months (one night per week, one week to, a particular silvicultural treatment or fire history
apart, and avoiding the full moon). A maximum- (Table 2, Fig. 4).
minimum thermometer was used to measure nocturnal
Our studies at FORESTCHECK sites found that pitfall
temperature. Wind speed was not assessed. Any failure
traps were more effective than light traps as a passive
in a light trap in the first night of trapping resulted in the
means of collecting A. poultoni (22 vs 5 specimens),
trapping being repeated (most light trap failures occur
although light traps ran for only 30% of the nocturnal
within the first night of setup).
trap hours that pitfall traps were open. Specimens were
All specimens are held in the Department of trapped at 15 of the 48 plots sampled and all were
Environment and Conservation terrestrial invertebrate captured in spring. All dated specimens were captured
collection at its Manjimup Research Centre. between July and December (Tables 1, 2). There was an
Representative specimens will be lodged at the excess of females captured (67%).
conclusion of the FORESTCHECK program with the WA
Museum.
Discussion
Six vegetation complex maps produced for the
Regional Forest Agreement area were used to model the The history of collections documented in the
potential distribution of A. poultoni in the RFA area introductory section is instructive in that it shows that
(Commonwealth and Western Australian Regional Forest primitive invertebrate species do not necessarily have
small geographical ranges and narrow habitat
Agreement Steering Committee 1998). This approach was
preferences. A flexible attitude needs to be maintained
previously used successfully by Abbott (2001). These
about their distribution and niche, and it should not be
maps, prepared at a scale of 1: 250 000, are based on
dominant overstorey and understorey species, and presumed that 'primitive' or 'Pangean origin' necessarily
represent the most accurate vegetation mapping of pre- implies that such a species is not sufficiently resilient to
1750 distribution of forest in south-west WA (as 312 withstand ecological changes, or should be restricted to
vegetation complexes). Accurately-determined geocodes relatively undisturbed refugia such as unlogged or
were used to identify the vegetation complex. Each of infrequently burned forests. A. poultoni has been
these complexes was then mapped to demonstrate the collected from a range of vegetation types, a variety of
potential occurrence of the species within the RFA area. disturbance (logging and burning) regimes, and a broad
We could not model the potential distribution of A. range of mean annual rainfall zones (500-1400 mm).
poultoni outside the RFA area because the vegetation Evidently the life history of the species has enabled it to
maps available are based on much broader categories. persist with the annual low rainfall summer period that
is characteristic of a Mediterranean climate.
It is important not to prejudge the rarity of
Results invertebrate species without first having searched for
them thoroughly with appropriate sampling methods. A.
Collation of all geocoded specimens indicates that poultoni was evidently not further collected for 60 years
Austromerope poultoni has a broad distribution in south¬ after its discovery because it is cryptic and lives in leaf
west WA, from latitude 30 to 35°S, and from longitude litter and possibly incorrect collection methods were used
115 to 117 °E, and is not restricted to the forests and in attempts to find it or it was thought to be too 'rare' to
associated habitats in the lower south-west (Fig. 2). The be found again.
104
Abbott et al\ Austromeropepoultoniin south-west Western Australia
(cid:9633) Without A. poultoni
(cid:9632) With A. poultoni
u> 5
a> if
,(/>
H- 4A
o
k.
JS 3
E
3
2 2
11
4- 4- 4-
5.1-10.0 10.1-15.0 15.1-20.0 20.1-25.0 25.1-30.0 30.1-35.0 35.1-40.0 40.1-45.0 >45.0
Basal area (m2ha'1)
16
14 (cid:9633) Without A. poultoni
(cid:9632) With A. poultoni
* 12
0)
%
10
Q J
-Q
E
D
lx
ii
n n.
n
-f -+-
7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 O.g.
Years since logging
Years since fire
Figure 4. Number of FORESTCHECK sites with or without Austromerope poultoni in relation to stand basal area (m2ha ’), period since
the most recent logging, and period since the most recent fire. O.g. = oldgrowth (unlogged) forest.
105
Journal of the Royal Society of Western Australia, 90(2), June 2007
Collection effort, in terms of amount and distribution, References
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for other species. For example, two or three specimens of
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It is also pertinent to note that increased survey effort
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Commonwealth and Western Australian Regional Forest
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Agreement Steering Committee 1998 Comprehensive
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ineffective. Females predominated in these samples Western Australia. Perth.
(60%). With Austromerope poultoni, females are also Dunford J C, Kovarik P W, Somma L.A & Serrano D 2007 First
more often captured (69%, based on data for 58 sexed State records for Merope tuber (Mecoptera: Meropeidae) in
specimens presented in Table 1; 67%, based on data for Florida and biogeographical implications. Florida
27 sexed specimens presented in Table 2.) Entomologist 90, in press.
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Acknowledgements: We thank Dr Janet Farr for FORESTCHECK
specimen details, Dr T. Houston (Western Australian Museum) for Worsley Alumina Pty Ltd 1985 Flora and Fauna Studies, Phase
providing label details about the specimen held in the WAM collection. Two.
Dr Ed Ross (California Academy of Sciences) for information on the
Zimmerman E C 1993 Australian Weevils Volume III. CSIRO
specimen collected by him. Dr Courtney Smithers (Australian Museum)
Australia, Melbourne.
for help with literature and verification of the specimen collected from
Eneabba, Holly Smith for preparing the maps, Verna Tunsell for
information about FORESTCHECK plots, and Dr Jan Taylor for allowing
us to use his photographs of Austromerope poultoni
106