The Antarctic is considered to be a pristine environment relative to other regions of the Earth, but it is increasingly vulnerable to invasions by marine, freshwater and terrestrial non‐native species. The Antarctic Peninsula region (APR), which encompasses the Antarctic Peninsula, South Shetland Islands and South Orkney Islands, is by far the most invaded part of the Antarctica continent. The risk of introduction of invasive non‐native species to the APR is likely to increase with predicted increases in the intensity, diversity and distribution of human activities. Parties that are signatories to the Antarctic Treaty have called for regional assessments of non‐native species risk. In response, taxonomic and Antarctic experts undertook a horizon scanning exercise using expert opinion and consensus approaches to identify the species that are likely to present the highest risk to biodiversity and ecosystems within the APR over the next 10 years. One hundred and three species, currently absent in the APR, were identified as relevant for review, with 13 species identified as presenting a high risk of invading the APR. Marine invertebrates dominated the list of highest risk species, with flowering plants and terrestrial invertebrates also represented; however, vertebrate species were thought unlikely to establish in the APR within the 10 year timeframe. We recommend (a) the further development and application of biosecurity measures by all stakeholders active in the APR, including surveillance for species such as those identified during this horizon scanning exercise, and (b) use of this methodology across the other regions of Antarctica. Without the application of appropriate biosecurity measures, rates of introductions and invasions within the APR are likely to increase, resulting in negative consequences for the biodiversity of the whole continent, as introduced species establish and spread further due to climate change and increasing human activity.

The spool-and-line technique has been neglected in the study of the behavioural ecology of mammals. It has advantages over the more widely used method of radio tracking in terms of cost and depth of detail in the data obtained, despite its limitations. A spool and line was used to study habitat use of two species of Rattus on Santa Cruz Island, Galápagos, in areas of sympatry and allopatry. Significantly longer total spool lines were collected from R. rattus than R. norvegicus, and R. rattus also climbed trees significantly more. Significantly longer spool lines were collected from female than male R. rattus, and rats caught in the morning spent significantly more time on the ground than those caught at night. The method of handling and the occasion of capture (first, second, or third) had no significant effect on either the total length of spool line collected or the proportion of time spent on the ground. Arboreality in R. rattus was compared with that in R. norvegicus between areas of sympatry and allopatry, and a significant difference was found between sites in terms of both the total length of spool line collected and the proportion of time spent on the ground. Rattus rattus was least arboreal at site D, an area of allopatry, and most arboreal at site B, where the fewest trees occurred, suggesting that factors other than vegetation structure influence arboreality. The use of spool-and-line devices in the study of behavioural ecology is discussed.

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Catches of Prostephanus truncatus (Horn) and Teretriosoma nigrescens Lewis from 205 pheromone trapping stations in Mexico were compared and related to climate and habitat. Prostephanus truncatus numbers differed between regions and over time with significant interaction between the two. An overall peak in captures occurred between August and November but this was not apparent in Veracruz and Chiapas. Catches of T. nigrescens also differed but effects were less distinct. The peak in P. truncatus catch was related to monthly rainfall and, with a time lag, minimum temperature in the drier, upland regions, but poorly matched in Chiapas and Veracruz. Prostephanus truncatus abundance was predicted from climatic and habitat data during the periods March to 3 July, and 31 July to November. A regression equation derived from temperature, humidity and rainfall, explained 82% of the variance in the P. truncatus catch in the later period. Local habitat made only a small addition to this model. The best correlate of T. nigrescens numbers was the catch of P. truncatus, but it was less abundant relative to P. truncatus as P. truncatus became more numerous and where annual r.h. was above 70%. Predicted abundance of P. truncatus from the regression model is compared with predictions from laboratory studies of reproductive potential under different climatic regimes. While laboratory studies predict high survival in hot, humid areas, the trap data showed higher catches in cooler, more temperate regions. Possible reasons for these differences and implications for the spread of P. truncatus in Africa are discussed.