Ants (Hymenoptera: Formicidae) of Christmas Island (Indian Ocean): identification and distribution

Framenau, Volker W.; Thomas, Melissa L.

doi:10.18195/issn.0312-3162.25(1).2008.045-085

Cited by 10 publications

(9 citation statements)

References 53 publications

Supporting

Mentioning

Contrasting

Order By: Relevance

“…Step 1: For several taxonomic groups, there have been recent comprehensive accounts of species recorded from Christmas Island with these accounts explicitly noting the number and identity of endemic species: these inventories include birds (James and McAllan, 2014), ants (Framenau and Thomas 2008), vascular plants (Claussen 2005), lichens (McCarthy 2018), molluscs (Tan and Low 2014), crabs (Orchard 2012), fish (Hobbs et al 2014b), scale insects (Neumann et al 2013(Neumann et al , 2016, centipedes (Waldock and Lewis 2014) and subterranean fauna (Humphreys 2014). Unless we found compelling evidence to the contrary, or there have been subsequent taxonomic assessments, we used such recent reviews as the basis for recognising endemic species in these groups.…”

Section: Assessing Endemicitymentioning

confidence: 99%

“…A comprehensive recent review, based on intensive and extensive field surveys and a re-appraisal of historic records listed 52 species of ants from the island (Framenau and Thomas 2008). None of these is considered endemic.…”

Section: Order Hymenopteramentioning

confidence: 99%

“…None of these is considered endemic. Most of the ant species reported from the island are introduced (Framenau and Thomas 2008). Christmas Island is the type locality for three ant species -Camponotus melichlorus, Leptogyne harmsi and Pachycondyla christmasi (Kirby 1889;Donisthorpe 1935), but all three species are now known to also occur naturally in other areas (Framenau and Thomas 2008).…”

Section: Order Hymenopteramentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Most of the ant species reported from the island are introduced (Framenau and Thomas 2008). Christmas Island is the type locality for three ant species -Camponotus melichlorus, Leptogyne harmsi and Pachycondyla christmasi (Kirby 1889;Donisthorpe 1935), but all three species are now known to also occur naturally in other areas (Framenau and Thomas 2008). The number of native species is indeterminate, but only two (presumed native, but not endemic) ant species were recorded immediately before and after the island's first settlement (Kirby 1889;Andrews 1900c).…”

Section: Order Hymenopteramentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Chlorodopsis natalensis Ward, 1934 = Liocarpilodes harmsi (Balss, 1934) Donisthorpe, 1935 Indo-Pacific (Framenau and Thomas, 2008) Insecta Hymenoptera Formicidae Pachycondyla christmasi (Donisthorpe, 1935) Indo-Pacific (Framenau and Thomas, 2008) Crinoidea Comatulida Comatulidae Alloeocomatella pectinifer (Clark, 1911) Indo-West Pacific (AFD, ALA)…”

Section: Xanthidaementioning

confidence: 99%

See 4 more Smart Citations

Endemic species of Christmas Island, Indian Ocean

James¹,

Green²,

Humphreys³

et al. 2019

Rec West Aust Mus

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

Many oceanic islands have high levels of endemism, but also high rates of extinction, such that island species constitute a markedly disproportionate share of the world's extinctions. One important foundation for the conservation of biodiversity on islands is an inventory of endemic species. In the absence of a comprehensive inventory, conservation effort often defaults to a focus on the better-known and more conspicuous species (typically mammals and birds). Although this component of island biota often needs such conservation attention, such focus may mean that less conspicuous endemic species (especially invertebrates) are neglected and suffer high rates of loss.

show abstract

Section: Assessing Endemicitymentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Order Hymenopteramentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Order Hymenopteramentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Order Hymenopteramentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Xanthidaementioning

confidence: 99%

See 3 more Smart Citations

Endemic species of Christmas Island, Indian Ocean

James¹,

Green²,

Humphreys³

et al. 2019

Rec West Aust Mus

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

show abstract

Supercolony mosaics: two different invasions by the yellow crazy ant, Anoplolepis gracilipes, on Christmas Island, Indian Ocean

et al. 2009

Self Cite

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

Invasive species are one of the main reasons for the ongoing global loss of biodiversity. Anoplolepis gracilipes is an invasive ant that has recently received significant attention due to its negative effect on the native fauna and flora of Christmas Island, Indian Ocean. This species has contributed to a drastic change in the structure of the Christmas Island rainforest through its negative impact on the island's endemic red land crab, the dominant consumer on the islands forest floor. In this study, we investigate the population structure of A. gracilipes on Christmas Island in order to determine whether multiple introductions occurred on the island and how they correspond to known infestations. We genotyped 578 individuals collected from 50 nests across the Island. We identify two distinct subgroups in the population that represent two different supercolonies. These supercolonies are interspersed across the island, however both nuclear (microsatellites) and mitochondrial markers strongly suggest that there is no gene flow between the two colonies. Significant heterozygote excess within the entire sampling area, with all but one worker examined being heterozygous for all seven microsatellite loci, suggests an unusual reproductive system in these ants. Our results are consistent with recent sociogenetic findings in a population of A. gracilipes in Northern Borneo.

show abstract