Fine scale variation in microarthropod communities inhabiting the keystone species Azorella selago on Marion Island

Hugo, Elizabeth A.; McGeoch, Mélodie A.; Marshall, David J.; Chown, Steven Loudon

doi:10.1007/s00300-004-0614-4

Cited by 41 publications

(68 citation statements)

References 45 publications

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“…non-uniform distribution of invertebrates within, and of Agrostis magellanica on, Azorella selago cushion plants; Hugo et al 2004;le Roux 2004; see also Ashton and Gill 1965;Lynch and Kirkpatrick 1995). For example, increases in wind speed may restrict wind-sensitive species (e.g.…”

Section: Changes In Wind Speedmentioning

confidence: 97%

Changes in climate extremes, variability and signature on sub-Antarctic Marion Island

2007

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The ecological consequences of climate change are determined by many climate parameters, not just by the commonly investigated changes in mean temperature and rainfall. More comprehensive studies, including analyses of climate variability, extremes and aggregate changes in the climate system, can improve the understanding of the nature, and therefore possible consequences, of recent changes in climate. Here climate trends on the sub-Antarctic Marion Island are documented (between 1949 and 2003) in more detail than previously. Significant trends in biologically-relevant, and previously unexplored, parameters were observed, and the potential ecological consequences of these changes discussed. For example, the decline in precipitation experienced on the island comprises a trend for longer dry spells punctuated by fewer and smaller precipitation events. This more detailed understanding of the island's drying trends enables more accurate predictions about its impacts, including, for example, particularly severe effects on plant species growing in soils with poor water-holding capacity. Therefore, in addition to changes in average conditions, more inclusive climate analyses should also examine trends in climatic variability and extremes, for individual climate parameters as well as for the climate system as a whole.

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Section: Changes In Wind Speedmentioning

confidence: 97%

Changes in climate extremes, variability and signature on sub-Antarctic Marion Island

2007

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“…Extracted invertebrates were classified into the higher taxonomic groups of Acari (Oribatida, Mesostigmata, Prostigmata), Collembola, Diptera (larvae of Nematocera), Coleoptera (Curculionidae) and Aranaea (Linyphiidae). Recognising the well-known patchiness of soil faunal distribution in polar terrestrial habitats (Usher and Booth, 1984;Coulson et al, 2003;Hugo et al, 2004, Caruso et al, 2013Seniczac et al, in press), and the enforced limited sample size available for analysis, we did not attempt to either describe or identify differences in community composition at the species level. Endalen location from which the soil cores were obtained is also a site of long-term soil microclimate monitoring by UNIS.…”

Section: Sample Treatmentmentioning

confidence: 99%

Survival of rapidly fluctuating natural low winter temperatures by High Arctic soil invertebrates

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Abbandonato

Bergan

et al. 2015

Journal of Thermal Biology

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The extreme polar environment creates challenges for the resident invertebrate communities and the stress tolerance of some of these animals has been examined over many years. However, although it is well appreciated that standard air temperature records often fail to describe accurately conditions experienced at microhabitat level, few studies have explicitly set out to link field conditions experienced by natural multispecies communities with the more detailed laboratory ecophysiological studies of a small number of 'representative' species. This is particularly the case during winter, when snow cover may insulate terrestrial habitats from 3 extreme air temperature fluctuations. Further, climate projections suggest large changes in precipitation will occur in the polar regions, with the greatest changes expected during the winter period and, hence, implications for the insulation of overwintering microhabitats. To assess survival of natural High Arctic soil invertebrate communities contained in soil and vegetation cores to natural winter temperature variations, the overwintering temperatures they experienced were manipulated by deploying cores in locations with varying snow accumulation: No Snow, Shallow Snow (30cm) and Deep Snow (120cm). Air temperatures during the winter period fluctuated frequently between +3 and -24°C, and the No Snow soil temperatures reflected this variation closely, with the extreme minimum being slightly lower. Under 30cm of snow, soil temperatures varied less and did not decrease below -12°C. Those under deep snow were even more stable and did not decline below -2°C. Despite these striking differences in winter thermal regimes, there were no clear differences in survival of the invertebrate fauna between treatments, including oribatid, prostigmatid and mesostigmatid mites, Araneae, Collembola, Nematocera larvae or Coleoptera. This indicates widespread tolerance, previously undocumented for the Araneae, Nematocera or Coleoptera, of both direct exposure to at least -24°C and the rapid and large temperature fluctuations. These results suggest that the studied polar soil invertebrate community may be robust to at least one important predicted consequence of projected climate change.

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“…By contrast, winds with an easterly component are rare (< 10%) and relatively weak (mean speeds of 3-6 m sec -1 ; Schulze 1971). These winds differ not only in frequency of occurrence and speed, but also in temperature and moisture content, with winds with a northerly component being warmest (coming from the warmer sub-tropical zone) and carrying the most moisture (Schulze 1971;Hugo et al 2004). By contrast, southerly winds comprise cold and dry Antarctic air (Schulze 1971;Smith & Steenkamp 1990).…”

Section: The Hyper-oceanic Climatementioning

confidence: 99%

“…Slope aspect also affects microclimate, with north-facing slopes warming more than south-facing slopes (Huntley 1971). Similarly, the northern aspects of A. selago cushions may be warmer than their southern portions, with wind direction also affecting the microclimate in different sectors of a single cushion (Hugo et al 2004;McGeoch et al 2008). Thus the climate on Marion Island shows considerable spatial variation, across both large and small scales.…”

Section: Spatial Variation In Climate On Marion Islandmentioning

confidence: 99%

Climate and climate change

Roux¹

2008

The Prince Edward Islands: Land-Sea Interactions in a Changing Ecosystem.

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Fine scale variation in microarthropod communities inhabiting the keystone species Azorella selago on Marion Island

Cited by 41 publications

References 45 publications

Changes in climate extremes, variability and signature on sub-Antarctic Marion Island

Changes in climate extremes, variability and signature on sub-Antarctic Marion Island

Survival of rapidly fluctuating natural low winter temperatures by High Arctic soil invertebrates

Climate and climate change

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