It's time for action: the need for national action plans for insects and other invertebrates

Slow science' approaches to understanding the ecology, natural history and demography of species have declined over recent decades, despite the critical importance of these studies to conservation biology. With the progression of the Anthropocene, populations of invertebrates are under increasing pressure across the globe, yet few longterm datasets exist to track potential changes or declines. Here, we present a newly developed 'slow science' study system, to understand the demography, biology and molecular ecology of a potentially threatened species of giant idiopid trapdoor spider from inland eastern Australia. This previously undescribed species in the tribe Euoplini, here newly described as Euoplos grandis Wilson & Rix sp. nov., has a highly fragmented distribution in the southern Brigalow Belt bioregion of south-eastern Queensland, in a landscape largely cleared for cropped agriculture. The conservation significance of Idiopidae has long been recognised, and these spiders remain a flagship group for terrestrial invertebrate conservation in Australia. By studying growth rates, life spans, recruitment, natural history, fitness, gene flow, dispersal and other aspects of population and individual health, we aim gradually to uncover the population dynamics of a discrete natural population. In this paper, we summarise longitudinal data for 69 individual trapdoor spiders following an initial 18 months of study, and highlight preliminary demographic trends, biological observations and avenues for future genetic research. Ultimately, the aim of this study is to provide a baseline dataset for the conservation of Australian Idiopidae, and a guiding case study for similar taxa elsewhere in Australia.

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“…; Hallmann et al . ), is a crisis demanding urgent action (Braby & Williams ; Braby , ; Taylor et al . ).…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Population demography and biology of a new species of giant spiny trapdoor spider (Araneae: Idiopidae: Euoplos) from inland Queensland: developing a ‘slow science’ study system to address a conservation crisis

et al. 2018

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“…Despite their importance, invertebrates are often overlooked in faunal surveys for informing conservation planning, owing in a large part to their extreme taxonomic and biological diversity that makes comprehensive surveys impracticable (New 1999, Cardoso et al 2011, Braby and Williams 2016, Braby 2017. Land managers often rely on the notion that areas designed to protect species of greatest conservation priority (i.e., vertebrates or plants) are simultaneously conserving co-occurring species-the umbrella species concept (Noss 1990, Roberge andAngelstam 2004).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Vertebrates are poor umbrellas for invertebrates: cross‐taxon congruence in an Australian tropical savanna

Oberprieler

Andersen

Gillespie³

et al. 2019

Ecosphere

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Invertebrates are commonly ignored in conservation planning due to their vast diversity, difficulties with species identification, a poor understanding of their spatial patterns, and the impracticability of carrying out comprehensive sampling. Conservation planning for fauna is therefore often based on patterns of diversity and distribution of vertebrates, under the assumption that these are representative of animal diversity more generally. Here, we evaluate how well vertebrates act as umbrellas for invertebrate diversity and distribution in a highly diverse tropical savanna landscape, and we investigate the effect of vertebrate sampling intensity (i.e., number of surveys) on congruence results. We assessed congruence between each of the four classes of terrestrial vertebrates (amphibians, reptiles, birds, and mammals) and twelve invertebrate families (representing four dominant invertebrate taxa: ants, beetles, flies, and spiders) by applying a range of modeling approaches to analyze patterns of cross-taxon congruence in species richness and composition across sampling sites. To investigate drivers of congruence, we applied generalized and distance-based linear models to identify environmental associations of richness and composition for each taxon, then examined variation in environmental associations across taxa. Vertebrate and invertebrate richness was weakly (<30%) associated, and~60% of the significant associations were negative. Correlations in species composition between vertebrate and invertebrate taxa were also weak, with a maximum of 13% congruence. In most cases, pairwise correlation scores using data from single surveys of vertebrates were only marginally lower than those from multiple surveys. Poor among-site congruence between vertebrates and invertebrates was reflected by marked variation among taxa in their environmental associations. Our findings show that vertebrates are poor umbrellas for invertebrates in the tropical savannas of northern Australia in terms of geographic patterns of diversity and distribution and that this is not just an artifact of low vertebrate sampling intensity. Our study is one of the most comprehensive regional analyses of the congruence of vertebrate and invertebrate diversity, and it significantly adds to the growing evidence that empirical data on invertebrate diversity and distribution are required for conservation planning that effectively protects all faunal diversity.

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“…Many species remain undescribed, however, invertebrates rival the proportion of vertebrates evaluated as endangered and critically endangered by the IUCN (International Union for Conservation of Nature; . Despite the abundance and status of invertebrates, global conservation efforts have largely focused on more 'charismatic' vertebrate species such as birds and mammals resulting in largely unknown invertebrate extinction rates and a poor representation in the literature (Thomas et al, 2004;St Clair, 2011;Braby, 2017). New Zealand is one exception having a large number of highly endemic invertebrate species (St Clair, 2011), many of which are threatened, resulting in an increased contribution to invertebrate conservation worldwide, over the past few decades (for example see Bremner et al, 1984;Gibbs & McIntyre, 1997;Brook, 1999;Gibbs, 2002;Fukami et al, 2006;Watts & Thornburrow, 2009;Jones et al, 2013;Ruscoe et al, 2013).…”

Section: 2mentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Despite their abundance, richness, and importance to ecosystems worldwide, invertebrates are largely neglected in conservation and management efforts (Cardoso et al, 2011a). Their lack of charismatic appeal compared to more popular vertebrate species has resulted in little conservation consideration and a poor representation in the literature (St Clair, 2011;Braby, 2017). However, in part due to the large number of endemic species, invertebrate conservation awareness in New Zealand has greatly increased over the past few decades (St Clair, 2011).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Survival, predation, and behaviour of the Mahoenui giant wētā ('Deinacrida mahoenui': Anostostomatidae: Orthoptera)

Stilborn¹

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<p>Introduced mammalian pests, such as rats (Rattus spp.), house mice (Mus musculus), brushtail possums (Trichosurus vulpecula), and European hedgehogs (Erinaceus europaeus), have been implicated in the suppression or extinction of many endemic invertebrate species in New Zealand, including the large-bodied giant wētā (Anostostomatidae: Deinacrida). The Mahoenui giant wētā (MGW; D. mahoenui) is the only lowland giant wētā species still naturally present on the mainland of New Zealand, where the last remaining individuals of the original population are currently restricted to an 187ha mainland reserve (Mahoenui Giant Wētā Scientific Reserve; MGWSR) in Mahoenui, western King Country. Having sought refuge in the introduced woody shrub, gorse (Ulex europaeus), these wētā have survived in the presence of introduced mammalian predators for almost six decades. However, due to natural succession, the reserve is gradually reverting to native bush and wētā monitoring data shows potential signs of population decline. Concerns for the species survival have been raised as it is unknown how wētā will cope in an altered habitat alongside mammalian predators. In chapter 2, we used 14-years’ of site-occupancy monitoring data to explore changes to the reserves’ gorse mosaic and MGW population. We additionally assessed the effect of abiotic covariates on MGW occupancy and detection probabilities in 2005 and 2018. Furthermore, we assessed mammalian pest population dynamics within the reserve over the past seven years. Significant changes to the reserve’s gorse mosaic were identified, whereby unbrowsed, tall bushes, which may provide less protection to wētā, are now dominant in 2018. Population trajectory analysis revealed the MGW population has decline since 2012. This result was consistent with naïve occupancy estimates and the increase in search time (0.3hrs/year) required to find wētā, suggesting the population is in a state of decline. Plot location was identified as an important covariate for predicting MGW occupancy in 2018, whereby plots in edge habitat, potentially being preferred or safer, had a higher occupancy probability. Mammalian pests (rats, house mice, brushtail possums, and European hedgehogs) appear to be present within the reserve year-round, populations peaking in summer and autumn. In chapter 3, we used radiotelemetry to explore MGW survival rates, movement patterns, and diurnal refuge use in gorse and native vegetation during summer (n=14), autumn (n=31), and spring (n=10). Survival rates, in relation to predation, revealed MGW inhabiting native vegetation were nine times more likely to be predated than those inhabiting gorse. This result suggests native species such as mahoe (Melicytus ramiflorus), and tree ferns (Dicksonia fibrosa and Cyathea spp.) do not provide good protection to MGW from mammalian predators. Assessment of movement behaviour revealed MGW move less in autumn (~3m/48hrs) compared to summer (~10m/48hrs) and spring (~8m/48hrs), and most commonly follow a movement pattern consistent with random-walk. Movement behaviour was also found to be temperature dependant, with both male and female MGW moving significantly further in warmer weather (>13.5°C). Radiotracked MGW were found to take refuge above 2.5m in the canopy of native vegetation, whereas in gorse habitat, wētā were most commonly found taking refuge between 0.62 – 2.38m in the denser foliage of unbrowsed gorse bushes. Furthermore, no radiotracked wētā were observed with another individual in autumn, compared to eight and 26 observations in summer and spring. In chapter 4, we attempted to identify potential mammalian predators of the MGW by analysing the stomach contents of ship rats (R. rattus; n=10), house mice (n=10), brushtail possums (n=5), and feral cats (Felis catus; n=2). Ship rats were identified as likely predators of MGW within the MGWSR. However, due to the limited number of stomachs and species analysed, further analysis is recommended. Collectively, these results provide an overview of the MGW reserve and population status, in addition to important ecological information that can be used to inform future management, monitoring, and translocation.</p>

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It's time for action: the need for national action plans for insects and other invertebrates

Cited by 6 publications

References 33 publications

Population demography and biology of a new species of giant spiny trapdoor spider (Araneae: Idiopidae: Euoplos) from inland Queensland: developing a ‘slow science’ study system to address a conservation crisis

Population demography and biology of a new species of giant spiny trapdoor spider (Araneae: Idiopidae: Euoplos) from inland Queensland: developing a ‘slow science’ study system to address a conservation crisis

Vertebrates are poor umbrellas for invertebrates: cross‐taxon congruence in an Australian tropical savanna

Survival, predation, and behaviour of the Mahoenui giant wētā ('Deinacrida mahoenui': Anostostomatidae: Orthoptera)

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