Notes on the arthropod fauna of Salas y Gómez island, Chile

Abstract

Background Salas y Gómez is a small, volcanic island largely untouched by humans due to its diminutive size and remoteness. Since the waters surrounding Salas y Gómez were established as Motu Motiro Hiva Marine Park in 2010, marine investigations have been the primary research focus. Secondarily, nesting seabird communities have been censused since 2011. Methods and findings In 2016, terrestrial arthropods were sampled on the island. Two observers sampled two locations for 30 min per site. Fifteen morphospecies were identified including at least one likely undescribed species. Conclusions Our work represents the most comprehensive terrestrial arthropod inventory of Salas y Gómez island to date. We are hopeful the recommendations provided will spur additional research to both characterize the island’s arthropod community, as well as identify species of management concern.

The Peculiar Flora of Motu Motiro Hiva (Salas Y Gómez, Chile) and Its Similarities with Other Small Remote Uninhabited Eastern Pacific Islands

“…In addition, 15 morphospecies of arthropods, including two species of Lepidoptera and two species of Isopoda have been found on Motu Motiro Hiva (Elgueta & Lazo 2013, Hershauer et al 2020. A recently described endemic spider species (Ariadna motumotirohiva Giroti, Cotoras, Lazo & Brescovit, 2020), morphologically close to Ariadna perkinsi Simon, 1900 from Hawaiʻi and to Ariadna lebronneci Berland, 1933 from the Marquesas (Giroti et al 2020), suggests biogeographical connections between the Rapa Nui area and Polynesian islands in the North and South Pacific.…”

“…Motu Motiro Hiva or Salas y Gómez (26°28'S, 105°21'W; Vilina & Gazitua 1999, Friedlander et al 2013) is located in the Pacific Ocean at about 400-415 km east-northeast from the nearest island of Rapa Nui (Isla de Pascua or Easter Island, Chile) (Hershauer et al 2020), 2,500 km west-northwest from Más Afuera (or Alejandro Selkirk) island in the Juan Fernández archipelago, and 3,420 km from the coast of Northern Chile (Harrison & Jehl 1988, Vilina & Gazitua 1999 (Figure 1). It is considered as one of the most isolated small islands in the world (Mueller-Dombois & Fosberg 1998).…”