Pine plantations and native millipedes (Diplopoda:Polydesmida: Paradoxosomatidae) in south‐eastern New South Wales, Australia

Abstract

The native keeled millipedes of the family Paradoxosomatidae are widespread in New South Wales, Australia. Yet, as short-range endemic species, their distributions may be adversely affected by changes in land use such as the replacement of native vegetation with pine plantations. This study compared paradoxosomatid assemblages in pine plantations with those in nearby native forests. Preliminary observations on the effect of leaf litter disturbance on these millipedes were also undertaken. It appears that paradoxosomatids thrive equally well in both vegetation types under certain conditions, in terms of abundance and species richness, but any disturbance to their immediate leaf litter habitat seems to have a detrimental effect on populations.

Revision of the Australian millipede genus Pogonosternum Jeekel, 1965, with descriptions of two new species (Diplopoda, Polydesmida, Paradoxosomatidae)

“…nov. was mostly found in forests to 400 m a.s.l., but was also collected at ca 920 m a.s.l. and was found in pine plantations by Car (2010). …”

“…nov. and P. montanum sp. nov. also occur in pine plantations (Car 2010). Pogonosternum species were preferably recorded from moist, but not wet, leaf litter.…”

“…nov. Decker was mostly found in mountain forests from 600 to 1110 m a.s.l. It also occurs in pine plantations (Car 2010 and new collections west of Tumbarumba, New South Wales) and was collected in coastal Central Gippsland near Bruthen (AMS KS.105106), where it is possibly introduced.…”

The millipede genus Antichiropus (Diplopoda: Polydesmida: Paradoxosomatidae), part 2: species of the Great Western Woodlands region of Western Australia

“…Paradoxosomatid species are also vulnerable to disturbances in their habitat, such as land clearing and fragmentation (Car 2010) and are known to have poor dispersal ability (Harvey 2002). The Great Western Woodlands area is relatively undisturbed by human activity, due partly to an historical turn of events, and partly to unreliable and low rainfall, making agriculture diffi cult (Yates et al 2000;Judd et al 2008;Prober et al 2012).…”

Phylogenetic analysis of the Australian trans-Bass Strait millipede genus Pogonosternum (Carl, 1912) (Diplopoda, Polydesmida, Paradoxosomatidae) indicates multiple glacial refugia in southeastern Australia

“…However, Jeekel (1982) and Mesibov and Churchill (2003) have recorded undescribed Pogonosternum species from Tasmania, and Car (2010) listed two undescribed Pogonosternum species from New South Wales.…”