Species In New Caledonia Research Articles

Length–Weight and Body Condition Relationships of the Exploited Sea Cucumber Pearsonothuria graeffei

Fishery stock assessments are often based on morphometric data from underwater diver surveys and landing surveys. Measurements of body length are usually converted to estimates of body weight, yet length–weight equations might differ among localities. We evaluated morphometric models for the sea cucumber, Pearsonothuria graeffei, collected at Lizard Island on the northern Great Barrier Reef, Australia, and explored differences in relative condition factor (Kn) across animal sizes. The estimation of body weight was compared among relationships with four different body size metrics: observed body length, SLW (square root of the body length–width product), recalculated body length (Le) from SLW, and body basal area. The basal area of the animals, the SLW index and Le provided more reliable estimations for body weight than using body length alone yet accounted for half of the variation in body weight. The length–weight relationship from animals at Lizard Island differed considerably from relationships published for the same species in New Caledonia and Philippines. Body condition was variable, and our model predicted a peak at 35 cm body length. Body metrics such as basal area, SLW index, and Le could offer more precise models for estimating the body weight of sea cucumbers for fishery purposes. Equations for estimating body weight from length and width of the sea cucumbers should be based on locality-specific data because morphometric relationships are spatially variable.

Does leaf morphoanatomy corroborate systematics and biogeographic events in the Paleotropical genus Acridocarpus (Malpighiaceae)?

The Paleotropical genus Acridocarpus stands out among the lineages recovered in the most recent phylogeny of the Malpighiaceae. Its 30 species occur disjunctively in Africa and only one species in New Caledonia, exhibiting a coincidence between the period of dispersion/diversification with the increase of arid areas in Africa. This study aims to investigate whether the anatomical leaf of the Acridocarpus can support the hypothesis of diversification of the genus in response to environmental, besides the contribution to systematic approaches. Leaves from 21 species were submitted to the usual methodologies for analysis under light microscope. Coded anatomical characters were also mapped in the phylogenetic tree of Acridorcarpus. Ericoid leaves, compact mesophyll, adaxial epidermis with elongated cells, epidermal cells with thick outer periclinal walls, were found in most species. These xeromorphic features would be correlated to the arid environments where the species occurs. The presence, distribution, and position of nectaries on the leaf, the contour of both petiole and midrib, the conformation of both petiole and midrib vascular system, the presence of sheath extending laterally between the palisade and spongy parenchyma, the presence and location of druse crystal in the petiole and mesophyll, the presence of stomatal ridges and distribution of stomata on the blade were recognized as useful characters for the taxonomy that contribute to the interspecific distinction. The lateral extension of the bundle sheath in the mesophyll was interpreted as a synapomorphy for the genus and amphistomatic leaves were considered an autapomorphy in A. spectibilis. These findings allowed the construction of an identification key and may contribute to new evolutionary interpretations in Malpighiaceae.

The climbing flora of New Caledonia: a comprehensive checklist

ABSTRACT New Caledonia, an archipelago located in the southwest Pacific Ocean, hosts a rich and highly original vascular flora, distributed within a remarkable mosaic of habitats. Despite intensive research on the flora, the diversity and ecology of the climbing flora within the archipelago remain virtually unknown. More globally, while most liana studies have been carried out in continental forests, data from island ecosystems remain scarce. This study aims to document the taxonomic diversity, and to analyze the ecology and functional traits of angiosperms climbers in New Caledonia. Using herbarium data, exhaustive bibliographic review and field studies, we provide a checklist of 274 autochthonous climbing taxa, distributed in 45 families. The majority of climbing plant species in New Caledonia are woody, herbaceous vine being infrequent. Climbing plants account for ~ 8% of the native flora (angiosperms), a rather small contribution compared with continental tropical floras. There is, however, a great heterogeneity in the distribution of climbing plants within the different vegetation, as they represent up to 19% of species in the sclerophyll forests, and only ~ 8 and 6.5% in respectively shrublands (maquis) and rain forests, which are the most original ecosystems in New Caledonia. The endemicity is relatively low (64%) compared to the global flora (75% of endemism). Three endemic genera are exclusively climbers (Artia, Balgoya and Clematepistephium). The diversity of climbing plants is concentrated within few families: ~29% belonging to Apocynaceae and more than half of the species are included in just four families.

Spatial Ecology of the Population of Reef Manta Rays, Mobula alfredi (Krefft, 1868), in New Caledonia Using Satellite Telemetry 1–Horizontal Behaviour

The reef manta ray, Mobula alfredi (Krefft, 1868), is a highly mobile and plankton-feeding species, classified vulnerable to extinction on the IUCN Red List for Threatened Species. Knowledge on their spatial ecology and the extent of their dispersal remain incomplete, especially within island-fragmented habitats as found in New Caledonia. Satellite telemetry was used to investigate the horizontal movement ecology of reef manta rays in New Caledonia. A total of 21 reef manta rays were tagged with pop-up satellite archival transmitting tags (21 Fastloc and 2 MiniPAT) that remained deployed for a duration ranging from 3 to 180 days (mean ± SE = 76.7 ± 50.3). Rays presented a strong site fidelity and an important affinity for coastal waters. Long-distance migrations (>300 km) were also observed, mainly through coastal and shallow water paths. Horizontal movements were compared to a home range area and classified into four distinct patterns: Fidelity, Excursion, Fidelity + Relocation and Relocation. The most dominant pattern was Fidelity, where manta rays remained within their home range for the whole duration of the tag deployment. Our findings may assist in the design of more appropriate management strategies for the species in New Caledonia and other regions worldwide.

On Caledromusrobinsmithi, a new genus and species of Psychrodromini Martens, 2001 (Crustacea, Ostracoda, Herpetocypridinae) from New Caledonia (Pacific Ocean).

The New Caledonian Archipelago is a hot spot for biodiversity and endemism. Whereas popular groups such as birds and plants are well-studied, invertebrate groups such as ostracods remain ill-known. Here, Caledromusrobinsmithigen. et sp. nov. is described from a single locality on 'Grande Terre', the main island of the archipelago. The new genus belongs to the Psychrodromini, one of the four tribes in the subfamily Herpetocypridinae (family Cyprididae). Caledromusgen. nov. can be distinguished from all other herpetocypridinids by a combination of the following factors: the absence of marginal septa in both valves, the mildly developed marginal valve structures, the small Rome organ on the A1, the total reduction of the five natatory setae on the A2, the rectangular second palp segment of the Mx1, the broad and asymmetrical palp on the female T1, the absence of additional postlabyrinthal coils in the Hp and the seta Sp of the CR which is a fixed spine. Because of the close similarity to the genus Psychrodromus, the new genus is thought to have Palaearctic affinities, contrary to other ostracod species in New Caledonia, which are either circumtropical or with Australian zoogeographical connections.

Distribution and bioaccumulation of trace metals in urban semi-arid mangrove ecosystems

Mangrove ecosystems are known to act as filters for contaminants between land and sea. In New Caledonia, urbanization has increased along the coastline during the last decades. However, the impact of urbanization on contaminant cycling in mangrove forests has remained unexplored. In this study, we investigated trace metals (TM) dynamics in an urban mangrove soil and their transfer to mangrove tissues for the two dominant mangrove species in New Caledonia: Avicennia marina and Rhizophora stylosa. The results suggest that decades of urban rainwater runoff from an upper neighborhood induced large variations of mangrove soil physico-chemical properties compared to a control mangrove site sharing the same geological watershed. The urban mangrove site had a neutral pH and low salinity in the upper soil, while the control mangrove site presented acidic pH and a salinity ranging from 24 to 62 g L−1. Most TM were significantly less concentrated in the urban mangrove soil varying from 1.3 ± 0.3 μg g−1 at the urban site and 1.9 ± 0.5 μg g−1 at the control site for Cd, to 30 ± 8 mg g−1 and 49 ± 11 mg g−1 for Fe at the urban and control site, respectively. However, higher root bioconcentration factors were measured for As, Cd, Co, Cr, Fe, Mn, Ni, and Pb in the urban mangrove soil (1.7 ± 0.9, 0.14 ± 0.06, 0.23 ± 0.13, 0.042 ± 0.026, 0.088 ± 0.057, 0.47 ± 0.39, 0.21 ± 0.12, and 0.25 ± 0.09, respectively) compared to the control mangrove soil (0.11 ± 0.03, 0.041 ± 0.016, 0.045 ± 0.021, 0.010 ± 0.004, 0.013 ± 0.007, 0.094 ± 0.030, 0.022 ± 0.011, and 0.12 ± 0.03, respectively). The bioavailability of TM in the urban mangrove soil may be favored by suboxic conditions associated to less Cl-TM complexes and pyrite-TM complexes in the soil. Only Cu, Pb, Ti, and Zn, usually associated with urbanization, were more concentrated in the urban mangrove soil with mean concentrations of 27 ± 4, 17 ± 2, 4,571 ± 492, and 62 ± 12 μg g−1 at the urban site, respectively, and 21 ± 4, 10 ± 3, 2,834 ± 541, and 57 ± 12 μg g−1 at the control site, respectively. No significant difference in translocation factors was measured between the two sites, evidencing a regulation of TM translocation to the upper tissues by mangrove trees.

Pollination of Phyllanthus (Phyllanthaceae) by gall midges that use male flower buds as larval brood sites

Leafflowers (Phyllanthus; Phyllanthaceae) are engaged in obligate mutualisms with leafflower moths (Epicephala) that actively pollinate leafflowers and consume the developing seeds as larvae. Among the >1,000 species of leafflowers worldwide, however, the mutualism is considered to be present in only roughly half of the species. Knowledge on pollination biology of the remaining species is critical for understanding the origin of the mutualism, but such information is thus far limited. We studied the pollination biology of two Phyllanthus species in Japan (P. flexuosus and P. liukiuensis) and one species in New Caledonia (P. baladensis); the three species belong to three distantly related subgenera but share a characteristic dark red floral display. A bagging experiment showed that P. flexuosus is self-incompatible and wind hardly plays a role in pollination. In P. flexuosus, gall midges of the genera Clinodiplosis and Macrolabis were the most consistent and abundant flower visitors. They fed on nectar at the spongy floral disc of male flowers and laid eggs in male flower buds, picking up pollen and contacting the styles of nearby female flowers in the process. Infested buds developed into sterile galls, within which midge larvae completed their development. These results indicate that P. flexuosus is pollinated by gall midges that use male flower buds as larval brood sites. Because Macrolabis larvae infested galls at a later stage than did Clinodiplosis, Macrolabis is likely an inquiline in the gall induced by Clinodiplosis. Association with gall midges was also observed in P. liukiuensis and P. baladensis flowers, suggesting that pollination by gall midges likely occurs in at least three subgenera of Phyllanthus, two of which contain species pollinated by specialized leafflower moths.

Original Leptospira spp. in island's native terrestrial mammals: A case study in Pteropus spp. bats of New Caledonia.

Leptospirosis is a bacterial zoonosis that occurs in tropical and subtropical regions worldwide. Chiroptera are known to be a formidable reservoir of zoonotic pathogens, including leptospires. The epidemiology of leptospirosis in bats in the Pacific Islands is poorly known, both in terms of prevalence and in terms of the bacterial strains involved. A strong host specificity between leptospiral strains and their mammalian reservoir is recognized. This phenomenon has notably been studied recently in bat communities, providing strong evidence of co-evolution. In New Caledonia, a biodiversity hotspot where leptospirosis is endemic and enzootic, Chiroptera are the only indigenous terrestrial mammals. In this study, we aimed to investigate leptospires associated with three flying fox species in New Caledonia. Kidneys and urine samples of Pteropus spp. from captures and seizures were analysed. Among 254 flying foxes analysed, 24 harboured pathogenic leptospires corresponding to an observed prevalence of 9.45% with 15.8% on the Main Island and 4.3% on Loyalty Islands. The analysis of the rrs gene, lfb1, and MLST sequences evidenced four distinct clusters of undescribed strains, likely corresponding to undescribed species. All four strains belong to the Group I of pathogenic Leptospira spp., which includes Leptospira interrogans, Leptospira noguchii, and Leptospira kirschneri. We detected pathogenic leptospires in all three Pteropus spp. studied (including two endemic species) with no evidence of host specificity in two co-roosting species. For a better understanding of Leptospira-host co-evolution, notably to genetically characterize and evaluate the virulence of these original bat-associated leptospires, it is essential to improve isolation techniques. Flying foxes are traditionally hunted and eaten in New Caledonia, a massive cause of bat-human interactions. Our results should encourage vigilance during these contacts to limit the spillover risk of these pathogens to humans.

Molecular phylogeny of Atractocarpus (Rubiaceae): taxonomic implications for several New Caledonian Gardenieae species

Background and aims – New Caledonia is a hotspot of biodiversity in the world. Among the most diverse New Caledonian plant families is Rubiaceae, which consist of 30 genera containing 220 species, with a level of endemism of 93%. The tribe Gardenieae is represented by four genera, Gardenia (8 species), Aidia (2 species), Randia (7 species), and Atractocarpus (10 species). As Randia has now been restricted to the Neotropics, the New Caledonian Randia species remain unplaced within the tribe. Atractocarpus is a Pacific genus, easily characterized by long imbricated stipules, a feature also present in the Randia species and in several Gardenia species in New Caledonia. The aims of the present study are to test the monophyly of Atractocarpus and to assess the phylogenetic placement of the Randia and Gardenia species with long imbricated stipules within Gardenieae and specifically their relationships with taxa of the Porterandia group to which Atractocarpus belongs. Material and methods – We investigated 63 species of Pacific Gardenieae, with a focus on the Porterandia group, in a Bayesian phylogenetic reconstruction (cpDNA: trnTF and rpl32, and nrDNA: ITS). Key results – Our study provides a mostly supported consensus tree topology of the Porterandia group. Five Gardenia and seven Randia species fall within a clade that comprises the New Caledonian Atractocarpus species, rendering both Atractocarpus and Gardenia polyphyletic. Conclusion – We enlarge the delimitation of Atractocarpus to include 12 New Caledonian Randia and Gardenia species. New Caledonia is consequently confirmed as the centre of diversity for Atractocarpus with 31 species. According to our study, three genera of Gardenieae occur in the archipelago: Aidia, Gardenia, and Atractocarpus.

A Review of the Genus Macromitrium Brid. (Orthotrichaceae, Bryophyta) in New Caledonia

Macromitrium Brid., one of the richest moss genera in New Caledonia, has not so far been revised. In the vicinity, only New Zealand, Australia and Papua New Guinea have benefited from a comprehensive overview of Macromitrium species. A review of the morphological characters of the types, completed by many fresh specimens collected since 2000, enables to clarify the relationship between the 46 taxa inherited from past and present bryological contributions since 1857 and to define five main morphological patterns among the Macromitrium species in New Caledonia. Taxonomic treatment includes synonymies, typifications, descriptions, ecological and geographical features. Eventually 24 taxa are accepted at specific or infraspecific rank. Among them, 14 are locally endemic, including three varieties.

Environmental Correlates for Seed Desiccation Sensitivity of New Caledonian Plant Species1

Efficient in situ and ex situ conservation strategies are urgently needed in biodiversity hotspots, where high concentrations of endemic plant species are undergoing exceptional loss of habitat. In particular, determining seed desiccation sensitivity is a key prerequisite to design storage methods useful for ex situ programs. In this study, we explored seed desiccation sensitivity and its link with phenological and morphological traits as well as with the environmental variables for 45 New Caledonian plant species. Desiccation sensitivity was quantified through RH50, that is, the relative humidity at which 50% of initial viable seeds died. RH50 was found to be positively associated with the initial seed water content, seed mass, precipitation seasonality, precipitation of the warmest quarter, and presence in rainforest habitats. In contrast, the ability of species to endure desiccation increased in drier habitats such as dry forest. We also found that desiccation sensitivity was consistent at the genus level. These new data provide the basis to establish conservation plans for a large array of plant species in New Caledonia. Moreover, this study may help us to better understand the underlying mechanisms of desiccation sensitivity and to predict desiccation sensitivity of other taxa within the New Caledonian flora on the basis of taxonomy, functional traits and environmental features.

"Liaisons dangereuses": The invasive red-vented bulbul (Pycnonotus cafer), a disperser of exotic plant species in New Caledonia.

The biodiversity hotspot of New Caledonia hosts high levels of endemism (74% of flora) that is threatened increasingly by climate change, habitat reduction, and invasive species. The fruit‐eating red‐vented bulbul (Pycnonotus cafer) is currently invading the main island of the archipelago, and its recent dispersal out of urbanized habitats raises questions about its potential to disperse noxious plant seeds along urban corridors and beyond. Indeed, the red‐vented bulbul is considered a vector of several introduced plant species in its alien range including Miconia calvescens, Lantana camara, and Schinus terebinthifolius. We conducted a quantitative assessment of the bulbul's fruits consumption by analyzing the gut contents of shot birds. We estimated gut passage times for four species of fruit found in gut contents (S. terebinthifolius, Myrtastrum rufopunctatum, Passiflora suberosa, and Ficus prolixa) and tested the effects of bird digestion on seed germination rates for two species. Finally, we monitored the movements of individual VHF radio‐tagged red‐vented bulbuls. All of the consumed fruit species we identified here have red fleshy diaspore, including fruit of the shrub M. rufopunctatum that occurred frequently (9.6%) in bulbul gut samples. Median gut passage times were short (15–41 min), corresponding to short‐distance seed transportation (77–92 m). The effect of gut passage was positive for the germination of the invasive S. terebinthifolius and negative for the endemic M. rufopunctatum, suggesting a potential bias in the contribution to the dispersal toward alien species. This study provides the first integrated assessment of mechanisms involved in the seed dispersal effectiveness of this high‐concern invasive bird species that is expected to face similar plant communities in most of its alien range in tropical islands. More generally, our results enhance knowledge of synergies between non‐native frugivores and plant species dispersal.

New Acanthodrilus species from New Caledonia (Clitellata, Megadrili, Acanthodrilidae)

ABSTRACTA survey to explore the earthworm fauna of New Caledonia was carried out between 14 January 2014 and 2 April 2014. Altogether, 24 earthworm species were recorded, of which eight belong to the native genus Acanthodrilus including four species new to science, Acanthodrilus barrieri, A. doanus, A. millei and A. ouenghianus spp. nov., raising the number of Acanthodrilus species in New Caledonia to 29. The 16 recorded peregrine species are distributed among five families, namely Benhamiidae (5 spp.), Eudrilidae (1 sp.), Megascolecidae (8 spp.), Moniligastridae (1 sp.) and Rhinodrilidae (1 sp.).www.zoobank.org/urn:lsid:zoobank.org:pub:4E0A6295-A2FA-43BB-993D-BB00AFF54406

The genus Potamolithus Pilsbry, 1896 (Gastropoda: Tateidae) on the Somuncurá Plateau, Patagonia, Argentina

ABSTRACTThe genus Potamolithus (Gastropoda: Tateidae) is endemic to South America where it is distributed mainly in the Ribeira, Itajaí-açú and Jacuhy Rivers in southern Brazil and the Uruguay River, part of the Paraná and Río de la Plata drainage systems. An exception to the pattern of distribution is Potamolithus valchetensis Miquel, 1998, which is endemic to the Valcheta Stream, Somuncurá Plateau, Patagonia, Argentina. Here we provide a review of Potamolithus from this plateau based on new samples and review of material deposited in collections. A new species, Potamolithus elenae, is named. The shell, head-foot, penis, pallial organs and radula are described. Differences between the new species and P. valchetensis include details in the shell, radula, body pigmentation and penis. A phylogeny using mitochondrial gene cytochrome c oxidase subunit I is provided which shows that Potamolithus is related to species in New Caledonia (Australasia), suggesting that the Tateidae has a Gondwanan distribution.

Crickets (Insecta, Orthoptera, Grylloidea) from Southern New Caledonia, <br />with descriptions of new taxa

Intensive sampling of cricket communities has been undertaken in southern New Caledonia in selected plots of vegetation, i.e. rain forest, preforest and maquis shrubland. This leads to the discovery of many new taxa, which are described in the present paper, together with closely related species from nearby areas. Descriptions are based on general morphology and characters of genitalia. Calling songs are described for all acoustic taxa but two, and observations about species habitats are given. In total, 35 species belonging to 13 genera are studied, including 21 new species and two new genera. The pattern of assemblages of cricket species in New Caledonia is discussed.

Validation of the name Cyclophyllum memaoyaense, a rare species in New Caledonia

The name Cyclophyllum memaoyaense Mouly is here validated by the citation of the holotype location.

The genus Sciara Meigen (Diptera, Sciaridae) in New Caledonia,with the description of two new species.

The genus Sciara Meigen includes two species in New Caledonia, both newly described: Sciara insulana sp. n. and S. turgidula sp. n. The species are diagnosed and figured.

Novitates neocaledonicae I: An additionnal new species of Planchonella (Sapotaceae) endemic to the Roches de la Ouaième

A new species of Planchonella, endemic to the Roches de la Ouaième in northeastern New Caledonia, is described and illustrated. Planchonella ulfii morphologically resembles P. roseoloba, while molecular data indicate a closer relation to P. minutiflora and P. koumaciensis, with all three species belonging to a clade characterized by ridged fruits. The new species brings the total for the genus to 37 species in New Caledonia, 36 of which are endemic to the archipelago. With a single known population comprising 10 individuals, a preliminary risk of extinction assessment using the IUCN Red List criteria indicates that it is Critically Endangered due to risk of fire faced by the shrubby vegetation found of the summit crest of the Roches de la Ouaième. The level of micro-endemism found at this site is discussed.

Pattern of movements within a home reef in the Chesterfield Islands (Coral Sea) by the endangered Giant Grouper,Epinephelus lanceolatus

This study determined the movements of a Giant Grouper, Epinephelus lanceolatus , in which an acoustic tag was surgically implanted and monitored by an array of six VR2W acoustic receiver units from August 2010 to January 2013 in the remote, uninhabited Chesterfield Islands, Coral Sea (800 km West of New Caledonia). Our data revealed a home reef area (residency rate of 44.9%) with an increased activity revealed by movements at dawn and dusk toward and between two adjacent reef passages, probably for foraging. The fish was absent from its resident reef between October and December 2010 and 2012, corresponding to the time known for spawning aggregations of this species in New Caledonia. A skipped spawning seems to have occurred in 2011. We hope these data will be complemented in the future by locating the spawning site or sites and thus provide adequate conservation measures. The Coral Sea links two World Heritage Sites, the Australian Great Barrier Reefs and the New Caledonian coral reefs. It would be fitting to create a Marine Protected Area for the Chesterfield Islands between these two major conservation areas of the sea.

The genus Ctenosciara Tuomikoski (Diptera, Sciaridae) in New Caledonia, with the description of eight new species

The genus Ctenosciara Tuomikoski, 1960, includes the following species in New Caledonia, all newly described: Cteno-sciara cracens sp. n., C. crinita sp. n., C. depilis sp. n., C. depressa sp. n., C. exilis sp. n., C. inflata sp. n., C. lobigerasp. n. and C. obesa sp. n. Some of the species show for the genus previously unknown characters. A key to the New Caledonian species of Ctenosciara is provided.