Zealand Fauna Research Articles

Selecting potential nontarget species for host range testing of <i>Eadya paropsidis</i>

Classical biological control is proposed for Paropsis charybdis (Coleoptera Chrysomelidae Chrysomelinae) a eucalypt pest established in New Zealand The Australian solitary larval endoparasitoid Eadya paropsidis (Hymenoptera Braconidae) is under investigation A potential nontarget species list was compiled for host range testing There are no endemic species of paropsines in the New Zealand fauna only invasive pest beetles The most closely related endemic beetles to the paropsines are Chrysomelinae in the genera Allocharis Aphilon Caccomolpus Chalcolampra and Cyrtonogetus Little is known about these species New Zealand has also introduced 12 beneficial chrysomelid weed biological control agents which include Chrysomelinae and their sister group the Galerucinae One endemic beetle six beneficial beetles and two pest beetles are listed as the highest priority species for host specificity testing

Revision of the genus Hyperomma Fauvel, 1878--part 1: New Zealand (Coleoptera: Staphylinidae: Paederinae).

The New Zealand fauna of Hyperomma Fauvel, 1878, a rove beetle genus occurring only in Australia and New Zealand, is revised. Twenty-five Hyperomma species are reported from New Zealand, of which the following 17 new species are described here: Hyperomma montanum Schomann, n. sp., H. longicorne Schomann, n. sp., H. orientale Schomann, n. sp., H. bicoloripes Schomann, n. sp., H. johnnunni Schomann, n. sp., H. geminum Schomann, n. sp., H. geminoides Schomann, n. sp., H. variabile Schomann, n. sp., H. margali Schomann, n. sp., H. helenae Schomann, n. sp., H. julii Schomann, n. sp., H. inversicolor Schomann, n. sp., H. spatulae Schomann, n. sp., H. tridentatum Schomann, n. sp., H. boreale Schomann, n. sp., H. peninsulae Schomann, n. sp., and H. minutum Schomann, n. sp. Of the 10 Hyperomma species previously described from New Zealand by Broun, 8 are re-described, while two species are synonymized as follows: H. mandibulare Broun, 1893 = H. picipenne Broun, 1921, n. syn.; H. lobatum Broun, 1921 = H. discrepans Broun, 1921, n. syn. Lectotypes are designated for H. dispersum Broun, 1893 and H. duplicatum Broun, 1893. The New Zealand Hyperomma species are divided into 7 species groups, and identification keys to the species (one based on the aedeagi, one general) are provided. For each species pictures of the habitus and some details are given, the aedeagus is illustrated, and the known distribution is mapped. Finally, a generic key to the species of Paederinae occurring in New Zealand is provided.

Twelve new Demospongiae (Porifera) from Chilean fjords, with remarks upon sponge-derived biogeographic compartments in the SE Pacific.

This article reports on 12 new species originating from the Chilean fjords region, namely Clathria (Microciona) mytilifila sp. nov., Haliclona (Reniera) caduca sp. nov., Latrunculia (L.) ciruela sp. nov., Latrunculia (L.) copihuensis sp. nov., Latrunculia (L.) verenae sp. nov., Latrunculia (L.) yepayek sp. nov., Myxilla (Burtonanchora) araucana sp. nov., Neopodospongia tupecomareni sp. nov., Oceanapia guaiteca sp. nov., Oceanapia spinisphaera sp. nov., Suberites cranium sp. nov. and Tethya melinka sp. nov. The material studied was collected between 5 and 30 m depth at latitudes comprised between 42º and 50ºS, and is part of a large collection of Chilean sponges gathered by an international team in a series of expeditions. Identification keys are provided for SE Pacific Suberites and Latrunculia, and the known species of Myxilla (Burtonanchora) and Neopodospongia. A trans-Pacific link to the New Zealand fauna was retrieved for the latter genus. Distribution ranges apparent from the materials studied here are judged too preliminary to allow any inference on biotic boundaries in the SE Pacific. A revision of earlier assertions about these biogeographic units and their boundaries concluded that very little support remains other than for existence of a Magellanic fauna. This is in part a consequence of revising the taxonomy of sponge species originally deemed to underpin these areas. Specifically, the former proposal of a Central to Southern Chile biogeographic unit (33-56ºS) has been markedly undone.

Pre-human New Zealand sea lion (Phocarctos hookeri) rookeries on mainland New Zealand

Holocene New Zealand sea lion (Phocarctos hookeri) bones collected from the north of New Zealand's South Island strengthen existing evidence for the former Holocene presence of breeding colonies of P. hookeri on mainland New Zealand. The taxonomic identity of Phocarctos bones is confirmed using both morphology and ancient DNA analysis. Five radiocarbon dates on four adult and one pup bone from Creighton's Cave near Paturau, northwest Nelson, ranged from 1290±30 yr BP to 5430±30 yr BP. Three radiocarbon dates on pup bones spanning 200 14C yr (1550±30 yr BP to 1390±30 yr BP) reveal that a prehistoric breeding rookery was present at Delaware Bay, Nelson, until shortly before the time of human arrival c. AD 1280 (670 yr BP). The Delaware Bay site in particular provides a valuable ‘snapshot’ of coastal New Zealand faunas shortly before human arrival, one that has potential to enhance our understanding of changes in the endemic coastal fauna associated with human colonisation.

Scutellistacaerulea (Fonscolombe, 1832) (Hymenoptera: Pteromalidae), new to New Zealand for the second time!

In 1921, Scutellista caerulea was imported and released in Nelson, New Zealand, for the biological control of pest scale insects. It was thought to have failed to establish, and is therefore currently considered to be absent from the New Zealand fauna. On 17 April 2013, a live specimen was captured in the wild in Auckland.

Assessing the impact of an introduced bee, Anthidium manicatum, on pollinator communities in New Zealand

Introduced pollinator species may exacerbate the problems faced by pollinator communities, so the detection in 2006 of a new solitary bee, Anthidium manicatum, to New Zealand was concerning. We assess whether establishment of this wool-carder bee presents potential risks to native flora and fauna by recording its current distribution, which plant species it visits, which insects co-occur at these plants, and identifying which species this territorial bee attacks. Anthidium manicatum is now widespread in urban New Zealand. More than 80% of the plants visited by A. manicatum were exotic species (predominantly Lamiaceae and Plantaginaceae), although it also visited native species of Veronica (Plantaginaceae) and Lobelia (Campanulaceae). Anthidium manicatum primarily interacted with other introduced bees. Native Lasioglossum bees were seldom attacked and only for short durations. Further research is required, particularly on weeds, but we suggest that A. manicatum does not present a major direct threat to New Zealand's native flora and fauna.

Pselaphinae (Coleoptera: Staphylinidae) of the Three Kings Islands

Thirteen new species and one new genus of Pselaphinae (Coleoptera: Staphylinidae) are described from the Three Kings Islands, as follows: Faronitae (Sagola incisa sp. nov., Sagola triregia sp. nov.); Euplectitae (Scabritiopsis gen. nov. [type species: Scabritiopsis caecus sp. nov.]); Goniaceritae (Eupines chandleri sp. nov., Eupines crosbyi sp. nov., Eupines tronqueti sp. nov., Eupines watti sp. nov., Gastrobothrus buckleyi sp. nov.); Pselaphitae (Hamotulus pectinatus sp. nov., Pselaphogenius butcherae sp. nov., Pselaphogenius carltoni sp. nov., Pselaphogenius hodeberti sp. nov., Pselaphogenius turbotti sp. nov.). The genus Anabaxis (Goniaceritae) is also reported from the islands, though a full appreciation of the Three Kings fauna must await full revision of the entire New Zealand fauna.

Comments on some taxonomic changes affecting marine Bivalvia of the New Zealand region recently introduced in Huber's Compendium of bivalves, with some additional taxonomic changes

The recent Compendium of bivalves by Huber [(2010) Compendium of bivalves. ConchBooks, Hackenheim] introduces a large number of taxonomic and nomenclatural changes across the Bivalvia, worldwide. In this paper, we discuss a number of these changes that pertain to the New Zealand fauna. Although many of Huber's changes are justified, we find that there are a significant number with which we disagree, noting that many of them have been made in poorly understood groups with what seems to us rather weak evidence for the change. We have been guided by the belief that, in such cases, one should opt for taxonomic stability and await stronger data. We also argue that in a number of these difficult groups such data are likely to be molecular. We note also that in reviewing some of these cases, it has been convenient to make a small number of original changes. Recent records of Lima mestayerae Marwick, 1924 are based on mislocalised specimens of Lima nimbifer Iredale, 1924 from eastern Australia. Specimens from the New Zealand region identified as Pteria avicula [sic] (Holten, 1802) are Pteria levitata (Iredale, 1939). We suggest also that Semele brambleyae Powell, 1967 is adventive, probably the Asian Semele vestalis (A. Adams in Reeve, 1853).

A preliminary molecular analysis of phylogenetic and biogeographic relationships of New Zealand Thomisidae (Araneae) using a multi-locus approach

We tested competing theories on the origins of the New Zealand fauna using thomisid spiders as a model group. These theories can be broadly described as old and vicariant versus young and recent (dispersal). To test these theories, a phylogenetic analysis was undertaken based on cytochrome c oxidase subunit I (COI) and 28S rRNA sequence data, with smaller datasets (histone H3, nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide (NADH) dehydrogenase subunit 1 and a combined dataset) used to improve resolution of internal branches. The monophyly of New Zealand thomisid subfamilies and of individual taxa were also assessed using these data. Our data supports the separation of New Zealand clades from their Australian counterparts. Evidence of recent dispersal to New Zealand by Australian stephanopines combined with our proposed maximum divergence date of 5.3 mya indicates that the New Zealand thomisids are a younger lineage than previously suspected. Several other gene targets (internal transcribed spacer units 1 and 2, wingless and 18S rRNA) were examined but did not generate sufficient reliable data to contribute to the analysis. Corrected p-distance values for COI indicate that Sidymella angularis, a widely distributed and morphologically variable stephanopine species, is a single taxon. Three undescribed endemic species exhibited molecular and morphological distinctiveness from previously described New Zealand thomisids.

The East Coast of the North Island—zoological collections of the Endeavour voyage

Joseph Banks and his party made the first observations and collections of the New Zealand fauna by Europeans between 9 and 29 October 1769 while at sea and at three sites on the North Island East Coast: Poverty Bay, Anaura Bay and Tolaga Bay. They collected insects, molluscs, fish and birds, many of which were drawn and described on board. Using this material, later authors allowed some species to enter the permanent scientific literature. Parkinson's drawings and Solander's manuscript descriptions are still extant, but the original specimens in many cases have been lost. The collections with respect to the East Coast are discussed, and some brief comment is made on the current state of the fauna, and its environment.

Aneurus sp. from the early Miocene Foulden Maar, New Zealand: the first Southern Hemisphere record of fossil Aradidae (Insecta: Hemiptera: Heteroptera)

The first specimen of fossil Heteroptera (Aradidae, Aneurinae) from New Zealand is figured and described. The ventrally preserved specimen from early Miocene lake sediments at Foulden Maar, Otago is assigned to Aneurus, a flat-bug genus that is represented by six species in the modern New Zealand fauna. Aneurus sp. from Foulden Maar represents the first Southern Hemisphere fossil record of the family Aradidae. Its occurrence at Foulden Maar indicates that the genus has been present in the Australasian region at least since the early Miocene and supports previous suggestions of a long evolutionary history of New Zealand aradids closely linked to rainforest habitats.

Terrestrial Turtle Fossils from New Zealand Refloat Moa's Ark

Two fossils from the diverse St Bathans Fauna from Early Miocene sediments in New Zealand are described and identified as from a large, probably terrestrial turtle. They are the first freshwater or terrestrial turtles to have been reported from the Cenozoic of New Zealand. Recent authors have used the absence of turtles and species they considered unlikely to raft to New Zealand to debunk the long held theory that an element of the New Zealand fauna was ancient and vicariant and had evolved on what David Bellamy called Moa's Ark. The discovery that large non-marine turtles were once present in New Zealand adds to a growing and diverse list of terrestrial taxa known from Zealandia shortly after its maximum inundation in the Late Oligocene. Many of these taxa, including a diverse herpetofaunal component, represent lineages endemic to New Zealand and had poor dispersal capabilities, supporting the long held view that a part of the Zealandian fauna was vicariant in origin.

A revision of the New Zealand Placostylus land snails using mitochondrial DNA and shell morphometric analyses, with implications for conservation

We have analysed mitochondrial DNA and shell morphometric data from all species and subspecies of Placostylus land snails in New Zealand. These subspecies were originally described on the basis of shell morphology. The genetic data show that each of the three species P. bollonsi, P. hongii and P. ambagiosus are well differentiated and monphyletic for mitochondrial DNA, consistent with their species status. Variation among subspecies within each of the three species was minimal with sharing of haplotypes among subspecies. Morphometric analysis of shell shape characters shows large amounts of environmental plasticity. On the basis of these data we have synonymised all subspecies within each of the three Placostylus species. Consequently, the New Zealand fauna now consists of three Placostylus species, P. ambagiosus, P. hongii and P. bollonsi, and no subspecies. We recommend conservation of multiple populations within each species to ensure preservation of genetic variation.

Zoogeography of the southern New Zealand, Tasmanian and southern African ascidian fauna

We studied the relationships among the ascidian fauna of southern New Zealand, Tasmania, and southern Africa, considering main currents and surface water temperature. We constructed a presence/absence matrix of 494 ascidian species from these regions (which were also divided into provinces) for 28 biogeographical worldwide regions using published records. Biogeographical areas were classified using cluster analysis combined with non‐metric multidimensional scaling ordination. The region classification separated Vema Seamount because of the low number of citations and the high number of ascidian endemism owing to an island effect. The Tasmanian, southern African and southern New Zealand regions formed separate groups. The ascidian fauna was dominated by endemic species in southern New Zealand (43%) and southern Africa (45%), whereas southern Australian species dominated the Tasmanian fauna (41%).

The Don River basin is a new stage of expansion of Potamopyrgus jenkinsi (Smith, 1889) (Gastropoda, Hydrobioidea) in Europe

The role of invasions has been repeatedly discussed and elucidated in Russian and foreign literature [1‐4]. Problems related to invading species are especially acute in water bodies of arid zones, manly closed water bodies, such as the Caspian Sea, the Sea of Azov, and formerly the Aral Sea. The Sea of Azov and its catchment area are among the most vulnerable ecosystems. This is mainly because the sea is relatively (incompletely) isolated (a continental body of water) and has an unstable hydrological and hydrochemical regimen, which allows invaders with a potentially wide capacity for osmoregulation to adapt. This is entirely true for the catchment areas of the above seas (including the Don, Kuban’, Volga, Ural, Kuma, Syr-Darya, and smaller rivers). These rivers serve as a reserve of the Pontocaspian relict fauna, which is very sensitive to all environmental changes, including invasions. The expansion of invading species may be strikingly rapid. One example is the finding of Potamopyrgus jenkinsi in the Don basin in June and July of 2007. Potamopyrgus Stimson, 1865 was first found in Europe in the late 19th century (the species Potamopyrgus jenkinsi (Smith, 1889) described from the Themes mouth). During the 20th century, Potamopyrgus was found in many regions of Europe. The species composition of the genus Potamopyrgus in the area of invasion is still a matter of discussion. It has been hypothesized that all European Potamopyrgus belong to the same New Zealand species P. antipodarum (Gray, 1843), that there are several species in Europe [5], and that two discrete lineages (clones) have invaded Europe in different periods from different local populations of New Zealand [6, 7]. The existence of a number of European species (probably, pure parthenogenetic strains) of Potamopyrgus differing in ecology and salinity preferences that have no analogues in the New Zealand fauna, as well as some paleontological data, allowed Anistratenko [5] to hypothesize that they are autochthonous in Europe. Anistratenko regards ecologically different strains of Potamopyrgus as separate species P. jenkinsi ; P. alexenkoae Anistratenko in Anistratenko et Stadnichenko, 1995; and P. polistchuki Anistratenko, 1991. Molecular genetic studies on Potamopyrgus from some Western European habitats demonstrated the existence of two strains both genetically and morphologically differing from each other [6, 7]. They are assumed to have invaded from isolated habitats on the North Island of New Zealand in different periods of time. Potamopyrgus may also form new pure strains or species in the area of invasion (saltatory speciation, which is possible for clonal invading species) [8].

Protura in native and exotic forests in the North Island of New Zealand

This study provides data on population and community ecology of Protura in native forests and Pinus radiata plantations in New Zealand. Abundance, age structure, sex ratios, biodiversity, and relationship with soil chemistry are discussed. Protura were significantly more abundant in pine plantations in comparison to native forests. Among native forests, Protura were most abundant under Southern beech (Nothofagus solandri). The abundance patterns may reflect the association between Protura and fungal communities in the soil. No correlation was found between soil organic matter, nitrogen, phosphorous, pH, cation exchange capacity, and the density of Protura. Protura assemblage composition was significantly related to forest type. New Zealand endemic species were associated with native forests; species with distribution outside New Zealand dominated in pine plantations. The distribution records within New Zealand were expanded for five species. The Protura fauna of New Zealand was increased to 18 species. Berberentulus capensis, Eosentomon australicum and Australentulus tillyardi are new records for New Zealand fauna.

FORAMINIFERAL EVIDENCE OF HOLOCENE SUBSIDENCE AND FAULT DISPLACEMENTS, COASTAL SOUTH OTAGO, NEW ZEALAND

Foraminiferal assemblages preserved in estuarine sedimentary sequences along the coast of South Otago, New Zealand, provide evidence for three Holocene fault-displacements and associated earthquakes within the 250 km-wide continental collision zone along the Australian-Pacific plate boundary. The modern analogue technique was used to estimate paleotidal elevations of the fossil foraminiferal faunas, based on an analogue set of 334 modern New Zealand faunas (including data from three new intertidal transects taken from the studied estuaries). These elevation estimates provide a record of abrupt changes in tidal elevation, which are inferred to have been produced by vertical displacements on nearby faults. The foraminiferal record in cores (0.75–2.8 m long) from Akatore Estuary identify the previously recognized last rupture (,1100 cal yrs BP) on the Akatore Fault, with ,0.4 m of subsidence on the western side produced by actual downthrow or shaking-related compaction of underlying sediment. The foraminiferal record in cores (1.4– 7.0 m long) and in an uplifted terrace section from tidal Catlins Lake provides the first evidence of Holocene fault rupture and major earthquake risk south of the Clutha River mouth. Three displacement events on the Settlement Fault, which forms the eastern margin of Catlins Lake, are recognized. The youngest (,1000 cal yrs BP) resulted in 0.4 m of subsidence (downthrow or compaction) on its west side. The penultimate (,3600 cal yrs BP) resulted in ,1.2 m of uplift of an extensive terrace on the east side of the fault with consequent narrowing of the estuarine entrance and reduced salinity in the tidal lake (recorded by foraminiferal faunas). The earliest event (,5000–4500 cal yrs BP) is recognized by ,1 m of abrupt subsidence on the west (Catlins Lake) side of the fault. Foraminiferal faunas in the upper parts of the majority of cores (from high tidal salt meadows) also document ,0.3 m of sea-level rise within the last 150 years.

A new model Gondwanan taxon: systematics and biogeography of the harvestman family Pettalidae (Arachnida, Opiliones, Cyphophthalmi), with a taxonomic revision of genera from Australia and New Zealand.

The phylogeny of the temperate Gondwanan harvestman family Pettalidae is investigated by means of a new morphological matrix of 45 characters, and DNA sequence data from five markers, including two nuclear ribosomal genes (18S rRNA and 28S rRNA), one nuclear protein coding gene (histone H3), and two mitochondrial genes-one protein coding (cytochrome c oxidase subunit I) and one ribosomal (16S rRNA). Phylogenetic analyses using an array of homology schemes (dynamic and static), criteria (parsimony and maximum likelihood), and sampling strategies (optimal trees versus Bayesian phylogenetics) all agree on the monophyly of Pettalidae as well as several of its subclades, each of which is restricted to a modern landmass. While most genera as traditionally defined are monophyletic, Rakaia and Neopurcellia, distributed across Queensland (Australia) and New Zealand, are not. Instead, the species from Queensland, previously described under three genera, constitute a well-supported clade, suggesting that in this case biogeography prevails over traditional taxonomy. A taxonomic emendation of the genera from Queensland and New Zealand is presented, and the new genus Aoraki is erected to include the species of the New Zealand denticulata group. A biogeographical hypothesis of the relationships of the former temperate Gondwana landmasses (with the exception of Madagascar) is presented, although ambiguity in the deep nodes of the pettalid tree renders such inference provisional. The data suggest that neither the South African fauna, the New Zealand fauna nor the Australian fauna is monophyletic but instead monophyly is found at smaller geographic scales (e.g., Western Australia, Queensland, NE South Africa).

Taxonomic affinities of three stalked colonial species of the Ascidiacea (Tunicata) from the central coast of New South Wales and indications of a trans‐Tasman connection

Three colonial aplousobranch ascidian species from the central coast of New South Wales were originally described from one of the earliest significant regional collections of Australian ascidians (Herdman, 1899). They have a similar habit, their colonies being long, oval to cylindrical gelatinous heads on relatively short, thick, fleshy stalks and they all respond in the same way to the multidirectional currents to which they are subjected in the habitats they occupy. Nevertheless, they are not closely related phylogenetically. One is the monotypic Euclavella claviformis (Herdman, 1899), known only from the central eastern Australian coast and the North Island (New Zealand). The second species is the indigenous Hypsistozoa distomoides (Herdman, 1899), known from the Great Australian Bight and the central eastern coast of Australia but related closely to the only other species known in this genus, its type species H. fasmeriana (Michaelsen, 1924), known only from New Zealand. The third species discussed, Sigillina cyanea (Herdman, 1899), an indigenous Australian species known from a wide range around the Australian continent, has no closely related species in the indigenous New Zealand fauna although a similar and partly sympatric species Sigillina australis (Savigny, 1816) does occur in New Zealand. A close relationship of Sigillina to the Pseudodistomidae (rather than the Holozoidae) is apparent. Larvae of H. distomoides are found to have characters formerly known only in larvae of the type species (see Brewin 1956, 1959).

A new genus and species of felt scale (Hemiptera: Coccoidea: Eriococcidae) from epiphyte communities of northern rata (Metrosideros robusta Cunn.: Myrtaceae) canopy in New Zealand

The adult female, 2nd-instar female and 1st-instar nymph of a new genus and species of felt scale insect Affeldococcus kathrinae (Eriococcidae) are described from epiphyte mats in the high canopy of northern rata trees. The material was collected from two study sites on the west side of the South Island, New Zealand: Bullock Creek, Punakaiki, and at the start of the Heaphy Track near Karamea. This new species is unlike any others in the New Zealand fauna and apparently shares convergent features with the cactus-feeding Dactylopius species (Dactylopiidae), and possibly some relationship with the Australian genus Phacelococcus Miller. An additional couplet is provided to include this new genus in the key to genera of Eriococcidae present in New Zealand.