Hypogastura viatica
System : Terrestrial
Kingdom
Phylum
Class
Order
Family
Animalia
Arthropoda
Insecta
Collembola
Hypogastura
- General
- Distribution
- Impact
- Management
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- Contact
Common name
Synonym
Similar species
Summary
Hypogastura viatica and H. purpurescens are both cosmopolitan invasive species and have been recognised on various sub-Antarctic islands where they have been reported to have displaced resident species from some habitats. H. viatica has been introduced to the Antarctic Peninsula and to a number of other sub-Antarctic Islands. Its presence on South Georgia and its dominance in some habitats highlight the importance of strict quarantine measures to avoid the introduction of further alien invertebrates.
Species Description
Black body, three clavate tenent hairs on all legs, all positioned in apical whorl of setae (Convey et al. 1999).
Habitat Description
Substrate type: Dry and wet vegetation, wallow algae. Abundant (near monoculture) under supralittoral debris and wallow algae, rare away from coast.
Pathway
Hypogastrura spp. could be carried to Heard Island in fresh vegetables, in particular on unwashed potatoes or mushrooms (especially fresh wild collected species). They may be present in soil on equipment, vehicles or clothing (particularly boots) or from under containers and pallets (Greenslade 2002).
Principal source:
Compiler: IUCN SSC Invasive Species Specialist Group (ISSG) with support from the EU-funded South Atlantic Invasive Species project, coordinated by the Royal Society for the Protection of Birds (RSPB)
Review:
Publication date: 2009-04-27
Recommended citation: Global Invasive Species Database (2024) Species profile: Hypogastura viatica. Downloaded from http://www.iucngisd.org/gisd/species.php?sc=1457 on 27-04-2024.
General Impacts
Hypogastura viatica has already been introduced to the Antarctic Peninsula and to a number of other sub-Antarctic Islands where it often dominates upper marine littoral habitats. It is likely H. purpurescens will have a similar affect on native ecosystems and food-webs. As detrivores, Collembola (commonly known as springtails) may have a significant impact on decomposition processes (Greenslade 2002).
According to a Collembola species pest risk assessment for Heard Island (Greenslade 2002) the highest ranked pest species include members of the family Hypogastruridae, which are already recorded from South Georgia and the Antarctic Peninsula. Appropriate management strategies are proposed to reduce the risk of the high priority species being introduced to Heard Island.\n
Current records indicate that about twenty Collembola species have been already introduced to other subantarctic islands. Criteria in the pest assessment were partially selected from those currently used for pest risk and weed assessment in import risk analyses (Pheloung 2001, in Greenslade 2002). The five scored criteria were:ndistribution; life history; habitat; ecosystem synchrony; and dispersal ability. They relate respectively to: proximity potential; population potential; establishment potential; persistence potential; and spread. Scores given for H. purpurescens were 4, 3, 3, 1, 3, respectively with a total score of 14 and ranked third highest out of 20 candidate taxa scored. H. purpurescens is not currently present on Heard Island and strict quarantine principles are thought to be necessary to be adhered to in order to keep the species, and related species, off the island.
