A Novel Invertebrate Predator on an Oceanic Island: Impacts and Invasion Dynamics of Kontikia andersoni on Macquarie Island
ABSTRACT Sub‐Antarctic islands, characterised by high endemism and invertebrate‐dominated terrestrial ecosystems, hold significant conservation value and are vulnerable to biological invasion. On Macquarie Island, the invasive terrestrial flatworm Kontikia andersoni poses a threat to native biodiver...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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Wiley
2025-07-01
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| Series: | Ecology and Evolution |
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| Online Access: | https://doi.org/10.1002/ece3.71663 |
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| author | Kita M. Williams Samuel Waite Melissa Houghton Jennifer Firn Justine Shaw |
| author_facet | Kita M. Williams Samuel Waite Melissa Houghton Jennifer Firn Justine Shaw |
| author_sort | Kita M. Williams |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | ABSTRACT Sub‐Antarctic islands, characterised by high endemism and invertebrate‐dominated terrestrial ecosystems, hold significant conservation value and are vulnerable to biological invasion. On Macquarie Island, the invasive terrestrial flatworm Kontikia andersoni poses a threat to native biodiversity and ecosystem functioning. To determine the impacts of this invasive predator on native invertebrate communities, we examined species co‐occurrence data and community composition from multiple sites across the island. Our findings indicate that at higher elevations where K. andersoni is present, there are significant reductions in invertebrate richness. Additionally, of the abiotic factors tested, slope and topographically deflected wind speed explained the highest amount of variation in flatworm distribution. Habitat suitability modelling identified areas at risk of invasion, providing targets for future biosecurity surveys. This study enhances our understanding of K. andersoni invasion dynamics and informs conservation efforts on Macquarie Island. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-ef5947bfb34e4fd7be69dda3ef370640 |
| institution | Kabale University |
| issn | 2045-7758 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-07-01 |
| publisher | Wiley |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Ecology and Evolution |
| spelling | doaj-art-ef5947bfb34e4fd7be69dda3ef3706402025-08-20T03:35:01ZengWileyEcology and Evolution2045-77582025-07-01157n/an/a10.1002/ece3.71663A Novel Invertebrate Predator on an Oceanic Island: Impacts and Invasion Dynamics of Kontikia andersoni on Macquarie IslandKita M. Williams0Samuel Waite1Melissa Houghton2Jennifer Firn3Justine Shaw4Queensland University of Technology (QUT) Brisbane Queensland AustraliaQueensland University of Technology (QUT) Brisbane Queensland AustraliaNatural Resources and Environment Tasmania New Town Tasmania AustraliaQueensland University of Technology (QUT) Brisbane Queensland AustraliaQueensland University of Technology (QUT) Brisbane Queensland AustraliaABSTRACT Sub‐Antarctic islands, characterised by high endemism and invertebrate‐dominated terrestrial ecosystems, hold significant conservation value and are vulnerable to biological invasion. On Macquarie Island, the invasive terrestrial flatworm Kontikia andersoni poses a threat to native biodiversity and ecosystem functioning. To determine the impacts of this invasive predator on native invertebrate communities, we examined species co‐occurrence data and community composition from multiple sites across the island. Our findings indicate that at higher elevations where K. andersoni is present, there are significant reductions in invertebrate richness. Additionally, of the abiotic factors tested, slope and topographically deflected wind speed explained the highest amount of variation in flatworm distribution. Habitat suitability modelling identified areas at risk of invasion, providing targets for future biosecurity surveys. This study enhances our understanding of K. andersoni invasion dynamics and informs conservation efforts on Macquarie Island.https://doi.org/10.1002/ece3.71663biosecurityecosystem impactinvertebratesland planarianPlatyhelminthesprey preference |
| spellingShingle | Kita M. Williams Samuel Waite Melissa Houghton Jennifer Firn Justine Shaw A Novel Invertebrate Predator on an Oceanic Island: Impacts and Invasion Dynamics of Kontikia andersoni on Macquarie Island Ecology and Evolution biosecurity ecosystem impact invertebrates land planarian Platyhelminthes prey preference |
| title | A Novel Invertebrate Predator on an Oceanic Island: Impacts and Invasion Dynamics of Kontikia andersoni on Macquarie Island |
| title_full | A Novel Invertebrate Predator on an Oceanic Island: Impacts and Invasion Dynamics of Kontikia andersoni on Macquarie Island |
| title_fullStr | A Novel Invertebrate Predator on an Oceanic Island: Impacts and Invasion Dynamics of Kontikia andersoni on Macquarie Island |
| title_full_unstemmed | A Novel Invertebrate Predator on an Oceanic Island: Impacts and Invasion Dynamics of Kontikia andersoni on Macquarie Island |
| title_short | A Novel Invertebrate Predator on an Oceanic Island: Impacts and Invasion Dynamics of Kontikia andersoni on Macquarie Island |
| title_sort | novel invertebrate predator on an oceanic island impacts and invasion dynamics of kontikia andersoni on macquarie island |
| topic | biosecurity ecosystem impact invertebrates land planarian Platyhelminthes prey preference |
| url | https://doi.org/10.1002/ece3.71663 |
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