Soil cores were collected from numerous locations across the Macquarie Island Isthmus. Replicate samples were collected from each location and a single sample was collected from 50cm depth below the surface. Soil cores were cylindrical, diameter 70 mm, depth 70 mm and included surface vegetation where present. Invertebrates were extracted from the soil core using a heat gradient process. Specimens were preserved in ethanol following extraction.
Invertebrates were identified under microscope to the lowest practicable level, which was species level for most taxa. Mites (Acarina) were identified to morphotype.
Column labels
Sample - Unique numerical sample identifier
Depth - Depth of collection: surface = 0 cm, depth = 50 cm below surface
Location - Location identifier code
Easting - easting (m)
Northing - northing (m)
Elevation (m) - Height above sea level (m)
Parisotoma insularis - Abundance of Parisotoma insularis in core sample
Folsotoma punctata - Abundance of Folsotoma punctata in core sample
Tullbergia bisetosa - Abundance of Tullbergia bisetosa in core sample
Ceratophysella denticulata - Abundance of Ceratophysella denticulata in core sample
Hypogastrura viatica - Abundance of Hypogastrura viatica in core sample
Hypogastrura purpurescens - Abundance of Hypogastrura purpurescens in core sample
Cryptopygus antarcticus - Abundance of Cryptopygus antarcticus in core sample
Cryptopygus caecus - Abundance of Cryptopygus caecus in core sample
Cryptopygus lawrencii - Abundance of Cryptopygus lawrencii in core sample
Cryptopygus tricuspus - Abundance of Cryptopygus tricuspus in core sample
Polykatianna davidii - Abundance of Polykatianna davidii in core sample
Lepidocyrtus sp. - Abundance of Lepidocyrtus sp. in core sample
Megalothorax sp. - Abundance of Megalothorax sp. in core sample
Acarina 1 - Abundance of Acarina 1 in core sample
Acarina 2 - Abundance of Acarina 2 in core sample
Acarina 3 - Abundance of Acarina 3 in core sample
Acarina 4 - Abundance of Acarina 4 in core sample
Acarina 5 - Abundance of Acarina 5 in core sample
Acarina 6 - Abundance of Acarina 6 in core sample
Acarina 7 - Abundance of Acarina 7 in core sample
Acarina 8 - Abundance of Acarina 8 in core sample
Big dark tick - Abundance of Big dark tick in core sample
Spider - Abundance of Spider in core sample
Microscolex macquariensis - Abundance of Microscolex macquariensis in core sample
Enchytraeus albidus - Abundance of Enchytraeus albidus in core sample
Nematode species - Abundance of Nematode species in core sample
Styloniscus otakensis - Abundance of Styloniscus otakensis in core sample
Harpacticoid - Abundance of Harpacticoid in core sample
Puhuruhuru patersoni - Abundance of Puhuruhuru patersoni in core sample
Stenomalium sp. - Abundance of Stenomalium sp. in core sample
Thinophilus (fly) - Abundance of Thinophilus (fly) in core sample
Australimyza - Abundance of Australimyza in core sample
Grasshopper? - Abundance of Grasshopper? in core sample
Slug sp. - Abundance of Slug sp. in core sample
The easting, northing and elevation for each sample site was collected by Lauren Wise of the AAD and Josie van Dorst of the University of NSW using a Trimble differential GPS and the post processing was done by Dan Wilkins of the AAD. The elevations were derived using the global geoid model EGM96.
To convert the eastings and northings of the sample sites to eastings and northings on the WGS84 datum of the Australian Antarctic Data Centre's GIS data representing the Macquarie Island station buildings and structures, add 1.40 metres to the eastings and 0.2 metres to the northings as given on page 3 of the survey report "Macquarie Island OSG Survey Campaign, Voyage 8 Round Trip, March 2002" by John VanderNiet and Nick Bowden of the Office of the Surveyor General, Tasmania.
Analysis of Invertebrate abundance from soil cores on Macquarie Island.
In the summer of 1986-87, total invertebrate abundances were measured quantitatively at eight sites, representing four vegetation types: feldmark, Stilbocarpa herbfield, Pleurophyllum meadow and Poa foliosa tall tussock grassland (P. Greenslade, unpubl. data). Between 11 and 16 soil cores were sampled at each site. Each core was 5 cm wide by 5 cm deep and invertebrates were extracted using Tulgren funnels. Numbers of invertebrates from each core are expressed as animals per square metre (.m-2). The mean density for the total of 120 cores was 29702.m-2 plus or minus 3564 SE and ranged from a low site mean of 2646.m-2 plus or minus 513 SE at a feldmark site on the plateau at 250m, to high site means of 97740.m-2 plus or minus 15898 SE and 62894.m-2 plus or minus 20804 SE at two Stilbocarpa dominated, coastal eastern slopes, both at 20 m a.s.l. Poa foliosa dominated sites at 40 m and 100m a.s.l. displayed intermediate mean densities of 20599.m-2 plus or minus 4241 SE and 20567.m-2 plus or minus 2670 SE, respectively. A Pleurophyllum dominated site on the plateau at 250m a.s.l. also exhibited a low mean site density of 6,664.m-2 plus or minus 1224 m-2 SE, while one on North Head at a lower elevation of 100m a.s.l., was higher at 24107.m-2 plus or minus 4155. A higher mean density of 19417.m-2 plus or minus 3674 was also found at feldmark site on North Head at only 100 m a.s.l. These figures show that altitude appeared to have a stronger influence on invertebrate abundance than vegetation type. The total mean density is similar to those found in temperate grassland and herbfields in other parts of Australia where a mean of about 25000 invertebrates.m-2 might be expected (King and Hutchinson, 1992). Barendse and Chown (2001) found a similar mean density for feldmark of 1800.m-2 on Marion Island but rather higher mean density of 50 000.m-2 in Azorella selago cushions, a vegetation type not sampled on Macquarie Island. Collembola dominated the Macquarie Island fauna numerically, followed by Acarina. Barendse and Chown (2001) found the same groups dominated in Azorella selago cushions and bare ground on Marion. Of interest was the high density of the introduced Hypogastrura purpurescens under Stilbocarpa polaris on Macquarie Island.
See also the metadata record &Report on invertebrate field work, Macquarie Island, December 1986-January 1987& for further information.
The fields in these datasets are:
Easting
Northing
Description
Species
KA/EW, Kontia andersoni and earthworms
AV, Arthurdendyus vegrandis
SEW, small earthworms
Density per square metre
Soil Core