Zoogeography and evolutionary ecology of the genus Platorchestia (Crustacea,Amphipoda, Talitridae)

ABSTRACT

Species of the genus Platorchestia occur both in the northern hemisphere (18 species) and southern hemisphere (three species plus a synanthropically introduced species in South America and South Africa). The greater number of endemic Platorchestia species in the North Pacific Ocean suggests that it could be the epicentre of evolution for this genus. North-western Pacific Platorchestia includes 15 species which occupy five ecotopes: wrack (seven species), terrestrial leaf litter (five species), freshwater (one species), marsh (one species) and tentatively present in caves (one species). North-eastern Pacific Platorchestia includes only one putative driftwood specialist, with no other species found in North American coastal habitats. This compares with three good endemic Platorchestia species (plus two putative additional species) and only two ecotopes: wrack (three species) and freshwater (two species) from the North Atlantic Ocean, inclusive of the Gulf of Mexico and Mediterranean Sea. Insufficient data is available to consider Platorchestia zoogeography for the Arabian Sea and Bay of Bengal. Synanthropic dispersal involving Platorchestia in Polynesian outrigger canoes, or in solid ballast carried in the holds of wooden sailing ships has been identified as a potential complicating factor in the zoogeography of this genus. Platorchestia is proposed to have arisen on Laurasia and is therefore basically a northern hemisphere genus. Questions concerning Platorchestia zoogeography and evolutionary ecology are posed and two methods (more intensive field sampling and molecular genetics) are suggested to be the way to solve them.     

Current status of an amphipod invader,Arcitalitrus dorrieni (Hunt, 1925), in Britain

The synanthropic landhopper Arcitalitrus dorrieni (Hunt) is largely restricted to the south-west of Britain although there are isolated populations outside this area. It has been recorded from 60 new 10-km squares since Harding and Sutton (1988 Harding, P. T and Sutton, S. L. 1988. The spread of the terrestrial amphipod Arcitalitrus dorrieni in Britain and Ireland: watch this niche!. Isopoda, 2: 7–10.  [Google Scholar]) last reviewed its distribution. Some of the new records, particularly in south Wales, could be interpreted as meaning that there has been range expansion in this time. However, the evidence is equivocal. It was not possible to explain the distribution of A. dorrieni in terms of association with native plant species. The main means of dispersal still seems to be synanthropic. Arcitalitrus dorrieni has retained a mainly coastal distribution, with penetration inland restricted to peninsular areas (with some notable exceptions, e.g. populations in London).