Alan Gray, Vicky Wilkins, David Pryce, Liza Fowler, Roger S. Key, Howard Mendel, Michael Jervois, Axel Hochkirch, Rebecca Cairns-Wicks, Amy-Jayne Dutton and Lourens Malan

Invertebrates, back from the brink?

Using the Invertebrate Conservation Evaluation (ICE) Framework on St Helena

DisclaimerInvertebrates??? I’m a BOTANIST!!

Cyperus stroudii Gray and Stott

Without Invertebrates

Humans would disappear (Wilson 1987)

Invertebrates, back from the brink?

The Invertebrate Conservation Evaluation (ICE) Framework

• Arose through discussions about how to publish the data from Darwin Invertebrate project - has taken just over 1 year

• Basis: Cardoso et al. (2011) The Seven impediments to Invertebrate Conservation, Biological Conservation

• Develop a framework to identify invertebrate conservation gaps, needs and priorities

• Manuscript St Helena case study, submitted Feb 2018 to Biodiversity and Conservation

The 7 impediments to Invertebrate conservation Cardoso et al. (2011) Biological Conservation

• I. Public dilemma – people generally do not recognize invertebrates or their roles in the ecosystem and disregard invertebrate species protection

• II. Political dilemma – many policymakers and stakeholders see invertebrates as indirectly protected by ‘‘umbrella’’ vertebrate species, protection and funding are limited

• III. Scientific dilemma – taxonomy and classical ecology are regarded as dated science and underfunded

• IV. Linnean shortfall – the discovery and description of species on Earth is remarkably poor

• V. Wallacean shortfall –inadequate knowledge of the distributions of species at all scales.

• VI. Prestonian shortfall – population data in space and time is scarce • VII. Hutchinsonian shortfall – life cycles, ecological function and sensitivity to

habitat change of most species are usually unknown.

1) Knowledge – Regional invertebrate data to facilitate conservation via:a) Describe all invertebrates in the region (the Linnaean shortfall); b) Invertebrate distribution, abundance, and changes in space and time (the Wallacean & Prestonian shortfalls)c) Invertebrate ecological requirements, and resilience to environmental change (the Hutchinsonian Wallacean & Prestonian shortfalls)d) Extinction, threats and the efficacy of conservation management (the Hutchinsonian shortfall)

2) Priorities – Regional invertebrate conservation priorities defined by:a) Priority species (Red List status global/national, endemic and native species)b) Priority areas (Key Biodiversity Areas (KBAs) and protected areas)

The ICE Framework 5 sections 13 objectives

3) Action – Utilising knowledge and priorities to implement direct conservation action for the region, through:

a) Reducing threat status, via conservation planning and implementation of actions, including threat management.b) Protection and management of priority invertebrate areas (focusing on KBAs and the protected area network)

4) Increased awareness within:a) Public (the public dilemma)b) Conservation and science (the scientific dilemma)c) Policy and decision makers (the political dilemma)

5) Resources to facilitate long-term invertebrate conservation:a) Sustainable finance and partnerships to achieve regional goals (all)b) Increase regional capacity to identify, monitor and conserve invertebrates and their associated habitats (all).

The ICE Framework 5 sections 13 objectives

• Use the St Helena data to illustrate the framework• What do we know?• Where are the gaps?• Help to set priorities and actions• Applicable to local, national and regional scales

The ICE Framework 5 sections 13 objectives

•What do we know?•Over 10,000 records•~ 450 Endemic species 95% endemism

•664 introduced species

The ICE Framework: Knowledge: Describe all invertebrates in the region (the Linnaean shortfall)

Order Endemic generaEndemic species Native Introduced

Percentage of Introduced

TaxaAmphipoda 1 1 50Araneae 15 42 55 57Coleoptera 134 166 1 113 40Dermaptera 1 3 75Diptera 1 18 3 93 82Geophilomorpha 1 2 67Hemiptera 32 43 1 78 64Hymenoptera 5 17 60 78Lepidoptera 5 59 3 46 43Neuroptera 2 3 60Oribatida 28 20 42Orthoptera 4 5 2 3 30Parasitiformes 5 1 12 67Pseudoscorpionida 4 5 3 38Psocodea: Phthiraptera 7 4 36

Psocodea: Psocoptera 7 13 65

Scolopendromorpha 1 2 67Stylommatophora 20 23 18 44Total 221 450 19 664

• 93 species in 24 orders entirely new to St Helena

The ICE Framework: Knowledge: Describe all invertebrates in the region (the Linnaean shortfall)

Order Introduced Percentage of Introduced TaxaArchaeopulmonata 1 100Blattodea 10 100Haplotaxida 21 100Julida 6 100Mantodea 1 100Poduromorpha 6 100Polydesmida 3 100Psocodea: Anoplura 2 100Pulmonata 3 100Sarcoptiformes 6 100Scorpiones 1 100Scutigeromorpha 1 100Siphonaptera 6 100

Endemic species

Endemic species

Endemic species Opogona spp. Robinson 2009

• St Helena Opogona species are the largest endemic radiation of Tineidae known in any island or group, ca. 29 spp.

• How many endemic Opogona species are there? • Are any of them endangered? • Are any of them extinct?• Species associations endemic/introduced trees of the island? • Where do the flightless specimens, noted by the Ashmole's, fit in?

167 species have uncertain taxonomy including native, endemic and those where the status remains unknown

Order Endemic Introduced Native Unknown TotalAraneae 10 13 23Coleoptera 7 3 10Diptera 2 1 20 23Entomobryomorpha 3 3Haplotaxida 2 2Hemiptera 6 4 6 16Hymenoptera: Aculeata 1 1Hymenoptera: Parasitica 2 1 58 61Isopoda 1 1 2Lepidoptera (Tineidae) 7 1 8Poduromorpha 3 3Pseudoscorpionida 1 1Psocodea 1 1 3 5Stylommatophora 2 2Symphypleona 2 2Tanaidacea 1 1Thysanoptera 1 1Tricladida 2 2Zygentoma 1 1Total 35 6 4 122 167

The ICE Framework, Knowledge: Describe all invertebrates in the region (the Linnaean shortfall)

• Uncertain taxonomy examples• The ant Camponotus fabricator (F. Smith,

1858) • The type specimen is anonymous• It lacks locality data • It can’t be attributed to a collector • It doesn’t match its original description• Although only recorded from St Helena, it is

doubtfully endemic

• The St Helena mole spider (Lycosidae)• No formal description - cannot be Red Listed• Relationships to African species uncertain• Significant opportunity for research

• New species will be discovered on St Helena (ca. 10 have been described in the last decade)

The ICE Framework, Knowledge: Describe all invertebrates in the region (the Linnaean shortfall)

The ICE Framework, Knowledge: Invertebrate distribution, abundance, and changes in space and time (the Wallacean & Prestonian shortfalls)

Distribution of hotspots of species richness for (a) Endemic species (b) Native species and (c) Introduced species.

Very limited knowledge

Percentage of species in three classes of ecological amplitude expressed as altitudinal range: Narrow (0-100 m), Narrow/Moderate (100-300 m) Moderate (300-600 m) Wide (> 600 m).

The ICE Framework, Knowledge: Invertebrate ecological requirements and resilience to environmental change (the Hutchinsonian shortfall)

Deforestation, Invasive species → Extinction

The ICE Framework, Knowledge: Extinction

Declared Extinctions

St Helena: Probable invertebrate extinctions and ecological amplitude

Order Species Last seen Ecological ampl.Coleoptera Acanthinomerus asperatus 1875Narrow

Acanthinomerus monilicornis 1876NarrowAnthicodes maculatus 1875NarrowAplothorax burchellii 1967ModerateChalcotrogus oblongior 1875NarrowCryptommata cucculata 1876NarrowEndosomatium megalops 1875NarrowHomoeodera nodulipennis 1876Narrow

Isotornus aterrimus 1875NarrowLongitarsus janulus 1967Narrow

Microxylobius whiteheadi 1875NarrowNesiobius barbatus 1875NarrowNesiobius breviusculus 1875NarrowNesiobius fimbriatus 1875NarrowPeloriolus brunneus 1836NarrowPseudomesoxenus scrobiculatus 1875NarrowPseudophilochthus dicksoniae 1875NarrowPseudophilochthus fossor 1875NarrowPseudophilochthus sublimbatus 1875NarrowPseudophilochthus trechoides 1876NarrowScydmaenus wollastoni 1836NarrowTarphiophasis tuberculatus 1875NarrowTychiorhinus inaequalis 1967Narrow/ModerateTychiorhinus porrectus 1875NarrowXestophasis nasalis 1875Narrow

Dermaptera Labidura herculeana 1967NarrowHemiptera Lopsallus flavosparsus 1875NarrowHymenoptera: Aculeata Camponotus fabricator 1855NarrowHymenoptera: Parasitica Cirrospilus nireus 1836Narrow

Odonata Sympetrum dilatatum 1963Narrow

Order Species Last seen Ecological ampl.Stylommatophora Campolaemus perexilis 1885Narrow

Chilonopsis blofeldi 1885NarrowChilonopsis exulatus 1875NarrowChilonopsis helena 1885ModerateChilonopsis melanoides 1885Narrow/ModerateChilonopsis nonpareil 1885NarrowChilonopsis subplicatus 1885Narrow/ModerateChilonopsis subtruncatus 1885NarrowChilonopsis turtoni 1885NarrowHelenoconcha biplicata 1885NarrowHelenoconcha cutteri 1885Narrow/ModerateHelenoconcha leptalea 1885NarrowHelenoconcha minutissima 1885NarrowHelenoconcha polydon 1885Narrow/ModerateHelenoconcha pseustes 1885NarrowHelenoconcha sexdentata 1885NarrowHelenodiscus bilamellata 1885NarrowPseudohelenoconcha spurca 1836NarrowPupa obliquicostulata 1885Narrow

• 47 Probably Extinct species• Further 25, mainly Lepidoptera, not

seen since 19th century

• Extinction: Invertebrate extinction on St Helena is staggering

Distribution of invertebrate extinction on St Helena

• Island wide effect?• Probably worse than we think

• Missing data from before forest clearances

Other Islands?

Not all bad news!

• Basilewsky’s cranefly – not seen since the 1960s

Red Listing – not practical to list all endemics

The ICE Framework, Priorities and ActionFamily Species IUCN

StatusThreats

Anthribidae Homoeodera compositarum NT decline in habitat quality; invasive speciesHomoeodera edithia CR decline in habitat quality; invasive speciesHomoeodera elateroides CR decline in habitat quality; invasive speciesHomoeodera major CR decline in habitat quality; invasive speciesHomoeodera scolytoides CR Airport construction. Decline in habitat quality ; invasive

speciesCharopidae Helenoconcha relicta CR decline in habitat qualityCrambidae Helenoscoparia nigritalis NT invasive speciesDrosophilidae Scaptomyza horaeoptera VU decline in habitat quality; invasive speciesSalticidae Paraheliophanus jeanae VU increased predatory invasive species

Paraheliophanus napoleon CR decline in habitat quality; invasive species

Paraheliophanus sanctaehelenae VU decline in habitat quality; invasive speciesParaheliophanus subinstructus VU decline in habitat quality; invasive species

Scarabaeidae Mellissius adumbratus EN Airport construction. Decline in habitat quality Scheloribatidae Scheloribates evanescens EN decline in habitat quality; invasive species

The ICE Framework, Priorities and Action:

KBAs

Protection and management of priority invertebrate areas• Key Biodiversity Areas (KBAs) perhaps a more practical way of

highlighting and protecting invertebrates? • Need more sampling

The ICE Framework, Priorities and Action

• A need for more sampling across space and time: seasonal and long-term monitoring

• Novel Habitats• Erythrina • Urban/agricultural areas

• Invasive species – Biosecurity, control/eradication• Feasibility study (Key 2014)

The ICE Framework: Priorities and Action

KBAs

The ICE Framework, Awareness

• Increase in conservation projects directly and indirectly involving invertebrates

• Greater awareness across St Helena

Funding body Title Active Dates Lead InstitutionDarwin Initiative Laying the foundations for invertebrate

conservation on St Helena 2012-2016 Buglife - The

Invertebrate Conservation Trust

Securing the future for St Helena’s endemic invertebrates

2015-2017 St Helena National Trust

Conservation of the spiky yellow woodlouse and black cabbage tree woodland on St Helena

2014-2017 St Helena National Trust

Securing St Helena’s rare Cloud Forest trees and associated invertebrates

2015-2017 St Helena Government

The ICE Framework, Awareness: the public dilemma

YearNo. of School lessons

No. of Events

No. of children

No. of Adults

No. of Teachers

Total

2013 19 9 224 302 5542014 7 5 138 340 4902015 22 14 842 106 12 9962016 70 5 928 182 27 12122017 40 12 787 255 1094

Total 158 45 2919 1185 39 4346

• Numbers of attendees at invertebrate educational events involving invertebrates

The ICE Framework, Awareness: The public dilemma

• Policies – Environmental Protection Ordinance (EPO)

• Includes invertebrates• flexibility, adaptability and continual review - schedule

• Scientific opportunities • taxonomy, ecology, population biology, multi-

disciplinary research, spatial and temporal research -environmental change

• Scientific community need to be made aware of the research opportunities on St Helena

The ICE Framework, Awareness: Science and policy

• Darwin and other project based funding – not sustainable

• Sustained adequate funding - key commitments SHG and NGOs

• St Helena is a UKOT - UK Government - invertebrates need higher funding priority (see Churchyard et al., 2016)

• Maximise opportunities – Research funding

The ICE Framework: Resources

Conclusions• Invertebrates, back from the brink? Not yet• The level of extinction on St Helena is staggering

Successes • Baseline data• Public engagement, long may it continue • St Helena invertebrate conservation strategy (Cairns-Wicks et al.

2016) – ICE findings• Environmental Protection Ordinance

Challenges• Increased knowledge base – sampling/monitoring• More research – taxonomy/ecology• Sustaining adequate funding – maximise opportunities• The times they are a-changin’ - Needs to be tackled urgently

Thank You - Any Questions?

Photo acknowledgements: David Pryce, Roger Keys, Mike Jervois, Liza Fowler, Philip Ashmole, Ed Thorpe and Tim Karisch

Slide Number 1Slide Number 2Slide Number 3Slide Number 4Slide Number 5Slide Number 6Slide Number 7Slide Number 8Slide Number 9Slide Number 10Slide Number 11Slide Number 12Slide Number 13Slide Number 14Slide Number 15Slide Number 16Slide Number 17Slide Number 18Slide Number 19Slide Number 20Slide Number 21Slide Number 22Slide Number 23Slide Number 24Slide Number 25Slide Number 26Slide Number 27Slide Number 28Slide Number 29Slide Number 30Slide Number 31Slide Number 32Slide Number 33Slide Number 34Slide Number 35Slide Number 36