SANTO 2006 E x p e d i t i o n Progress Report

E d i t o r s Philippe BOUCHET Hervé LE GUYADER Olivier PASCAL

M a r s 2 0 0 7

©SANTO2006/GAMMA SANTO 2006 E x p e d i t i o n Progress Report

STEERING COMMITTEE

Hervé Le Guyader (IRD) Philippe Bouchet (MNHN) Olivier Pascal (PNI)

SCIENTIFIC COMMITTEE

Philippe Bouchet (MNHN) Florence Brunois (MNHN) Bruno Corbara (Université de Clermont-Ferrand) Louis Deharveng (MNHN) Elsa Faugère (INRA) Michel de Garine (CIRAD) Philippe Keith (MNHN)

Jérôme Munzinger (IRD) Michel Pascal (INRA) Claude Payri (IRD) Bertrand Richer de Forges (IRD) Anne-Marie Sémah (IRD)

PARTNERS

STAVROS NIARCHOS FOUNDATION www.stavrosniarchosfoundation.org

FONDATION D’ENTREPRISE TOTAL POUR LA BIODIVERSITE ET LA MER www.total.com/fondation

LE FONDS PACIFIQUE Ministère des affaires étrangères - Ministère de l’outre-mer www.diplomatie.gouv.fr www.outre-mer.gouv.fr

LE MINISTÈRE DÉLÉGUÉ À L’ENSEIGNEMENT SUPÉRIEUR ET À LA RECHERCHE www.recherche.gouv.fr

EDIT – EUROPEAN DISTRIBUTED INSTITUTE OF TAXONOMY www.mnhn.fr/edit

SODEXHO www.sodexho.com

FONDATION D’ENTREPRISE VEOLIA ENVIRONNEMENT www.veoliaenvironnement.com/fr/groupe/fondation

RICOH, partenaire de l’Arboglisseur www.ricoh.fr

SOLVAY et SOLVIN PVC, partenaires de l’Arbodôme www.solvay.fr www.solvinpvc.com

NATIONAL GEOGRAPHIC SOCIETY’S COMMITTEE FOR RESEARCH AND EXPLORATION www.nationalgeographic.com/research

VRAI www.vrai.fr

THE ALFRED P. SLOAN FOUNDATION www.coml.org

INSTITUT NATIONAL DES SCIENCES DE L’UNIVERS www.insu.cnrs.fr

DELEGATION DE LA COMMISSION EUROPEENNE AU VANUATU

L’AMBASSADE DE FRANCE AU VANUATU www.mfe.org

TELECOM VANUATU LIMITED www.tvl.net.vu

Santo 2006 progress report MEDIA PARTNERS

ATOM http://www.atomproduction.com MÉDIA VIDÉO COMPAGNIE www.mvc-prod.fr

FRANCE 3 THALASSA www.thalassa.france3.fr

FRANCE 5 www.france5.fr

R. F. O. www.rfo.fr

PRODOM www.media-overseas.fr

FRANCE TÉLÉVISIONS DISTRIBUTION www.francetv.com

EDITIONS BELIN www.editions-belin.com

GAMMA http://www.gamma.fr

NATURE et DECOUVERTES http://www.natureetdecouvertes.com

PALAIS DE LA DÉCOUVERTE www.palais-decouverte.fr

TECHNICAL PARTNERS

OCEAN VERT, concepteur de l’Arboglisseur www.radeau-des-cimes.org

VANUATU MARITIME COLLEGE www.vanuatumaritimecollege.com.fr

VANUATU AGRICULTURAL RESEARCH AND TECHNICAL CENTER

GEOLINK www.geolink.com

BEAULIEU www.beaulieu-images.com ESA - Agence Spatiale Européenne www.esa.int

UNOSAT www.unosat.org

PROFIL NATURE www.profilnature.com

WAECO www.waeco.fr QUICKLITE www.quicklite.fr

ATAM UNIFORMES www.atam-uniformes.fr LE PROTECTEUR www.le-protecteur.com CAMPING GAZ COLEMANN www.coleman.fr COBB www.cuisine-cobb.com

Santo 2006 progress report SANTO 2006 E x p e d i t i o n Progress Report

CONTENT

Summary report 1

Section 1 The Marine Biodiversity component 5

Section 2 The “Forests, Mountains & Rivers” component 14

Preliminary Report on the IBISCA project 15

Preliminary Report on the Botanical and Micological component 26

Preliminary Reports for the travelling teams 30

Section 3 The “Karst” component 38

Section 4 The “Fallows and aliens” component 43

Participant list 49

BEAULIEU www.beaulieu-images.com ESA - Agence Spatiale Européenne www.esa.int

UNOSAT www.unosat.org

PROFIL NATURE www.profilnature.com

WAECO www.waeco.fr QUICKLITE www.quicklite.fr

ATAM UNIFORMES www.atam-uniformes.fr LE PROTECTEUR www.le-protecteur.com CAMPING GAZ COLEMANN www.coleman.fr SANTO 2006 - SUMMARY REPORT

The SANTO 2006 expedition, the first biological survey biodiversity has been impacted by 3,000 years of of its kind, was designed to achieve a comprehensive human presence. assessment of the living organisms, both marine and non-marine, of a tropical oceanic island, Espiritu The SANTO 2006 Expedition was hosted by the Santo (or Santo), in Vanuatu, located in the SW Pacific Vanuatu Ministry of Lands and jointly coordinated by Ocean. the Muséum national d’Histoire naturelle (MNHN), This global biodiversity assessment covered all the the Institut de Recherche pour le Développement major environments (offshore deep-sea, reefs, caves, (IRD), and Pro-Natura International. A total of 203 freshwater bodies, mountains, forest canopies) and participants (of whom 153 scientists) from 25 countries also addressed issues regarding how indigenous were involved in 4 themes (Marine Biodiversity; Forests, Mountains & Rivers; Karst; Fallows and Aliens) to document the fauna and flora of Santo.

This report summarizes the first findings of the expedition, and preliminary results are presented in Sections 1 to 4. There is still much work to be done, such as sorting samples and undertaking detailed studies of the materials and data collected in the field. A Scientific report is planned for publication later this year (September 2007) and numerous scientific papers will be published in the months and years to come.

An expedition such as SANTO 2006 requires considerable reactivity and flexibility in the management and distribution of funds, and would simply not have been possible without private funding. Supports from the private and public partners are gratefully acknowledged, not only by the Principal Investigators, but also by everyone in the international network of the expedition and the post-expedition scientists. The final balance sheet shows that expenses are in line with the budget. This has been achieved thanks to detailed and accurate provisional budget and

Santo 2006 progress report 1 a careful expenses auditing exercise that was carried Well over 10 000 species of plants, animals and fungi out on a weekly basis by a specially designated person were collected during the 4 months of the expedition. throughout the whole project. This outstanding yield of specimens and associated biological data is mostly the result of the dedicated and All in all, the operating costs of the Santo 2006 hard working participants involved in the expedition. expedition amounted to ca. 1,100,000 €, covered But beyond that, as Pr. Roger Kitching states below in with supports from the following sources: the Section 2, integrative research is by far more efficient Stavros Niarchos Foundation (500,000 €), the Total than the sum of individualities. In other words, Santo Foundation (150,000 €), the Committee for Research 2006 was more than just numbers: collective work and Exploration of the National Geographic Society almost always yields much more achievements than (68,000 US$), the Sloan Foundation (45,000 US$), the segragate research activities carried out without a Veolia Foundation (36,000 €), Triballat (25,000 €) master plan. and various public funds: the Fonds Pacifique of the French Ministry of Foreign Affairs (140,000 €), EDIT, We have shown, perhaps for the first time ever, that a Network of Excellence of the European Commission the immense task of filling gaps in the biological (46,000 €), the French National Research Council inventories of the poorly known yet highly diverse (CNRS, 26,000 €), the French Embassy in Vanuatu groups of animals (invertebrates) and plants is possible (17,000 €), the European Union representation in provided the appropriate scale and size of operation are Vanuatu (5,000 €). Universal Sodexho and Telecom selected and the work is well designed and executed. Vanuatu Limited provided in kind contributions (valued to ca. 45,000 €). In addition, use of the Alis Research It should also be noted that the most exciting and Vessel amounted to ca. 275,000 €, covered in kind by striking results do not lie in the impressive list of IRD. species collected: most of the scientific teams have also gathered extremely interesting data on the spatial distribution of elements of Santo’s biodiversity and on Main findings species assemblages. Some unexpected biodiversity patterns have already emerged and will require further Preliminary scientific results are detailed for each of the analyses. This knowledge of biodiversity patterns four scientific components in Sections 1 to 4 below. will provide the essential foundation on which to build It should first be noted that each of the planned scientific more sophisticated assessments of ecological and projects and sub-projects was successfully completed evolutionary processes. in the projected time frame and according to the initial written scenario. Some logistical and meteorological problems naturally arose, but they did not cause any Lessons learned and possible major disturbances to the scientific programme. improvements

Overall, the general feeling of the Scientific Committee We have learned a lot from the Santo 2006 experience, and the Principal Investigators responsible for each but two main lessons of particular importance can be scientific component is that Santo 2006 represents a drawn: breaktrough in the approaches and methodologies used The success of the project can, to a large extent, be for biological inventories. attributed to the careful selection of enthusiastic and experienced participants, who acted as a superb The main goal of the expedition, which was a professional group of experts. Mobilizing high comprehensive inventory of Santo’s biodiversity, was quality senior scientists for this kind of operation is achieved, within the constraints of a 4-month project. by no means an easy task. Forming such an effective Some species were no doubt overlooked in our survey, team was a challenging issue, which Santo 2006 but they are few in number and it would take years to tackled sucessfully. In fact, the collective interest and sample all groups of organisms exhaustively. The most commitment of the participants is a major ‘product’ hidden parts of the island Biota have been however of Santo 2006 and a very valuable resource for future carefully checked. There is no question that we now endeavors. have a much clearer and realistic figure of what is However, keeping Scientists mobilized for future living in this isolated part of the world. operations will be a challenge and we have to take

Santo 2006 progress report 2 full advantage of contructive criticisms made by the participants. We have been repeatedly told that follow- up field studies should have been part of the Santo project from the start to ensure coverage throughout the year and the seasons. This is particularly true for groups of organisms that are highly sensitive to seasonality such as insects and some plants. While funding for such follow-up work may be difficult to secure, this suggestion has to be taken into account when planning future operations.

Expedition outreach has been fantastic (see the next chapter), thanks mainly to a group of dedicated people who worked as volunteers for the Santo 2006 project. It would, however, be unwise to rely on the good Press will of unpaid volunteers for the communication and The Santo 2006 expedition also benefited from educational aspects of future operations, and a specific significant media coverage. More than 60 articles on budget line should therefore be included from the the expedition were published in France and other outset in the overall budget of future expeditions to countries between June 2006 and January 2007. A ensure that these important activities are carried out series of articles also appeared in Libération, a French successfully. newspaper, based on information fed weekly by jourmalists participating in the expedition. Expedition Outreach Numerous radio interviews have likewise been given since the scientists have returned from Santo. Santo 2006 benefited from support provided by the media and communication departments of MNHN and Sample press articles IRD, as well as from the private company ATOM. We present the expedition outreach as of January 2007, Newspapers and there is much more to come, including a coffee- AFP, 29/06/2006: “ Santo 2006 : une expédition qui se table book on the expedition, which will be published veut modèle sur le plan éthique ”. in November 2007, and a 110 minute documentary Environnement-online.com, 30/06/2006: “ Santo film that will be shown in June 2007 on one of France’s 2006 : cap sur l’île-planète ”. public Channel (France 3). Euréka, n°6 juillet/août/septembre: “ les Aventuriers de la Biodiversité ”. Web L’Humanité, 03/07/2006: “ Cap sur Santo, mine d’or The site at www.santo2006.org reported on a daily de la biodiversité ”. basis, and has links to a French-English scientific Le Monde, 04/07/2006: “ Une expédition internationale blog at http://www.ird.fr/recherche/santo2006/blog/ va explorer la biodiversité des Vanuatu ”. that specifically reported on the results of the Marine Environnement & stratégies, 07/07/2006: “ Ne pas Biodiversity theme, and to a second site (French only) avoir de vision utilitariste de la biodiversité ”. at http://santo2006 ens-lyon fr/donnees/biodivmarine Le Figaro, 08/07/2006: “ Cap sur la biodiversité de which posted education material for teachers and l’île de Santo ”. schools. Vanuatu Daily News, 12/09/2006: “Marine scientific research targets survey from sea bottom to ridge As of February 20, 2007, a total of 52,000 visits have crests”. been registered at the Santo 2006 web site, which will be kept active and fed with news throughout 2007.

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Weekly magazine Education material VSD, n°1534, a weekly French magazine (17- A series of 10 posters was designed and printed, 23 January): “Santo: l’île témoin de la planète” thanks to the European Commission office in Vanuatu and the French Embassy. Five thousand posters have Monthly magazine already been distributed in Vanuatu through the GEO, n°332, October 2006 : “ Santo: une île- Vanuatu Ministry of Education. échantillon exceptionnelle! ” This educational material is primarily directed L’Express, Special Issue, December 2006: “ Santo : towards schools and teachers in Vanuatu, providing cap sur la biodiversité ” a medium for communicating broad environmental Terre Sauvage, n°225, March 2007: “Santo 2006, messages in the three main languages currenly used Grand inventaire dans l’île aux trésors” in Vanuatu (Bislama, English and French). GEO, n°338, Avril 2007: “Les Indiana Jones de la biodiversité”

Focal point A Santo 2006 focal point was established at the “ Palais de la Découverte ”, a French public exhibition center for science and education, based in Paris. This focal point was inaugurated on October 5, 2006 by the French Minister for Education and Research and the Director of the Muséum national d’Histoire naturelle. This focal point was linked to a dedicated web site: http://www.palais-decouverte.fr/index. php?id=accueil2

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MARINE BIODIVERSITY

Santo 2006 - Section 1 Preliminary Report on the Marine Biodiversity component MARINE

Contex

The “Marine Biodiversity” theme of SANTO 2006 Study area is a continuation, and an expansion, of similar efforts Ca. 25,000 hectares between 0 and 100 conducted earlier in New Caledonia (Lifou 2000), meters deep. the Austral Islands (Rapa 2002) and the Philippines Ca. 45,000 hectares to 200 meters. (Panglao 2004), and extending across the West Pacific biodiversity gradient from its species-rich center in the Philippines to a species-poor edge in the Austral Islands. Within SANTO 2006, the “Marine Biodiversity” theme took place between August 5 and October 22, with a total of 97 scientists, students, support staff and volunteers, from 18 countries. On average, the duration of individual stays was 30 days, and at any given time there was on average 55 persons on site.

Study location

Santo 2006 progress report 5

is the authority on deep reefs exploration; the group of group of Dr Richard Pyle (Bishop Museum, Honolulu) considerable experience on acquired coral reefs has in Indonesia; Leiden) the (Naturalis, Hoeksema Bert Dr of group The expertise. new with 2006 Santo joined participants of groups new entirely several However, Strong Ellen them alreadypresentinPanglao. Dr of all and sampling), barcoding Institution; (Smithsonian parasites), and commensals, associates Roma; of (University Dr Oliverio crustaceans), Marco decapod (Singapore; Ng Peter Dr seaslugs), Sciences; of (California Academy Gosliner the programme placed under the responsability of Dr T. of subsets having by Santo in again reflected was this and international, very is projects Participants our in participation International 2 several ways. in innovative was was 2006 SANTO 2004 participants However, same. the of Panglao group core the the and during expedition, gained experience and results the by inspired much very was 2006 SANTO The field programme under theirCReefsprogramme. the by highlighted specifically beyond partnership was 2006 Santo of our part reefs” “deep The 2006. Santo continue to we decided and addition have successful very a was this before; divers trimix had never expeditions Our approaches. rebreathers) with gases trimix using (divers tech high and nets) (tangle tech low by both sampled were they neglected because of difficulty of access. During Santo ca. 150 meters, is a compartment of coral reefs usually Deep 1

Reefs .

The deep reefs, below 60 meters to meters 60 below reefs, deep The Census of Marine Life Marine of Census Sne 2004, Since .

rjc ws loae 4 dy o te eerh vessel research the of days 46 allocated was project Wood Sunken and Offshore Deep 3 wae oe trl crpcs fahr, od etc.) that hadbeenimmersedoneyearbefore. wood, feathers, carapaces, turtle bone, (whale substrates organic of retrieval and wood, sunken with associated fauna the on emphasis special with meters, This has allowed sampling of the benthic fauna to 1,000 IRD. Alis

Dr ClaudePayri(IRD,Nouméa)specializesonalgae. of group the and sampling; quantitative from analysis data on leader a is Oslo) of (University Gray John Dr compared. be hardly thus could results their and site, same the These sampling. on simultaneously carried been never had approaches ecology quantitative inventory; all-species (RAP); Assessment Rapid biodiversity: “measuring” to approaches three deployed we 2006, Methodologies Comparing 4 , a 27 meters, Nouméa-based trawler operated by operated trawler Nouméa-based meters, 27 a , Santo 2006progress report Drn Santo During .

. The 6

MARINEMARINE MARINE

Map oftherecent hurricanes tracksthathavehitSanto Indicative Results available worldwideforbarcoding. now dataset molluscan largest single the in resulted has expedition 2006 Santo The sequencing. DNA for preserved are specimen(s) selected and photographed the after then are morphospecies each of immediately specimens and catch, lab the in sorted morphospecies are to samples bulk whereby effort processing We have now optimized coordination of sampling and characters alone, shell with on modern approaches based based on named living Digital animals. been have species and the reconciliation of traditional taxonomy, where most Barcoding Imaging. Molecular 5 A significant outcome of our expedition is found that our study area glaringly lacked some habitat we Fiji, would have had similarly very probably high numbers. We even and Guinea, New Papua Islands, Solomon the Caledonia, New including Pacific, South the in elsewhere deployed been had workforce same result of our large workforce, and we believe that if the Panglao. to only second is Santo worldwide, crustaceans of species fact, in rich”; “very is Santo of as a measure, it can be said that the marine biodiversity used is richness species If paradoxical. are results our discovered.Yet,been have - thousand a - over possibly species new of Hundreds public. general well the as to as community scientific the to revelation a will be expedition the from resulting images digital of wealth The molluscs. of species 4,000 of order the in species of decapods (crabs, shrimps and hermit crabs), species inventoried of goes even beyond our expectations : 1,100 number the richness, species Santo. of in terms better In worked probably we and Panglao, from lessons learnt Wehad results. the of quality the expedition were appropriate for our goals, and explain The logistics and human resources deployed during the ih iiio olaus o etns el beyond their owncountry. well extends now colleagues Filipino with the Panglao project, demonstrating that our partnership from the Philippines, 4 of whom had been involved in were participants 2006 Vanuatu.of Santo the of Five Government the to reporting our in involved remain closely will them of one work; the laboratory in and field involved were them of 6 and students, local for searched proactively Westaff. limited very have administrations in charge of Fisheries or Environment the and institutions, research biodiversity academic With only 200,000 inhabitants, Vanuatu does not have 6 Training andCapacityBuilding

However, we believe that this is the is this that believe However,we Santo 2006progress report y h nme of number the by .

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MARINE n xetoal cmrhnie pce inventory rivalling withrichestspotsknownintheworld! species comprehensive exceptionally an with up an came site we deployed workforce a have complete exceptionally not we is as Santo richness, if exceptionnal of even is: paradox the Thus, sites knowntotheparticipants. other many in than so more numbers, individual the in and occured they where stations of number the in We also found that most species were extremely scarce be blamed(seemapofhurricanetracks). to are 1980s the of hurricanes the perhaps that believe fishing going on in Santo, and no dynamite fishing. We subsistance little very is there as overfishing of result the not obviously shape, good in not were reefs Many etc. sediments, mineral beds, seagrass as such types, of ethanolusedforpreservationsamples. 5,000 meals served, 3,000 dive tanks filled,1,000 liters vehicles together used6,800litersoffuel. land and Alis) excluding (i.e. boats Small with alog)alonecovered1,200nauticalmiles. Aldric meters aluminiumserviceboat. 8 boats, ranging from R.V. Logistics

Few figures (the only one of the small boats to be equipped be to boats small the of one only (the Alis (27 meters long) to a 4

Sampling intensity

588 samplingevents - offshore dredgingandtrawling: 105 - traplines:5 - quantitativesampling(grabs):40 - coastaltrawling:2 - coastaldredging:44 - tanglenetsand“lumunlumun”:37 - bulkvacuumcleaner(SCUBA):45 - bulkbrushings(SCUBA):46 sampling (SCUBA):188 - handpickingandothertargeted - intertidalcollects:76

Santo 2006progress report

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MARINE MARINE

Paris. in meeting 2006 July their at Diversity Biological on Convention the of (SBSTTA) Advice Technological and Technical Scientific, for Body Subsidiary the to The Panglao and Santo experiences were also presented & HermesreefsintheNW Hawaiianchain. was subsequently adopted by an NOAA cruise to Pearl sampling approach (vacuum a cleaner, brushing baskets) at presented was CReefs meeting in Honolulu in expedition February 2006, and our 2006 SANTO The of magnitude tropical marinebiodiversity. global the have evaluate we and how changed exploration, and sampling invertebrates by our grouphavebecomethe«goldstandard»ofmarine conducted expeditions Biodiversity Marine The about 2/3ofthespecies. species; associated new digital images of 100 living animals for of order the in which of others), and crabs hermit shrimps, of species 500 crabs, of species (603 1,103 speciesofdecapodCrustacea International recognition 486 fishspecies,ofwhich15newspecies. Biodiversity ,0 lt o mluk peevd pcfial for specifically molecular barcoding preserved mollusks of lots 5,000 about representing 1,500 species. animals living 2,250 of images digital associated species; (sea-slugs); new 1,000 of nudibranchs order the in of species 380 including 3- 4,000speciesofmollusks, Santo 2006progress report .

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MARINE camouflage themselves. to as so hosts coral their of that as same the often are colours beautiful on Their corals). found fan associate (sea an gorgonians is crab spider beautiful The 6. pair. varies pattern color in lives usually and stars Its feather host the to according crinoids. or stars, feather with association obligatory has shrimp alpheid This 5. trap foodslikethefeedingmodeoftheirhostsponges. to used are body the on hairs dense the that possible is in being very hairy. It is associated with sponges, and it 2004. remarkable is PANGLAO Galatheidae) (family lobster squat in This found anomurans 200 nearly the to compared diversity high rather a is this 2006. Again SANTO in found were anomurans of species 150 About crabs. and shrimps appearance between general intermediate with that etc crabs, porcellanid and lobsters squat crabs, hermit include Anomurans 4. anemones. amboinensis Thor colorations. striking bearing and invertebrates other SANTO 2006 shrimp species have symbiotic lifes with the in PANGLAO found Philippines. the the of at half 2004 About species 450 nearly the to compared as region the for diversity high rather a is which 2006, SANTO in found were shrimps of species 350 About 3. expedition to Vanuatu in 1994! French first the from material the on Biodiversity based described Research of Museum first Raffles the was at scientists species by particular This stars). (feather crinoids on symbiont deep-sea a is crab This 2. the always claw ontheright-handside! almost is claw cutting the Interestingly, gastropod. exposed the out pull to fingers slender long two has with tooth other the and (gastropods) shells open cutting for special (Calappidae) a has one crab claws different distinctively Box two-horn This 1. Some remarkablecrustaceansfoundduringSanto2006. Xenocarcinus conicus Synalpheus stimpsoni Lauriea gardineri Thor amboinensis Rhabdonotus xynon Calappa bicornis s soitd ih oas n sea and corals with associated is one ofthelargest landcrabs,theyarealsoedible! animal of limestone (karst) systems. Not only are they beautiful and elusive an is crab land long-legged This 8. be to reported were poisonous tohumans. that crabs marine tropical of to as species several so of one also coral is This itself. dead camouflage of piece a like looks crab This 7. Discoplax longipes Daldorfia horrida Santo 2006progress report

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MARINE MARINE Santo 2006progress report

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MARINE a rmne hm f oke’ caatr rm the from character Tolkien’s of him reminded had Frank 1979. in it named had Climo congress Sydney the of the highlights of one the been had and discovery Zealand its of New announcement in noticed little first weird was this seaslug Haba, Takuma by Santo in Found 2006: Santo of discovery major Another 8. (arrow !),etc. males dwarf have sometimes they snails, like crawl and stones under live they mantle, the by concealed often is shell their : bivalves all of “typical” least the 7. Bivalves of the family Galeommatidae are probably deeply burried boulders,sunkenwood,burrows,etc.). (below habitats oxygenated poorly many in widespread but biologists, by known little very still family a Iravadiidae, family the of Microgastropod 6. parasitizes one this holothurians. echinoderms; on parasitic eulimids are All Eulimidae. family the of Gastropod 5. of theanimal,visiblebytransparency. transparent and the vivid colour are those of the mantle is shell The Cystiscidae. family the of Marginellid 4. Richard by Pyle duringadeepdivein120meters. alive found specimens 6 the and sequenced sectioned have we once know will We fossil”? “living a discovered we have convergenceor of result the this Is Carboniferous. the from fossils to similar suprisingly are shells These grit. shell coral in shells Twenty years ago Anders Warén had noticed its empty perhaps the most spectacular discovery of Santo 2006. 3. This insignificant microgastropod (height 3-4 mm) is epitoniid 17 Santo species ontheircoralsandseaanemoneshosts. in recognized we Gittenberger to difficult of experience Arjan the to thanks but field, the in spot are associations cryptic Such male. a is food and derive their body colour. The small specimen obtain they strictly which from Dendrophylliidae family the are Epitoniidae) associated with (family Anthozoa, in the present case corals of Wentletraps 2. less than 380specieswereinventoriedandphotographed. no result, a As animals. colourful these for eye an had also divers other and field the 130 in day-persons some spent alone team seaslug the Santo, In 1. Some remarkablemolluscsfoundduringSanto2006 Smeagol because its naked body naked its because Smeagol . fml Pnohrde, iig omnal i the in for commensally sample living Pinnotheridae), tissue peacrab (family a hosted taking it noticed Strong for Ellen barcoding, bivalve arcid this anesthetizing While interactions. dolls” “Russian 11. and aspeciesof this as such species, new of entirely (9) Acochlidiacea consisting community a discovered and outlet, spring the in deeply burried boulders some below dug They zone. intertidal the in right seeping spring karstic a by colleagues Yasunori Kano and Japanese Takuma Haba, who were intrigued our by discovery sensational a of site the nevertheless was This Luganville. outside just “ordinary”, very looked that platform intertidal an investigated have we tides lowest the During 9-10. true its phylogenetic position. unravelled Tillier Simon until order, new a as it classified had and appearance, enigmatic its by mystified been had he However, Rings. the of Lord on theleftsideofcrab). bulge (the isopod bopyrid a by parasitized itself was it that Wefound examined. was crab the When clam. Neritilia Santo 2006progress report (10).

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MARINE MARINE Santo 2006progress report

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MARINE TERRESTRIAL BIODIVERSITY

Santo 2006 - Section 2 Preliminary Reports on the «Forests, Mountains & Rivers» component

Introduction

The “Forest, Mountains & Rivers” component in the chapter entitled “Preliminary Reports on TERRESTRIAL (FMR) of the Santo 2006 expedition can be divided the Travelling Team Works”. TERRESTRIAL in two main categories of scientific activities: random sampling for a qualitative inventory in different parts To a certain extend overlapping did exist between of the island, and structured sampling for a quantitative these two sub-components, as some of the travelling inventory of a limited area. scientists surveyed the Penaoru Valley and some of the IBISCA representatives surveyed at random sites The first sub-component involved scientists around close to the altitudinal transect and at other locations the Penaoru base camp for a deep qualitative and as well. quantitative survey along an altitudinal transect from ca. 50 m above sea level (asl.) to 1500m asl. in the The chapter entitled “Preliminary Report on the Penaoru river basin, on the west coast of Santo. Botanical and Mycological Work” exemplify In this report, the preliminary results are put together these overlapping as it is grouping the results of in the chapter entitled “Preliminary Report on the botanical studies conducted within the IBISCA the IBISCA project”, IBISCA program with the studies conducted (Investigating the BIodiversity of Soil elsewhere in the island by the and Canopy Arthropods) being both traveling team. the name of an international program and a brand for a new and unifying The FMR component has benefited way of surveying the arthropod life in from the strong logistical support forests. offered by the Vanuatu Maritime College (VMC) which was of great The second sub-component was help as most of the scientific activities designed to get a broad picture of the took place in remote part of the island fauna and flora. Scientists did island with no road access. Most of not traveled everywhere, but in pre- the scientists traveled by sea thanks selected sites supposed to host intact to the Euphrosyne vessel which was ecosystems that are representatives of refurbished as part of this expedition the island diversity of environments. and will continue being used by the The preliminary results of individual Maritime College. She was at the group of researchers are put together Study location project disposal during October and

Santo 2006 progress report 14

TERRESTRIAL Preliminary ReportontheIBISCA project they providedtoeachvisitingteam. services numerous the for and scientists the of some peninsula have to be warmly Cumberland the of coast thanked on east the on for or coast either west accommodating the visited village Every camp. base Penaoru the running and building in help considerable of were villagers Penaoru communities. local the by support strong a from benefited also has component FMR The November 06. by Yves Basset, Bruno Corbara and Hector Barrios the Conceived IBISCA-model. the of development the to led that – results such essentially obtaining of the nature long-term with contrasted results for quality need urgenthigh the – dilemma apparent this was It research groupmethodologies. single- traditional, by out carried if study careful decades of optimistically taking, and business slow a painstaking is forests subtropical and tropical from has been modern established it that wresting high all, quality of information at exists tradition biodiversity arthropod a of studies as Inasmuch animal particular. terrestrial in of fraction Insecta the and arthropods the of up made is greatest diversity the far By humanity. to benefits long-term the and alleviation poverty for harnessed be ecosystems forested and natural resources of services the can management proper such by use. human only and And sustainability for nagement ma to key viable only the is understanding such but portance im for the understanding of ecosystem fundamental dynamics of results such are only Not gists. ecolo forest for challenge key the is generated been and erecting hypotheses about how these patterns have biodiversity forest in patterns significant Identifying � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � - - - � � � � � innovation. scientific of best the of spirit the in – pre-planning to future activities which owe more to serendipidity than and collaborations to led also has mission focussed a with group international this within collegiality The would need to produce even a fraction of these results. much longer period that any individual research group the requiring than rather years four to two of period a within available generally be to likely are results protocols. And sampling and groups arthropod different across patterns general detect to combined are sults re the of summaries which in syntheses importance, more of and, participants the of subsets various from results scientific individual to both lead will is This field. the in design experimental maintained and ved concei centrally a against out carried but bear to tise exper own their brought Each participated. countries for arthropod biodiversity. About 40 scientists from 15 foci as canopy forest the with compared layer ground the of importance relative the of question vexed the tackle to 2003-04 in work field of blocks two for nists bota and entomologists of team international large a together brought which study a executed and ganised or proposed, They 2003-2004. in Panama in forest rain lowland in out carried was Project IBISCA first � � � � � � � Santo 2006progress report Cape Cumberland

15 ------

TERRESTRIAL MARINE rainforest (500-1200masl). pristine less or more of elevations higher to asl) 500m 300- (ca. disturbance altitudes patchy and occasional only with to up - agriculture shifting through impact human substantial experienced has which strip coastal narrow the from transition a represents transect This

Santo- West Coast Aims andContext The Penaoruvalley, West Santo Cumberland PeninsulaofSantoIsland, Vanuatu. the of coast west the on Penaoru of village the above 100 to 1200m above sea level within the Saratsi Range to mosses angiosperms) varies along an altitudinal gradient from (from plants the and which arthropods in of way diversity the examined has Project Santo the Project Queensland IBISCA the with parallel In Santo 2006GlobalBiodiversitySurvey. the of component Rivers” and Mountains “Forest, the within embedded project a been has IBISCA-Santo are currentlyattheconceptualstage. (‘IBISCA-Queensland’). Other such IBISCA Queensland projects south-east in Park National Lamington Vanuatuand Island, (‘IBISCA-Santo’) Santo in vities ther than an acronym and which led to the current acti ‘IBISCA’that decision ‘brand’ra a identifier became tions of forest biodiversity elsewhere. It was from this ques important other to applied be should and could international model was of such potential power that it in held collaborative, this that agreed was team it 2005 in IBISCABrussels original the of meeting a As - - - gradients has a particular relevance to understanding to relevance particular a has gradients how assemblages of biodiversity differ along altitudinal • biogeographical importance. considerable of be continents will and themselves islands continental islands, oceanic patterns, and the implied underlying processes, among between contrasts the particular In world. the around rainforests subtropical and tropical other from those with resonate and to relevance have will results The of understanding ecosystem processes within these little studied forests. an to contribution fundamental a from be) represent may will station case altitudinal to the station altitudinal as differ, not do (or differ • of thisenvironmentally-consciousnation. are essential to feed into the future conservation strategies data inventory basic Such past. the in surveyed little been has which Pacific the of region a from data • The motivationsforsuchstudyareseveral-fold: such ‘predictorsets’ forfuture monitoringbedefined. can IBISCA-Queensland) (and IBISCA-Santo as such surveys baseline extensive the through Only the in future. techniques assessment expensive) less much altitude changes will be those of most use in rapid (and to altitude clear show taxa which protocols of sampling group and that because be principally will This future. the in effectively most done be can monitoring (altitudinal zones or climatic adjacent across changes And, in a warming world, quantifying how biodiversity responses. climate-driven these on data useful getting of ways efficacious most the are gradients altitudinal spatial of climate terms change, so studies of in biodiversity Inasmuch change along latitude recapitulates climate). altitude in as changes to responding themselves are communities ecological which in ways of structure manifold the the conversely,(or, communities determining ecological in climate of role the aiuia) il lo ietfiain f o such how of identification allow will latitudinal) Perhaps of most importance, identification of identification importance, most of Perhaps diversity of components which in way The inventory primary generate will results The Santo 2006progress report

16

TERRESTRIALTERRESTRIAL MARINE TERRESTRIAL r lzbt BON Ryl oaia gardens, Botanical Sydney, Royal AUSTRALIA. Bryophyta. BROWN, Elizabeth Botanical Dr Missouri MCPHERSON, Gardens, USA.FloraofNew Caledonia. Gordon Dr Fiji. IRD, TUIWAWA,Marika Dr FIJI. Herbarium, Fiji Leader), (Team Noumea. FloraofNewCaledonia. MUNZINGER Jérôme Dr herbivory, The BotanicalTeam Canopy BRAZIL. Preto, Endophytic insects. Ouro of Orthoptera, Mr Milton Barbosa DA SOUZA jnr, Federal University FRANCE. Beating Programme. d’Histoire Limoges, of Societe University Clermont-Ferrand BOITIER, d’Orbigny, Alcide Naturelle, Emmanuel Mr. FRANCE. Clermont-Ferrand, Hymenoptera, Pompilidae. d’Orbigny, Alcide Naturelle, d’Histoire Societe Mr.DURAND, Frederic Trap Light programme. Lepidoptera, University, AUSTRALIA. Griffith Brisbane, KITCHING, Roger Professor Erlangen- programme, Barkspraying. of University Nuremberg, GERMANY. SCHMIDL, Coleoptera, Special Habitats Juergen Dr Hymenoptera, Malaise Trap programme. FRANCE. Paris, MNHN, VILLEMANT, Claire TrapDr Interception Histeridae, Programme. Coleoptera, USA. Louisiana, of University TISHECHKIN, Alexei Dr BELGIUM. SocialInsects,ants. M. Thibaud DELSINNE, Free University of Brussels, Social Insects,ants. Dr Jerome ORIVEL, University of Toulose, FRANCE. Sciences, Brussels,BELGIUM.SocialInsects, Ants, Brussels, of Belgium Academy Royal LEPONCE, of Dr.Maurice University Free BELGIUM. SocialInsects,termites. ROISIN, Yves Dr Social insects,antbiologyandethology. Leader), TeamUniversite Blaise and Pascal, Clermont-Ferrand, (Project FRANCE. CORBARA Bruno Dr The EntomologicalTeam were asfollows. with concerned institutional affiliations and primary those areas of expertise their and participants, These endeavours. entomological survey botanical in involved those teams: complimentary two comprised The participants in the IBISCA-Santo study essentially Personnel Flora of Flora and

from mid-October to early December 2006. Individual period the during Penaoru of village km the 4 of upstream base-camp Penaoru the at based - work Field The FieldProgramme FRANCE, climber. Arborist, Mr.MATHIAS,Frederic Independent Boult, Arborist, Independent SEREIN, Sapogne, FRANCE,climber. Jean-Yves Mr. Arboricole Association FRANCE. Mr. Jean-Baptiste GOASGLAS, Monitor Treeclimbing, Support Team Araliaceae. NEW USA. Gardens, LOWRY,Botanical Pete Noumea, Missouri Dr IRD, RIGAULT,CALEDONIA. Technical assistant. Frederic Mr. ap a lctd bu 5m o h ws aog the along west Seratsi Rangeat960maltitude. the to 5km about located subsidiary was A camp altitude. 50m about at River Penaoru the on Penaoru of village was the of upstream base-camp 4km about The established. were camps Two three tosixweeks. from varying periods for field the in were participants Rainforest at1200masl. Santo 2006progress report

17

TERRESTRIAL MARINE Vegetation andBotanicalSurvey

htgah wr as tkn f pce ta had that species of flowers andorfruits. taken also were Photographs packets. coffee in stored were These gel. silica over dried and Where collected were camp. samples base DNA the appropriate at dried later in and initially field the processed were collected materials All o ec tge pat hraim pcmn were specimens herbarium plant, tagged each For level wherepossible. tagged, and dbh measured and plant identified at (dbh) least to the genus numbered height located, were breast height) at (1.2m diameter 5cm than greater plants all which within quadrat reference 20m x 20m a surveyed team botanical the sites these of most At 150m asl.(1site)and300msite). at established were sites additional the and sites), (3 sea above level (asl.) (3 sites), 600m 900m asl. (3 sites) and 1200m asl. at established were sites core The established. were sites additional four and core Nine of lianasandepiphyteshighupintheverytalltrees. also and trees collected canopy and to emergent from used specimens were climbers Tree quadrat. the outside plants other all for out collection carried also General then was collected. also were dbh <5cm saplings and shrubs lianas climbers, epiphytes, Other enough then present was materials wascollectedforatleastfive duplicates. materials fertile if and prepared was voucher single a sterile was plant the If collected. o ec seis olce a esnl collection to allspecimenspreparedfromthatspecies. personal a collected number assigned by one of the botanists was allocated species each For Santo 2006progress report

18

TERRESTRIALTERRESTRIAL MARINEMARINE TERRESTRIAL Entomological Surveys

each. These traps rely use a neon tube attached to a to attached tube neon a use rely traps These each. at nights two for locations five all at used were traps light Pennsylvania-style modified programme, this In Light Trap Survey complimentary sub-projectsasfollows: The IBISCA entomologicalteamcarriedout out complimentarysub-projectsasfollows: and field the both canopy layers.The IBISCA in entomological team carried collecting general and dead of wood examination extractors, bag litter Winkler leaf using from fauna of extraction trapping, pitfall included These methods. complimentary of a variety using sites all at collected were termites and Ants Leponce, Orivel,Roisin) The SocialInsectTeam (Kitching) series of each were pinned in were counted and substantial encountered specimens All targeted.were Pyralidae and Cossidae Hepialidae, plus the to ‘macro-’families traditional belonging Moths sampling moths and beetles. for effective particularly are They attracts insects. and night-flying range ultra- violet the in significantly emits light battery.The 12v (Corbara, Delsinne,

l ohr rus f net wr peevd n 70% in preserved ethanol for further sorting upon their return to Europe. were insects of groups other All identification. future for France to transportation for camps field the

Santo 2006progress report

19

TERRESTRIAL for furthersortinginFrance. preserved was material All 2m. about to level ground from vegetation targeting site each in out carried beating was of particularly 2h and targeted were altitudes All free-living, them. exploit which predators the sampling and insects herbivorous for methods that vegetation with a stick. It is a simple but effective flat ‘beating’and vegetation underneath surface collecting a holding involves beating by insects Sampling

uad lo neto gnrl olcig t all of at Hymenoptera. families selected of collecting particular, in search, general in sites undertook also Durand returned toFranceforfurther sorting. be to ethanol in preserved were catches general The particular Sphecidae). for and Pompilidae (especially examined groups target were Catches (only). site 600m the at established was traps such of transect A Collembola. and Diptera Hymenoptera, sampling in ground dwelling fauna. They are particularly effective some accumulate also They colouration. yellow the ‘aerial interception and ameasureofshort-range attraction to the of passive part on rely They forests. are all in plankton’present detergent- which insects of flying trays small small target They are ground. the on placed water impregnated traps pan Yellow Yellow PanTrapping Beating Programme

(Boitier) processes withthoseoccurringintheforestcanopy. ground-zone contrast to elevation each at a site at single transect horizontal a established he addition In ground. the from heights all at leaves collect representative to protocol sampling hand standard, a ones, using 1200m the except sites all at canopy upper to ground from transects vertical established Souza Da herbivore the fauna oftherainforest. of component important and studied galls which they induce in the leaves. in These are or a little leaves the of laminae either the within plant leaf-miners the as to attached less or more are Others leaf surfacesandedges. of grazing or browsing free-living are these of Many Leaves represent key resources for herbivorous insects. Canopy to Ground from Organisms Endophytic

(Da Souza) Santo 2006progress report

20

TERRESTRIALTERRESTRIAL MARINE TERRESTRIAL All-taxa canopyprogrammeusingthecanopy-glider (Villemant, Durand) Malaise Trap Programme for furthersortinginFrance. sampling Hymenoptera and Diptera. in Specimens were preserved effective particularly are but insects of and hauled into the canopy. Malaise traps catch a range frame a in mounted was trap one altitude, each at site one in addition, In traps. zone ground with targeted were altitudes all at the Sites of design. were Townes so-called surveys IBSICA the in used traps The upper-canopy. the in sampling to for Canopy-Glider the device, flying attempt new a of use the first and technique rope single combine the represents IBISCA-SANTO the since sampling starting offieldstudiesinPanama (2003). and access state-of-the-art canopy of employs methods programme IBISCA The

aas tas are traps Malaise 70% ethanol. containing collector apical a into directing them flying insects, intercept actively which structures tent-like

oain A ag o atrpd rus a be may groups arthropod of encountered inthisfashion. spraying range the A beneath location. arranged sheets on samples resulting the collecting and pyrethrum-aerosol a with surfaces bark spraying involved sub-programme This of theIBISCA Project. dedicated a goals overall the within glider the for project research devise to helped the However flights work. demonstration scientific for it essentially use to was late it too constraints, logistics of because Santo in running and up was it time the by but, tool The Canopy-Glider showed great promise as a research pca Hbtt ad ak Spraying Bark and Programme Habitats Special

(Schmidl) Santo 2006progress report wtrfild treeholes) and barksurfaces. phytotelmata (water-filled fruiting bodies, fungus and dead wood, as such structures resources from collected hand He sites. habitats at these all altitudes and targetted Schmidl fauna. habitats insect specialized which, potentially, contain there patchily distributed localized forest are any In

21

TERRESTRIAL were allocatedtothe2000+specimenscollected. at the Penarou camp more than 600 collection numbers based botanists three the for and plants of ferns, species 300 around represented These survey. comprising the of course the specimens 2000 during collected were angiosperms and gymnosperms than More americanus, Erythrina variegata, Pometia pinnata a as like trees described deciduous best be can seasonal or semi-deciduous forest with the presence of here vegetation The the wholetransect. exposed along encountered such lowest the be would with zones ground forests in diversity and partially density of 2-4cm about tree the litter.Overall leaf) (mostly of plant decomposed layer a with exposed inutilis include trees subcanopy common relatively in genus the Annonaceae an is tree canopy sub common most bijuga included vitiensis found here include is tree australe emergent common and the around and In around thebasecamp(80masl.to1200masl.). and most widespread taxa are two The taxa. the collected commonly and diverse most being Myrtaceae and Orchidaceae families the with sample the dominate angiosperms the Overall Pacific Herbarium,Fiji) South Tuiwawa, Marika Dr. by provided (account The Vegetation

uniaie eut wl b frhoig following forthcoming further laboratory-basedprocessingofoursamples. be will results quantitative and precise only More out-of-context. indicative quoted be NOT are should Numbers findings. our of We describe here first impressions and broad summaries Indicative Results Myristica , and Macaranga Ohr re ta fr te aoy layer canopy the form that trees Other . . Other relatively common large emergent trees Pterocarpus indica Pterocarpus Meiogyne Garcinia

inutilis 100m and 300m and 100m sp., and Dysoxylum which grows up to 4m tall. Other tall. 4m to up grows which Terminalia catappa, Gyrocarpus catappa, Terminalia p Te oet or s mostly is floor forest The sp. and these are found in forests in found are these and Calophyllum neo-ebudicum and 1000masl. tree species in the forest between 600 common most the of one Fruit ofMyristicainutilis, Aleurites moluccana , Pometia pinnata Pometia sp.and plots the dominant the plots Castenospermum Dracontomelon Myristica , Intsia . The and

and Dicksonia Vavaea include trees canopy sub common more the of Some trees canopy Tapeinosperma common Other include layer. canopy and and sp., included area the in common relatively of about 200cm are common. Other large trees that are is the Kaori tree ( At A giantKaori(Agathismacrophylla), PenaoruValley ca.1000m. tree is At of oceanic islands. type typically found on the leeward side a of large, of high is forest the overall but elements drier indicate lianas of lot a of presence the and forest-floor the on lack of ground cover. A relatively thin layer of debris lebbeck Albizia Selaginella the 900m plots the 600m elevation Eugenia Dysoxylum Syzygium Agathis macrophylla sp., aohlu no ebudicum neo- Calophyllum sp. Myristica sp. The ground cover is mostly composed , sp. These trees form both the emergentthe both form trees These sp. withafewlowgrowingferns.

Garcinia pseudoguttifera sp., sp., , an open under-storey and a general a and under-storey open an , Agathis macrophylla) and their surroundings the dominant Semecarpus Geissois sp., Santo 2006progress report plots the dominant tree species Psychotria . p, and sp., sp., sp., Elaeocarpus , - trees with dbh Terminalia , Garcinia Dacrycarpus Syzygium Cyathea

sp., sp., sp., sp. sp. 22

TERRESTRIALTERRESTRIAL MARINE plots inthe900melevation. with compared when less be may dbh) (>5cm density type vegetation. The flora is more diverse here but tree covered a lot of stems indicates a montane cloud-forest elements ally like fern cryptic some of occurrence The cover.ground the formed that community plant the in diversity greater and epiphytes of abundance greater commonly occurred here. A noticeable feature was the collina Other elevations. lower commonly occurring large at trees included noticed as common as is species dominant still the where dramatically quite At diameters with 35m to up exceeding 2m. of heights reach can Calophyllum 900m elevation could be best described as an to 600 the between encounterd forest-type the Overall and include trees large Melicope Other tree. Dacrycarpus subcanopy a as Calophyllum neo- ebudicum the 1200m asl plots asl 1200m the Podocarpus neriifolius Tmesipteris gti macrophylla Agathis . A subcanopy palm in the genus sp., forest type where some emergent kauri emergent some where type forest sp., Elaeocarpus sp., and mosses and liverworts which liverworts and mosses and sp., oyca vanuatua Polyscias the plant community changes community plant the u is curne s not is occurrence its but . sp., is very common especially ersdrs collina Metrosideros , Cyphosperma Metrosideros Turrillia Agathis– sp.,

o ey ieped pce ocrig throughout that is comment occurring overall An region. species Asia-Pacific the widespread very to belong these of least at Some samples. the of feature a were moths) (hawk sphingids large very of influxes Light Trap Survey apparent. are that patterns the on made be can comments before analysis further in require will and still transit are Samples Leponce, Orivel,Roisin) Team Insect Social The note. true and of crickets). bush-crickets The species dominance of Gryllidae was (grasshoppers, 25 of particular about Orthoptera encountered Boitier Overall identification critical later. awaits endemism of levels of Determinism samples. (Gryllidae) the of many dominated and crickets spiders produced although species few relatively actually programme beating The Beating Programme the using identification resources ofEuropeanandotherMuseums. further after be will endemism determined an of Levels with fauna. island oceanic associated the with expectations line in biogeographical is rainforests) tropical other with contrast (in species of number modest relatively the The Arthropod Fauna

Santo 2006progress report (Kitching)

(Boitier)

h smls Occasional samples. the in uncommon relatively samples Geometridae were other undisturbed rainforest and the samples. In contrast to dominated s.) s. Crambidae Pyralidae both (comprising l. s. Pyralidae The families Noctuidae and at species. 350 about estimate, comprised, first survey. the These the of course during processed were moths 5500 About Craa Delsinne, (Corbara,

23

TERRESTRIAL abundant cricketfaunanotedelsewhere. the upon prey well may sphecids The families. wasp a rangeof others from and six sphecid wasp species of from Vanuatu (and a particular target of the surveys), 9 recorded previously not Pompilidae, family wasp the connection, this In wasps. predatory of families target to particular used were they In sorting. further awaits which material of mixture rich a contained samples pan yellow The Yellow PanTrapping that areapparent. further require patterns the on made be will can comment before analysis and transit in still are Samples to Canopy Ground from Organisms Endophytic numerous atthe1200metrelevelthanelsewhere. more noted be to appeared was Empididae Diptera, among it that, However, specimens. the and identifying sorting before discussed be cannot fauna and the of represented Verticalnumbers. small in collected were distribution poorly Hymenoptera Other diverse. most the Platygastroidea particularly Chalcidoidea appeared microhymenoptera, Among diverse. less be to seemed Braconidae whereas species so or twenty for accounted Ichneumonidae island. Pacific Such a species scarcity may be expected for an isolated showed a relative scarcity of samples the trap Malaise the of parasitoid examination first Aquick Hymenoptera. Malaise Trap Programme

(Da Souza)

Durand encountered two species of species two encountered Durand

(Durand) (Villemant, Durand) etc., indicating a habitat populated by a characteristic a by populated habitat a indicating etc., taxa Lathridiidae, Carabidae, Pseudoscorpiones like Acari, of proportions consistent and high richness have species NP Lamington in samples bark tree The NP,Queensland. Lamington in taken samples 64 the with compared when results different very - field the from in impressions first samples the of basis spray the on - bark show Santo 40 The distribution. of patterns and richness species on information extract to laboratory, the in progress in hand- is samples the collected of gradient. morphospecies-sorting altitudinal and Mounting the along the assemblages in differences beetle clear shows camp) the in sorted already were (which samples the of screening first A numbers intheColeoptera. saproxylic insects, with highest species and individual of species numerous yielded collecting habitat special the Consequently, distributed forest. the in insects unevenly was for resource “patchy”, stages abundant successional most different the at Spraying wood Bark Dead and Programme Habitats Special mlctos f h dt a wl a o altitudinal on as biogeographical well as on gradients. data the focus of will implications analysis Further are missinginallthebarksamples. Lathridiidae) Carabidae, (e.g. taxa many and patterns clear in no reveal samples island Santo bark young geologically tree the The community. arthropod (Schmidl) Santo 2006progress report

24

TERRESTRIALTERRESTRIAL MARINE TERRESTRIAL hc so te ot ct cags rm altitude from changes acute most the show which identify orders) even families, genera, (species, taxa to particular able be will we comparisons such From in suchcomparativeanalyses. legitimately without any of the caveats usually present compared and aligned be from can sub-projects results individual that is design experimental common a against approach multi-dimensional our of strengths As mentioned at the outset of this report one of the great Comparative Analyses f h IIC-at Poet eurs substantial requires Project IBISCA-Santo the of All material collected during the field expedition phase Further processingandanalysis ‘IBISCA-Model’. the using projects future of development the finally, our results within the Santo surveys and beyond; and, and of analyses comparative the samples; processing our of analysis further the categories: broad into falls three surveys our from stemming work Future specialist taxonomists. be effortsof long-term the requires amounts) substantial will there anticipate we which (of material new of description and identification the Finally studies. ecological than identification of levels further require do biogeographers, to interest particular of studies, not Faunistic do samples. of analysis, identification total on depend multivariate on generally based these, of first The papers. taxonomic and faunistic ecological, specialised of form the take will products For many of the sub-projects we envisage that scientific international museumvisits. for funding special taxonomic of receipt the on or beleaguered community!) globally the among easily found (not others of goodwill the on either and, depend London will Paris, identification further Such Honolulu. in probably, collections comparisons Museum direct with require will identification and works on the Vanuatu fauna makes this doubly monographic difficult previous of absence The identified. be to are encountered species the of proportion a even if ants and termites) substantial further effort is required have already been extracted (as in the case of the moths, appropriate specialists. Even where particular groups by subsamples these of possible, were identification, mixed major sorting samples to finer involves levels of taxonomic resolution This and the work. further Future Activities ihn raoal tm-rm (rbby 12-18 (probably in time-frame together worked who convened scientists the that be so months) must Workshopappropriate An reasonable a within • Scientific leadership will be required at theheartofourmethodology; to ‘drive’ the production of the comparative syntheses which are be must subprojects the within from Results • generated withinreasonabletimeframes; • will effective, be require anumberofdrivers: to analyses, comparative These basis. global a on evaluated be Vanuatucan our results that so extended be can experimental comparisons such that similar is design, essentially an Project using IBISCA-Queensland is which the with Project this of coincidence The frames. time long over to or place place from either – climate in changes for detecting appropriate most the to as propose monitors can and we managers that taxa these is It altitude. to interest. scientific great of and useful both be will biodiversity on activities human such of impacts the of nature the had of have study Explicit forests impact. most anthropogenic know substantial we Yet sites. forest undisturbed less or more of biodiversity the examine to hereto methods multi-dimensional these used have subtropical methods in a temperate setting. Further we particular interest to apply these essentially of tropical be and example, for might, It questions. ecological or sites candidate of shortage no is There forest biodiversity. of study the for projects complimentary with new developed further be the should not ‘IBISCA-Model’ or whether to as arises question the Finally Future IBISCA’s? these activities. • syntheses; proposed to contributions as fieldwork their of results the field can be reunited and present the more digested Post field work funding will be essential for essential be will funding work field Post Santo 2006progress report

25

TERRESTRIAL pcmn i al, es f hc wl b deposited be will which of sets all), in specimens 5,000 about nearly of of total a average (for specimens an duplicate four comprised team the collection by Each made three. of factor a least at by island interesting botanically this from gatherings of number the increasing collections, plant vascular 1,200 nearly of total a made Together expedition. 2006 Santo the of components various the in participated mycologists two dozen experiencedfield botanistsand than a More Micological and Botanical the Components on Report Preliminary h Sno 06 xeiin Atog w hv not number have total the on data comprehensive we compiled yet Although expedition. 2006 Santo the during recorded were plants vascular of species 800 of identification 700- about that preliminary indicate which field, the in collections made team field The the evaluate and groups plant relationships ofspeciesoccurringonSanto. various of history labs throughout the world research to determine in the evolutionary conducted being analyses for value great of be will these gel; silica in preserved and specimen herbarium each with along collected was material leaf of amount small a addition, In Fiji. in Pacific South the of University the at and (USA), Garden Botanical Missouri the Caledonia), (New Nouméa in IRD Paris, in Museum the at and Vila, Port in herbarium the at

oe per o e opeey e seis never species, new completely be to appear more not previously recorded on Santo, and at least a dozen were that collected were species of Hundreds our flora. island, the from documented the double surely almost will collections known previously plants of with epiphytes. lower altitude, reach above the canopy and are covered genus the to and the presence of exceptionally large trees belonging by a remarkable abundance and diversity of liverwort, found type, characterized is altitude, 100m about above primarily forest major second the The within type archipelago. vegetation this of examples remaining intact only the perhaps Santo on those making over-exploitation, from pressure heavy under come Vanuatu,in have they where Erromango, and Anatom islands other two on only recorded been have forests Kaori branches. sprawling its on grow that species epiphytic of dozens for habitat perfect a canopy provide and surrounding the above far extend that trees conifer genus the of species one by dominated are ridges, along including altitude, 900m to 600m about from forest found forests, intact Kaori of altitudes. higher types at noted main were Two places. many in impressive number of lianas cover most of the canopy an and modified significantly been has structure the which in Santo, of rest the of much throughout also and Peninsula, Cumberland the of slope eastern the along and west the in altitude lower at found forests secondary highly widespread, above the and occur altitude 600m that forests well-structured and intact largely spectacular, is the vegetation between contrast Santo’s strong of the aspect striking most The before seenbyscientists. Agathis Metrosideros , , A. macrophylla, A. Santo 2006progress report wih ie h koi at kaoris the like which , which form massive form which

26

TERRESTRIALTERRESTRIAL MARINE TERRESTRIAL r wl dvrie, n as svrl pce o tree of species several also and diversified, well are especially species of Hymenophyllaceae (Photo opposite), visited, which were that forests frequently the were in observed that species fern epiphytic for certain favorable adding particularly These are captured, conditions rainfall. ecological is from mist precipitation to and significantly fog, clouds, from humidity atmospheric where forests”, “cloud montane humid, in diverse and abundant especially are Ferns cross-over Peninsula Cumberland expedition. the during sites, also several Tabwemasana, at Mt. Butmas, plants including important these and on specialist interesting a Rouhan, Germinal by mostly made were species fern of collections 200 than More already found ten likely candidates (see below), and below), (see have candidates likely we ten found identifications, already preliminary our on Based by thebotanicalteam. collected were plants flowering of species new many the expedition, we are virtually certain that material of 5m long. Given how under-explored Santo was prior to than 10m in height and have leaves (fronds) more than more to reach can which of some (Cyatheaceae), fern Botanical Inventory indicates thatitmaybeanew species. 600 m elevation at Penaoru, and our initial examination material of a tall tree belonging to this genus in forest at Terminalia New species (Combretaceae). We collected flowering collected We (Combretaceae). Penaoru and , found arenewtoscience. from Vanuatu, previously it is possible that one or reported both of the plants we been never had genus the genus tree Citronella and Paris. Nouméa in herbaria the in studied carefully more are collections our as found be doubt no will more many

(Icacinaceae) Citronella were collected on Santo. Since Santo. on collected were Santo 2006progress report Cloud forest, at1500m(Saratsirange) . . Two distinct species of the of species Twodistinct

27

TERRESTRIAL

G.denhamii Polyscias genus. this to belonging species new a likely is that of plant a 1300m at forest humid altitude high in collected Xylosma new speciestoscience. a be also might it that suggesting characters, several to appears material resemble Our Vanuatu. from unknown valley,Penaoru in collected was previously was which Gmelina Butmas, which genus seems different from the the only previously to belonging Geissois

Polyscias sp. an undescribedspecies. of plant female a collected Breynia a newspeciesaswell. at Penaoru, and this is probably and Tabwemasana Mt. both on found was species third a However, be to appears seen. what one not other Santo was the but during 2006, collected ( these of One Vanuatu. in species recorded previously two by Cunoniaceae, of Weinnmania Epobaee. h btn ta also team botany The (Euphorbiaceae). . denhamii W. Cnnaee. vr dsicie species distinctive very A (Cunoniaceae). Slcca) Foeig aeil was material Flowering (Salicaceae). (Verbenaceae). A tree belonging to this genus Aaica) Svrl olcin o a of collections Several (Araliaceae). mln vitiensis Gmelina (Cunoniaceae). Weinmannia was ) eodd o te rt time ever onSanto. first the for recorded of member genus, the second a and on Tabwemasana and made at were genus this of species new probable Geissois rm ii bt ifr in differs but Fiji, from Breynia nw seis recorded species known a noveltyforscience. be may Santo from plant the that Pacific,suspects theSouthwest in family is preparing who his Ph.D. on this Pillon, Yohan Vanuatuin (

, is likewise represented likewise is , Vanuatu’sgenus second

a cletd in collected was that is potentially is that . schmidtii P. G.denhamii Weinmannia sp. Penaoru, was , Mt. ). the secondonemaybeanewspecies. Vanuatufrom ( recorded been previously had genus the of member One species. distinct two represent to appear which not was collections, chlorophyll, several made we until Santo from known lacks entirely which genus, Sciaphila a on representing 1000m Santo, and 600 between collected also was Anatom, of island southernmost the from only vanuatua species, known previously second Schefflera A member in Vanuatu. other one has and Caledonia New in centered which Tabwemasana,the to belongs that on ever time first the for collected species, new a represents clearly which of one Santo, on occur genus Schefflera surely containseveralnew species. almost Santo, on documented been before never have which orchids, epiphytic The inventoried. been otherwise have not could that flora the poorly- of very portion known and important an to access providing botanists, the with worked who climbers tree expert species branches of the large epiphytic trees. This among was made possible by habitats the specialized exclusively to restricted are that many of material collected, the botany team was able to obtain excellent to the numerous many terrestrial species that are easily addition In beautiful. particularly are which of many orchids, of species in abound forests humid Santo’s Tirdca) Ti dsicie parasitic distinctive This (Triuridaceae). Aaica) Svrl ebr o this of members Several (Araliaceae). Sciaphila aneityensis Sciaphila Santo 2006progress report ,

Dizygotheca Coelogyne macdonaldii ), suggesting that suggesting ), Schefflera vanuatu

group, Mt. 28

TERRESTRIALTERRESTRIAL MARINE TERRESTRIAL area of 4,800 m comprising an area of 400m each Penaoru, at established were plots 12 of total A these forests. from came expedition 2006 Santo the during documented plants exciting and interesting many the “Moist as characterized Lowland Forest” and “Montane Forest”. Nearly all of be can and in composition, diverse more considerably were altitudes at higher types forest better-preserved much Lowland The Deciduous Forest”. “Mixed called be would type from New Caledonia and/or Fiji, where this vegetation with other species that members of the team recognized along species Island Pacific widespread numerous of disturbed, with very low tree densities and the presence very is 600m below vegetation the that was work plot the from finding notable most The Pacific. SW the throughout conducted being studies similar of series a to contribute will which composition, and structure forest on data quantitative obtain to order in at Penaoru plots of series a established also team our Santo, In addition to conducting botanical inventory work on Plots Studies were also collected that are possibly associated with associated possibly are that collected also symbionts were potential Two Tremellales). (e.g. fungi ( insects of plant represent parasites (some collections polypores for instance), other parasites few wood The ascomycetes). dead various and polypores, on fungi, resupinate (including generally were growing collected fungi saprophytes, of majority large the dry, so Dictydium genera the of Myxomycetes fifteen some also but mushrooms), larger (the Asco- Basidiomycota and mainly taxa, different 300-350 specimens representing 400 ca. collected team mycological the fungi were too dry for the profuse fruiting of material, for examined were that sites the of several Although Mycology No.ofgenera Altitude (no.of No. ofspecies individuals No. of plots) and Cordyceps 2 . Within each plot, all trees with a Arcyria 150 (1) p) o prsts f other of parasites or sp.), Bcue odtos were conditions Because . 23 9 9 2 (20 × 20m), for a total of 300 (1) 14 14 33 Physarum DBH 600 (3) 208 55 42 ,

structural data that will be used by the entomologists. the by used be will that data structural and floristic of baseline IBISCAstudy,a the ensuring for sites inventory the as served also plots the Santo, on forests the characterizing for basis a providing to sterile collections have been carefully analyzed). In addition the all once available be will figure more accurate (a high particularly be to appear numbers the over-estimate, especially for the plots trees at 1200 slight m, a where likely these is this although species, that 233 represent indicate results preliminarily Our cm DBH 5 least (at trees 947 of total A plots. the within occurring as species herbaceous and well shrubs fertile from as fruits), and/or flowers (with trees fertile from made were collections herbarium duplicate five as where identification, for plants sterile from taken was specimen Aindividual. single each of made was were numbered cm with 5 a than permanent more label, or and equal a height) collection breast at (diameter local population. the by well-known and Santo on distributed widely of the genera fungi bioluminescent the are phenomenon spectacular genus legume the of trees examined plant-insect relationshipsatseveralsites. also who team, IBISCA the of members by collected were specimens plant interesting Several ) wererecordedwithinthe12plots. 900 (3) 367 71 53 Mycena (Photo below) and Santo 2006progress report 1200 (3) 316 84 54 Intsia . An interesting and interesting An . Poromycena Total 233 172 947

29 ,

TERRESTRIAL River Team of the Ministry of Lands of Vanuatu. The River TeamVanuatu.River of The Lands of Ministry the of Unit Environment the of of member a participation Kalfatak, Donna the by possible made Vanuatu, was building Australia, Germany and France), (New-Zealand, assisted by local guides. Capacity nationalities River The Teamdifferent5 of persons six of consisted Context Preliminary Reportsforthetravellingteams from Vanuatu. The purpose of the expedition was thus was Vanuatu.from expedition the of purpose The Likewise, Vanuatu. there are also very few species of caddisflies described from reported all at Plecoptera no were Vanuatu.from There known previously were of damselflies species and dragonflies of species 25 and mayflies single a with stages, orders larval aquatic insect obligatory the Regarding known. scarcely was Vanuatuof fauna insect aquatic the contrast, By as wellotherislandsin Vanuatu. Santo, east of drainages other and river Jordan the on The fish specialists in the Team had previously worked Cape of side Bay Cumberland. Big the on Peavot, and Santo, of coast west the on Penaorou, and Tasmate sites: main three of vicinity the in 25 and 4 Nov. between work

Ephemeroptera, Odonata, Plecoptera, and Trichopteraand Plecoptera, Odonata, Ephemeroptera, of diversity broader a is there whether investigate to were alsocollected. stages (Coleoptera, Lepidoptera, emerged.Heteroptera, Diptera) they until life aquatic with groups rivers insect other from Specimens the in cages kept rearing were in mayflies of nets. larvae aquatic mature sturdy were Additionally, and stages nets drift Larval using nets. by caught beating and nets using by sweep rivers the of vegetation adjacent the from collected were imagines Additionally, mayflies. and caddisflies of imagines gain to used was trapping rivers light near mainly insects: aquatic of stages life collecting methods were combined to sample different of river course, and 150 km km 60 about to corresponding catchments, 12 in units fishing 1,100 over Teamsampled River has The Sampling effort than previouslyreported.

Santo 2006progress report 2 of catchment area. Different

30

TERRESTRIALTERRESTRIAL MARINE TERRESTRIAL aiy ande Ehmrpea, poal new and parthogeneticspeciesof probably the a of (Ephemeroptera), record Caenidae first family the is general) in Vanuatu (and Santo on time first the for found species the Among collected maystillincrease. species of amount and quantity the so expedition, the of members other by collected specimens additional However,the collections will be complemented in due course by sampled. orders aquatic remaining the of about 25 species of dragonflies, and few aquatic species as New Caledonia: there were two species of mayflies, be to rather low, out also compared to other Pacific islands such turned richness species the but were collected, insects aquatic of specimens hundred Several areas, workingwiththelocalpopulations. protected of network a create to decision its reinforce to decided has Unit Environment the findings, these of result a As peninsula. Cumberland the in frequent river species generally rare in the region are also more Overall, higher. much also were densities population largera reach species that frequent, that and size adult more are elsewhere rare considered generally species that found and forbidden, is fishing where “taboo”, a by protected sites in sample to allowed was team The Coelacanth”. “River the as to refered will sometimes fish this of history Santo evolutionary the in understand to studies further collected permit specimens additional the Santo. In addition to being a new geographical record, in found now that as same the be may specimens, 4 ( latter, The Caledonia. New in one and Asia southern in one worldwide, species 2 family,by primitive represented a is This 2006. Santo Vanuatuduring from time first the of for recorded now discovery Rhyacichthidae, family the fish the was findings the of highlight The the ancientevolutionaryhistoryonthatisland. as in New Caledonia, which is remarkable considering Vanuatu now stands at ca. 100 species; of this is the same fauna freshwater decapod and fish combined The together. Polynesia French of whole the than species regional perspective, Santo has more fish and decapod a in Placed decapods. all of % 90 as Vanuatu,well as This represents 70 % of the total fish species present in Santo. from recorded now are species decapod 28 and in island richest Vanuatu:the as out altogether, fish 47 stands Santo Crustacea, decapod and fish of terms In First results haihhs sp Rhyacichthys .),

o a kon ny from only known far so Caenis .

Caenis n.sp.,larva(Ephemeroptera: Caenidae) Neurothemis sp.(Odonata: Libellulidae) Rhyacichthys sp. Santo 2006progress report

31

TERRESTRIAL areas ofSanto. with other in teams Santo together other by collected specimens the Museum, Paris the at not or working colleagues, several by studied be will material This collected. extensively been have insects Orthopteroïd new 1 and genus and4newspeciesofphalangopsidcrickets. species, eneopterine new 5 to These science. 3 to include new are them of half least at and Gryllacrididae. 40 to 50 cricket species were collected, of species) new (2 genus new 1 including species, 14 collected we Santo: from known were species katydid 2 only example, For enlarged. greatly been the has island from recorded species ensiferan of number The filmed. and/or photographed been have specimens the collected of Some behaviour). calling male types, habitat several species was documented (diurnal and nocturnal of history natural The kHz). (>30 ultrasounds of use in extensive an communication on based discovered, acoustic been has of crickets mode new A data. enhances the scientific value Most of the performed. associated biological been recorded specimens were have collected, which significantly katydids and of crickets recordings sound of tens Several collected. been have specimens 1500 about surveys, field the During Indicative results Phalangopsidae crickets. especially for two model groups, the Eneopterinae and Ensifera, in modalities communication of origin the Caledonia, and structure New the on studies scale larger in be in integrated also will endemism results The Indomalaysia. of and Oceania origin the programme research on wider a of part is project This species. data was up to now available on no the Similarly,biology only.of Vanuatu data fragmentary few, by now to up known was Vanuatuthe which in area, Ensifera of behaviours). This project represents the first inventory systematics (habitats, species the phylogenetic of characters biological the and their document to in Orthoptera, order ensiferan of to biodiversity was the aim sample our expedition, 2006 Santo the Within Context (account providedbyPr. LaureDesutter, MNHN, France) Crickets (ensiferanOrthoptera) published aboutNewCaledoniacrickets. already we data the with results our compare to scale, regional a at studied be will crickets Phalangopsidae in theLebinthiniclade. evolution the song of analysis in phylogenetic the second of frame and evidence, in put we ultrasounds of use unique the documenting themselves, for both analysed be tribe. will Lebinthini data the Acoustic of eneopterine to analysis phylogenetic the in related included be will crickets specifically more data The the Santoexpedition. during found species Ensifera the all of list a give to and Weorder in specimens, collected the analyse first will processing data analysis Further Cardiodactylus sp.nov. Lebinthus sp.nov. Santo 2006progress report

32

TERRESTRIALTERRESTRIAL MARINE TERRESTRIAL most irrigatedtarofields inSanto. in seen be can and widespread now is and 1970s, the around archipelago the in introduced was Vanuatu.It species, amphibian one Only Amphibians Preliminary results numerous tissuesamplesweretaken. species occurring in the island were photographed and Most Paris. in back so did most and Santo on hatched snakes. We collected 95 lizard eggs among which some around the island, including 1 frog, 507 lizards and 41 trip field weeks 3 a during collected were snakes) and 549 specimens of reptiles and amphibians (frogs, lizards The herpetological field trip to Santo was very fruitful: Litoria aurea (account providedbyDr. IvanIneich,MNHN,France) Herpetofauna Hemidactylus frenatus Litoria aurea Litoria , occurs in occurs , size for the species. We sampled the endemic the Wespecies. sampled the hatching for size and size egg on data first the obtained we gecko Vanuatu endemic vanuatuensis the unknown) of (previously eggs several and specimens nine collected also We conservation. gecko’s island allowing islands: this method will have an important impact on method sampling tropical many on new possible is inventories gecko easier a that showing uncommon. We also obtained results (to be published) is not as rare as expected, but its habits make sightings considered as rare. Our results showed that the species uncommon Voracious Gecko the ( including species, gekkonid seven collected We recently was The gekkonids iguanid Fijian introduced onEfateIslandonly. A Scincidae). and (Gekkonidae families two to belong Vanuatulizards Lizards trip butwereunlucky. the during species that collect to Weexpected Santo. in found not was specimens, ancient few by known ( Vanuatugecko endemic or west of the Cape Cumberland mountain range. One east localization and elevation to according species, common and widespread a the of of variation assessment intra-island an allow will data These Santo. multicarinatus . Some of these eggs hatched in Paris and at several localities and elevations in elevations and localities several at (Gekkonidae) Santo 2006progress report Perochirus guentheri Perochirus Gehyra vorax Lepidodactylus ), a species

Nactus ), only ), 33

TERRESTRIAL Candoia bibroni (Pacific Boa) ee lo ape, eogn t seis hc are which widespread amongtropicalPacific islands. species to belonging sampled, also skinks were other Several numerous. are sites laying and around villages where they are easily seen, as foraging plantations on occur frequently they but species forest Santo. on widespread but common less is species latter The arboreal habits make sightings and collecting difficult. sea shore. The second species is common as well but its the along mostly present but common is former The Emoia sanfordi samples: our in the archipelago, were common and are well represented endemic from Vanuatu, widespread in many islands of and (Aneityum Futuna) were not found in Santo. Several other species archipelago Vanuatu the of islands Pacific. Two species known to be endemic from southern Islands, with many endemic Pacific species all among over the diversified tropical particularly is family This The skinks(Scincidae) mi sanfordi Emoia and rpolpau novohebridicus Cryptoblepharus Emoianigromarginata and . nigromarginata E. Emoia nigromarginata . are , looks likeaworm. inhabitants though they do not know it is a snake, as it braminus Ramphotyphlops island andmostsnakeswerereleasedafterward. the around specimens several from tissues taken have bibroni Candoia and plantations around human habitations. found mostly but islands, many on widespread now is and introduced recently ( snake fossorial Candoia bibroni Candoia boid the indigenous, as the considered one in archipelago, occur snakes terrestrial of species two Only Snakes Ramphotyphlops braminus is relatively common on Santo. We Santo. on common relatively is (Pacific Boa). The second, a small a second, The Boa). (Pacific apoyhos braminus Ramphotyphlops Santo 2006progress report s nw b most by known is

, was ), 34

TERRESTRIAL MARINE TERRESTRIAL tts n h Pcfi. eea sinic n popular among results, our and from expected be can publications scientific Several Pacific. the in status conservation their vertebrates and those on knowledge collected an important material which will and improve the Our herpetological trip to Santo was fully positive. We processing data analysis Further working onmarinefaunas. colleagues our from terrestrial data obtain to our expect we but trip during seen not were marine, totally Snake Sea Snake Sea Pelagic the snakes sea Vanuatufrom reported ashore) come are never (which true Other (Tasmate). coast west the on we have collected only one specimen of providing a suitable habitat for amphibious snakes and frontalis genus the of kraits (sea species amphibious known three least at are there but Vanuatu,from reported are snakes sea of species Few r Vnau neis Ms wr cletd n the in man’sis where impact island, the of part southeastern collected were 41 Most which endemics. Vanuatu of are Santo, from species 57 These record particular. papers in Santo and 1959-1962 general, in in Vanuatu of fauna Solem mollusc the on art the Alan of state the represent by published Papers Context ag fatos ee otd n h fil, hl small while field, the in sorted were fractions Large out. carried also was litter-sieving largest adult, when large the for mm 5 than sight less are species most because but species, by collected were Molluscs sampled. also were habitats Freshwater area. particularly Luganville the in habitats, degraded in collected also we but found, be where can is species indigenous/endemic this most because priority, our was vegetation Natural substrates. volcanic as well as calcareous on a.s.l., 1500m to sea-level from types, habitat various in performed was Sampling fauna. slugs) and (snails (see map) island to inventory the the over terrestrial and all freshwater mollusc spread sites at collected We this expedition. the forested and mountainous areas of the island before the most severe. Almost nothing was known regarding (account providedbyDr. BenoîtFontaine&OlivierGargominy, MNHN) Land andfreshwatermolluscs and yrpi coggeri Hydrophis L. laticaudata L. Pelamis platura Pelamis Laticauda ). Santo has few seashores few has Santo ). Tee w snakes, two These . : . colubrina L. and Cogger’s and L. laticaudata , L.

be veryusefulinthisbroaderstudy. geographical location. Material collected in Santo will its from independently variations scale head same the presents species each dependant; species are Clipperton patterns variation or scale head Island that showed results Easter First Atoll). to Guinea New from among some large range Pacific island lizards (ranging Wevariations scale studying project wider a have also routes taken by lizards when arriving to Pacific islands. colonisation the understand to help can parasites Such variations. pattern observed these to explanation an find and try will WeSanto. on found populations the in present uniformly not since were (mites) species, parasites such skink some of for occurrence parasites of ectodermic patterns with dealing be will undertaken studies Further years. 20 ca. have for we undertaken research the for interest high of are Santo, on collected skinks the as such species, Widespread islands andevencontinentalareas. and and positive impact on their conservation in all inventorying tropical new significant a have will geckos a for technique sampling of description the which will beaddedtooursinduecourse. material This Prié). Vincent areas, karstic Bouchet; Philippe Cumberland, (Cape visit not did we sites at 2006, Santo during people other by out carried was sampling mollusc Additional moment. the for given not been the examined yet, hence precise results cannot All be lab. the in has and Museum the to shipped being now is sorted material be to packed were ones Santo 2006progress report

35

TERRESTRIAL Dendrotrochus sp. litter sieving will most probably disclose many minute many disclose probably most will sieving litter However, vegetation. native molluscs, of covered of being despite devoid almost were 1500m) - (1200m visited we ridges highest the particular, in altitude: in We were surprised by the low number of species found fauna is quite uniform in the different regions of Santo. are restricted to calcareous substrates, but in general the others while altitudes, higher at found only are species to be lower in Santo than in neighbouring islands. Some Islands: the alpha-diversity of the mollusc fauna seems Solomon the in species 30-40 and Caledonia New in species 20-25 have would it whereas Santo, in species 12-15 yield will site sampling rich a However, island. hundred species, with a low level of turn over across the We consideritlikelythatthefaunaalmostreachesone molluscs, wascollectedduringourmission. to Polynesia where it had a disastrous impact on native snail predatory alien the noted, being Worth island). the of part eastern the in (particularly areas many in ecosystems the dominates now which fauna, introduced the of view good a give probably for science) were collected. Our material will most (and island the for species new and mission, our during found were Solem by cited species the of Most Indicative results alive forthefirst timeever. Most speciescollectedinSantowerephotographed species, andweanticipatesomesurprises. Euglandina roseaEuglandina , introduced , Palaina sp. Coneuplecta sp. Euconulidae Santo 2006progress report

36

TERRESTRIAL MARINE TERRESTRIAL

Arachnura sp. herbaceous levelandsortingoflitter. of the of sweeping the branches, high of beating of vegetation: methods levels different sample combined to order in collecting using of types habitats, several in terrestrial out carried was sampling The from West to Eastpoints. island the across travel during as well as (Northeast), and Matantas Olry Port West,and Butmas to Luganville the of surroundings in Penaoru and Tasmate with itinerantprospectingat4mainsites: Specimens were collected over a period of one month, Indicative results belonging to10families(includingasmalltarantula). archipelago, the of island this to restricted five only On Santo, around 23 species have been identified, with 40 and present onmorethanoneisland. species cosmopolitan Berland 12 by including given (1938), was which of list a archipelago, the from described been now have species 100 than More Mrs Ruë. & la Mr de as Aubert such naturalists, several by fieldwork of result a as improved situation the 1930, Vanikoro.and From Mallicolo on collected and old is material study to first the was 1897, archipelago in Simon, sparse. Vanuatu the on spiders, of particularly Arachnida, group the of knowledge Our Context France) (account provided by Dr. Christine Rollard, MNHN, Spiders

n pedsopoe, res o wih ey little very information wasavailablebefore. which other opiliones for orders scorpions, for pseudoscorpiones, as and such out arachnids, carried of groups was sampling Additional interesting forms,areonly2-3mmlong. of number a including spiders, other the of the majority cm; 2 to 1 about of sizes with scorpion-spider), genus the of specimen single a including spiders, orb-weaving of number a greater and tarantulas of species 3 or 2 mentioned be can Santo on time first the for found species the Among about 25families. in species 200 to 100 between representing collected, been Paris. have in specimens hundred arrive several to Nevertheless, yet has material the and done be locally not could counting the because known yet not is collected specimens of number definitive The Tarentula results concerningthespecific diversity. qualitative as well as quantitative providing altitudes, different at site Penaoru the at sampling out carried notably have who expedition, the of members other by collected be specimens will additional by component complemented FMR the from collections The prove difficult. may identifications so individuals, immature by only sometimes and individuals of number small very a by represented are species many but high, be to appears and others being much less common. distribution The biodiversity wide a having apparently species some considerable a increase in our knowledge represent of this group on Santo, with therefore data new These Santo 2006progress report Arachnura (also called (also

37

TERRESTRIALTERRESTRIAL SOIL & SUBTERRANEAN BIODIVERSITY Santo 2006 - Section 3 Preliminary Reports on the “Karst” component

Limestone terrain made of Quaternary uplift coral reefs relationships of the fauna, searching for the factors (the karst) occupies more than 1600 km2, i.e. nearly determining local differentiation on the island, and half of the total area of Santo. Most of this surface exploring the structure and interconnections of TERRESTRIAL except in coastal areas is covered with secondary subterranean, groundwater and soil communities. TERRESTRIAL forest and is sparsely populated. Many typical karstic features are visible in the landscape, such as We operated in the field as three core teams, having caves, avens, dolines, stream sinks, resurgences and specific targets and investigation tools: blue holes. Many were mapped and sampled by the • a team of sedimentologists, palaeontologists expedition. The team in charge of the scientific study and archaeologists; of the karst of Santo included 20 people from Australia • a team of hydrobiologists, with the support of (1), France (12), New Caledonia (3), Indonesia (1), divers; Spain (2), UK (1). Two Ni-vanuatu and Rufino Pineda • a team of terrestrial biologists, with the support provided invaluable assistance with the field work. of speleologists. Three features of the Santo karst made it one of the most Field trips were targeted on either specific objectives interesting in the Pacific. First, it was the largest extent (“survey of bats and guano of Sarabo cave” for instance), of karstified limestone in the Pacific islands outside or were multi-purpose. The collected material, which & SUBTERRANEN SOIL

New Guinea. Second, it was the least in our case consisted of animals, and & SUBTERRANEN SOIL well known of the large islands of also of samples of sediments, water, the Pacific for its subterranean fauna. and soil, was sorted at a gross level Third, basic sedimentological and at the end of each trip. archaeological studies were already available for the island. Thanks to favourable weather in September and uninterrupted To contribute to the global inventory activity, after a month of field work, of Santo biodiversity was our first more than 500 samples of cave, objective. Understanding the present- soil, terrestrial and aquatic fauna as day biodiversity patterns of the Santo well as sediment, palaeontological karst was our second objective. and archaeological samples were This included reconstructing the available for study. recent geological and climatological The preliminary results and history of the island, elucidating observations, are summarized the geographical origin and the Study location below.

Santo 2006 progress report 38

TERRESTRIALTERRESTRIAL study. for swamps and caves palynological and sedimentological analysis are under from taken sediments The the importanceofburialin theseshelters. indicating family), (pig Suidae of (tusks) canines and jaws with associated sometimes discovered, also were two species of than (more remains fossil and tools sometimes marks, fire old), years 1000 than (more ceramics with layers site, every On almost at found, found. we hand, other the were remains no but for, searched were Caledonia, New to in as Santo, in thought existed possibly have birds, Megapod and rests. archaeological palaeontological of plenty provided Island Aoré and coast east Queiros, Cap Cumberland, Cap of zone karstic the in sampled caves or shelters rock twenty palaeontological geological, for deposits cave studied and we and cuttings coring, by sediments sampled we field, the In small vertebratebonesfound Widespread tracesofhumanoccupation, exploration oflarge underground systems. karst in the Pacific islands outside New Guinea for the Butmas. huge To-day, discovered Santo has become we the most promising when stay, subterranean galleries with big underground river near our of end the at came surprise Another completed. being from far is exploration and passages, underground of kilometers several develops system, Funafu the Santo, of longest caves The indeed. large very these be to out turned subsequently of diving several sump itself, expedition and the during explorations deep two further during After discovered 2005. in were undertaken trips reconnaissance preliminary caves small Many Indicative results Huge cavesandsubterraneanriversdiscoveredexplored Rattus n acaooia aaye. analyses. archaeological and , birds, bats, lizards…). Human bones The

Human bones Map ofFunafusystem,thelargest cavesystemof ExcavationinLoricave Santo 2006progress report Santo

39

SOILSOIL & SUBTERRANEN & SUBTERRANEN TERRESTRIAL ae ad ikn sras bcue f h many the of because connections betweensoiland subterraneanvoids. streams, sinking and water percolating by caves into soil from numbers large in carried are Most invertebrates. cave non-obligate dominated by rather are communities terrestrial Cave this recentkarst. in speciation to led have would which populations of undergroundprevented isolation have may and fauna and soil habitats probably facilitates migrations of the caves between differences climatic weak The island. was present, but poorly diversified in (troglobites) the interior fauna of the subterranean terrestrial Obligate ue mut f un, naie b a abundant an by inhabited guano, of amount huge on These large populations especially of bats and swiftlets produce high, unusually Miniopterus australis also was flies by parasitism of rate The caves. the of most in colonies large with Asia, tropical of region other any in than widespread and more were caves Bats species. in 2 by species swiftlets, 5 by represented were Bats Few terrestrialcave-adaptedspecies Many bats,guanoeverywhere Pullulation ofHypocambalamillipedsonaguanopile A batcolonyof Asellicus tricuspidatus,Rotalcaves . i.e. one or two species occurred in enormous numbers, communities were highly diverse, in an unusual pattern, fauna that was intensively sampled. These guanobiont never encounteredoutsidecaves. though devoid of adaptation to subterranean life, were pile to guano pile. Most guano from of and these cave to dominant cave guanobionts, from differed often but A group ofYuukianura Collembola onaguanopile ih yps n its on abdomen nymphs with Doline Natawa from sp.) (Charinus Amblypygida predatory a of female A

Miniopterusaustralisbearinglarge parasiticflies Santo 2006progress report

40

SOIL & SUBTERRANEN A very diversified soil fauna

Among soil fauna, microinvertebrates were always colonized the karst from neighbouring volcanoes, unexpectedly abundant and diversified. Point samples which are older geologically. were on average 30% to 50 % richer in species than those of other regions of tropical Southeast Asia. At the same time, larger invertebrates (over 3 mm in length) were moderatly diversified. We are investigating some of the possible factors responsible for this peculiar community structure. Rarity of termites, which usually make available many soil microhabitats to other decomposers, might be a clue, but why are termites so rare in Santo remains to be understood. Deep soil hosted a true eu-edaphic fauna, with Palpigradi and several minute Arthropod species devoid of eyes and pigment. Such a fauna suggests a long underground evolution, but it may have

Contrasted richness in fresh and brackish waters

Conversely, subterranean waters from Blue hole and springs close to the coast, as well as phreatic water obtained by pumping, hosted a number of small blind or small-eyed and transparent Crustacea. This finding of a typically subterranean fauna raises questions of high biogeographical interest about their marine origin (where are their sister species in the sea?) and about the way they have been able to colonize freshwater.

A special effort was placed on anchialine waters, as one of the putative colonization pathways of subterranean freshwaters. Our divers explored, mapped and sampled

the long and often narrow underwater passages of & SUBTERRANEN SOIL Loren cave. They caught in baited traps and by hand Collecting underwater traps in the anchialine waters of Loren several species of troglomorphic shrimps and crabs, cave i.e. with no or reduced eyes, and no body pigment. This Two kinds of subterranean aquatic fauna were very peculiar fauna is under scrutinity by specialists. recognized : the fauna of freshwater caves above 50 m a.s.l., and the fauna of phreatic, freshwater caves and anchialine caves at lower altitude. Subterranean freshwater above 50 m a.s.l . was colonized by surface shrimps and crabs, but not by fish (except large eels). None of the Crustacea collected there was cave-adapted : all had big eyes and, with rare exceptions, pigmented bodies. As a working hypothesis, the absence of fish might be linked to amphidromy and their mainly algal diet.

Orcovita sp., a crab from the Loren cave

Santo 2006 progress report 41

freshwater isopodcrustacean. of species new a and Polychaeta, terrestrial Talitridae, family the found of shrimps we terrestrial here: only that groups animal an as several with spot, hot outstanding emerged area Fapon the particular, In disturbed distributed. evenly relatively not was biodiversity but habitats, in rich even always was soil forest The rare tropical insects. of order small a Zoraptera, interstitial of in representatives or marine, Tanaidaceafreshwater; typically group (Crustacea); a Crustacea, Sphaeromatidae family from woodlice deep soil ; a blind new freshwater genus of the mainly small, marine Polychaeta ; terrestrial high surprisingly as such taxa, unexpected a and remarkable are number species, collected the Among species ofSantowillatleastdouble. invertebrate cave and soil of number the case, any In collected. species 100 nearly the among expected be may taxa new 50 least at estimate, conservative a as alone, Collembola For many. are biological there our but in material, science to new taxa the of estimate proportion to possible yet not is it and begun, just has karst Santo the in collected fauna the of study The New andremarkabletaxa Two Atyidae shrimps,from surfaceriver(left)andfrom cavestream (right) nw pce o fehae Sphaeromatidae freshwater of species new A from theFaponriver(drawingDamiaJaume) 1 mm aias ad h rltvl lw itrac and disturbance low relatively the and subterranean its habitats, to access easy the karst, its of size the By fauna. soil and cave for Pacific the of island known best the become has Santo sampling, intensive in several respects as we have shown. After a month of exciting is karst Santo the from extracted Information Conclusion at the end of our trip. Sediments and archaeological and Sediments trip. our of end the at the sampled the deepest part of as the Santo karst, discovered broadening hardly have Weincreases. material are study of amount and vast, are Perspectives biodiversity, wellbeyonditsregionalinterest. testing key questions about the origin and evolution of for island model a is Santo soils, its of richness high 2007. of end the before origin its and nomto o boiesy of Santo, its magnitude, its structure biodiversty on detailed more information provide be to to able expect we and months, coming the in done be will This still unidentified. is material palaeontological and biological collected of huge amount the of Most Quaternary. on the climatic fluctuations of the will and contribute invaluable information dated, be to remains Santo 2006 progressreport

42

SOIL & SUBTERRANEN MAN IMPACTED BIODIVERSITY

Santo 2006 - Section 4 Preliminary Reports on the «Fallows and aliens» component

Introduction Goals It may appear strange to find a theme specifically The goals of the “Fallows and aliens” Theme, initially devoted to common and widely distributed alien set during a meeting on April 20th 2005 in Nouméa and included in an expedition devoted to biodiversity clarified during 2005 in a series of meetings in Paris, inventories mainly focused on finding new taxa. are as follows: However, it is now clear that biological invasions 1) to conduct an inventory as exhaustive as possible of induce major perturbations in ecosystem functioning Espiritu Santo’s alien species belonging to a selected and biodiversity, resulting in the disappearance of set of taxa; numerous indigenous populations and in species 2) to assess the current proportion of alien species extinction, especially in insular ecosystems. among selected taxa by drawing on expertise from scientists participating in the various component of Human impact on Espiritu Santo’s ecosystems was Santo06 focusing on less impacted parts of the island; greatest during the Second World War, but since 3) to assess trends among alien species and taxa that have then this island has remained outside the major trade disappeared from the island or gone extinct, evaluating routes that have induced many species introductions. changes in their representation among the selected taxa Moreover, while not unique in this regard among the since Man colonised the Island through collaboration eastern Pacific Islands, Espiritu Santo is of special with archaeologists and palaeontologists; interest in having its land divided 4) to assess distribution of the alien among two very contrasted parts. The species within human perturbed southeastern portion of the island, ecosystems and how far they penetrate calcareous and more or less flat, is into less impacted ecosystems; subjected to variable level of pressure 5) to assess how alien species are from European settlers, while the perceived by the native Melanesian western, volcanic and mountainous population; part hosts small traditional Melanesian 6) to produce a report for Vanuatu villages. This situation offered the authorities providing a set of coherent opportunity to combine alien species and pertinent data on alien species; inventories and an assessment of alien 7) to contribute to the collections of invasion along human perturbation the Museum in Paris and to publish gradients. scientific papers during the two years MAN IMPACTED following the end of the expedition. HUMAN IMPACT

Study location

Santo 2006 progress report 43

Strategy The “Fallows and aliens” team and their areas of competence As the “Fallows and aliens” Theme was not simply restricted to inventories but also needed to take into The “Fallows and aliens” team included 11 consideration a spatial and temporal ecological scientists with the following areas of competence: approach, we had to develop an adapted sampling micromammals, ungulates, carnivores, birds, strategy that allowed for comparison among data herpethology, parasites, hymenoptera social, solitary gathered by all the team members, each a specialist and Chalcidoidea, Coleoptera (Tenebrionidea, on very different taxa. In an attempt to reduce biases Agaonidea), self-propagating plants and epiphytes, among our results due to seasonal variations, all the geography, sociology and anthropology. team members worked together in the field at the same time, throughout October 2006. Four sites were chosen based on the hypotheses that they were arranged Sampling effort and methods along a decreasing gradient of pressure from human disturbance: Vertebrates - Micromammals were sampled with 1) The town of Luganville and its harbour, where most 20 to 30 trapping posts that were set along 17 line of Santo’s trade activity has taken place for a long transects representing a total effort of 2280 trap- time; nights. Ungulates and carnivores were sampled by 2) The CTRAV agronomic station, located near sightings along 60 standardised tracks representing Saraoutou village, where several alien species of 61.7 km; their faeces and tracks were checked on interest for agronomy and breeding were introduced 50 standardised 50 m linear transects. Birds were along with associated adventives and parasites more checked using sightings and songs at 128 checkpoints than 50 years ago; that were distributed along 27 tracks representing 3) The Melanesian village of Butmas long isolated a total of 58 km. No quantitative approach was until it was connected to the island’s road network by used for the herpetofauna, but 162 specimens were a bad track in 2000; hand captured and photographed during diurnal and 4) The Vathé Conservation area, close to the Melanesian nocturnal investigations, 160 of which were identified village of Matantas which is presumed to have fewer as belonging to 17 species, the two last needing further invasives than our other sites because of its protected investigations. status, a hypothesis that we set out to test. Entomofauna - Social Hymenoptera from each Moreover, three habitats arranged along an hypothesised habitat at each of the study sites were sampled with gradient of decreasing human disturbance were standardised protocols using simultaneously pitfalls, sampled simultaneously at each site: 400 cm2 litter samples, and dishes baited with peanut 1) The town of Luganville and its harbour along with a butter, each distributed along line transects. set of cultivated plots, which are presumed to harbour Four days were devoted to two intensive prospecting & SUBTERRANEN SOIL the highest number of alien species; campaigns that took place along eastern coast of the 2) The “ecotone” that forms the boundary between island, from Luganville to Shark Bay, to encompass cultivated plots and the “surrounding habitat”, and the area that has been invaded by the electric ant, is presumed to harbour the highest local species Wasmannia auropunctata, recently arrived from the diversity; Banks Archipelago. This operation was performed 3) The “surrounding habitat”, which is a more or less with the collaboration of Espiritu Santo Phytosanitary secondary rain forest, and is presumed to be the least Service. Coleoptera (mainly Tenebrionidea) and perturbed by human activities and the least invaded by solitary Hymenoptera were sampled by hand or using alien species locally. a malaise trap system or light (UV) during day and night at the site scale. Because the taxa studied by the team members Agaonidea (Hymenoptera, Chalcidoidea) were vary considerably with regard to their mobility obtained from fruits of several Ficus species, that and life history, various sampling tools were used. had been placed in vivariums. Insects belonging

Harmonisation and standardisation of sampling to other families or orders (Coleoptera- Cetonidae, HUMAN IMPACT protocols were set during meetings that took place Chrysomellidae- Hemiptera...) were also collected. during the first week of the expedition.

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Mammal parasites - Tick presence on cattle was checked using binoculars and several specimens were First results collected from trapped rodents, slaughtered breeding cattle and two feral pigs hunted by Nivanuatu. Fleas Mammalian fauna – Among the 86 micromammals (Siphonaptera) were collected on alien rodents, and that were collected, all but one could be identified as parasitic worms were collected from slaughtered follows : 25 as Rattus cf. exulans, 18 as R. cf. rattus, breeding cattle. 20 as R. cf. norvegicus and 22 as Mus cf. musculus. Three other rodent species may be present in the wild Terrestrial Malacofauna - While terrestrial molluscs on Espiritu Santo: Mus musculus castaneus (the Asian were not specifically taken into consideration by the house Mouse), Rattus tanezumi (the Asian house Rat), “Fallows and aliens” team, an index of abundance and Rattus praetor (the big spiny rat of New-Guinea) assessment was performed for two introduced snails, sub fossils remains of which are known from Vanuatu. Achatina fulica and Euglandina rosea, using the Future analysis may reveal the presence of one or more standardised 50 meter transects that were established of these other alien species in ours samples. for assessing ungulates and carnivore abundance.

Flora - Excepted in the Luganville area, semi- quantitative flora sampling of the three sites was performed and additional samples were collected during exploratory treks devoted to an assessment of ungulate and carnivore, and during inquiries on alien species’ perception by locals. Moreover, an index of abundance assessment was performed for two lianas, Merremia peltata and Mikania micrantha, using the same standardised 50 meter transects.

Sociology & Anthropology - The “Fallows and aliens” team anthropologists drew up one-to-one lists Trapped Rattus cf. norvegicus – Vathé Conservation Area of species in Latin, Bichlama (the national lingua franca) and other local languages using samples and The breeding pig, Sus scrofa, was observed at all the pictures collected by team members. The time at which sites except Luganville and the CTRAV agronomical several introduced species arrived at various sites on station at Saraoutou. Feral populations were sighted in Santo was determined based on the collective memory the Vathé and Butmas areas, where they locally reached of local residents, who ranked them as native or alien high-densities, especially in the Butmas area, where based on their perceptions. natives complained about crop damage. Breeding cattle, Bos primigenus, were sighted near An inquiry using a pre-established, unordered list was houses or cultivated plots at all sites except the performed at three of the four sites. The aim of this Luganville urban zone. They reached high densities inquiry was to establish an alien species inventory and around the Saraoutou CTRAV agronomic station. Feral a hierarchy of their impacts as perceived by natives. populations were sighted at Butmas and Vathé, and Forty-four interviews of adult men between 20 and reached high densities in the meadow area located in 75 years old were conducted. Several plants and the central part of the Vathé Conservation area. invertebrates (mollusc shells, insects) were collected with the interviewed persons for later identifications. Interviews with authorities and native peoples from Butmas and Vathé showed that feral pigs and feral cattle were under hunting pressure, which varied from one site to another and along the annual cycle. A rapid examination of two feral pigs and one feral cow hunted by Ni-vanuatu suggested that these animals were in

good health and did not exhibit evident pathology. HUMAN IMPACT

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Avifauna - Sightings and song checkpoints documented a total of 35 native bird species and four introduced ones. These records can be compared with the 50 species listed for Espiritu Santo, five being alien, the feral jungle Fowl (Gallus gallus), the Indian Mynah (Acridotheres tristis), the Black-headed Mannikin (Lonchura malacca), the Chestnut-breasted Mannikin (Lonchura castaneithorax) and the House Sparrow (Passer domesticus). While the two last species are presently absent from the island, we added a new one, the feral Rock Dove (Columba livia). The alien bird species previously noted were sighted at all study sites excepted the feral Rock Dove, which is restricted to Breeding cattle at the CTRAV agronomic station - Saraoutou Luganville, and the feral jungle Fowl, which is absent from this site. Some goats (Capra hircus) and sheep (Ovis orientalis) The presence of the two major alien species is were sighted in the Luganville urban area and some probably better explained by the occurrence of open goats also near Vathé village. All these animals were habitats than of urban areas. The granivorous Black- domesticated and no information was collected headed Mannikin is associated with alien grasses that supporting the hypothesis that feral individuals of were introduced as pasture species and the Indian theses species occur today in the wild on Espiritu Mynah is associated with cattle, which are themselves Santo. associated with alien grasses. The impacts of these Dogs (Canis lupus) were sighted near human two alien birds on native birds, if any, might thus be settlements at the four study sites. Sighting, tracks and expected in such open habitats. However, impacts on faeces of this species were also checked at localities native birds seems to be negligible because there are no several km away from these human settlements, native granivorous birds on Santo and because the non although each time associated with hunters or human granivorous native birds that use open habitats took tracks. We did not find any evidence of feral dog advantage of the modifications of pristine habitats that populations at the study sites, and native people produced open ones. confirmed this conclusion. Forest habitats hosted the highest number of native bird The cat (Felis sylvestris) was sighted near human species and were the least invaded by aliens although settlements at the four study sites. Sightings of two cats the feral jungle Fowl, introduced by Melanesians long were made that exhibited long distance behavioural ago, cohabits with the Incubator bird (Megapodius shyness, and collections were made of faeces several freycinet) without apparent negative impacts on this km from human settlements supporting the hypothesis endemic species. that feral cats roam Butmas and Vathé areas to day. & SUBTERRANEN SOIL Native guides strengthened this hypothesis. Herpetofauna - A synthesis of the available references covering 164 works in all, suggests that Espiritu Santo hosts a total of 19 terrestrial or freshwater species (one amphibian and 18 reptiles). Of the 17 species we observed, all had been cited previously from Espiritu Santo. Two unidentified specimens remain. Among the 19 species mentioned from Espiritu Santo, three are aliens, all of which observed during our stay. There are a frog (Litoria aurea) sited in Luganville and Vathé, a gecko (Hemidactylus frenatus) observed in Luganville, CTRAV and Vathé and a snake (Ramphotyphlops braminus) seen at CTRAV. HUMAN IMPACT

Back from a Nivanuatu feral pig hunting party – Butmas village

Santo 2006 progress report 46

Entomofauna - Among the 50 ant taxa collected, 36 and pastures. Euglandina rosea, less frequent than were previously known from Vanuatu and the others A. fulica, was sighted only in secondary forest at were sighted for the first time; 15 of these species were Saraoutou and Vathé and in cultivated plots at Vathé. clearly alien. Among these alien species, we established that the recently arrived electric ant (Wasmannia Flora - Approximately 250 plant collections were auropunctata) has to date invaded a restricted one- made, representing about 200 species, near 50 % of hectare area on the east coast of Espiritu Santo. which are aliens. Moreover, almost 110 plants, the With the collaboration of the Espiritu Santo Island large majority being alien, were collected during the Phytosanitary Service, we attempted to eradicate this enquiry using the pre-established, unordered list and highly undesirable species. along the tracks used to assess ungulate and carnivore More than 25 Tenebrionidae Coleoptera species were abundance. collected, all of which are new species to Vanuatu and Observations were made on 3 particular common one may be new to Science. A synthesis of the taxonomy, invasive alien liana species, Merremia peltata, systematics and biogeography of Tenebrionidae of the Mikania micrantha and Lamiaceae sp. The first of far western Pacific area now underway will help to these is especially abundant and its ‘alien’ status is know which of the species on Espiritu Santo species problematical. Merremia peltata has a local name in are alien vs. native.

Mammal parasites - The eight Siphonaptera collected on individuals of Rattus cf norvegicus belong to the species Xenopsylla vexabilis Jordan, 1925, which has been introduced by Man to nearly all Pacific Islands, although our record is the first for Vanuatu. Two tick species were collected, Amblyomma cyprinus on feral pigs and one rodent and Haemaphysalis longicornis (adult) on domestic cattle. Moreover, several Haemonchus cf placei were present in the rennet stomach and larvae of Oesophagostomum sp. in the The liana Merremia peltata killing the trees and preventing the forest regeneration - Saraoutou wall of the large intestine of breeding cattle. the Butmas language, which is not the case for recently introduced alien species, and Espiritu Santo is located within the natural distribution area of this species, which is regarded as native in the Solomon Islands, Fiji and Samoa Islands and also in Australia, inter alia. Nevertheless, this species which is dominant in human perturbed habitats on Santo, exhibits a particularly aggressive behaviour that is not characteristic of a native species. This liana is present throughout undergrowth and spreads by the way of creeping stems on the ground, producing vertical stems where ever a shaft of light appears, that reach and then cover the canopy, killing adult trees and preventing regeneration. If this plant The tick Amblyomma cyprinus, collected on feral pigs – Butmas were native or introduced long ago, its aggressive village behaviour would surely have destroyed all the island’s forest by now. This is however not the case, Malacaufauna - Two widespread common snail which suggests that this species has been introduced. species, Achatina fulica and Euglandina rosea Alternatively, it could be that its aggressive behaviour were never observed on the 50 meter line transects recently evolved or was increased by human established in the various habitats of the Butmas area. perturbation of the local forest ecosystem. Analyses of HUMAN IMPACT On the other hand, shells of A. fulica were seen in all pollen from old sediments might make it possible to the habitats at Vathé and Saraoutou except in meadows determine which explanation is the more likely.

Santo 2006 progress report 47

Sociology & Anthropology - The inquiry based on the pre-established, unordered list revealed about 30 animal taxa and as many plant taxa regarded by the persons interviewed at the three sites as introduced and invasive. The relation between the local name used in Bichlama and the Latin binomial was established for about 40 species of animals and plants. The animal species most frequently mentioned by local people who were interviewed and were ranked highly in the list as introduced and problematic were: the Acridotheres tristis (the Indian Minah), Lonchura Malacca (the Black-headed Mannikin), Achatina fulica (an African snail), Sus scrofa àthe feral pig) and Bos primigenius (feral cattle), respectively. The plants that were cited the most frequently were Solanum torvum, Mikania micrantha, Mimosa pudica, Merremia peltata, Cassia torra and Mimosa invisa, respectively. HUMAN IMPACT MAN IMPACT

Santo 2006 progress report 48

SANTO 2006 - Participant list

PARTICIPANTS: 203

Including

SCIENTISTS: 153 MANAGEMENT TEAM & TECHNICAL STAFF: 42 MEDIA & EDUCATION: 8

Australia Dr Elizabeth BROWN, Royal Botanic Gardens, Sydney, [email protected] Dr Stefan EBERHARD, Department of Conservation and Land Management, Wanneroo, Dr Roger KITCHING, Griffith University, Brisbane, r.kitching@griffith.edu.au Mr Roger SWAINSTON, wildlife artist, Perth, [email protected] Dr Fred WELLS, Dept of Fisheries, Perth, [email protected] Belarus Dr Alexey TISHECHKIN, University of Baton-Rouge, USA, [email protected] Belgium Dr Thibaut DELSINNE, IRSNB, [email protected] Dr Maurice LEPONCE, IRSNB, [email protected] Pr Yves ROISIN, ULB, Bruxelles, [email protected] Brazil Mr Milton BARBOSA da SILVA, Fed. University of Ouro Preto, [email protected] Brunei Dr David LANE, Universiti Brunei Darussalam, [email protected] Fiji Dr Philippe GERBEAUX, IUCN Regional Office, [email protected] Dr Marika TUIWAWA, South Pacific Regional Herbarium, University of the South Pacific, [email protected] France Mr Laurent ALBENGA, MNHN, [email protected] Mr Marc ATTIE, Univ. de la Réunion, [email protected] Mr Jean-François BARAZER, Captain, [email protected] Ms Lise BARNEOUD, science journalist, [email protected] Dr Anne BEDOS, MNHN, [email protected] Dr Florence BELLIVIER, Université Paris 10 Nanterre, fl[email protected] Ms Lucie BITTNER, MNHN, [email protected] Mr Emmanuel BOITIER, Université de Limoges, [email protected] Pr Philippe BOUCHET, expedition co-director, MNHN, [email protected] Ms Delphine BRABANT, MNHN, [email protected] Mr Franck BREHIER, Attaché MNHN, [email protected] Dr Florence BRUNOIS, MNHN, fl[email protected] Dr Bart BUYCK, MNHN, [email protected] Ms Magalie CASTELIN, MNHN, [email protected] Mr Guillaume CHIPY, Chief cook, Universal-Sodexho Mr Regis CLEVA, MNHN, [email protected] Mr Dany CLEYET-MAREL, technical staff, pilot, [email protected] Dr Bruno CORBARA, Université Blaise Pascal, Clermont-Ferrand, [email protected]

Santo 2006 progress report 49

Pr Louis DEHARVENG, MNHN, [email protected] Mr Xavier DESMIER, photographer, [email protected] Pr Laure DESUTTER, MNHN, [email protected] Mr Jean DROUAULT, technical staff, mecanicien (Canopy-Glider) Dr Jacques DUMAS, dive master, French Association of Underwater Activities, [email protected] Dr Joelle DUPONT, MNHN, [email protected] Mr Frédéric DURAND, Soc. d’Histoire Naturelle Alcide d’Orbigny, [email protected] Mr Gilles EBERSOLT, technical staff, logistic, [email protected] Dr Elsa FAUGERE, INRA Avignon, [email protected] Mr Christian FLEURY, logistician, christian.fl[email protected] Mr Benoît FONTAINE, student MNHN, [email protected] Mr Olivier GARGOMINY, MNHN, [email protected] Mr Jean-Baptiste GOASGLAS, technical staff, tree climber & logistic, [email protected] Dr Olivier GROS, Université Antilles-Guyane, Pointe-à-Pitre, [email protected] Dr Thomas HAEVERMANS, MNHN, [email protected] Ms Virginie HEROS, MNHN, [email protected] Mr Damien HINSINGER, MNHN [email protected] Mr Frédéric HONTSCHOOTE, web journalist, [email protected] Dr Sylvain HUGEL, CNRS Strasbourg, [email protected] Dr Ivan INEICH, MNHN, [email protected] Dr Philippe KEITH, MNHN, [email protected] Mr Ronan KIRSCH, associate MNHN, [email protected] Pr Jean-Noël LABAT, MNHN, [email protected] Mr Dominique LAMY, associate MNHN, [email protected] Mr Nadir LASSON, diver free lance, [email protected] Pr Hervé LE GUYADER, expedition co-director, IRD/MNHN/Univ. Paris 6, [email protected] Mr Philippe LEMARCHAND, web journalist, [email protected] Mr Bernard LIPS, President of Fédération Française de Spéléologie, [email protected] Ms Josiane LIPS, Teacher, Lyon, [email protected] Ms Clara LORD, student MNHN, [email protected] Mr Julien LORION, student MNHN, [email protected] Dr Olivier LORVELEC, INRA, [email protected] Dr Selim LOUAFI, IDDRI, selim.louafi@iddri.org Dr Pierre LOZOUET, MNHN, [email protected] Mr Philippe MAESTRATI, MNHN, [email protected] Mr Frederic MATHIAS, technical staff, tree climber / arborist, [email protected] Mr Didier MOLIN, MNHN, [email protected] Mr Dan MOLCZADZKI, technical staff, camp manager, [email protected] Dr Jerôme ORIVEL, Université Paul Sabatier, Toulouse, [email protected] Dr Michel PASCAL, INRA, [email protected] Mr Olivier PASCAL, expedition co-director, Pro-Natura, [email protected] Mr Jacques PELORCE, associate MNHN, [email protected] Mr Patrice PETIT-DEVOIZE, dive master, [email protected] Mr Marc PIGNAL, MNHN, [email protected] Dr Jean-Claude PLAZIAT, University Paris 11 Ms Danielle PLACAIS, associate MNHN, [email protected] Dr Odile PONCY, MNHN, [email protected] Dr Marc POUILLY, IRD, [email protected] Mr Nicolas PUILLANDRE, student MNHN, [email protected] Mr Vincent PRIE, Attaché MNHN, [email protected]

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Mr Laurent PYOT, technical staff, logistic (Canopy-Glider) [email protected] Dr Eric QUEINNEC, Université Paris 6, [email protected] Mr Claude RIVES, photographer / journalist, [email protected] Ms Marine ROBILLARD, student MNHN, [email protected] Dr Tony ROBILLARD, post doctoral student, [email protected] Dr Christine ROLLARD, MNHN, [email protected] Mr Germinal ROUHAN, MNHN, [email protected] Dr Sarah SAMADI, IRD, [email protected] Mr Sylvestre SEGAUD, technical staff, [email protected] Dr Anne-Marie SEMAH, IRD Bondy, [email protected] Mr Jean-Yves SEREIN, technical staff, tree climber / arborist, [email protected] Mr Laurent SOLDATI, INRA, [email protected] Dr Adeline SOULIER-PERKINS, MNHN, [email protected] Mr Vincent TARDIEU, science journalist [email protected] Dr Fabienne TZERIKIANTZ, Centre de Recherche et de Documentation sur l’Océanie (CREDO), Marseille, [email protected] Dr Jean-Marc THIBAUD, MNHN, [email protected] Mr Emmanuel VINCENT, student, Ecole Normale Supérieure, [email protected] Dr Claire VILLEMANT, MNHN, [email protected] Dr Rudo VON COSEL, MNHN [email protected] Dr Magali ZBINDEN, Univ. Paris 6 / CNRS, [email protected] Mr Luc ZELMAT, chief cook, Universal-Sodexho Germany Ms Timea NEUSSER, Zoologisches Staatsammlung, Munich, [email protected] Dr Milan PALLMANN, Museum für Naturkunde, Stuttgart, pallmann. [email protected] Dr Jürgen SCHMIDL, University of Erlangen, [email protected] Dr Arnold STANICZEK, Museum für Naturkunde, Stuttgart, Staniczek. [email protected] Indonesia Dr Mark ERDMANN, Conservation International, Raja Ampat Program, [email protected] Mr Cahyo RAHMADI, Museum Zoologicum Bogoriense, [email protected] Italy Dr Marco OLIVERIO, Univ. Roma, [email protected] Dr Stefano SCHIAPARELLI, Univ. Genoa, [email protected] Japan Dr Yasunori KANO, University of Miyazaki, [email protected] Mr Takuma HAGA, student, The University of Tokyo, [email protected] Netherlands Dr Charles FRANSEN, Naturalis, Leiden, [email protected] Dr Adriaan GITTENBERGER, Naturalis, Leiden [email protected] Dr Bert HOEKSEMA, Naturalis, Leiden, [email protected] Dr Willem RENEMA, Naturalis, Leiden, [email protected] New Caledonia Dr Nicolas BARRÉ, Institut Agronomique Néo-Calédonien (IAC) / CIRAD, [email protected] Mr Jean-Michel BORE, IRD, [email protected] Mr Cyril CHEVALIER, medical doctor, [email protected] Dr Christophe CHEVILLON, IRD, [email protected] Ms Valérie DEMORY, medical doctor, [email protected] Mr Eric FOLCHER, professional diver, IRD, [email protected] Dr Jean-Cristophe GALIPEAU, IRD, [email protected]

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Dr Michel de GARINE-WICHATITSKY, IAC/CIRAD, [email protected] Mr Bruno GATIMEL, IRD, [email protected] Ms Cathy GEOFFRAY, professional diver, IRD, [email protected] Dr Claire GOIRAN, IRD, [email protected] Dr Hervé JOURDAN,IRD, [email protected] Mr Gregory LASNE, IRD, [email protected] Ms Lydiane MATTIO, IRD, [email protected] Jean-Louis MENOU, professional diver, IRD, [email protected] Ms Elisabeth MERLIN, medical doctor, Nouméa, [email protected] Mr Tristan MICHINEAU, medical doctor, [email protected] Dr Jérôme MUNZINGER, IRD, [email protected] Dr Claude PAYRI, IRD, [email protected] Ms Sandrine PEREY, medical doctor [email protected] Mr Yohan PILLON, IRD, [email protected] Ms Gwénaelle QUERMELIN, nurse, [email protected] Dr Bertrand RICHER DE FORGES, IRD, [email protected] Mr Frederic RIGAULT, IRD, [email protected] Dr Denis WIRMANN, IRD, [email protected] New Zealand Dr Jonathan PALMER, Gondwana Tree-ring Laboratory, [email protected] Norway Ms Anne Lise FLEDDUM, University of Oslo, fl[email protected] Dr John GRAY, University of Oslo, [email protected] Ms Camilla FRISEID, University of Oslo, [email protected] Ms Gorild HOEL, University of Oslo, [email protected] Ms Karen WEBB, University of Oslo, [email protected] Philippines Mr Jo ARBASTO, fisherman, Panglao Island, Bohol Ms Marivene MANUEL SANTOS, National Museum of the Philippines, [email protected] Mr Noel SAGUIL, University of San Carlos, [email protected] Mr Dave VALLES, University San Carlos, marine biology, [email protected] Russia Dr Yuri KANTOR, Institute of Evolution, Russian Academy of Sciences, Moscow, [email protected] Ms Tanya STEYKER, Institute of Evolution, Russian Academy of Sciences, Moscow Singapore Mr Jose Christopher E. MENDOZA, National University, Singapore, [email protected] Dr Peter NG, National University, Singapore, [email protected] Dr TAN Swee Hee, National University, Singapore, [email protected] Mr TAN Heok Hui, National University, Singapore, [email protected] Spain Dr Josep Antoni ALCOVER TOMAS, Institut Mediterrani d’Estudis Avançats, Mallorca, [email protected] Dr Damia JAUME, Institut Mediterrani d’Estudis Avançats, Mallorca, [email protected] Dr Marta POLA, Universidad de Cadiz, [email protected] Dr Jose TEMPLADO, Museo Nacional de Ciencias Naturales, Madrid, mcnt150@mncn. csic.es Sweden Dr Anders WAREN, Swedish Museum of Natural History, Stockholm, [email protected]

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Ms Kerstin RIGNEUS, Swedish Museum of Natural History, Stockholm, [email protected] Switzerland Dr Valérie HOFSTETTER, Duke University, [email protected] Taiwan Dr Tin-Yam CHAN, National Taiwan Ocean University, Keelung, [email protected] Dr Masako MITSUHASHI, National Taiwan Ocean University, [email protected] United Kingdom Dr Geoff BOXSHALL, The Natural History Museum, London, [email protected] Dr Paul CLARK, Natural History Museum, London, [email protected] USA Dr Jason BIGGS, University of Utah, Salt Lake City, [email protected] Ms Yolanda CAMACHO, California Academy of Sciences, San Francisco, [email protected] Mr John EARLE, Associate Bernice P. Bishop Museum, Honolulu, [email protected] Mr Brian GREENE, Associate Bernice P. Bishop Museum, Honolulu, [email protected] Dr Porter LOWRY, Missouri Botanical Garden, [email protected] Mr Mike MILLER, California Academy of Sciences, San Francisco, [email protected] Dr Gordon McPHERSON, Missouri Botanical Garden, St Louis, [email protected] Dr Gregory PLUNKETT, Virginia Commonwealth University, [email protected] Dr Richard PYLE, Bernice P. Bishop Museum, Honolulu, [email protected] Ms Marilyn SCHOTTE, Smithsonian Institution, Washington DC, [email protected] Dr Ellen STRONG, Smithsonian Institution, Washington DC, [email protected] Dr Angel VALDES, Los Angeles County Museum of Natural History, [email protected] Vanuatu Mr Joseph BOE, guide, Penaoru Mr Ruben BOE, guide, Penaoru Mr Sam CHANEL, Forest Department, Port-Vila Mr André FRANCK, logistical assistant Mr Faustin FRANCK, logistical assistant Ms Joséphine GRIMAUD, cook, Santo Mr Anthony HARRY, stagiaire IAC, [email protected] Mr Charley JOHNSON, logistical assistant Ms Malvina JOKONMAL, cook, santo Mr Tarere GARAE, Forest Department, Santo Ms Donna KALFATAK, Environment Unit, [email protected] Mr Rupen MARAÏ, assistant to the Penaoru Camp Manager Mr Vatumaraga MOLISA, student USP, Wounpuko, [email protected] Mr Rufino PINEDA, Local co-ordinator, [email protected] Mr Charles TARI, student USP, Port Vila Mr Graham TARIDIA, student USP, Port Vila Ms Leimas Emily TASALE, Port Vila, [email protected] Mr Samson VILVIL-FARE, tutor USP Port Vila, [email protected] Ms Maria YORLEY, Santo, [email protected] Mr Stephen VUTILOLO, student, Santo Mr Steve VIRA, student, Santo Mr Ritchie FRANCK, student, Santo Mr Rony TOM, guide Penaoru

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