SANTO 2006 E x p e d i t i o n Progress Report Main Contributors Josep Antoni ALCOVER TOMAS A n n e B E D O S Philippe BOUCHET Geoff BOXSHALL Florence BRUNOIS Franck BREHIER B a r t B U Y C K Louis DEHARVENG Laure DESUTTER Stefan EBERHARD Benoit FONTAINE Jean-Cristophe GALIPEAU Olivier GARGOMINY Yvan INEICH Damia JAUME Philippe KEITH Roger KITCHING Jean-Noël LABAT Nadir LASSON P e t e L O W R Y Jérôme MUNZINGER Michel PASCAL Olivier PASCAL Marc POUILLY Vincent PRIE Eric QUEINNEC Anne-Marie SEMAH Cahyo RAHMADI Christine ROLLARD Arnold STANICZEK Marika TUIWAWA Denis WIRMANN

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

February 2007

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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

Santo 2006 progress report

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 jointly coordinated Santo (or Santo), in Vanuatu, located in the SW Pacific by the Muséum national d’Histoire naturelle (MNHN), Ocean. the Institut de Recherche pour le Développement This global biodiversity assessment covered all the (IRD), and Pro-Natura International. A total of 203 major environments (offshore deep-sea, reefs, caves, participants (of whom 153 scientists) from 25 countries freshwater bodies, mountains, forest canopies) and were involved in 4 themes (Marine Biodiversity; also addressed issues regarding how indigenous 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 is still being prepared, but our initial interim reports indicate 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 lay 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. improvments

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 extend, 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 in a future operation design.

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 alos 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.

Santo 2006 progress report 3

.palais-decouverte.fr/index. x e d n i / r f . e t r e v u o c e d - s i a l a p w. w w / / : p t t h This focalpointwaslinkedtoadedicatedwebsite: naturelle. d’Histoire national Muséum the of Director the and Research and Education for Minister French focal point was inaugurated on October 5, 2006 by the This Paris. in based the education, and science for center at established was point “ focal 2006 Santo A Focal point GEO Terre Sauvage are nowinpreparation: magazines monthly circulation high in articles large 2 cap surlabiodiversité L’Express exceptionnelle! GEO planète” la Monthly magazine de (17- témoin magazine l’île French “Santo: weekly January): a 23 1534, n° VSD, Weekly magazine php?id=accueil2 Palais de la Découverte (Avril 2007) , n°332 october 2006 : Seil su, eebr 2006: December Issue, Special , (March2007) ” ” ” , a French public exhibition “ Santo: une île-échantillon “ Santo: in Vanuatu (Bislama,EnglishandFrench). used currenly languages main three the in messages environmental broad communicating for medium directed a primarily Vanuatu,providing in is teachers and schools towards material educational This Vanuatu MinistryofEducation. posters thousand Five have already been distributed in Vanuatu through the Embassy. French the and printed, and designed thanks to the was European Commission posters office in Vanuatu 10 of series A Education material Santo 2006progress report

4

MARINE 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

The field programme

SANTO 2006 was very much inspired by the results Dr John Gray (University of Oslo) is a leader on data and experience gained during the Panglao 2004 analysis from quantitative sampling; and the group of expedition, and the core group of participants was Dr Claude Payri (IRD, Nouméa) specializes on algae. the same. However, SANTO 2006 was innovative in several ways. MARINE

1 Deep Reefs. The deep reefs, below 60 meters to ca. 150 meters, is a compartment of coral reefs usually neglected because of difficulty of access. During Santo they were sampled both by low tech (tangle nets) and high tech (divers using trimix gases with rebreathers) approaches. Our expeditions never had trimix divers before; this was a very successful addition and we have decided to continue our partnership beyond Santo 2006. The “deep reefs” part of Santo 2006 was specifically highlighted by the Census of Marine Life under their CReefs programme. 3 Deep Offshore and Sunken Wood. The project was allocated 46 days of the research vessel Alis, a 27 meters, Nouméa-based trawler operated by IRD. This has allowed sampling of the benthic fauna to 1,000 meters, with special emphasis on the fauna associated with sunken wood, and retrieval of organic substrates (whale bone, turtle carapaces, feathers, wood, etc.) that had been immersed one year before.

2 International Participants. Since 2004, participation in our projects is very international, and this was reflected again in Santo by having subsets of the programme placed under the responsability of Dr T. Gosliner (California Academy of Sciences; seaslugs), Dr Peter Ng (Singapore; decapod crustaceans), Dr Marco Oliverio (University of Roma; commensals, associates and parasites), and Dr Ellen Strong (Smithsonian Institution; barcoding sampling), all of 4 Comparing Methodologies. During Santo them already present in Panglao. 2006, we deployed three approaches to “measuring” However, several entirely new groups of participants biodiversity: Rapid Assessment (RAP); all-species joined Santo 2006 with new expertise. The group of inventory; quantitative ecology sampling. These Dr Bert Hoeksema (Naturalis, Leiden) has acquired approaches had never been carried simultaneously on considerable experience on coral reefs in Indonesia; the the same site, and their results could thus hardly be group of Dr Richard Pyle (Bishop Museum, Honolulu) compared. is the authority on deep reefs exploration; the group of

Santo 2006 progress report 6

6 Training and Capacity Building. With only 200,000 inhabitants, Vanuatu does not have academic biodiversity research institutions, and the administrations in charge of Fisheries or Environment have very limited staff. We proactively searched for local students, and 6 of them were involved in the field and laboratory work; one of them will remain closely involved in our reporting to the Government

of Vanuatu. Five of the Santo 2006 participants were MARINE from the Philippines, 4 of whom had been involved in the Panglao project, demonstrating that our partnership with Filipino colleagues now extends well beyond their own country.

5 Molecular Barcoding and Digital Imaging One of the significant outcome of our expedition is to reconcile traditional taxonomy, where most species have been named based on shell characters alone, and the modern approaches based on living animals. We have now optimized coordination of sampling and processing effort whereby bulk samples are sorted to morphospecies in the lab immediately after the catch, and specimens of each morphospecies are then photographed and selected specimen(s) are preserved for DNA sequencing. The Santo 2006 expedition has resulted in the single largest molluscan dataset now available worldwide for barcoding. Indicative Results The logistics and human resources deployed during the expedition were appropriate for our goals, and explain the quality of the results. We had learnt lessons from Panglao, and we probably worked better in Santo. In terms of species richness, the number of species inventoried goes even beyond our expectations : 1,100 species of decapods (crabs, shrimps and hermit crabs), in the order of 4,000 species of molluscs. The wealth of digital images resulting from the expedition will be a revelation to the scientific community as well as to the general public. Hundreds of new species - possibly over a thousand - have been discovered.Yet, our results are paradoxical. If species richness is used as a measure, it can be said that the marine biodiversity of Santo is “very rich”; in fact, by the number of species of crustaceans worldwide, Santo is second only to Panglao. However, we believe that this is the result of our large workforce, and we believe that if the same workforce had been deployed elsewhere in the South Pacific, including New Caledonia, the Solomon Islands, Papua New Guinea, and probably Fiji, we would have had similarly very high numbers. We even Map of the recent hurricanes tracks that have hit Santo found that our study area glaringly lacked some habitat

Santo 2006 progress report 7 types, such as seagrass beds, mineral sediments, etc. Many reefs were not in good shape, obviously not the result of overfishing as there is very little subsistance fishing going on in Santo, and no dynamite fishing. We believe that perhaps the hurricanes of the 1980s are to be blamed (see map of hurricane tracks ). We also found that most species were extremely scarce in the number of stations where they occured and in the individual numbers, more so than in many other MARINE sites known to the participants. Thus, the paradox is: even if Santo is not a site of exceptionnal richness, as we have deployed an exceptionally complete workforce we came up with an exceptionally comprehensive species inventory rivalling with richest spots known in the world !

Few figures Logistics Sampling intensity

8 boats, ranging from R.V. Alis (27 meters long) to a 4 588 sampling events meters aluminium service boat. - intertidal collects: 76 Aldric (the only one of the small boats to be equipped - hand picking and other targeted with a log) alone covered 1,200 nautical miles. - sampling (SCUBA): 188 Small boats (i.e. excluding Alis) and land vehicles - bulk brushings (SCUBA): 46 together used 6,800 liters of fuel. - bulk vacuum cleaner (SCUBA): 45 5,000 meals served, 3,000 dive tanks filled,1,000 liters - tangle nets and “lumun lumun”: 37 of ethanol used for preservation of samples. - coastal dredging: 44 - coastal trawling: 2 - quantitative sampling (grabs): 40 - trap lines: 5 - offshore dredging and trawling: 105

Santo 2006 progress report 8

Biodiversity

1103 species of decapod Crustacea (603 species of crabs, 500 species of shrimps, hermit crabs and others), of which in the order of 100 new species; associated digital images of living animals for about 2/3 of the species.

3- 4000 species of mollusks, MARINE including 380 species of nudibranchs (sea-slugs); in the order of 1,000 new species; associated digital images of 2,250 living animals representing about 1,500 species.

5,000 lots of mollusks preserved specifically for molecular barcoding.

486 fish species, of which 15 new species.

International recognition

The Marine Biodiversity expeditions conducted by our group have become the «gold standard» of marine invertebrates sampling and exploration, and have changed how we evaluate the global magnitude of tropical marine biodiversity. The SANTO 2006 expedition was presented at a CReefs meeting in Honolulu in February 2006, and our sampling approach (vacuum cleaner, brushing baskets) was subsequently adopted by an NOAA cruise to Pearl & Hermes reefs in the NW Hawaiian chain. The Panglao and Santo experiences were also presented to the Subsidiary Body for Scientific, Technical and Technological Advice (SBSTTA) of the Convention on Biological Diversity at their July 2006 meeting in Paris.

Santo 2006 progress report 9

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 component Preliminary Y Reports on the T «Forests, Mountains I & Rivers» S R E V I D Santo 2006-Section2 O I B L A I R T S E R R E T group of researchers are put together put are researchers of group individual of results preliminary The the islanddiversityofenvironments. ecosystems that are representatives of intact host to supposed sites selected pre- in but everywhere, traveled not did Scientists flora. and fauna island was sub-component the of picture broad a get to designed second The forests. way of surveying the arthropod life in unifying and new a for brand a and program international an of name the both being Arthropods) Canopy and project (Investigating the BIodiversity of Soil IBISCA the “ entitled chapter the in together put are results preliminary the report, this In Penaoru riverbasin,onthewestcoastofSanto. the in asl. m 1,500 to (asl.) level sea above m 50 ca. and qualitative from transect deep altitudinal an along a survey quantitative for camp base Penaoru the around scientists involved sub-component first The inventory ofalimitedarea. of the island, and structured sampling for a quantitative parts different in inventory qualitative a for sampling random activities: scientific of categories main two in divided be can expedition 2006 Santo the of (FMR) “ The Introduction oet Mutis Rivers & Mountains Forest, , IBISCA ”, rlmnr Rpr on Report Preliminary Study location component ” n h catr nild “ entitled chapter the in h btncl tde cnutd ihn h IBISCA of the results within conducted the studies grouping botanical is the it as overlapping these Work Mycological and Botanical “ entitled chapter The as well. locations other at and transect altitudinal the to close sites random at surveyed representatives IBISCA the of some and Valley Penaoru the surveyed scientists travelling the of between some as sub-components, exist two these did overlapping extend certain a To the Travelling Team Works h FR opnn hs also has component FMR The and November06. October during disposal project the at was which VMC, the by owned by vessel, Euphrosyne the to thanks sea traveled scientists the of access. Most road no with island the of part remote in of place took activities scientific was the of most as which help great (VMC) Maritime College Vanuatu the by support offered logistical strong the from The ‘FMR’ component has benefited the by island traveling team. the in elsewhere conducted studies the with program Santo 2006progress report Preliminary Report on the on Report Preliminary rlmnr Rprs on Reports Preliminary ”. exemplify ”

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TERRESTRIAL benefited from a strong support by the local communities. Penaoru villagers were of considerable help in building and running the Penaoru base camp. Every village visited either on the west coast or on the east coast of the Cumberland peninsula have to be warmly thanked for accommodating some of the scientists and for the numerous services they provided to each visiting team.

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��������� ����� TERRESTRIAL ��������� ����� Cape Cumberland Preliminary Report on the IBISCA project

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

Santo 2006 progress report 15

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 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 100m asl(1site)and300msite). at established were sites additional the and sites), (3 asl 1200m and sites) (3 sea asl 900m sites), above (3 (asl) level 600m 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

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

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 mrcns Eyhia aigt, ogma pinnata Pongamia variegata, Erythrina americanus, a as like trees described deciduous best be can seasonal or semi-deciduous forest with the presence of here vegetation The whole the along transect. encountered lowest the be would zones ground exposed such with forests in diversity and density tree the Overall litter. leaf) (mostly plant decomposed partially of 2-4cm about of layer a with sp and include trees subcanopy common relatively genus in the Annonaceae an is tree canopy sub common most bijuga included vitiensis include here found trees emergent large common relatively Other and common emergent tree is the around and In the basecamp(80masl.to1200masl.). Myristica are taxa widespread most two The taxa. collected commonly and diverse most the being Myrtaceae and Orchidaceae families Overall the angiosperms dominate the sample with the 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 , Garcinia Macaranga Ohr re ta fr te aoy layer canopy the form that trees Other . Pterocarpus indica sp. and these are found in forests around forests in found are these and sp. Xylopia Dysoxylum sp. The forest floor is mostly exposed 100m and 300m and 100m which grows up to 4m tall. Other tall. 4m to up grows which sp., and Calophyllum neo-ebudicum Calophyllum Terminalia catappa, Gyrocarpus catappa, Terminalia p and sp. and 1000masl. species in the forest between tree600 common most the of One Fruit ofMyristicasp. , Aleurites moluccana Castenosperma australe Pongamia pinnata plots the dominant the plots 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 are that trees large Other common. are 200cm about ( tree Kaori the is At A giantKaoritree (Agathissp.)-PenaoruValley, ca.1000m. tree is At of s f tp tpcly on o te ewr sd of side large, highoceanicislands. leeward the on found typically type a of is of lianas indicate drier elements but overall the forest lot a of presence the and forest-floor the on debris of layer thin cover. Arelatively ground of lack general and Selaginella the 900m plots the 600m elevation lii lebbeck Albizia Eugenia Dysoxylum Syzygium Agathis 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., and their surroundings the dominant Semecarpus gti sp.) Agathis Geissois a oe udrsoe ad a and under-storey open an , Santo 2006progress report sp., plots the dominant tree species Psychotria p, and sp., sp., tes ih b of dbh with trees - sp., Elaeocarpus , Terminalia , Garcinia Dacrycarpus Syzygium Cyathea

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

TERRESTRIAL elevation. 900m the in plots with compared when less be may dbh) (>5cm density tree but here diverse more is flora The vegetation. type cloud-forest montane a indicates stems of lot a covered which liverworts and mosses like elements ally fern cryptic that formed the ground cover. The occurrence of some epiphytes and greater diversity in the plant community here. A noticeable feature was the greater abundance of genus the in palm included trees large occurring commonly Other elevations. lower at Agathis still is species dominant 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 but its occurrence is not as common as noticed sp., forest type where some emergent kauri emergent some where type forest sp., Elaeocarpus ersdrs collina Metrosideros oyca vanuatua Polyscias Cyphosperma the plant community changes community plant the . sp., is very common especially ersdrs collina Metrosideros commonly occurred commonly Tmesipteris A subcanopy A . , Turrillia p, and sp., 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 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 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 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

TERRESTRIAL Future Activities 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 ae gnrly n utvrae nlss d 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 substantial requires work. further 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, 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 epiphytes. with covered are and canopy the above reach altitude, the and genus liverwort, of the to belonging trees large exceptionally of presence diversity and abundance above primarily found remarkable a by characterized is altitude, 100m about type, forest major second The archipelago. the within type vegetation this of examples intact remaining only the perhaps Santo on those making over-exploitation, from pressure heavy Anatom and Erromango, where they have come under Vanuatu,in islands other two on only recorded been have forests Kaori branches. sprawling its on grow that species epiphytic of dozens for habitat perfect a provide and canopy surrounding the above far extend genus conifer the of species two) possibly (or one by dominated are ridges, along including altitude, 900m to 600m about from found forests, Kaori altitudes. higher at noted were forest intact Two of places. types many main 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. Metrosideros Agathis wih ie h koi a lower at kaoris the like which , Santo 2006progress report , which form massive trees that trees massive form which ,

26

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

27

TERRESTRIAL 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 G.denhamii Butmas, which genus seems different from the the only previously to belonging Geissois

Polyscias sp. an undescribedspecies. of plant female a collected Breynia Weinmannia sp. of Cunoniaceae, of Weinnmania

Epobaee. h btn ta also team botany The (Euphorbiaceae). 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 a newspeciesaswell. Penaoru, and this is probably both Mt. Tabwemasana and at on found was species third a However,be to appears what but the other one was not seen. 2006, Santo during collected ( these of One Vanuatu. in species recorded previously two by 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 (

Santo. on ever time first the for schmidtii genus, the of member second a and Penaoru, Mt. Tabwemasana and at on made were genus this of species new probable , is likewise represented likewise is , Vanuatu’sgenus second . denhamii W. a cletd in collected was that is potentially is that ws recorded was , G.denhamii was ) P. ). 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 nearly 600km. of Santo, between disjunction a representing on 1000m and was collected 600 Anatom, also of island southernmost the from only vanuatua species, second 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 , previously known previously , Tirdca) Ti dsicie parasitic distinctive This (Triuridaceae). Aaica) Svrl ebr o this of members Several (Araliaceae). Sciaphila aneityensis Sciaphila Schefflera Santo 2006progress report

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

group, Mt. 28

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 other also symbionts were potential of Two parasites Tremellales). or (e.g. fungi sp.), (Cordyceps 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 2 . Within each plot, all trees with a Arcyria 150 (1) 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 Santo 2006progress report (Photo below) and 1200 (3) 316 84 54 Intsia . An interesting and interesting An . Poromycena Total 233 172 947

29 ,

TERRESTRIAL 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 River Team 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 rivers trapping near light 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

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

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) 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 , a worm. like looks it as snake, a is it know not do they though Ramphotyphops braminus 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 Ramphotyphops 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 is known by most inhabitants

, was ), 34

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., m 1500 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&Dr. 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 litter sieving will most probably disclose many minute many disclose probably most will sieving litter However, vegetation. native of covered molluscs, being despite of devoid almost were m) 1500 - (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 Dendrotrochus sp. alive forthefirst timeever. Most speciescollectedinSantowerephotographed species, andweanticipatesomesurprises. Euglandina roseaEuglandina , introduced , Palaina sp. Coneuplecta sp. Euconuladae Santo 2006progress report

36

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), Olry and Port and Butmas Matantas to Luganville West,of surroundings the in Pénaouru 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 Y T I S R E N A V E N Preliminary Reportsonthe A I R R E D Santo 2006-Section3 T B O U S I & L B I O S h gorpia oii ad the and origin elucidating geographical island, the the of history the climatological and reconstructing geological objective. recent included second our This was karst Santo the of patterns biodiversity day first objective. our Understanding the present- was biodiversity Santo of inventory global the to contribute To available fortheisland. already were and studies archaeological sedimentological basic Third, of fauna. subterranean its for Pacific islands the large the of known well New Guinea. Second, it was the least outside islands Pacific the in limestone karstified of interesting in the Pacific. First, it was the largest extent Three features of the Santo karst made it one of the most provided invaluableassistancewiththefield work. Spain (2), UK (1). Two (1), Ni-vanuatu and Rufino Pineda Indonesia (3), Caledonia New (12), France (1), of the karst of Santo included 20 people from Australia study scientific the chargeof in team The expedition. the by sampled and mapped were Many holes. blue and typical resurgences sinks, stream dolines, Many avens, caves, as populated. such landscape, the in sparsely visible are features karstic is secondary and with covered forest is areas coastal in except surface this of Most Santo. of area total the of half nearly i.e. km2, 1600 than more occupies karst) (the Limestone terrain made of Quaternary uplift coral reefs Study location “ Karst eemnn lcl ifrnito o te sad and island, the on differentiation local factors determining the for searching fauna, the of relationships or were multi-purpose. The collected material, which material, collected The multi-purpose. were or (“survey of bats and guano objectives of specific either Sarabo on targeted cave” were trips for Field instance), specific targets andinvestigation tools: having teams, core three as field the in operated We of interconnections and subterranean, groundwaterandsoilcommunities. structure the exploring • • • of speleologists. a team of terrestrial biologists, with the support divers; of support the with hydrobiologists, of team a and archaeologists; palaeontologists sedimentologists, of team a ” component bevtos ae summarized and are below. results observations, preliminary The available forstudy. were samples archaeological and palaeontological sediment, as well cave, as fauna of aquatic and terrestrial soil, samples 500 than more uninterrupted weather activity, and after a month of field work, September favourable in to Thanks at theendofeachtrip. level gross a at sorted was soil, and also of samples of sediments, water, in our case consisted of animals, and Santo 2006progress report

38

SOIL & SUBTERRANEN Indicative results Huge caves and subterranean rivers discovered and explored

Many small caves were discovered during two preliminary reconnaissance trips undertaken in 2005. After further deep explorations and sump diving during the expedition itself, several of these caves subsequently turned out to be very large indeed. The longest of Santo, the Funafu system, develops several kilometers of underground passages, and exploration is far from being completed. Another surprise came at the end of our stay, when we discovered huge subterranean galleries with big underground river near Butmas. To-day, Santo has become the most promising karst in the Pacific islands outside New Guinea for the exploration of large underground systems.

Map of Funafu system, the largest cave system of Santo

Widespread traces of human occupation, small vertebrate bones found In the field, we sampled sediments by cuttings and coring, and we studied cave deposits for geological, palaeontological and archaeological analyses. The & SUBTERRANEN SOIL twenty rock shelters or caves sampled in the karstic zone of Cap Cumberland, Cap Queiros, east coast and Aoré Island provided plenty of archaeological and palaeontological rests. Megapod birds, thought to have possibly existed in Santo, as in New Caledonia, were searched for, but no remains were found. On the other hand, we found, at almost every site, layers with ceramics (more than 1000 years old), fire marks, Human bones sometimes tools and fossil remains (more than two species of Rattus, birds, bats, lizards…). Human bones were also discovered, sometimes associated with jaws and canines (tusks) of Suidae (pig family), indicating the importance of burial in these shelters. The sediments taken from caves and swamps for palynological and sedimentological analysis are under study. Excavation in Lori cave

Santo 2006 progress report 39

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 y is a as uuuly ih epcal 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 abundant an by inhabited guano, of amount huge 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

mn te olce seis a upiigy 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 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 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 moreinformation 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 2006progress report

42

HUMAN IMPACT 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

following the end of the expedition. HUMAN IMPACT

Study location

Santo 2006 progress report 43

rtcl wr st uig etns ht ok place sampling took during thefirstweekof expedition. that meetings of during set were standardisation protocols and mobility used. were their Harmonisation tools sampling to various members history, regard life team and with the by considerably studied vary taxa the Because alien specieslocally. perturbed by human activities and the least invaded by least the be to presumed is and forest, rain secondary less or more a is which species habitat”, “surrounding The 3) local highest the diversity; harbour to presumed and habitat”, is “surrounding the and plots between cultivated boundary the forms that “ecotone” The 2) the highestnumberofalienspecies; harbour to presumed are which plots, cultivated of set were 1) The town of Luganville and disturbance its harbour along with a human sampled simultaneouslyateachsite: decreasing of gradient Moreover, three habitats arranged along an hypothesised status, ahypothesisthatwesetouttotest. protected its of because sites other our than invasives fewer have to presumed is which Matantas of village 4) The Vathé Conservation area, close to the Melanesian a badtrackin2000; by network isolated island’sroad the to connected was it long until Butmas of village Melanesian The 3) than 50yearsago; more parasites and adventives associated with along of introduced were species breeding and agronomy alien near for interest several located where station, village, agronomic Saraoutou CTRAV The 2) long a for time; place taken has activity trade Santo’s of 1) The town of Luganville and its harbour, where most disturbance: arranged human were from pressure of they gradient decreasing a that along hypotheses the on based time, throughout October 2006. Four sites were chosen team members worked together in the field at the the same all variations, seasonal to due results our among biases reduce to attempt an In taxa. different very on specialist a data each members, team among the all comparison by gathered for allowed sampling ecological that adapted an strategy temporal develop to and had we approach, spatial a consideration into take to needed also but inventories to restricted simply not was Theme aliens” and “Fallows the As Strategy 0 tnadsd 0 lna tascs Brs were Birds transects. checkpoints 128 at songs and sightings using checked linear m on 50 checked standardised were 50 tracks and faeces their km; 61.7 representing tracks standardised 60 by along sampled sightings trap- were carnivores 2280 and of Ungulates effort nights. total a line representing 17 along transects set were that posts trapping 30 to 20 Vertebrates Sampling effortandmethods (Tenebrionidea, epiphytes, geography, sociologyandanthropology. Coleoptera and plants self-propagating birds, Agaonidea), Chalcidoidea, carnivores, and 11 solitary social, hymenoptera parasites, included ungulates, herpethology, team competence: of micromammals, areas aliens” following the with and scientists “Fallows The and theirareasofcompetence The “Fallowsandaliens”team o te fmle o odr (oepea Cetonidae, Chrysomellidae- Hemiptera...) werealsocollected. belonging (Coleoptera- orders Insects or families vivariums. other to in placed were been had several of Chalcidoidea) fruits from obtained (Hymenoptera, Agaonidea and night atthesitescale. day during (UV) light or system trap malaise a and Tenebrionidea) using or hand by sampled were Hymenoptera solitary (mainly Coleoptera Service. performed Phytosanitary Santo Espiritu of collaboration the with was operation This Archipelago. Banks ant, electric the by auropunctata Wasmannia invaded been has that area the encompass to Bay, Shark to Luganville from island, the of coast eastern along place took that campaigns prospecting intensive two to devoted were days Four butter, eachdistributedalonglinetransects. cm 400 pitfalls, simultaneously using protocols standardised with sampled were sites study the of each at habitat Entomofauna investigations. as belonging to 17 species, the two last needing further identified were which of 160 investigations, nocturnal and diurnal during was photographed and captured approach were hand specimens quantitative 162 but No herpetofauna, the km. for used 58 of representing total tracks 27 a along distributed were that 2 litter samples, and dishes baited with peanut with baited dishes and samples, litter

Mcoaml wr smld with sampled were Micromammals - Sca Hmnpea rm each from Hymenoptera Social - Santo 2006progress report rcnl arvd rm the from arrived recently , Ficus pce, that species,

44

HUMAN IMPACT with theinterviewedpersonsforlateridentifications. and plants collected Several were insects) shells, conducted. (mollusc invertebrates were old years and 75 20 between men adult of interviews Forty-four natives. by perceived as impacts their of hierarchy a inquiry this was to establish an alien species inventory and of aim The sites. four the of three at performed was list unordered pre-established, a using inquiry An based ontheirperceptions. alien or native as them ranked who residents, local of Santo was determined based on the collective memory on sites various at arrived species introduced several pictures collected by team members. The time and at lingua which samples using national languages local other (the and franca) Bichlama Latin, in species of lists one-to-one up drew anthropologists team aliens” Anthropology & Sociology same standardised50metertransects. peltata Merremia lianas, two for performed was assessment abundance of index an Moreover, locals. by perception species’ alien on inquiries during and carnivore, and ungulate collected of assessment were an to devoted treks exploratory samples during was additional sites three and the performed of sampling flora quantitative Flora for assessingungulatesandcarnivoreabundance. established were that transects meter 50 standardised fulica Achatina snails, introduced abundance two for of performed was assessment index an team, aliens” and “Fallows the by consideration into taken specifically not were TerrestrialMalacofauna slaughtered from collected breeding cattle. were worms parasitic and rodents, alien on collected were (Siphonaptera) Fleas Nivanuatu. by hunted pigs feral two and cattle breeding slaughtered rodents, trapped from collected were specimens several and binoculars using checked parasites Mammal Ecpe i te uavle ra semi- area, Luganville the in Excepted - and and

-

ulnia rosea Euglandina iai micrantha Mikania ik rsne n ate was cattle on presence Tick - While terrestrial molluscs terrestrial While - Te Flos and “Fallows The - uig the using , uig the using , of theseotheralienspeciesinourssamples. Future analysis may reveal the presence of one or more from known are Vanuatu.which of remains fossils sub and Mouse), house Santo: Espiritu on wild the in present be may species rodent other Three as 20 as 25 : follows as identified be could one but all collected, were that fauna Mammalian First results y ivnau ugse ta tee nml wr in good healthanddidnotexhibit evidentpathology. were animals these that suggested Ni-vanuatu by examination of two feral pigs and one feral cow hunted cycle. annual the Aalong and another rapid to site one feral and from varied which pressure, hunting under were cattle pigs feral that showed Vathé and from Butmas peoples native and authorities with Interviews the centralpartof Vathé Conservationarea. in located area meadow the in densities high and reached Vathé, and Butmas at sighted were populations the except around the densities Saraoutou CTRAV sites high agronomic station. Feral reached all They zone. at urban Luganville plots cultivated or houses cattle, Breeding natives complainedaboutcropdamage. where area, Butmas the in especially high-densities, the Vathé and Butmas areas, where they locally reached in sighted were populations Feral Saraoutou. at station CTRAVagronomical the and Luganville except sites pig, breeding The Trapped Rattuscf.norvegicus–Vathé Conservation Area Rattus praetor ( praetor Rattus R. cf . norvegicus . Rattus tanezumi Rattus Rattus o primigenus Bos Mus musculus castaneus musculus Mus Sus scrofa Sus mn te 6 micromammals 86 the Among – the big spiny rat of New-Guinea) of rat spiny big the Santo 2006progress report cf and 22 as 22 and . exulans . , was observed at all the all at observed was , (the Asian house Rat), (the house Asian wr sgtd near sighted were , , 18 as 18 , Mus cf R. . musculus . (the Asian cf

. rattus . 45 . ,

HUMAN IMPACT eea k aa fo tee ua settlements, human these from away km several localities at checked also were species this of faeces settlements at the four study sites. Sighting, tracks and ( Dogs Espiritu on wild Santo. the in today of occur collected species individuals theses feral was that hypothesis information the supporting no and domesticated were animals these VathéAll village. near also goats some and area urban Luganville the in sighted were Breeding cattleattheCTRAV agronomic station-Saraoutou Back from aNivanuatuferal pighuntingparty–Butmasvillage Native guidesstrengthenedthishypothesis. day. to areas Vathé and Butmas roam cats feral that km from human settlements supporting the hypothesis several faeces of made were collections and shyness, behavioural distance long exhibited that made were settlements at the four study sites. Sightings of two cats ( cat people The native and sites, confirmed thisconclusion. study dog the feral of at evidence populations any find not did We tracks. human or hunters with associated time each although Some goats ( ai lupus Canis ei sylvestris Felis Capra hircus wr sgtd er human near sighted were ) ws ihe na human near sighted was ) ) and sheep ( Ovis orientalis

) soitd ih le gass Te mat o these of impacts The grasses. alien with associated Indian the and Mynah isassociatedwithcattle, which arethemselves species pasture as introduced were that grasses alien with associated is Mannikin headed is Black- granivorous The species areas. urban of than alien habitats major open of occurrence the two by explained better the probably of presence The from thissite. absent is which Fowl, jungle feral the and Luganville, to restricted is which Dove, Rock feral the excepted species previously noted were sighted at all study sites ( Dove Rock feral the one, new a added we island, the from absent presently ( ( ( ( ( Fowl jungle feral 50 the alien, the being five Santo, with Espiritu for listed compared species be can records These ones. introduced four and species bird native 35 of total a Avifauna n uavle CRV n Vté n a snake a and Vathé and ( CTRAV Luganville, in ( gecko Vathé,and a ( frog a are There three are aliens, all of which observed during our stay. Among the 19 species mentioned from Espiritu Santo, Santo. Two unidentified specimensremain. Espiritu from previously cited been had all observed, species freshwater or we species 17 the Of reptiles). 18 and amphibian (one terrestrial 19 of total a hosts covering 164 works in all, suggests that Espiritu Santo Herpetofauna endemic species. ( freycinet bird Incubator the with cohabits ago, the feral jungle Fowl, introduced by Melanesians long although aliens by invaded least the were and species Forest habitats hosted the highest number of native bird produced openones. advantage of the modifications of pristine habitats that took habitats open use that birds native granivorous native granivorous birds on Santo and because the non native birds seems to be negligible because there are no on impacts However, habitats. open such in expected be thus might any, if birds, native on birds alien two asr domesticus Passer Lonchura malacca Lonchura tristis Acridotheres Ramphotyphlops braminus wtot paet eaie mat o this on impacts negative apparent without ) - Sightings and song checkpoints documented

castaneithorax - A synthesis of the available references ioi aurea Litoria Gallus gallus Gallus ), the Chestnut-breasted Mannikin Chestnut-breasted the ), . hl te w ls seis are species last two the While ). Hemidactylus frenatus Hemidactylus , h Bakhae Mannikin Black-headed the ), Santo 2006progress report Columba livia Columba ad h Hue Sparrow House the and ) ) seenatCTRAV. std n Luganville in sited ) ), the Indian Mynah Indian the ), ). The alien bird alien The ). Megapodius ) observed )

46

HUMAN IMPACT the habitats at Vathé and Saraoutou except in meadows of shells hand, other the On transects area. Butmas the of habitats various the in established line meter 50 the on observed never were species, Malacaufauna village Butmas – pigs feral on collected cyprinus, Amblyomma tick The several wall ofthelarge intestineofbreedingcattle. Moreover, of larvae and stomach cattle. domestic Haemonchus on (adult) and rodent one and pigs collected, were species Vanuatu.for Twotick first the is record our although Islands, Pacific all nearly to Man by introduced been species of individuals on Mammal parasites are alien species Santo Espiritu on species the of to which know help will underway now area Pacific western far systematics and biogeography of Tenebrionidae of the one may be new to Science. A collected, all of which are new species to Vanuatusynthesis and of the taxonomy, were species TenebrionidaeColeoptera 25 than More highly undesirablespecies. this eradicate Santo. to Island attempted we Service, Santo Phytosanitary Espiritu Espiritu of the of coast collaboration the east With the on area hectare ( ant electric auropunctata arrived recently the that clearly alien. Among these alien species, we established were sighted for the first time; 15 of these species were others the Vanuatuand from known previously were Entomofauna Xenopsylla vexabilis Xenopsylla vs. caia fulica Achatina native. hs o ae nae a etitd one- restricted a invaded date to has ) cf - Among the 50 ant taxa collected, 36 collected, taxa ant 50 the Among - To ieped omn snail common widespread Two - placei Rattus - The eight Siphonaptera collected Amblyomma cyprinus Amblyomma Oesophagostomum ee rsn i te rennet the in present were cf ampyai longicornis Haemaphysalis and norvegicus Jordan, 1925, which has which 1925, Jordan, A. fulica A. ulnia rosea Euglandina were seen in all in seen were belong to the to belong Wasmannia p i the in sp. on feral on

h laa erma ett klig h tes n peetn the forest regeneration -Saraoutou preventing and trees the killing peltata Merremia liana The hs i epcal audn ad t ‘le’ tts is problematical. status ‘alien’ its and abundant especially is these species, micrantha liana Mikania common alien particular 3 invasive on made were Observations abundance. carnivore and ungulate assess to used tracks the along and list unordered pre-established, the using enquiry the during collected were alien, the being majority large plants, 110 almost Moreover, aliens. are which of % 50 near species, 200 about representing made, Flora Saraoutou and Vathé andincultivatedplotsat Vathé. fulica A. pastures. and eety vle o ws nrae b human determine whichexplanation isthemorelikely. by to possible it make might sediments old increased from pollen was or perturbation of the local forest ecosystem. Analyses of evolved recently Alternatively,behaviour aggressive its that be could it the introduced. been has species all this that suggests which destroyed case, the not have however is This now. by forest island’s surely aggressivewould its ago, behaviour long introduced or native were plant this If regeneration. preventing and trees adult canopy,killing the cover then and reach that appears, light of shaft a ever where stems vertical producing and ground, the on stems undergrowth creeping of way the throughout by spreads present is liana This a of native species. characteristic not is that behaviour particularly aggressive a exhibits Santo, on habitats perturbed Nevertheless, this species which is dominant in human Fiji and Samoa Islands Islands, and also in Solomon Australia, the in native species, as regarded this is which of area distribution natural the within located is Santo Espiritu and species, alien introduced the Butmas language, which is not the case for recently

Apoiaey 5 pat olcin were collections plant 250 Approximately - ws ihe ol i scnay oet at forest secondary in only sighted was , ulnie rosea Euglandine Merremia peltata Merremia and Santo 2006progress report Lamiaceae has a local name in name local a has ls feun than frequent less , erma peltata Merremia p Te rt of first The sp. inter alia

47 . ,

HUMAN IMPACT 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

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]

Santo 2006 progress report 50

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]

Santo 2006 progress report 51

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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