sign in sign up
<<
Home , Flatworm, Platydemus manokwari

, manokwari, in : Status and Threats to Native Land

Tim Collins, Department of Biological Sciences Florida International University

Alície Warren, Conservation and Restoration Biologist Miami-Dade County Environmentally Endangered Lands Program and Parks, Recreation & Open Spaces Department What is ?

Shinji Sugiura, Ogasawara Islands Japan Recognizing Platydemus

snout eyespots

“D” shaped in cross-section

Leigh Winsor Size

Justine et al. PeerJ 2015 Appearance and Reproduction

Egg capsules called cocoons

Pair of Platydemus flatworms at Kingman preserve (Redlands, FL) that appear to be mating (parallel, stacked)

Justine et al. PeerJ 2015 , Cocoon photo by Leigh Winsor spots and snout Feeding & Prey

Justine et al. PeerJ 2014 Concerns regarding Platydemus flatworms:

• In other regions where introduced, it is considered the cause of extinction and/or dramatic decline of native , particularly snails (e.g. Cowie, 2008)

• Is considered one of the World’s 100 worst (Global invasive Species Database)

• Can carry Angiostrongylus (rat lungworm disease), which infects humans First report of Platydemus manokwari Travels of Platydemus manokwari

Justine et al. PeerJ 2015 How is Platydemus spreading? • Reported rate of natural dispersal limited, between 30 (Winsor, 1990) and 180 Meters per (Muniappan, 1987) over suitable habitat/conditions. • Other routes are accidental or intentional introduction. Platydemus flatworms reported in South Florida, January 2015

Castellow Hammock Preserve Castellow-Ross Hammock Preserve Complex in South Miami-Dade County Castellow 33 Preserve in August / September 2015 Sample of +300 Liguus sp. and other snails from Platydemus flatworm feeding aggregations in Castellow 33 Preserve August-September 2015

Alície Warren Genetic Analysis confirms ID of Platydemus manokwari from Castellow 33, south Miami-Dade, West Palm Beach and Sanibel Island. Miami-Dade County Environmentally Endangered Lands Preserve Nearby: Continued Monitoring of Miami-Dade County Environmentally Endangered Lands Preserve:

Tim Collins Tim Collins

Different Color Morphs Tim Collins Tim Collins Tim Collins Tim Collins Tim Collins July 16th 2017: Reported Range for Platydemus flatworms in Florida - Greatly Expanded Since 2015 Tim Collins Coming to Your Neighborhood? (or maybe already there) Tim Collins

2017 Monitoring Surveys Tim Collins Tim Collins Recent Kills of Tree Snails Continue Wondering if you’ve got Platydemus flatworms? • Seeing fewer snails than you used to?

• Search in warm moist conditions - after rain ideal.

• A full 1-4 hours after dark best, but can be found during the day (moist places, early morning rains, etc.).

• In leaf litter, under/around rocks logs, tree trunks, i.e. where there are snails.

If you think you have one, let us know! [email protected] or [email protected]. Priorities: What Needs to be Done • Determine full extent and continuity of Platydemus flatworm range, especially near natural areas with diverse faunas, including Liguus and Orthalicus spp. and other at risk species. - Establish monitoring/bait stations in sensitive natural areas - Develop other rapid methods of assaying presence of Platydemus (e.g. Dogs) - Check Platydemus populations for presence of parasites/pathogens.

• Assay population health of Liguus and Orthalicus spp. in natural areas: – Determine specific south Florida natural areas at high risk for invasion by Platydemus flatworms (e.g, areas in EVER, BICY, BNP, Fakahatchee, Panther NWR, 10,000 islands, MDC PNAs, etc.) (from regular heavy public visitation, areas of current/proposed restoration including new planting installations and/or use of heavy equipment, and/or frequent vehicle/contractor traffic, etc.)

– Determine Protected Natural Areas with unaffected colonies of native tree snails where invasion possibilities by Platydemus flatworms could be minimized. • Determine precise human-mediated mechanisms of spread and intervene if possible (e.g. Phytosanitary measures). • Halt movement of / soil etc. from infected areas to uninfected natural areas Acknowledgements: • Support from: Florida Fish & Wildlife Conservation Commission, Wildlife Impact Management Section

• Sarah Funck, Jason Wagman, David Cook, Jim Duquesnel, Florida Fish & Wildlife Conservation Commission

• Andrew Derksen, Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services, Division of Industry, Cooperative Agricultural Pest Survey - South Florida Region

• Eduardo Salcedo, Natural Areas Management Miami-Dade Parks, Recreation and Open Spaces Department

• Alex Salcedo, TERRA Environmental Research Institute, Miami-Dade County Public Schools

• Mary Yong Cong, Science GALS Program Miami, Division of Plant Industry, Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services Any Questions?