DOCSLIB.ORG

Terrestrial Forest Management Plan for Palmyra Atoll

Total Page：16

File Type：pdf, Size：1020Kb

Download full-text PDF Read full-text
Terrestrial Forest Management Plan for Palmyra Atoll Prepared for The Nature Conservancy Palmyra Program Terrestrial Forest Management Plan for Palmyra Atoll Open-File Report 2011–1007 U.S. Department of the Interior U.S. Geological Survey Cover: Images showing native species of the terrestrial forest at Palmyra Atoll (on the left from top to bottom: red-footed boobies, an undescribed gecko, and a coconut crab). The forests shown are examples of Pisonia grandis forest on Lost Islet (above) and an example of coconut palm monoculture on Kaula Islet (below) at Palmyra Atoll. (Photographs by Stacie Hathaway, U.S. Geological Survey, 2008.) Terrestrial Forest Management Plan for Palmyra Atoll By Stacie A. Hathaway, Kathryn McEachern, and Robert N. Fisher Prepared for The Nature Conservancy Palmyra Program Open-File Report 2011–1007 U.S. Department of the Interior U.S. Geological Survey U.S. Department of the Interior KEN SALAZAR, Secretary U.S. Geological Survey Marcia K. McNutt, Director U.S. Geological Survey, Reston, Virginia: 2011 For more information on the USGS—the Federal source for science about the Earth, its natural and living resources, natural hazards, and the environment, visit http://www.usgs.gov or call 1–888–ASK–USGS. For an overview of USGS information products, including maps, imagery, and publications, visit http://www.usgs.gov/pubprod To order this and other USGS information products, visit http://store.usgs.gov Suggested citation: Hathaway, S.A., McEachern, K., and Fisher, R.N., 2011, Terrestrial forest management plan for Palmyra Atoll: U.S. Geological Survey Open-File Report 2011–1007, 78 p. Any use of trade, product, or firm names is for descriptive purposes only and does not imply endorsement by the U.S. Government. Although this report is in the public domain, permission must be secured from the individual copyright owners to reproduce any copyrighted material contained within this report. Contents Executive Summary ....................................................................................................................................................... 1 Introduction .................................................................................................................................................................... 3 Purpose, Development, and Review .......................................................................................................................... 3 Relation to Other Plans .............................................................................................................................................. 4 Value of Palmyra Atoll at Multiple Scales ................................................................................................................... 4 Mission and Purpose of Palmyra Atoll Under Joint Ownership of TNC and the FWS .................................................... 5 Mission, Goals, and Refuge Purposes of the FWS National Wildlife Refuge System ................................................ 5 Mission and Purpose of the TNC Palmyra Program................................................................................................... 5 Study Site ...................................................................................................................................................................... 6 Background and History of Human Use ......................................................................................................................... 6 Inventory and Description of Habitat .............................................................................................................................. 7 Geography / Land Area .............................................................................................................................................. 7 Surface Water ............................................................................................................................................................ 7 Groundwater .............................................................................................................................................................. 8 Geology and Soils ...................................................................................................................................................... 9 Flora ..........................................................................................................................................................................12 Dominant Vegetation Types ..................................................................................................................................13 Pisonia grandis Forest .......................................................................................................................................13 Coastal Strand Forest or Scaevola-Tournefortia ................................................................................................17 Pandanus fischerianus ......................................................................................................................................17 Lepturus repens var. palmyrensis ......................................................................................................................17 Coconut Palm Forest .........................................................................................................................................17 Terminalia catappa ............................................................................................................................................18 Hibiscus tiliaceus ...............................................................................................................................................18 Miscellaneous Species ..........................................................................................................................................18 Vegetation Monitoring ...........................................................................................................................................19 Fauna ........................................................................................................................................................................19 Mammals ...............................................................................................................................................................19 Avifauna ................................................................................................................................................................19 Herpetofauna.........................................................................................................................................................20 Terrestrial Invertebrates ........................................................................................................................................21 Arthropods .........................................................................................................................................................21 Environmental and Human-caused Drivers and Stressors ........................................................................................22 Storms ...................................................................................................................................................................23 Climate Change .....................................................................................................................................................23 Direct Human Impacts ...........................................................................................................................................24 Invasive Species ...................................................................................................................................................25 Conceptual Models of Palmyra Atoll Terrestrial Forest Ecosystems .............................................................................26 Components of the Terrestrial Ecosystem on Palmyra Atoll .....................................................................................27 Resources of Concern ..............................................................................................................................................27 Critical Assumptions and Uncertainties .....................................................................................................................28 Conceptual Modeling ................................................................................................................................................29 Habitat, Goals, Objectives, and Strategies ...................................................................................................................29 Goals and Objectives of the “Terrestrial Forest Management Plan for Palmyra Atoll” ..................................................31 Management Goals, Objectives, and Strategies for the Palmyra Atoll Terrestrial Forest .............................................32 iii Range of Natural Variation ........................................................................................................................................32 Desired Future Conditions ........................................................................................................................................32 Objectives .................................................................................................................................................................34
Load more

Recommended publications
  • OGC-98-5 U.S. Insular Areas: Application of the U.S. Constitution
    United States General Accounting Office Report to the Chairman, Committee on GAO Resources, House of Representatives November 1997 U.S. INSULAR AREAS Application of the U.S. Constitution GAO/OGC-98-5 United States General Accounting Office GAO Washington, D.C. 20548 Office of the General Counsel B-271897 November 7, 1997 The Honorable Don Young Chairman Committee on Resources House of Representatives Dear Mr. Chairman: More than 4 million U.S. citizens and nationals live in insular areas1 under the jurisdiction of the United States. The Territorial Clause of the Constitution authorizes the Congress to “make all needful Rules and Regulations respecting the Territory or other Property” of the United States.2 Relying on the Territorial Clause, the Congress has enacted legislation making some provisions of the Constitution explicitly applicable in the insular areas. In addition to this congressional action, courts from time to time have ruled on the application of constitutional provisions to one or more of the insular areas. You asked us to update our 1991 report to you on the applicability of provisions of the Constitution to five insular areas: Puerto Rico, the Virgin Islands, the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands (the CNMI), American Samoa, and Guam. You asked specifically about significant judicial and legislative developments concerning the political or tax status of these areas, as well as court decisions since our earlier report involving the applicability of constitutional provisions to these areas. We have included this information in appendix I. 1As we did in our 1991 report on this issue, Applicability of Relevant Provisions of the U.S.
    [Show full text]
  • British Museum (Natural History)
    Bulletin of the British Museum (Natural History) Darwin's Insects Charles Darwin 's Entomological Notes Kenneth G. V. Smith (Editor) Historical series Vol 14 No 1 24 September 1987 The Bulletin of the British Museum (Natural History), instituted in 1949, is issued in four scientific series, Botany, Entomology, Geology (incorporating Mineralogy) and Zoology, and an Historical series. Papers in the Bulletin are primarily the results of research carried out on the unique and ever-growing collections of the Museum, both by the scientific staff of the Museum and by specialists from elsewhere who make use of the Museum's resources. Many of the papers are works of reference that will remain indispensable for years to come. Parts are published at irregular intervals as they become ready, each is complete in itself, available separately, and individually priced. Volumes contain about 300 pages and several volumes may appear within a calendar year. Subscriptions may be placed for one or more of the series on either an Annual or Per Volume basis. Prices vary according to the contents of the individual parts. Orders and enquiries should be sent to: Publications Sales, British Museum (Natural History), Cromwell Road, London SW7 5BD, England. World List abbreviation: Bull. Br. Mus. nat. Hist. (hist. Ser.) © British Museum (Natural History), 1987 '""•-C-'- '.;.,, t •••v.'. ISSN 0068-2306 Historical series 0565 ISBN 09003 8 Vol 14 No. 1 pp 1-141 British Museum (Natural History) Cromwell Road London SW7 5BD Issued 24 September 1987 I Darwin's Insects Charles Darwin's Entomological Notes, with an introduction and comments by Kenneth G.
    [Show full text]
  • B: Other U.S. Island Possessions in the Tropical Pacific
    Appendix B Other U.S. Island Possessions in the Tropical Pacific1 Introduction Howland, Jarvis, and Baker Islands There are eight isolated and unincorporated is- Howland, Jarvis and Baker are arid coral islands lands and reefs under U.S. control and sovereignty in the southern Line Island group (figure B-l). Aside in the tropical Pacific Basin. Included in this cate- from American Samoa, Jarvis Island is the only gory are: Kingman Reef, Palmyra and Johnston other U.S.-affiliated island in the Southern Hemi- Atolls in the northern Line Island group; Howland, sphere. These islands lie within one-half degree Baker and Jarvis Islands in the southern Line Is- from the equator, in the equatorial climatic zone. land group; Midway Atoll at the northwest end of During the 19th century the United States and the Hawaiian archipelago; and Wake Island north Britain actively exploited the significant guano de- of the Marshall Islands. Evidence indicates that posits found on these three islands. Jarvis Island some of these islands were not inhabited prior to was claimed by the United States in 1857, and sub- “Western” discovery; and today some remain unin- sequently annexed by Britain in 1889. Jarvis, Howland, habited. and Baker Islands were made territories of the These islands range from less than 1 degree south United States in 1936, and placed under the juris- latitude to nearly 29 degrees north latitude and from diction of the Department of the Interior. The is- 162 degrees west to 167 east longitude. The climate lands currently are uninhabited. regimes range from arid to wet and equatorial to These atolls were used as weather stations and subtropical.
    [Show full text]
  • Dipterists Forum
    BULLETIN OF THE Dipterists Forum Bulletin No. 76 Autumn 2013 Affiliated to the British Entomological and Natural History Society Bulletin No. 76 Autumn 2013 ISSN 1358-5029 Editorial panel Bulletin Editor Darwyn Sumner Assistant Editor Judy Webb Dipterists Forum Officers Chairman Martin Drake Vice Chairman Stuart Ball Secretary John Kramer Meetings Treasurer Howard Bentley Please use the Booking Form included in this Bulletin or downloaded from our Membership Sec. John Showers website Field Meetings Sec. Roger Morris Field Meetings Indoor Meetings Sec. Duncan Sivell Roger Morris 7 Vine Street, Stamford, Lincolnshire PE9 1QE Publicity Officer Erica McAlister [email protected] Conservation Officer Rob Wolton Workshops & Indoor Meetings Organiser Duncan Sivell Ordinary Members Natural History Museum, Cromwell Road, London, SW7 5BD [email protected] Chris Spilling, Malcolm Smart, Mick Parker Nathan Medd, John Ismay, vacancy Bulletin contributions Unelected Members Please refer to guide notes in this Bulletin for details of how to contribute and send your material to both of the following: Dipterists Digest Editor Peter Chandler Dipterists Bulletin Editor Darwyn Sumner Secretary 122, Link Road, Anstey, Charnwood, Leicestershire LE7 7BX. John Kramer Tel. 0116 212 5075 31 Ash Tree Road, Oadby, Leicester, Leicestershire, LE2 5TE. [email protected] [email protected] Assistant Editor Treasurer Judy Webb Howard Bentley 2 Dorchester Court, Blenheim Road, Kidlington, Oxon. OX5 2JT. 37, Biddenden Close, Bearsted, Maidstone, Kent. ME15 8JP Tel. 01865 377487 Tel. 01622 739452 [email protected] [email protected] Conservation Dipterists Digest contributions Robert Wolton Locks Park Farm, Hatherleigh, Oakhampton, Devon EX20 3LZ Dipterists Digest Editor Tel.
    [Show full text]
  • Distribution of Oscinellinae (Diptera: Chloropidae) in the Danish Landscape Lise Brunberg Nielsen
    Distribution of Oscinellinae (Diptera: Chloropidae) in the Danish landscape Lise Brunberg Nielsen Nielsen, Lise Brunberg: Distribution of Oscinellinae (Diptera: Chloropidae) in the Danish Landscape. Ent. Meddr 82: 39-62, Copenhagen, Denmark, 2014. ISSN 0013-8851 Abstract About 29,700 Oscinellinae were collected by means of sweep net, water traps and pitfalls in a variety of uncultivated habitats in Denmark mainly in Jutland. So far 75 species belonging to 21 genera are re­ corded from Denmark. Eleven species are new to the Danish fauna. Morphological details of Aphanotrigonum brachypterum, A. hungaricum, A. nigripes, Conioscinella gallarum, lncertella albipalpis, I. nigrifrons, I. kerteszi, I. scotica and Oscinella angustipennis are presented. The distribu­ tion of Oscinellinae in the Danish landscape is discussed. In Denmark, farmland dominates, so the two most abundant Oscinellarspecies of ara­ ble land, Oscinella frit and 0. vastator, are also predominant in most nat­ ural habitats. Small and larger uncultivated areas, however, making up only 25 % of the Danish landscape, contain a rich fauna of Oscinel­ lines. The advantage of different sampling methods combined is demonstrated. Sammendrag Fordelingen af fritf1uer (Diptera: Chloropidae) i det danske landskab. De fa millimeter lange, sorte eller sort-gule fritf1uer (Chloropidae) er nogle af de mest almindelige fluer pa gr<esarealer i Danmark. Et start materiale indsamlet med ketcher, i fangbakker og nedgravede fangglas pa forskellige udyrkede gr<esarealer er artsbestemt. Hovedparten af materialet, ea. 29.700 individer tilh0rer underfamilen Oscinellinae, der i Danmark omfatter 21 sl<egter og 75 arter. Elleve arter er nye for den danske fauna. Alle arter er beskrevet i Nartshuk & Andersson (2013), men supplerende morfologiske detaljer er her tilf0jet for 9 af dem: Aphanotrigonum brachypterum, A.
    [Show full text]
  • Bigelow, Henry Bryant
    NATIONAL ACADEMY OF SCIENCES H E N R Y B RYANT BIGELO W 1879—1967 A Biographical Memoir by AL F R E D C. REDFIELD Any opinions expressed in this memoir are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily reflect the views of the National Academy of Sciences. Biographical Memoir COPYRIGHT 1976 NATIONAL ACADEMY OF SCIENCES WASHINGTON D.C. HENRY BRYANT BIGELOW October 3,1879-December 11,1967 BY ALFRED C. REDFIELD ENRY BRYANT BIGELOW was an accomplished systematic zool- H ogist, being a recognized authority on both the coelenter- ates and fishes. His 1911 paper on the siphonophores was considered to be the most useful report on this group that had ever been written. In recognition of his later work on the fishes of the western North Atlantic he was awarded the Daniel Giraud Elliot Medal by the National Academy of Sciences in 1948. Of wider impact on the development of marine science was his recognition of the interdependence of the physics, chem- istry, and biology of the sea, as exemplified by his studies of the Gulf of Maine and his part in the creation of the Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution, of which he was the first director. Seventy-five years ago, when Alexander Agassiz visited the Maldive Islands with Henry Bigelow as his assistant, oceanog- raphy in America was an interest promoted from time to time through individual initiative and, when in line with their pri- mary duties, by appropriate governmental agencies. Today it is a fully recognized division of science, complete with standard textbooks and special journals.
    [Show full text]
  • Early Cultural and Historical Seascape of the Pacific Remote Islands Marine National Monument
    Early Cultural and Historical Seascape of the Pacific Remote Islands Marine National Monument Archival and Literary Research Report Jesi Quan Bautista Savannah Smith Honolulu, Hawai’i 2018 Early Cultural and Historical Seascape of the Pacific Remote Islands Marine National Monument Archival and Literary Research Report Jesi Quan Bautista Savannah Smith Honolulu, Hawai’i 2018 For additional information, please contact Malia Chow at [email protected]. This document may be referenced as Pacific Islands Regional Office [PIRO]. 2019. Early Cultural & Historical Seascape of the Pacific Remote Islands Marine National Monument. NOAA Fisheries Pacific Islands Fisheries Science Center, PIRO Special Publication, SP-19-005, 57 p. doi:10.25923/fb5w-jw23 Table of Contents Preface................................................................................................................................. 1 Use as a Reference Tool ..................................................................................................... 1 Acknowledgments............................................................................................................... 1 Cultural-Historical Connectivity Within the Monument .................................................... 2 WAKE ATOLL || ENEEN-KIO ..................................................................................... 4 JOHNSTON ATOLL || KALAMA & CORNWALLIS ................................................. 7 PALMYRA ATOLL || HONUAIĀKEA .....................................................................
    [Show full text]
  • Syria Drought Response Plan
    SYRIA DROUGHT RESPONSE PLAN A Syrian farmer shows a photo of his tomato-producing field before the drought (June 2009) (Photo Paolo Scaliaroma, WFP / Surendra Beniwal, FAO) UNITED NATIONS SYRIAN ARAB REPUBLIC - Reference Map Elbistan Silvan Siirt Diyarbakir Batman Adiyaman Sivarek Kahramanmaras Kozan Kadirli TURKEY Viransehir Mardin Sanliurfa Kiziltepe Nusaybin Dayrik Zakhu Osmaniye Ceyhan Gaziantep Adana Al Qamishli Nizip Tarsus Dortyol Midan Ikbis Yahacik Kilis Tall Tamir AL HASAKAH Iskenderun A'zaz Manbij Saluq Afrin Mare Al Hasakah Tall 'Afar Reyhanli Aleppo Al Bab Sinjar Antioch Dayr Hafir Buhayrat AR RAQQA As Safirah al Asad Idlib Ar Raqqah Ash Shaddadah ALEPPO Hamrat Ariha r bu AAbubu a add D Duhuruhur Madinat a LATAKIA IDLIB Ath Thawrah h Resafa K l Ma'arat a Haffe r Ann Nu'man h Latakia a Jableh Dayr az Zawr N El Aatabe Baniyas Hama HAMA Busayrah a e S As Saiamiyah TARTU S Masyaf n DAYR AZ ZAWR a e n Ta rtus Safita a Dablan r r e Tall Kalakh t Homs i Al Hamidiyah d Tadmur E e uphrates Anah M (Palmyra) Tripoli Al Qusayr Abu Kamal Sadad Al Qa’im HOMS LEBANON Al Qaryatayn Hadithah BEYRUT An Nabk Duma Dumayr DAMASCUS Tyre DAMASCUS QQuneitrauneitra Ar Rutbah QUNEITRA Haifa Tiberias AS SUWAIDA IRAQ DAR’A Trebil ISRAELI S R A E L DDarar'a As Suwayda Irbid Jenin Mahattat al Jufur Jarash Nabulus Al Mafraq West JORDAN Bank AMMAN JERUSALEM Bayt Lahm Madaba SAUDI ARABIA Legend Elevation (meters) National capital 5,000 and above First administrative level capital 4,000 - 5,000 Populated place 3,000 - 4,000 International boundary 2,500 - 3,000 First administrative level boundary 2,000 - 2,500 1,500 - 2,000 050100150 1,000 - 1,500 800 - 1,000 km 600 - 800 Disclaimers: The designations employed and the presentation of material 400 - 600 on this map do not imply the expression of any opinion whatsoever on the part of the Secretariat of the United Nations concerning the legal 200 - 400 status of any country, territory, city or area or of its authorities, or concerning the delimitation of its frontiers or boundaries.
    [Show full text]
  • Exhibition Checklist I. Creating Palmyra's Legacy
    EXHIBITION CHECKLIST 1. Caravan en route to Palmyra, anonymous artist after Louis-François Cassas, ca. 1799. Proof-plate etching. 15.5 x 27.3 in. (29.2 x 39.5 cm). The Getty Research Institute, 840011 I. CREATING PALMYRA'S LEGACY Louis-François Cassas Artist and Architect 2. Colonnade Street with Temple of Bel in background, Georges Malbeste and Robert Daudet after Louis-François Cassas. Etching. Plate mark: 16.9 x 36.6 in. (43 x 93 cm). From Voyage pittoresque de la Syrie, de la Phoénicie, de la Palestine, et de la Basse Egypte (Paris, ca. 1799), vol. 1, pl. 58. The Getty Research Institute, 840011 1 3. Architectural ornament from Palmyra tomb, Jean-Baptiste Réville and M. A. Benoist after Louis-François Cassas. Etching. Plate mark: 18.3 x 11.8 in. (28.5 x 45 cm). From Voyage pittoresque de la Syrie, de la Phoénicie, de la Palestine, et de la Basse Egypte (Paris, ca. 1799), vol. 1, pl. 137. The Getty Research Institute, 840011 4. Louis-François Cassas sketching outside of Homs before his journey to Palmyra (detail), Simon-Charles Miger after Louis-François Cassas. Etching. Plate mark: 8.4 x 16.1 in. (21.5 x 41cm). From Voyage pittoresque de la Syrie, de la Phoénicie, de la Palestine, et de la Basse Egypte (Paris, ca. 1799), vol. 1, pl. 20. The Getty Research Institute, 840011 5. Louis-François Cassas presenting gifts to Bedouin sheikhs, Simon Charles-Miger after Louis-François Cassas. Etching. Plate mark: 8.4 x 16.1 in. (21.5 x 41 cm).
    [Show full text]
  • Download Article (PDF)
    THE ORIENTAL TIPULIDAE IN THE COLLECTION OF THE INDIAN MUSEUM. PART II. By CHARLES P. ALEXANDER, A'inherst, Massachusetts, U. S. A. (Contribut.ion from tho Entomological Laboratory, Massachusetts State College.) The preceding part under this general title was published in the Reeords of the Indian Museum XXIX, pp. 167-214, 1927 In the pre­ sent instalment I wish to continue th~ study of the extensive series of Tipulidae received during the intervening years through the various authorities in charge of the Zoological Survey of India. My deepest thanks and appreciation are herewith extended to Dr. B. N. Chopra, Dr. Hem Singh Pruthi, Dr. Baini Pr~shad, Lt.-Col. R. B. S. Sewell and Dr. H. A. Hafiz. It is the friendly interest of these men, an~ of the entomologists of the Indian Museum, that has so advanced our knowledge of this neglected group of flies in British India. The types and uniques will be returned to the Indian Museum; besides these Inaterials, I have included two species received from other sources, but paratypes of both of these will be added to the Museum collection. During the course of the past sever:al years I have been particularly privileged to have had sent to me in America the type-specimens of certain of the Brunetti Tipulidae whose strict identity remained in quesc. tion. Most of such as are discussed in the present paper 'belong to the vast genus Tipula and particularly to those species having marmorate wings, considered by Brunetti to be very closely inter-related and to be virtually unkeyable but now known to belong to sections and subgenera different from one another and all clearly definable.
    [Show full text]
  • Elachistidae: Agonoxeninae
    Agonoxena argaula Elachistidae: Agonoxeninae: Agonoxenini Palm Moths, Grass-Miner Moths Biosecurity BIOSECURITY ALERT This Family is of Biosecurity Concern Occurrence This family occurs in Australia. Background Palm moths are a small group of 31 genera that belong to the Agonoxeninae, a sub-family of the family Elachistidae (grass-miner moths). This sub-family is divided into two tribes the Agonoxenini and the Blastodacnini, twenty species of which are native to Australia. Agonoxenini are globally known as pests of palms, and consist of, and typified by, the four species belonging to the genus Agonoxena: A. argaula, A. phoenicia, A. pyrogramma and A. miniana. The Australian native representative of this genus is Agonoxena phoenicia (palm moth), which feeds on Alexandra or northern bangalow palm (Archontophoenix alexandrae). The taxonomy of this group has recently undergone major changes from studies incorporating new molecular and morphological data. Firstly, the former family Blastodacnidae was retained under the Agonoxenidae (Hodges, in Kristensen 1999), and then the latter treated under the Elachistidae to become the subfamily Agonoxeninae (Heikkilä et al. 2014, Sohn et al. 2016), relegating the Blastodacnidae and the Agonoxena group to tribal status, Blastodacnini and Agonoxenini respectively. Palm moths are the only members of the Elachistidae, currently considered to be of biosecurity importance to northern Australia. Diagnosis Diagnostic Features of Agonoxenini (Palm Moth Caterpillars) 1. Secondary setae present. Agonoxena argaula has numerous secondary setae that are much smaller than the primary setae. However, A. pyrogramma only has secondary setae on the prolegs and A10 but it is still likely that secondary setae are characteristic of Agonoxena (see Agonoxena diagnosis and description below).
    [Show full text]
  • ARTHROPODA Subphylum Hexapoda Protura, Springtails, Diplura, and Insects
    NINE Phylum ARTHROPODA SUBPHYLUM HEXAPODA Protura, springtails, Diplura, and insects ROD P. MACFARLANE, PETER A. MADDISON, IAN G. ANDREW, JOCELYN A. BERRY, PETER M. JOHNS, ROBERT J. B. HOARE, MARIE-CLAUDE LARIVIÈRE, PENELOPE GREENSLADE, ROSA C. HENDERSON, COURTenaY N. SMITHERS, RicarDO L. PALMA, JOHN B. WARD, ROBERT L. C. PILGRIM, DaVID R. TOWNS, IAN McLELLAN, DAVID A. J. TEULON, TERRY R. HITCHINGS, VICTOR F. EASTOP, NICHOLAS A. MARTIN, MURRAY J. FLETCHER, MARLON A. W. STUFKENS, PAMELA J. DALE, Daniel BURCKHARDT, THOMAS R. BUCKLEY, STEVEN A. TREWICK defining feature of the Hexapoda, as the name suggests, is six legs. Also, the body comprises a head, thorax, and abdomen. The number A of abdominal segments varies, however; there are only six in the Collembola (springtails), 9–12 in the Protura, and 10 in the Diplura, whereas in all other hexapods there are strictly 11. Insects are now regarded as comprising only those hexapods with 11 abdominal segments. Whereas crustaceans are the dominant group of arthropods in the sea, hexapods prevail on land, in numbers and biomass. Altogether, the Hexapoda constitutes the most diverse group of animals – the estimated number of described species worldwide is just over 900,000, with the beetles (order Coleoptera) comprising more than a third of these. Today, the Hexapoda is considered to contain four classes – the Insecta, and the Protura, Collembola, and Diplura. The latter three classes were formerly allied with the insect orders Archaeognatha (jumping bristletails) and Thysanura (silverfish) as the insect subclass Apterygota (‘wingless’). The Apterygota is now regarded as an artificial assemblage (Bitsch & Bitsch 2000).
    [Show full text]