Skip to content | Change text size 
Molecular Ecology Research Group
Research Group Research Interests
 

Comparative Phylogeography of log-dwelling invertebrates at Tallaganda State Forest / National Park

Research Project 1

While we have been working on velvet worms at Tallaganda for many years, this particular aspect of the work has was funded for the years 2002-4 by the ARC (Australian Research Council.)

Official ARC project summary:

Image showing various types of velvet worms
Invertebrates that colonize decomposing logs are an important link in the food chain and major players in the recycling of forest debris. In addition, many threatened species occupy this habitat. Despite their undoubted economic and conservation significance, there is very little information on distribution, dispersal and population structure for any of these species. We will use genetic tools to investigate these patterns, and to determine whether they are specific to particular species, or the product of the habitat itself. Our results indicate that forest management strategies should focus on the preservation of habitat.

We are testing whether diverse creatures that live in rotting logs show similar patterns of extreme genetic localization (i.e. forms in one place are genetically different from ones only one or a few kilometres away). If so, to maintain the living diversity (biodiversity) of saproxylic invertebrates, a number of representative sub-regions within the forest block will need to be managed to minimize impacts on rotting logs and their inhabitants. Why should we care about log-dwelling invertebrates? Aside from their interest and beauty, saproxylic animals are important for healthy forests.

 

Example of genetic localization The visible skin patterns of E. rowelli are heritable (passed from parents to offspring) and differ among areas only a few Km apart. Invisible DNA differences that we can reveal in the laboratory show even finer scale patterns of local difference.

Similar patterns are now emerging for a number of the different organisms we have been studying. The following image shows maps of the forest with elipses showing the approximate positions of different genetic types within each sort of animal (some of which we can show to be different species). There are few conflicts among the maps - in other words, particular regions tend to be important seats of diversity for all of the species we have looked at so far.
 

For more detail on springtails, velvet worms and flatworms, follow the links to Ryan's, Cheps's and Jody's pages respectively
Links

Personnel

A large number of people have contributed to this research other than those with pages at this site that specifically detail projects at Tallaganda.

Paul would like to pay particular tribute to Noel Tait, Dave Briscoe & Dave Rowell for passing on their passion for Onychophora and Tallaganda.

Click here to view those involved

Tallaganda State Forest & National Parks

Publications

  • Reinhard J. & Rowell DM (2005) Social behaviour in an Australian velvet worm, Euperipatoides rowelli (Onychophora : Peripatopsidae). J. Zool. Lond. 267:1-7
  • Garrick RC, Sands CJ, Sunnucks P. The use and application of phylogeography for invertebrate conservation research and planning. Proceedings, International Congress of Entomology. August 2004, Brisbane. General Technical Report published by the USDA Forest Service, Southern Research Station, Athens, USA. Accepted. 02.12.04
  • Beavis AS, Rowell DM. Phylogeography of two Australian species of funnel web spider (Arnaeae: Mygalomorphae: Hexathelidae: Hadronyche & Atrax) in Tallaganda State Forest, New South Wales. Proceedings, International Congress of Entomology. August 2004, Brisbane. General Technical Report published by the USDA Forest Service, Southern Research Station, Athens, USA. Accepted. 23.11.04
  • Garrick RC, Sands CJ, Rowell DM, Tait NN, Greenslade P & Sunnucks P. (2004) Phylogeography recapitulates topography: very fine-scale local endemism of a saproxylic ‘giant' springtail at Tallaganda in the Great Dividing Range of south-east Australia. Molecular Ecology 13, 3315-3330.
  • Hodges K. (2004) Phylogeography of two lizard species from Tallaganda State Forest. Honours thesis, School of Botany and Zoology. Australian National University (PDF 687KB)
  • Edwards C. (2004) Social behaviour and pheromonal responses in Euperipatoides rowelli (Peripatopsidae : Onychophora). Honours thesis, School of Botany and Zoology. Australian National University. (PDF 2.7MB)
  • Simmons J (2004) Comparative phylogeography of two terrestrial flatworm species (Platyhelminthes, Tricladida, Terricola) in Tallaganda State Forest, New South Wales (PDF 1.2MB)
  • Woodman, J. (2003) Population structure in a funnel web spider (Hexathelidae: Hadronyche). Hons thesis, ANU (PDF 972KB)
  • July 2003: International Congress of Genetics, Melbourne . Phylogeography of a new species of Collembola (Neanuridae) from Tallaganda State Forest, New South Wales. Garrick, R. & Sunnucks, P. (PPT Poster 821KB)
  • Garrick, R. (2002)  Phylogeography of a new species of Collembola (Neanuridae) from Tallaganda State Forest, New South Wales.  Honours Thesis, Dept of Genetics, La Trobe University (PDF 1.2MB)
  • July 2003: International Congress of Genetics, Melbourne (poster). Phylogeography of Phallocephale . Sands, C. & Sunnucks, P. (PPT Poster 1.5MB)
  • Sunnucks, P. & Tait, N.N. (2001)  Velvet worms: expect the unexpected.  Nature Australia , Winter 2001, p.60-69. (PDF 2MB)
  • Sunnucks, P. & Wilson, A. C. C. (1999) Microsatellite markers for the onychophoran Euperipatoides rowelli. Molecular Ecology 8: 899-900. (DOC 569KB)
  • Curach, N. & Sunnucks, P. (1999) 'Molecular anatomy' of an onychophoran: compartmentalized sperm storage and heterogeneous paternity. Molecular Ecology 8: 1375-1386. (PDF 610KB)
  • Sunnucks, P., Curach, N., Young, A., French, J., Cameron, R., Briscoe, D.A. & Tait, N. N. (2000) Reproductive biology of the onychophoran Euperipatoides rowelli . Journal of Zoology 250: 447-460. (PDF 176KB)