We have two projects on invertebrates funded by the Australian Antarctic Division (see also Melanie Lancaster's page on fur seals on Macquarie Island).
These invertebrate projects were initiated by Penny Greenslade and Mark Stevens:
Project 1
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Puhuruhuru
patersoni
Styloniscus
otakensis 
Arthurdendyus
flatworm
Kontikia
flatworm
2003-5 Introduced invasive terrestrial invertebrates on Macquarie Island: studies on ecology, origins and control. Australian Antarctic Science Grant. Project No. 2397. With Penny Greenslade (ANU) and Mark Stevens (Monash U / Massey U New Zealand).
AAD Public Summary: Three soil animals, a land shrimp, a slater and a flat worm, were all introduced to Macquarie Island early last century. The three species were probably imported accidentally with sealers and their supplies from New Zealand. This study will investigate the origins and methods of dispersal of these animals and what factors limit their spread in order to advise on possible removal and improved quarantine risk management for the island.
We are investigating the ecology, rate of spread, origins and possible control strategies for three introduced macroinvertebrates, a land shrimp (
Puhuruhuru
patersoni), a slater/woodlouse (
Styloniscus otakensis), and terrestrial flatworms (
Arthurdendyus
and Kontikia sp. ).
Project 2
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Tullbergia sp.
Macquarie Is
Cryptopygus sp.
Macquarie Is
2003-5 Molecular studies of the origins and dispersal patterns of invertebrates in the Antarctic and Subantarctic. Australian Antarctic Science Grant. Project No. 2355. With Penny Greenslade (ANU) and Mark Stevens (Monash U / Massey U New Zealand).
AAD Public Summary: We will measure biodiversity of ecologically-important invertebrates (Collembola) in Antarctica, the sub-antarctic islands, and in Australia and New Zealand. Using molecular and morphological techniques we will contribute to understanding of species distributions, and provide molecular data that will lead to automated species identifications.
Collembola represent some of the most abundant and diverse invertebrate groups in the Antarctic region of which
Cryptopygus and
Tullbergia (Collembola: Onychiuridae) are the two most abundant and speciose genera. The species diversity of these ecologically-important animals is still uncertain, although it is apparent that species diagnosis is difficult in many cases due to their conservative morphology.
Given the ecological importance and widespread nature of these animals, understanding their distributions and genetics (phylogeography) can help to understand the processes that lead to origin and maintenance of biodiversity in the Antarctic region.
