Breeding system of the subantarctic plant species Pringlea antiscorbutica R. Br. and search for potential insect pollinators in the Kerguelen Islands

Plant dispersal in the sub‐Antarctic inferred from anisotropic genetic structure

“…This may reflect local pollen movement being impeded by frequent precipitation (the island on average receives precipitation on 270 days of the year), which may con-siderably reduce pollen clouds, and by high humidity (mean humidity on the island is >80%) which may accelerate floral dehiscence (Silva Palacios et al 2000;Culley et al 2002). Indeed, the usefulness of wind as a pollen vector per se has previously been questioned for another anemophilous sub-Antarctic plant, Pringlea antiscorbutica, on Kerguelen Island where autonomous self-pollination is thought to be the best strategy to ensure fertilization (Schermann-Legionnet et al 2007). Self-pollination may explain, for example, the high F is values obtained at the SR site.…”

The significance of the sub-Antarctic Kerguelen Islands for the assessment of the vulnerability of native communities to climate change, alien insect invasions and plant viruses

“…In addition, the Kerguelen Islands are not situated along major commerce routes, are inhabited by a limited number of non-permanent people each year (at most 100), do not have any industry and have very limited means of terrestrial transportation that would facilitate quick and regular exchanges between geographically distant points for an alien species. Overall, the Kerguelen Islands are characterized by low species diversity, supporting just 23 native insect species (Schermann-Legionnet et al 2007) and 22 native flowering plant species (Van der Putten et al 2010). It is therefore reasonably straightforward to detect the arrival and establishment of alien insect species.…”

“…These aliens have distinct nutritional needs, life cycles, and dispersal capabilities, and as such provide an integrative view of their potential impact on native communities. In addition, these species are nowadays widely distributed across the Kerguelen Islands and are the most likely to have a significant impact on native communities (for more details see Frenot et al 2005, Schermann-Legionnet et al 2007. Through the collation of the original data obtained from our long-term field survey of the biota, together with data from the literature, we discuss (1) the evolution of the distribution and abundance of these alien insects in light of climate change, and (2) the vulnerability of native communities to climate change and alien insects on the Kerguelen Islands.…”

Wing morphology of the active flyerCalliphora vicina(Diptera: Calliphoridae) during its invasion of a sub-Antarctic archipelago where insect flightlessness is the rule

“…The example of insects from the sub-Antarctic Islands is particularly striking. Within the Kerguelen archipelago, 19 of the 23 native insect species have evolved flightlessness or even winglessness, including some native brachyceran and nematoceran flies, and also insects from other orders, such as a moth (Schermann-Legionnet et al, 2007). Consistently, the only native winged species are weak fliers (SchermannLegionnet et al, 2007), such as the polymorphous fly Listriomastax litorea (Diptera, Tethinidae), which has three morphs but only one macropterous form compatible with flight (the other forms are brachypterous and micropterous; S eguy, 1965).…”