Notes on the biology, captive management and conservation status of the Lord Howe Island Stick Insect (Dryococelus australis) (Phasmatodea)

Honan, Patrick

doi:10.1007/978-1-4020-8782-0_17

Cited by 8 publications

(8 citation statements)

References 12 publications

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“…12,14,17,18 Likewise, P. aeruginosa is a known potential pathogen of captive insects. 2,9,14 Serratia marcescens has been associated with sepsis potentiated by thermal stress in another captive insect species, while P. aeruginosaassociated insect mortality outbreaks have been associated with high temperature and humidity. 1,14 However, S. marcescens has been identified as normal flora in several phasmid species, and was considered to potentially aid in detoxification of dietary monoterpenes in phasmids consuming Eucalyptus spp.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Ambient temperature and humidity variations are known to influence the function of the insect immune response, and have been associated with mortality in laboratory-reared insects. 9,14 In this population, long term studies to identify any effect of temperature on mortality rates are currently being undertaken. The role of environmental conditions in precipitating opportunistic bacterial infection, and the presence or absence of S. marcescens and P. aeruginosa in the wild population, have yet to be determined.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Pathological and Microbiological Study of Mortality in a Captive Breeding Colony of the Endangered Lord Howe Island Stick Insect (Dryococelus australis)

Bayley¹,

Cheng

Lynch

2018

Vet Pathol

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The authors describe pathological and microbiological features of mortalities in a captive breeding colony of Lord Howe Island stick insects ( Dryococelus australis) over a period of 18 months. There were 2 peaks of mortality in this period. In the first, insects presented dead with minimal premonitory signs of illness. In the second, affected insects were ataxic with contracted limbs and inability to climb or right themselves. Gross lesions were uncommon but included pigmented plaques on the gut and cloacal prolapse. Histological lesions in both outbreaks indicated a cellular innate immune response including nodulation characterized by Gram-negative bacterial bacilli entrapped within nodules of pigmented hemocytes, and melanization characterized by melanin within hemocyte nodules and around bacteria. Hemolymph culture findings varied and often yielded a mixed growth. Pure growth of Serratia marcescens was cultured in 44% of animals in Outbreak 1, while pure growth of Pseudomonas aeruginosa was cultured in 30% of animals in Outbreak 2. Cases with S. marcescens-positive culture often showed inflammation at the foregut-midgut junction. The frequency of mixed bacterial culture results did not allow firm conclusions about causality to be made, and may indicate primary bacterial infection or increased susceptibility to hemolymph colonization with an opportunistic pathogen. These findings highlight the utility of histopathology combined with ancillary testing when investigating mortality in captive insect colonies.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Pathological and Microbiological Study of Mortality in a Captive Breeding Colony of the Endangered Lord Howe Island Stick Insect (Dryococelus australis)

Bayley¹,

Cheng

Lynch

2018

Vet Pathol

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“…In addition to the biases evident in our wild MRL data, we predict that captive MRL data will be subject to biases not seen in wild data. For instance, because the craft of husbandry is not equally-advanced for all species (Mader 2005, Honan 2008), we expect a bias where species for which husbandry techniques are advanced have longer captive MRLs than species for which husbandry techniques are less well-developed. Because the management decision to provide costly life-extending veterinary interventions is probably not species-independent (Mader 2005), we expect more 'valuable' animals to have longer MRLs.…”

Section: Dfmentioning

confidence: 99%

Inferring maximum lifespan from maximum recorded longevity in the wild carries substantial risk of estimation bias

2014

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When comparing lifespan (longevity) between species, it is common practice to take the maximum recorded longevity value within each species as a proxy of maximum lifespan. Whether maximum recorded longevity is a reliable proxy of species' maximum longevity remains unclear. Some researchers correct for previously documented life history correlates of maximum recorded longevity before analysing new predictors of lifespan across species in the context of their current, specific hypotheses. At present there is no certainty that all relevant statistical, phenotypic, or ecological biases are accounted for by such corrective measures. Here, we employ Monte Carlo simulation to investigate the effect of differences in recapture numbers, recapture types (the point in life at which individuals are initially captured or recaptured), and actuarial population decay structure of simulated species on their maximum recorded longevities. We show that maximum recorded longevities differ in response to all three of these variables, as well as all of their two‐ and three‐way interactions. We then investigate empirical avian band‐recapture data for evidence of biases caused by recapture number and recapture type, predicted by the Monte Carlo analysis, and confirm the predicted biases as major sources of variance. Finally, we investigate the relationship between recapture type, recapture number, and a selection of ecological and life‐history variables previously documented to correlate with maximum recorded longevity, and find significant correlations between the biasing variables and those published correlates. Our results call into question the validity of using maximum recorded longevity as a proxy for different species' maximum longevities in comparative studies investigating the evolution of lifespan.

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“…The species was listed as critically endangered (from extinct), and capture of two pairs of the insects for transport to the mainland was authorized. Captive rearing on garden-grown M. howeana has proved successful (45), but elimination of rats from Lord Howe Island, necessary for successful reintroduction, is yet to be undertaken pending consideration for feasibility and cost (45).…”

Section: The Lord Howe Island Stick Insectmentioning

confidence: 99%

Insect Biodiversity and Conservation in Australasia

Cranston

2010

Annu. Rev. Entomol.

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Australasia, which consists of Australia and the adjacent islands of the southwestern Pacific Ocean, has an insect diversity approximately proportional to the land mass. This diversity is distinctive, with some major groups missing and others having radiated. Iconic species are familiar to most people living in Australia and New Zealand, and a range of insects once contributed to Aboriginal Australian culture and diet. Conservation of Australasian entomological biodiversity is an increasing challenge for contemporary scientists. Examples are provided of insect conservation schemes from New Guinea, New Zealand, and Australia. Funding for insect biodiversity studies beyond flagship species is needed.

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Notes on the biology, captive management and conservation status of the Lord Howe Island Stick Insect (Dryococelus australis) (Phasmatodea)

Cited by 8 publications

References 12 publications

Pathological and Microbiological Study of Mortality in a Captive Breeding Colony of the Endangered Lord Howe Island Stick Insect (Dryococelus australis)

Pathological and Microbiological Study of Mortality in a Captive Breeding Colony of the Endangered Lord Howe Island Stick Insect (Dryococelus australis)

Inferring maximum lifespan from maximum recorded longevity in the wild carries substantial risk of estimation bias

Insect Biodiversity and Conservation in Australasia

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