A new species and first record of the genus Triacanthella Schäffer, 1897 (Collembola, Poduromorpha, Hypogastruridae) for Africa.

The first species of the genus Triacanthella to be recorded from Africa is described. Triacanthella madibasp. n.

The genus Ectonura Cassagnau, 1980in South Africa (Collembola, Neanuridae, Neanurinae), with a key to South African Neanurinae.

Two new species of Neanurinae (Collembola) are described from the Western Cape, South Africa: Ectonura monochaetasp. n. and Ectonura barraisp.

Variation in decomposition rates in the fynbos biome, South Africa: the role of plant species and plant stoichiometry.

Previous studies in the fynbos biome of the Western Cape, South Africa, have suggested that biological decomposition rates in the fynbos vegetation type, on poor soils, may be so low that fire is the main factor contributing to litter breakdown and nutrient release. However, the fynbos biome also comprises vegetation types on more fertile soils, such as the renosterveld. The latter is defined by the shrub Elytropappus rhinocerotis, while the shrub Galenia africana may become dominant in overgrazed areas.

Physiological tolerances account for range limits and abundance structure in an invasive slug.

Despite the importance of understanding the mechanisms underlying range limits and abundance structure, few studies have sought to do so. Here we use a terrestrial slug species, Deroceras panormitanum, that has invaded a remote, largely predator-free, Southern Ocean island as a model system to do so. Across Marion Island, slug density does not conform to an abundant centre distribution.

Critical thermal limits depend on methodological context.

A full-factorial study of the effects of rates of temperature change and start temperatures was undertaken for both upper and lower critical thermal limits (CTLs) using the tsetse fly, Glossina pallidipes. Results show that rates of temperature change and start temperatures have highly significant effects on CTLs, although the duration of the experiment also has a major effect. Contrary to a widely held expectation, slower rates of temperature change (i.

Phenotypic plasticity mediates climate change responses among invasive and indigenous arthropods.

Synergies between global change and biological invasion have been identified as a major potential threat to global biodiversity and human welfare. The global change-type drought characteristic of many temperate terrestrial ecosystems is especially significant because it will apparently favour invasive over indigenous species, adding to the burden of conservation and compromising ecosystem service delivery. However, the nature of and mechanisms underlying this synergy remain poorly explored.