The distribution of coastal group landhoppers (Crustacea:Amphipoda: Talitridae) related to sea spray at Cox Bight, Tasmania

Abstract

Terrestrial amphipod crustaceans from two ecological groups, the coastal group and the forest group, were collected along two transects at right angles to the shoreline at Cox Bight, southwestern Tasmania. The transects were placed on either side of Point Eric to ensure that one was more sheltered from seaspray, in order to examine the hypothesis that the distribution of coastal group landhoppers is controlled by the inland penetration of ionic precipitation. Coastal species extended twice as far inland on the exposed transect, and their distribution on both transects correlated strongly with raised levels of sodium in the soil, providing good circumstantial support for the hypothesis. The study highlights the ecological importance of the coastal zone in the World Heritage Area. Further studies should examine the effect of manipulating soil ion levels on the distribution of coastal species.