Taxonomy
Arcitalitrus dorrieni
Distribution
Status
Conservation status
Not Assessed
First reported in the wild
1937
Invasiveness
Invasive species - risk of Medium Impact
Irish status
Established
Introduction pathways - 1
Transport Contaminant
Introduction pathways subclass - 1
Contaminant nursery material
Invasive score
15
NAPRA Ireland risk assessed
No
Species Biology
Identification
Terrestrial amphipod, land hopper, <10mm in size (O'Hanlon & Bolger, 1997).
Ecology
Breaks down ~25% of the fallen leaf litter at a coniferous woodland site in Co. Galway, suggesting the species plays an important role in the detrital food chain and in leaf litter communities (O'Hanlon & Bolger, 1999), though any effects are currently unknown.
Habitat
Woodland, forest and other wooded land
Pathway and vector description
Pathway of introduction is unknown but based on the method of introduction to the UK (Cowling et al., 2004) and sightings of the species in a Co Wicklow garden centre (O'Connor et al., 1999) it is likely the species was introduced in nursery material of imported plants.
Mechanism of impact
Grazing/Herbivory/Browsing
Broad environment
Terrestrial
Habitat description
Found in the leaf litter of coniferous and deciduous woodlands and in gardens (McCarthy & MacLoughlin, 2002).
Species group
Invertebrate
Native region
Australasia
Distribution
World distribution(GBIF)
Irish distribution
Establish - Rare & Localised. No detailed distribution records currently exist for this species but it is thought to be established at several sites in Co Galway, as well as occurring in Co. Mayo, Co. Kerry and in two gardens in Co Down (McCarthy & MacLoughlin, 2002; O'Hanlon & Bolger, 1994).
Native distribution
Native to Australia and New Zealand
Temporal change
Date of first record category
1931-1940
Fifty year date category
1901-1950
Records submitted to Data Centre in 2024
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How can you help
Report any sightings to the National Biodiversity Data Centre.
References
Publications
Rawlinson, R. (1937). The occurrence of the amphipod Talitroides dorrieni (Hunt) in Co Galway, Ireland. Annals and Magazineof Natural History, 10(20): 589–592. O'Connor, J. P., O'Connor, M. A. & Holmes, J. M. C. (1991) Ornamental plants and the distribution of exotic amphipods (Crustacea) in Ireland. Irish Naturalists Journal. 23: 490-492. Carthy, T. M., & Loughlin, E. M. (2002). The Landhopper Arcitalitrus dorrieni (Amphipoda: Talitridae) in Galway City. The Irish Naturalists' Journal, 33-36. O'Hanlon, R. P., & Bolger, T. (1994). The current status of Arcitalitrus dorrieni (Crustacea: Amphipoda: Talitridae) in Ireland. The Irish Naturalists' Journal, 440-444. Cowling, J. E., Weeks, J. M., Spicer, J. I., & Gaston, K. J. (2004). Physiological tolerances of the euTerrestrial amphipod Arcitalitrus dorrieni (Hunt) as a key to its geographical distribution? A test using mesocosms. Comparative Biochemistry and Physiology Part A: Molecular & Integrative Physiology, 139(2), 251-259. O'Hanlon, R. P., & Bolger, T. (1999). The importance of Arcitalitrus dorrieni (Hunt)(Crustacea: Amphipoda: Talitridae) in coniferous litter breakdown. Applied soil ecology, 11(1), 29-33. O'Hanlon, R. P., & Bolger, T. (1997). Size at maturity and sex ratio of Arcitalitrus dorrieni (Hunt, 1925)(Amphipoda, Talitridae) at two sites in County Galway, Ireland. Crustaceana, 70(6), 676-693.