Directional wave buoy data measured near Campbell Island, New Zealand

The New Zealand Defence Force (NZDF) has established a permanent wave observation station near Campbell Island, south of New Zealand (52 45.71 S, 169 02.54E). The site was chosen for logistical convenience and its unique location adjacent to the highly energetic Southern Ocean; allowing instrumentation typically deployed on the continental shelf to be used in this rarely observed southern environment. From February 2017, a Triaxys Directional Wave Buoy was moored in 147 m depth, some 17 km to the south of the island, with satellite telemetry of the 2D wave spectra at 3-hourly intervals. To date there have been three deployments on locations, yielding some 784 days of data. Validation of the measured significant wave height against co-located satellite altimeter observations suggests that the predominant wave directions are not attenuated by the island. The data provide a valuable record of the detailed wave spectral characteristics from one of the least-sampled parts of the Global Ocean.

A note on observations of southern right whales at Campbell Island, New Zealand

Southern right whales were observed at Campbell Island, in New Zealand’s sub-Antarctic ocean, over four field seasons (1983, 1994, 1995 and 1997). Whales were present in both the winter and autumn of 1994. An average of 7-21 whales were seen each season, with a maximum of 44 whales per day in July 1995. Individual whales were resighted in the area over periods of several days to two months. A change to shorter residence periods occurred between the early 1980s and 1990s. Some interchange occurs between Campbell Island and the Auckland Islands, with a recent decrease in number at the former and an increase at the latter.

A note on movements of southern right whales between the sub-Antarctic Auckland and Campbell Islands, New Zealand

To investigate the interchange of southern right whales between wintering grounds of the New Zealand sub-Antarctic, photographs of 31 individuals from Campbell Island were compared to 217 individuals from the Auckland Islands. Three whales first identified at the Auckland Islands in 1995 or 1996 were found at Campbell Island in 1997. One whale identified at Campbell Island in 1995 was seen later that same winter at the Auckland Islands. This provides the first evidence of both within- and between-year movements of whales between the two New Zealand sub-Antarctic aggregations, suggesting that they are part of one intermingling population.

Revision of the non-marine centric diatom flora (Bacillariophyta) of the sub-Antarctic Campbell Island (southern Pacific Ocean) with the descriptions of five new species

During a survey of the moss-inhabiting diatom flora of the sub-Antarctic Campbell Island, located in the southern Pacific Ocean, several unknown centric diatoms were observed that could not be identified using the currently available literature. Detailed light and scanning electron microscopical observations and comparisons with the characters of several species of Melosira, Angusticopula, Ferocia and Arcanodiscus worldwide indicated that five of them should be described as new to science: Angusticopula cosmica Goeyers & Van de Vijver sp. nov., Arcanodiscus crawfordianus Goeyers & Van de Vijver sp. nov., A. indistinctus Goeyers & Van de Vijver sp. nov., A. saundersianus Goeyers & Van de Vijver sp. nov. and Ferocia houkiana Goeyers & Van de Vijver sp. nov. A sixth species, Angusticopula chilensis, was illustrated for the first time using SEM and as a result is considered to differ sufficiently from A. dickiei to warrant epitypification as A. chilensis. The new species were first described in genera that formerly were included within the genus Melosira. All six species are morphologically characterized and compared with similar species within their respective genera. Their presence and distribution on Campbell Island are discussed based on the observations made in the available samples.

Frankophila dalevittii, a new freshwater diatom (Bacillariophyta) from Campbell Island

During a survey of the freshwater diatom flora of the sub-Antarctic Campbell Island, located in the southern Pacific Ocean, an unknown freshwater diatom was observed forming long colonies using linking spines. Detailed morphological analysis based on light and scanning electron microscopical observations and comparison with all known Frankophila taxa worldwide justified the description of this unknown taxon as a new species within the genus Frankophila: Frankophila dalevittii Van de Vijver & Goeyers sp. nov. The new taxon is characterized by the presence of well-developed linking spines, the absence of external raphe slits and the presence of internal raphe slits, biseriate striae composed of relatively large areolae and a large axial area. Despite the absence of the external raphe slits, the species is best placed within the genus Frankophila. The new species is described and illustrated and compared with all other Frankophila taxa.

Temperature, Wind, Cloud, and the Postglacial Tree Line History of Sub-Antarctic Campbell Island

Campbell Island, which is 600 km south of New Zealand, has the southernmost tree line in this ocean sector. Directly under the maximum of the westerlies, the island is sensitive to changes in wind strength and direction. Pollen records from three peat cores spanning the tree line ecotone provide a 17,000-year history of vegetation change, temperature, and site moisture. With postglacial warming, tundra was replaced by tussock grassland 12,500 years ago. A subsequent increase of shrubland was reversed at 10,500 years ago and wetland-grassland communities became dominant. Around 9000 years ago, trees spread, with maximum tree line elevation reached around 6500 to 3000 years ago. This sequence is out of step with Southern Ocean sea surface temperatures, which were warmer than 12,500 to 9000 years ago, and, subsequently, cooled. Campbell Island tree lines were decoupled from temperature trends in the adjacent ocean by weaker westerlies from 12,500 to 9000 years ago, which leads to the intrusion of warmer, cloudier northern airmasses. This reduced solar radiation and evapotranspiration while increasing atmospheric humidity and substrate wetness, which suppressed tree growth. Cooler, stronger westerlies in the Holocene brought clearer skies, drier air, increased evapotranspiration, and rising tree lines. Future global warming will not necessarily lead to rising tree lines in oceanic regions.

The Pselaphini (Coleoptera: Staphylinidae: Pselaphinae) of the Subantarctic and Chatham Islands of New Zealand; Description of Five Species and One Genus

The staphylinid subfamily Pselaphinae is generally depauperate at high latitudes. We examine one exception, the tribe Pselaphini, at the southern extreme of its global distribution, the New Zealand subantarctic islands and the Chatham Islands, an archipelago farther north. Currently, only two species are known from remote Campbell Island (Pselaphotheseus hippolytae Park and P. ihupuku Carlton and Leschen). A new genus, Pselaphopluteum gen. nov. (type species, Pselaphopluteum motumaha sp. nov.) and two new species, Pselaphopluteum motumaha sp. nov. and Pselaphaulax dracophyllum sp. nov., from the Auckland Islands, are added to the subantarctic fauna. Pselaphophus atriventris Westwood, introduced from Australia, is currently the only species known from the Chatham Islands, although several unidentified species were noted by Emberson (Emberson, R. M. 2002. The beetle (Coleoptera) fauna of the Chatham Islands: additions and corrections. N.Z. Entomol. 25: 69–77.). Three new species are described from the Chatham islands: Pselaphaulax caeruleus sp. nov., Pselaphaulax flavus sp. nov., and Pselaphaulax traversi sp. nov. Potential biogeographic implications of these new taxa are discussed within the context of the overall New Zealand fauna of Pselaphini, which is the subject of ongoing study.

Population growth of an endangered pinniped—the New Zealand sea lion (Phocarctos hookeri)—is limited more by high pup mortality than fisheries bycatch

The endangered New Zealand sea lion, Phocarctos hookeri is killed as incidental bycatch in a trawl fishery operating near their second largest population on Campbell Island in New Zealand’s sub-Antarctic. Using the Potential Biological Removal (PBR) procedure to assess the sustainability of this bycatch for the sea lion population on Campbell Island indicated that annual bycatch estimates, particularly following the implementation of bycatch mitigation measures, are below the PBR threshold of 25 (derived using a precautionary approach). Preliminary Population Viability Analysis (PVA) modelling supported the finding that current bycatch levels, especially given a strong male bias (98%) in bycatch, are sustainable for this population. Models showed that reducing pup mortality through management actions, such as installing ramps in wallows where large numbers of pups drown, would lead to increased population growth. While obtaining more accurate data on population status and demographic parameters for the Campbell Island population should be a priority, this will take many years of research. The PBR and PVA tools demonstrate that contemporary conservation management should continue to focus on increasing pup survival while maintaining mitigation approaches that have reduced bycatch to low levels, together with high observer coverage to sustain confidence in annual bycatch estimates.

Systematics of the genus Aphrophila Edwards with description of fifteen new species (Diptera: Tipulomorpha: Limoniidae)

The genus Aphrophila (Diptera: Limoniidae) is revised. All previously described species are redescribed and illustrated, along with fifteen new species. From the Campbell Island (New Zealand): A. whakapapa sp. n.; from Argentina: A. argentina sp. n., A. huahua sp. n. and A. peuma sp. n.; from Chile: A. aequalitas sp. n., A. alexanderi sp. n., A. dentata sp. n., A. dupla sp. n., A. edwardsi sp. n., A. minuscula sp. n., A. penta sp. n., A. regia sp. n., A. serra sp. n., A. sperancae sp. n. and A. vulcania sp. n. Identification key is provided for all the valid species. A phylogenetic analysis was made which resulted in one single most parsimonious tree with five main groups, classified into five subgenera: A. (Aphrophila) Edwards, A. (Magnodonta) subg. n., A. (Spinalia) subg. n., A. (Sirena) subg. n., A. (Zelandica) subg. n. In order to uncover the biogeographical pattern of the distribution of the species in terms of area relationships, a Paralogy-free subtree analysis was performed, which resulted in the following areagram: ((Campbell Is. + S. America) + New Zealand).

Hypotrachyna sinuosa. [Descriptions of Fungi and Bacteria].

A description is provided for Hypotrachyna sinuosa, which is most often observed on living bark of shrubs and trees in moist, nutrient-poor, often montane ecosystems, being typically a species of temperate often oceanic or montane rainforest, or of tropical montane cloud forest. Some information on its associated organisms and substrata, habitat, dispersal and transmission, and conservation status is given, along with details of its geographical distribution (Africa (Botswana, Ethiopia, Kenya, South Africa, Tanzania, Uganda), North America (Canada (British Columbia), Mexico, USA (Alaska, California, Florida, North Carolina, Oregon, Tennessee, Washington)), Central America (Costa Rica, El Salvador, Guatemala), South America (Argentina, Bolivia, Brazil, Chile, Colombia, Ecuador, Falkland Islands, Venezuela), Asia (Bhutan, China (Hubei, Sichuan, Yunnan), India (Sikkim, West Bengal), Indonesia, Japan, Malaysia, Nepal, Papua New Guinea, Philippines, Russia (Altai Republic, Irkutsk Oblast, Krasnoyarsk Krai, Primorsky Krai, Republic of Buryatia, Republic of Khakassia, Yakutia), Taiwan), Atlantic Ocean (Portugal (Azores, Madeira), Spain (Canary Islands)), Australasia (Auckland Island, Australia (Tasmania, Victoria), Campbell Island, Macquarie Island, New Zealand), Caribbean (Cuba, Dominican Republic, Guadeloupe, Haiti, Jamaica), Europe (Austria, Belgium, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Czech Republic, France, Germany, Ireland, Italy, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Switzerland, Ukraine, UK), Indian Ocean (Réunion), Pacific Ocean (New Caledonia, USA (Hawaii))). With its production of physciosporin, this species is one of several found to contain secondary metabolites able to inhibit motility of lung cancer cells in humans. Other uses of this species have all been as ecological indicators.