Terrestrial invertebrate surveys and rapid biodiversity assessment in New Zealand: lessons from Australia

摘要: Although invertebrates play a key role in the environment, their conservation and use environmental monitoring is often considered "too difficult" consequently ignored. One of main problems dealing with that even limited sampling can yield large numbers specimens an enormous diversity species. Other include taxonomic impediment (i.e. high proportions invertebrate taxa are undescribed there few specialists available to identify specimens), lack knowledge on species distribution, ecological roles, fact undervalued by general public. A number rapid biodiversity assessment (RBA) approaches have been suggested overcome these problems. RBA generally fall into four categories: (1) restricted place intensive (sampling surrogacy); (2) higher levels than (species (3) recognisable units (RTUs) identified non-specialists (taxonomic (4) surrogate all (taxon-focusing). Australia has long history using terrestrial studies, developing approaches. Therefore, New Zealand could benefit from experienced gained Australia. Potentially one most useful take involves focusing resources attention range taxa. However, this requires substantial communication, discussion, agreement over which should be selected for priorities ecosystems.