ASSESSMENT OF THE GLOBAL POTENTIAL DISTRIBUTION OF THE PREDATORY LANDPLANARIAN ARTIOPOSTHIA-TRIANGULATA (DENDY) (TRICLADIDA, TERRICOLA) FROM ECOCLIMATIC DATA

Artioposthia triangulara was originally described from New Zealand in 1895 but was subsequently found to have spread to Northern Ireland in 1963 and Scotland and England in 1965. It is now widespread in both Ir eland and Scotland, where it has been shown to reduce earthworm number s to below detectable levels. Ecoclimatic data were used in the comput er program CLIMEX to estimate the potential spread of A. triangulata t o Europe and the rest of the world. Results indicated it could establi sh in agricultural land in most of north-western Europe, and persist i n domestic gardens throughout much of central Europe, east and west No rth America, Australia, southern South America, and South Africa. It i s difficult to assess either the extent to which earthworm numbers and diversity would be decreased or how far the effect of their loss to s oil structure, nutrient cycling, or wildlife would be detrimental in t hese areas.