of Campbell Island

Campbell Island’s streams and tarns support only a moderately diverse range of aquatic taxa, but many of the freshwater invertebrate species are unique to the island.

Freshwater invertebrate communities have a much lower species richness that would be found in similar habitats on mainland New Zealand. Some common groups on the mainland are not represented at all on Campbell Island, such as mayflies (Ephemeroptera). The depauperate fauna is due to the large distance to sources of invertebrate colonists and the harsh environment of Campbell Island.

Interestingly though, a few taxa found on Campbell Island are also found on the mainland and some of the other subantarctic islands. This includes the common caddis fly, Oxyethira albiceps.