Dispersal and endemicity in gammaridean Amphipoda

Abstract

The importance of drift algae and of hard substrata, such as pumice and logs, in the dispersal of gammaridean amphipods is discussed. Different degrees of endemicity between amphipods with potentially efficient powers of dispersal and those with potentially poor powers of dispersal are demonstrated. The endemic amphipods of Hawaii exhibit different biogeographic relationships from the non-endemic species. This is probably a result of different biogeographic processes operating on different time scales.