108 
Charles K. Biernbaum 
In addition to natural talitrid dispersal by means of continental drift 
(Bousfield 1968, Hurley 1975), birds (Hurley 1959), and rafting, man has 
also played a part. Modern transplanting of exotic species of plants has 
resulted in the expanded distribution of many “tramp” (Bousfield and 
Howarth 1976) terrestrial species to other parts of the world. In these new 
locations they may be found in suitable habitats (where winters are mild) 
or greenhouses, where they have become a recognized component of a 
“hothouse fauna” including exotic species of insects, snails and isopods 
(Hurley 1959). 
RESULTS 
Populations of two species of terrestrial talitrid amphipods, 
Talitroides alluaudi (Chevreux) and T. topitotum (Burt), were found living 
in leaf litter and humus in Charleston, South Carolina. The population of 
T. alluaudi is located in a 2-4 m by 50 m strip of loose plant debris at the 
base of a northeast facing, residential stone wall. This habitat consists of 
leaf litter approximately 2 cm thick overlying dark, sandy loam, only the 
top 2-4 cm of which is humus rich. Leaves composing the leaf litter con- 
sist primarily of Quercus laurifolia (laurel oak), with additional leaves 
and plant debris from Tilia caroliniana (Carolina basswood), Carya il- 
linoensis (pecan), Prunus sp. (cherry), Ligustrum sp. (privit), Eriobotrya 
japonica (loquat), and Camellia japonica (camellia). Common faunal 
groups found in this same habitat are pulmonate snails and slugs, isopods 
(Armadillium sp. and Oniscus sp.), collembolans, dermapterans, ants, 
cockroaches, millipeds and occasionally the terrestrial turbellarian, 
Bipalium sp. 
I have collected specimens of T. alluaudi at this site since September, 
1978. Their distribution within the habitat is clumped, with greatest den- 
sities occurring where the humus layer is thickest. A collection made in 
September, 1979, revealed an approximate density of 100 m -2 in such a 
humus rich area. Charleston specimens conform to Medcof’s (1940) 
pleopod description, with all specimens examined having one third 
pleopod consisting solely of the protopodite and the other having a but- 
tonlike, single outer ramal article. Males display the “mitten” second 
gnathopod morphology characteristic of female talitrids and males of 
most terrestrial species (Hurley 1959, 1968). Body lengths of Charleston 
specimens are approximately 5-7 mm, agreeing with lengths recorded by 
Shoemaker (1936) for those in California. 
Approximately 6 km from the population of T. alluaudi is a popula- 
tion of T. topitotum living in leaf litter and humus around and under a 
house and adjacent shed. Amphipods were found in plant debris under 
the house, within a strip not exceeding 0.5 m from its edge and in an ap- 
proximate area of 10 m 2 under and surrounding the small shed. Leaves 
composing the leaf litter consisted of Carya illinoensis (pecan), Carya sp. 
(hickory), Liquidambar styraciflua (sweetgum) and Magnolia grandiflora 
