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Zanola D, Czaczkes TJ, Josens R. Ants evade harmful food by active abandonment. Commun Biol 2024; 7:84. [PMID: 38216747 PMCID: PMC10786876 DOI: 10.1038/s42003-023-05729-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/19/2023] [Accepted: 12/19/2023] [Indexed: 01/14/2024] Open
Abstract
Invasive ants, such as the Argentine ant, pose a severe economic and ecological threat. Despite advancements in baiting techniques, effectively managing established ant populations remains a daunting challenge, often ending in failure. Ant colonies employ behavioural immunity against pathogens, raising the question of whether ants can collectively respond to toxic baits. This study investigates whether ant colonies actively abandon palatable but harmful food sources. We provided two sucrose feeders, each generating a new foraging trail, with one transitioning to offering toxic food. Six hours later, ant activity on that path decreases, while activity on the non-toxic food and the trunk trail remains unaffected, excluding factors like population decline or satiation as reasons for the activity decline. Laboratory experiments confirmed that ants remained alive six hours after ingesting toxic food. Ant presence remains low on the toxic food path for days, gradually decreasing along the nearest section of the trunk trail. This abandonment behaviour minimises the entry of harmful food into the nest, acting as a protective social mechanism. The evasion of toxic bait-treated areas likely contributes considerably to control failures. Understanding the behavioural response to toxic baits is essential for developing effective strategies to combat invasive ant species.
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Affiliation(s)
- Daniel Zanola
- Laboratorio de Insectos Sociales, Departamento de Biodiversidad y Biología Experimental, Facultad de Ciencias Exactas y Naturales, Universidad de Buenos Aires, IFIBYNE, CONICET, Ciudad Universitaria (C1428EHA), Buenos Aires, Argentina
| | - Tomer J Czaczkes
- Animal Comparative Economics Laboratory, Faculty of Biology and Preclinical Medicine, University of Regensburg, Universitaetsstrasse 31, 93053, Regensburg, Germany
| | - Roxana Josens
- Laboratorio de Insectos Sociales, Departamento de Biodiversidad y Biología Experimental, Facultad de Ciencias Exactas y Naturales, Universidad de Buenos Aires, IFIBYNE, CONICET, Ciudad Universitaria (C1428EHA), Buenos Aires, Argentina.
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Tercel MPTG, Cuff JP, Symondson WOC, Vaughan IP. Non-native ants drive dramatic declines in animal community diversity: A meta-analysis. INSECT CONSERVATION AND DIVERSITY 2023; 16:733-744. [PMID: 38505669 PMCID: PMC10947240 DOI: 10.1111/icad.12672] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/31/2023] [Accepted: 07/13/2023] [Indexed: 03/21/2024]
Abstract
Non-native ants can cause ecosystem-wide ecological change, and these changes are generally assumed to be negative. Despite this, the evidence base has never been holistically synthesised to quantify whether and to what degree non-native ants impact native species diversity.In this study, we performed a meta-analysis of the effects of ant invasion on animal communities. We extracted data from 46 published articles investigating abundance (156 effect sizes) and richness (53 effect sizes) responses of animal taxa to ant invasion in locations relatively unimpacted by other stressors (e.g. human disturbance, other non-native species) to help isolate the effects of invasion.Overall, local animal diversity declined severely, with species abundance and richness lower by 42.79% and 53.56%, respectively, in areas with non-native ants compared with intact uninvaded sites. We then combined responses of individual animal taxa extracted from an article into a single response to represent the 'community' abundance (40 effect sizes) or richness (28 effect sizes) response to non-native ants represented in each article. Local communities decreased substantially in total abundance (52.67%) and species richness (53.47%) in invaded sites.These results highlight non-native ants as the drivers, rather than passengers, of large net-negative reductions to animal community diversity in relatively undisturbed systems around the world, approximately halving local species abundance and richness in invaded areas. Improved international prevention processes, early detection systems harnessing emerging technologies, and well-designed control measures deployable by conservation practitioners are urgently needed if these effects are to be mitigated, prevented or reversed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Maximillian P. T. G. Tercel
- School of BiosciencesCardiff UniversityCardiffUK
- Durrell Wildlife Conservation TrustLes Augrès ManorJerseyChannel Islands
| | - Jordan P. Cuff
- School of Natural and Environmental SciencesNewcastle UniversityNewcastle upon TyneUK
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3
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Llopart JP, Alvarez-Blanco P, Moreira-Demarco L, Bang A, Angulo E, Maneyro R. Testing the Novel Weapons Hypothesis of the Argentine Ant Venom on Amphibians. Toxins (Basel) 2023; 15:toxins15040235. [PMID: 37104173 PMCID: PMC10144969 DOI: 10.3390/toxins15040235] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/10/2023] [Revised: 03/08/2023] [Accepted: 03/16/2023] [Indexed: 04/28/2023] Open
Abstract
The globally invasive Argentine ant (Linepithema humile) possesses a venom lethal to some amphibian species in the invaded range. To test the novel weapons hypothesis (NWH), the effects of the toxin on the cohabiting amphibian species in the ant's native range need to be investigated. The invader should benefit from the novel chemical in the invaded range, because the species are not adapted, but the venom should not be effective in the native range. We explore the venom effects on juveniles of three amphibian species with different degrees of myrmecophagy inhabiting the ant's native range: Rhinella arenarum, Odontophrynus americanus, and Boana pulchella. We exposed the amphibians to the ant venom, determined the toxic dose, and evaluated the short- (10 min to 24 h) and medium-term (14 days) effects. All amphibian species were affected by the venom independently of myrmecophagy. In addition to amphibian sensitivity, we discuss how the differential Argentine ant abundance and density in the two ranges could be the key to the susceptibility of amphibians to the venom, resulting in the possibility of NWH. Our results confirm the potential magnitude of the impact of the Argentine ant in successfully invaded areas for the conservation of already threatened amphibians.
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Affiliation(s)
- Juan Pablo Llopart
- Laboratorio de Sistemática e Historia Natural de Vertebrados, Facultad de Ciencias, Universidad de la República, Montevideo 11400, Uruguay
| | | | - Lucía Moreira-Demarco
- Laboratorio de Sistemática e Historia Natural de Vertebrados, Facultad de Ciencias, Universidad de la República, Montevideo 11400, Uruguay
| | - Alok Bang
- School of Arts and Sciences, Azim Premji University, Bangalore 562125, India
- Society for Ecology Evolution and Development, Wardha 442001, India
| | - Elena Angulo
- Estación Biológica de Doñana (CSIC), Av. Américo Vespucio 26, 41092 Sevilla, Spain
| | - Raúl Maneyro
- Laboratorio de Sistemática e Historia Natural de Vertebrados, Facultad de Ciencias, Universidad de la República, Montevideo 11400, Uruguay
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Alvarez-Blanco P, Cerdá X, Hefetz A, Boulay R, Bertó-Moran A, Díaz-Paniagua C, Lenoir A, Billen J, Liedtke HC, Chauhan KR, Bhagavathy G, Angulo E. Effects of the Argentine ant venom on terrestrial amphibians. CONSERVATION BIOLOGY : THE JOURNAL OF THE SOCIETY FOR CONSERVATION BIOLOGY 2021; 35:216-226. [PMID: 32812277 DOI: 10.1111/cobi.13604] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/15/2019] [Revised: 05/13/2020] [Accepted: 05/18/2020] [Indexed: 06/11/2023]
Abstract
Invasive species have major impacts on biodiversity and are one of the primary causes of amphibian decline and extinction. Unlike other top ant invaders that negatively affect larger fauna via chemical defensive compounds, the Argentine ant (Linepithema humile) does not have a functional sting. Nonetheless, it deploys defensive compounds against competitors and adversaries. We estimated levels of ant aggression toward 3 native terrestrial amphibians by challenging juveniles in field ant trails and in lab ant foraging arenas. We measured the composition and quantities of toxin in L. humile by analyzing pygidial glands and whole-body contents. We examined the mechanisms of toxicity in juvenile amphibians by quantifying the toxin in amphibian tissues, searching for histological damages, and calculating toxic doses for each amphibian species. To determine the potential scope of the threat to amphibians, we used global databases to estimate the number, ranges, and conservation status of terrestrial amphibian species with ranges that overlap those of L. humile. Juvenile amphibians co-occurring spatially and temporally with L. humile die when they encounter L. humile on an ant trail. In the lab, when a juvenile amphibian came in contact with L. humile the ants reacted quickly to spray pygidial-gland venom onto the juveniles. Iridomyrmecin was the toxic compound in the spray. Following absorption, it accumulated in brain, kidney, and liver tissue. Toxic dose for amphibian was species dependent. Worldwide, an estimated 817 terrestrial amphibian species overlap in range with L. humile, and 6.2% of them are classified as threatened. Our findings highlight the high potential of L. humile venom to negatively affect amphibian juveniles and provide a basis for exploring the largely overlooked impacts this ant has in its wide invasive range.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Xim Cerdá
- Estación Biológica de Doñana CSIC, Avda. Americo Vespucio 26, Sevilla, 41092, Spain
| | - Abraham Hefetz
- George S. Wise Faculty of Life Sciences, School of Zoology, Tel Aviv University, Tel Aviv, IL-69978, Israel
| | - Raphaël Boulay
- Institut de Recherches sur la Biologie de l'Insecte, Université François Rabelais, CNRS UMR 7261, Parc de Grandmont, Tours, 37200, France
| | | | - Carmen Díaz-Paniagua
- Estación Biológica de Doñana CSIC, Avda. Americo Vespucio 26, Sevilla, 41092, Spain
| | - Alain Lenoir
- Institut de Recherches sur la Biologie de l'Insecte, Université François Rabelais, CNRS UMR 7261, Parc de Grandmont, Tours, 37200, France
| | - Johan Billen
- Laboratory of Socioecology and Social Evolution, Department of Biology, Naamsestraat 59, box 2466, Leuven, 3000, Belgium
| | - H Christoph Liedtke
- Estación Biológica de Doñana CSIC, Avda. Americo Vespucio 26, Sevilla, 41092, Spain
| | - Kamlesh R Chauhan
- Agricultural Research Service, U.S. Department of Agriculture, BLDG 007, BARC-West, 10300 Baltimore Blvd., Beltsville, MD, 20705, U.S.A
| | - Ganga Bhagavathy
- Agricultural Research Service, U.S. Department of Agriculture, BLDG 007, BARC-West, 10300 Baltimore Blvd., Beltsville, MD, 20705, U.S.A
| | - Elena Angulo
- Estación Biológica de Doñana CSIC, Avda. Americo Vespucio 26, Sevilla, 41092, Spain
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Rossi N, Pereyra M, Moauro MA, Giurfa M, d'Ettorre P, Josens R. Trail pheromone modulates subjective reward evaluation in Argentine ants. J Exp Biol 2020; 223:jeb230532. [PMID: 32680904 DOI: 10.1242/jeb.230532] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/04/2020] [Accepted: 07/15/2020] [Indexed: 12/13/2022]
Abstract
The Argentine ant, Linepithema humile, is native to South America but has become one of the most invasive species in the world. These ants heavily rely on trail pheromones for foraging, and previous studies have focused on such signals to develop a strategy for chemical control. Here, we studied the effects of pre-exposure to the trail pheromone on sugar acceptance and olfactory learning in Argentine ants. We used the synthetic trail pheromone component (Z)-9-hexadecenal, which triggers the same attraction and trail-following behavior as the natural trail pheromone. We found that pre-exposure to (Z)-9-hexadecenal increases the acceptance of sucrose solutions of different concentrations, thus changing the ants' subjective evaluation of a food reward. However, although ants learned to associate an odor with a sucrose reward, pheromone pre-exposure affected neither the learning nor the mid-term memory of the odor-reward association. Taking into account the importance of the Argentine ant as a pest and invasive organism, our results highlight the importance of pheromonal cues in resource evaluation, a fact that could be useful in control strategies implemented for this species.
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Affiliation(s)
- Natacha Rossi
- Laboratorio de Insectos Sociales, Departamento de Biodiversidad y Biología Experimental, Facultad de Ciencias Exactas y Naturales, Universidad de Buenos Aires, IFIBYNE, CONICET, Ciudad Universitaria Pab. II. (C1428 EHA), Buenos Aires, Argentina
- Research Centre on Animal Cognition, Center for Integrative Biology, CNRS, University of Toulouse, F-31062 Toulouse Cedex 09, France
| | - Muriel Pereyra
- Laboratorio de Insectos Sociales, Departamento de Biodiversidad y Biología Experimental, Facultad de Ciencias Exactas y Naturales, Universidad de Buenos Aires, IFIBYNE, CONICET, Ciudad Universitaria Pab. II. (C1428 EHA), Buenos Aires, Argentina
| | - Mariel A Moauro
- Laboratorio de Insectos Sociales, Departamento de Biodiversidad y Biología Experimental, Facultad de Ciencias Exactas y Naturales, Universidad de Buenos Aires, IFIBYNE, CONICET, Ciudad Universitaria Pab. II. (C1428 EHA), Buenos Aires, Argentina
| | - Martin Giurfa
- Research Centre on Animal Cognition, Center for Integrative Biology, CNRS, University of Toulouse, F-31062 Toulouse Cedex 09, France
- Institut Universitaire de France (IUF), Paris, France
| | - Patrizia d'Ettorre
- Laboratory of Experimental and Comparative Ethology, UR4443, University Sorbonne Paris Nord, Villetaneuse, France
- Institut Universitaire de France (IUF), Paris, France
| | - Roxana Josens
- Laboratorio de Insectos Sociales, Departamento de Biodiversidad y Biología Experimental, Facultad de Ciencias Exactas y Naturales, Universidad de Buenos Aires, IFIBYNE, CONICET, Ciudad Universitaria Pab. II. (C1428 EHA), Buenos Aires, Argentina
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Abril S, Jurvansuu J. Season- and caste-specific variation in RNA viruses in the invasive Argentine ant European supercolony. J Gen Virol 2020; 101:322-333. [PMID: 31985392 DOI: 10.1099/jgv.0.001384] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/30/2023] Open
Abstract
The Argentine ant (Linepithema humile, Mayr) is a highly invasive species. Recently, several RNA viruses have been identified in samples from invasive Argentine ant colonies. Using quantitative PCR, we investigated variation in the levels of these viruses in the main European supercolony over the course of a year. We discovered that virus prevalence and amounts of viral RNA were affected by season and caste: ants had more virus types during warm versus cold months, and queens had more virus types and higher virus prevalence than did workers or males. This seasonal variation was largely due to the appearance of positive-strand RNA viruses in the summer and their subsequent disappearance in the winter. The prevalences of positive-strand RNA viruses were positively correlated with worker foraging activity. We hypothesise that during warmer months, ants are more active and more numerous and, as a result, they have more conspecific and heterospecific interactions that promote virus transmission.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sílvia Abril
- Department of Environmental Sciences, University of Girona, Girona, Spain
| | - Jaana Jurvansuu
- Department of Ecology and Genetics, University of Oulu, Oulu, Finland
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9
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Humans and scavenging raptors facilitate Argentine ant invasion in Doñana National Park: no counter-effect of biotic resistance. Biol Invasions 2019. [DOI: 10.1007/s10530-019-01971-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/26/2022]
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10
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Cuthbert RN, Dalu T, Wasserman RJ, Dick JTA, Mofu L, Callaghan A, Weyl OLF. Intermediate predator naïveté and sex-skewed vulnerability predict the impact of an invasive higher predator. Sci Rep 2018; 8:14282. [PMID: 30250163 PMCID: PMC6155278 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-018-32728-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/21/2018] [Accepted: 09/14/2018] [Indexed: 12/03/2022] Open
Abstract
The spread of invasive species continues to reduce biodiversity across all regions and habitat types globally. However, invader impact prediction can be nebulous, and approaches often fail to integrate coupled direct and indirect invader effects. Here, we examine the ecological impacts of an invasive higher predator on lower trophic groups, further developing methodologies to more holistically quantify invader impact. We employ functional response (FR, resource use under different densities) and prey switching experiments to examine the trait- and density-mediated impacts of the invasive mosquitofish Gambusia affinis on an endemic intermediate predator Lovenula raynerae (Copepoda). Lovenula raynerae effectively consumed larval mosquitoes, but was naïve to mosquitofish cues, with attack rates and handling times of the intermediate predator unaffected by mosquitofish cue-treated water. Mosquitofish did not switch between male and female prey, consistently displaying a strong preference for female copepods. We thus demonstrate a lack of risk-reduction activity in the presence of invasive fish by L. raynerae and, in turn, high susceptibility of such intermediate trophic groups to invader impact. Further, we show that mosquitofish demonstrate sex-skewed predator selectivity towards intermediate predators of mosquito larvae, which may affect predator population demographics and, perversely, increase disease vector proliferations. We advocate the utility of FRs and prey switching combined to holistically quantify invasive species impact potential on native organisms at multiple trophic levels.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ross N Cuthbert
- Institute for Global Food Security, School of Biological Sciences, Medical Biology Centre, Queen's University Belfast, Belfast, BT9 7BL, Northern Ireland, UK. .,DST/NRF Research Chair in Inland Fisheries and Freshwater Ecology, South African Institute for Aquatic Biodiversity (SAIAB), Grahamstown, 6140, South Africa. .,Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, School of Biological Sciences, University of Reading, Harborne Building, Reading, RG6 6AS, England, UK.
| | - Tatenda Dalu
- Department of Ecology and Resource Management, University of Venda, Thohoyandou, 0950, South Africa.,South African Institute for Aquatic Biodiversity (SAIAB), Grahamstown, 6140, South Africa
| | - Ryan J Wasserman
- Department of Biological Sciences and Biotechnology, Botswana International University of Science and Technology, P. Bag 16, Palapye, Botswana.,South African Institute for Aquatic Biodiversity (SAIAB), Grahamstown, 6140, South Africa
| | - Jaimie T A Dick
- Institute for Global Food Security, School of Biological Sciences, Medical Biology Centre, Queen's University Belfast, Belfast, BT9 7BL, Northern Ireland, UK
| | - Lubabalo Mofu
- South African Institute for Aquatic Biodiversity (SAIAB), Grahamstown, 6140, South Africa
| | - Amanda Callaghan
- Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, School of Biological Sciences, University of Reading, Harborne Building, Reading, RG6 6AS, England, UK
| | - Olaf L F Weyl
- DST/NRF Research Chair in Inland Fisheries and Freshwater Ecology, South African Institute for Aquatic Biodiversity (SAIAB), Grahamstown, 6140, South Africa
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Carthey AJR, Bucknall MP, Wierucka K, Banks PB. Novel predators emit novel cues: a mechanism for prey naivety towards alien predators. Sci Rep 2017; 7:16377. [PMID: 29180825 PMCID: PMC5703908 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-017-16656-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 23] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/23/2017] [Accepted: 11/15/2017] [Indexed: 11/20/2022] Open
Abstract
Detecting enemies is crucial for survival and a trait that develops over an evolutionary timeframe. Introduced species disrupt coevolved systems of communication and detection in their new ranges, often leading to devastating impacts. The classic example is prey naivety towards alien predators, whereby prey fail to recognise a new predator. Yet exactly why native prey fail to recognise alien predators remains puzzling. Naivety theory predicts that it is because novel predators emit novel cues. Distantly related animals have distinct evolutionary histories, physiologies and ecologies, predicting they will emit different cues. Yet it also possible that all predators emit similar cues because they are carnivorous. We investigate whether odour cues differ between placental and marsupial carnivores in Australia, where native prey experienced only marsupial mammal predation until ~4000 years ago. We compared volatile chemical profiles of urine, scats and bedding from four placental and three marsupial predators. Chemical profiles showed little overlap between placental and marsupial carnivores across all odour types, suggesting that cue novelty is a plausible mechanism for prey naivety towards alien predators. Our results also suggest a role for olfactory cues to complement visual appearance and vocalisations as biologically meaningful ways to differentiate species.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Martin P Bucknall
- Bioanalytical Mass Spectrometry Facility, Mark Wainwright Analytical Centre, The University of New South Wales, Sydney, 2052, Australia
| | - Kaja Wierucka
- Department of Biological Sciences, Macquarie University, Sydney, 2109, Australia.,Institut des Neurosciences Paris-Saclay, Université Paris-Saclay, CNRS (UMR 9197), Université Paris-Sud, Orsay, 91405, France
| | - Peter B Banks
- School of Life and Environmental Sciences, The University of Sydney, Sydney, 2006, Australia
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