1
|
Flood PJ, Loftus WF, Trexler JC. Do community changes persist after irruptive population dynamics? A case study from an invasive species boom and bust. Oecologia 2024:10.1007/s00442-024-05582-3. [PMID: 38972958 DOI: 10.1007/s00442-024-05582-3] [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: 11/08/2023] [Accepted: 06/07/2024] [Indexed: 07/09/2024]
Abstract
Irruptive or boom-and-bust population dynamics, also known as 'outbreaks', are an important phenomenon that has been noted in biological invasions at least since Charles Elton's classic book was published in 1958. Community-level consequences of irruptive dynamics are poorly documented and invasive species provide excellent systems for their study. African Jewelfish (Rubricatochromis letourneuxi, "jewelfish") are omnivores that demonstrate opportunistic carnivory, first reported in Florida in the 1960s and in Everglades National Park (ENP) in 2000. Twelve years after invasion in ENP, jewelfish underwent a 25-fold increase in density in one year. By 2016, jewelfish represented 25-50% of fish biomass. Using a 43-year fish community dataset at two sites (1978-2021), and a 25-year dataset of fish and invertebrate communities from the same drainage (1996-2021), with additional spatial coverage, we quantified differences in fish and invertebrate communities during different phases of invasion. During jewelfish boom, abundant, native cyprinodontiform fishes decreased in density and drove changes in community structure as measured by similarity of relativized abundance. Density of two species declined by > 70%, while four declined by 50-62%. Following the jewelfish bust, some species recovered to pre-boom densities while others did not. Diversity of recovery times produced altered community structure that lagged for at least four years after the jewelfish population declined. Community structure is an index of ecological functions such as resilience, productivity, and species interaction webs; therefore, these results demonstrate that irruptive population dynamics can alter ecological functions of ecosystems mediated by community structure for years following that population's decline.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Peter J Flood
- Department of Biological Sciences and Institute of Environment, Florida International University, North Miami, FL, USA.
- School for Environment and Sustainability, University of Michigan, 440 Church St, Ann Arbor, MI, 48109, USA.
| | | | - Joel C Trexler
- Department of Biological Sciences and Institute of Environment, Florida International University, North Miami, FL, USA
- Coastal and Marine Laboratory, Florida State University, St. Teresa, FL, USA
| |
Collapse
|
2
|
Kass JM, Yoshimura M, Ogasawara M, Suwabe M, Hita Garcia F, Fischer G, Dudley KL, Donohue I, Economo EP. Breakdown in seasonal dynamics of subtropical ant communities with land-cover change. Proc Biol Sci 2023; 290:20231185. [PMID: 37817591 PMCID: PMC10565368 DOI: 10.1098/rspb.2023.1185] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/30/2023] [Accepted: 09/18/2023] [Indexed: 10/12/2023] Open
Abstract
Concerns about widespread human-induced declines in insect populations are mounting, yet little is known about how land-use change modifies both the trends and variability of insect communities, particularly in understudied regions. Here, we examine how the seasonal activity patterns of ants-key drivers of terrestrial ecosystem functioning-vary with anthropogenic land-cover change on a subtropical island landscape, and whether differences in temperature or species composition can explain observed patterns. Using trap captures sampled biweekly over 2 years from a biodiversity monitoring network covering Okinawa Island, Japan, we processed 1.2 million individuals and reconstructed activity patterns within and across habitat types. Forest communities exhibited greater temporal variability of activity than those in more developed areas. Using time-series decomposition to deconstruct this pattern, we found that sites with greater human development exhibited ant communities with diminished seasonality, reduced synchrony and higher stochasticity compared with sites with greater forest cover. Our results cannot be explained by variation in regional or site temperature patterns, or by differences in species richness or composition among sites. Our study raises the possibility that disruptions to natural seasonal patterns of functionally key insect communities may comprise an important and underappreciated consequence of global environmental change that must be better understood across Earth's biomes.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Jamie M. Kass
- Biodiversity and Biocomplexity Unit, Okinawa Institute of Science and Technology Graduate University, Onna, Okinawa, Japan
- Macroecology Laboratory, Graduate School of Life Sciences, Tohoku University, Sendai, Miyagi, Japan
| | - Masashi Yoshimura
- Environmental Science and Informatics Section, Okinawa Institute of Science and Technology Graduate University, Onna, Okinawa, Japan
| | - Masako Ogasawara
- Environmental Science and Informatics Section, Okinawa Institute of Science and Technology Graduate University, Onna, Okinawa, Japan
| | - Mayuko Suwabe
- Environmental Science and Informatics Section, Okinawa Institute of Science and Technology Graduate University, Onna, Okinawa, Japan
| | - Francisco Hita Garcia
- Biodiversity and Biocomplexity Unit, Okinawa Institute of Science and Technology Graduate University, Onna, Okinawa, Japan
| | - Georg Fischer
- Biodiversity and Biocomplexity Unit, Okinawa Institute of Science and Technology Graduate University, Onna, Okinawa, Japan
| | - Kenneth L. Dudley
- Environmental Science and Informatics Section, Okinawa Institute of Science and Technology Graduate University, Onna, Okinawa, Japan
| | - Ian Donohue
- Zoology, School of Natural Sciences, Trinity College Dublin, Dublin, Republic of Ireland
| | - Evan P. Economo
- Biodiversity and Biocomplexity Unit, Okinawa Institute of Science and Technology Graduate University, Onna, Okinawa, Japan
| |
Collapse
|
3
|
Clarke DA, McGeoch MA. Invasive alien insects represent a clear but variable threat to biodiversity. CURRENT RESEARCH IN INSECT SCIENCE 2023; 4:100065. [PMID: 37564301 PMCID: PMC10410178 DOI: 10.1016/j.cris.2023.100065] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/05/2023] [Revised: 07/13/2023] [Accepted: 07/13/2023] [Indexed: 08/12/2023]
Abstract
Invasive alien insects are an important yet understudied component of the general threat that biological invasions pose to biodiversity. We quantified the breadth and level of this threat by performing environmental impact assessments using a modified version of the Environmental Impact Assessment for Alien Taxa (EICAT) framework. This represents the largest effort to date on quantify the environmental impacts of invasive alien insects. Using a relatively large and taxonomically representative set of insect species that have established non-native populations around the globe, we tested hypotheses on: (1) socioeconomic and (2) taxonomic biases, (3) relationship between range size and impact severity and (4) island susceptibility. Socioeconomic pests had marginally more environmental impact information than non-pests and, as expected, impact information was geographically and taxonomically skewed. Species with larger introduced ranges were more likely, on average, to have the most severe local environmental impacts (i.e. a global maximum impact severity of 'Major'). The island susceptibility hypothesis found no support, and both island and mainland systems experience similar numbers of high severity impacts. These results demonstrate the high variability, both within and across species, in the ways and extents to which invasive insects impact biodiversity, even within the highest profile invaders. However, the environmental impact knowledge base requires greater taxonomic and geographic coverage, so that hypotheses about invasion impact can be developed towards identifying generalities in the biogeography of invasion impacts.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- David A. Clarke
- Department of Environment and Genetics, La Trobe University, Victoria 3086, Australia
- Securing Antarctica's Environmental Future, La Trobe University, Victoria 3086, Australia
| | - Melodie A. McGeoch
- Department of Environment and Genetics, La Trobe University, Victoria 3086, Australia
- Securing Antarctica's Environmental Future, La Trobe University, Victoria 3086, Australia
| |
Collapse
|
4
|
Szydlowski DK, Elgin AK, Lodge DM, Tiemann JS, Larson ER. Long-term macrophyte and snail community responses to population declines of invasive rusty crayfish (Faxonius rusticus). ECOLOGICAL APPLICATIONS : A PUBLICATION OF THE ECOLOGICAL SOCIETY OF AMERICA 2023; 33:e2818. [PMID: 36772970 DOI: 10.1002/eap.2818] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/15/2022] [Revised: 01/04/2023] [Accepted: 01/12/2023] [Indexed: 06/18/2023]
Abstract
A central focus of invasive species research has been on human efforts to eradicate invaders or reduce their abundance to mitigate the worst of their impacts. In some cases, however, populations of invasive species decline without human intervention, which may inform management responses to these invaders. Such is the case of the invasive rusty crayfish (Faxonius rusticus) in northern Wisconsin, USA, where systematic population monitoring since 1975 has revealed population declines in approximately half of the lakes surveyed. Population declines of invasive species without human intervention remain understudied, but there is even less research on how communities respond following such declines. Using 10 lakes in Vilas County, Wisconsin, we investigated community recovery of habitat (macrophytes) and prey (freshwater snails) of F. rusticus following up to 33 years of declines of this invader in some lakes using a dataset with a rare, long-term span over which consistent data were collected (1987, 2002, 2011, and 2020). We compared community responses in lakes where F. rusticus populations reached a peak and subsequently declined (boom-bust lakes) and lakes where our dataset only captured the decline of F. rusticus (bust lakes) to reference lakes with consistently high or low crayfish abundance over time. We found partial recovery of macrophytes and snails in the bust and boom-bust lakes where F. rusticus has declined, with recovery of macrophyte abundance and richness in the boom-bust lakes achieving levels observed in the low-crayfish reference lakes. Snail abundance and richness increased after declines of F. rusticus, though not to the level of the low-crayfish reference lakes, suggesting that snail recovery may lag macrophyte recovery because snails are dependent on macrophytes and associated periphyton for habitat. The recovery we document potentially represents long-term ecosystem resilience of lakes to biological invasions. Our results suggest that lake communities may recover without active restoration interventions after invasive crayfish population declines, although identifying which lakes experience these natural declines remains a priority for future research and management.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Daniel K Szydlowski
- Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Sciences, University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, Champaign, Illinois, USA
| | - Ashley K Elgin
- National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, Great Lakes Environmental Research Laboratory, Muskegon, Michigan, USA
| | - David M Lodge
- Cornell Atkinson Center for Sustainability, and Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, Cornell University, Ithaca, New York, USA
| | - Jeremy S Tiemann
- Illinois Natural History Survey, Prairie Research Institute, University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, Champaign, Illinois, USA
| | - Eric R Larson
- Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Sciences, University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, Champaign, Illinois, USA
| |
Collapse
|
5
|
Felden A, Dobelmann J, Baty JW, McCormick J, Haywood J, Lester PJ. Can immune gene silencing via dsRNA feeding promote pathogenic viruses to control the globally invasive Argentine ant? ECOLOGICAL APPLICATIONS : A PUBLICATION OF THE ECOLOGICAL SOCIETY OF AMERICA 2023; 33:e2755. [PMID: 36196505 DOI: 10.1002/eap.2755] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/17/2022] [Revised: 06/27/2022] [Accepted: 08/03/2022] [Indexed: 06/16/2023]
Abstract
Pest control methods that can target pest species with limited environmental impacts are a conservation and economic priority. Species-specific pest control using RNA interference is a challenging but promising avenue in developing the next generation of pest management. We investigate the feasibility of manipulating a biological invader's immune system using double-stranded RNA (dsRNA) in order to increase susceptibility to naturally occurring pathogens. We used the invasive Argentine ant as a model, targeting the immunity-associated genes Spaetzle and Dicer-1 with dsRNA. We show that feeding with Spaetzle dsRNA can result in partial target gene silencing for up to 28 days in the laboratory and 5 days in the field. Dicer-1 dsRNA only resulted in partial gene knockdown after 2 days in the laboratory. Double-stranded RNA treatments were associated with significant gene expression disruptions across immune pathways in the laboratory and to a lower extent in the field. In total, 12 viruses and four bacteria were found in these ant populations. Some changes in viral loads in dsRNA-treated groups were observed. For example, Linepithema humile Polycipivirus 2 (LhuPCV2) loads increased after 2 days of treatment with Spaetzle and Dicer-1 dsRNA treatments in the laboratory. After treatment with the dsRNA in the field, after 5 days the virus Linepithema humile toti-like virus 1 (LhuTLV1) was significantly more abundant. However, immune pathway disruption did not result in a consistent increase in microbial infections, nor did it alter ant abundance in the field. Some viruses even declined in abundance after dsRNA treatment. Our study explored the feasibility of lowering a pest's immunity as a control tool. We demonstrate that it is possible to alter immune gene expression of pest species and pathogen loads, although in our specific system the affected pathogens did not appear to influence pest abundance. We provide suggestions on future directions for dsRNA-mediated immune disruption in pest species, including potential avenues to improve dsRNA delivery as well as the importance of pest and pathogen biology. Double-stranded RNA targeting immune function might be especially useful for pest control in systems in which viruses or other microorganisms are prevalent and have the potential to be pathogenic.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Antoine Felden
- Centre for Biodiversity and Restoration Ecology, School of Biological Sciences, Victoria University of Wellington, Wellington, New Zealand
| | - Jana Dobelmann
- Centre for Biodiversity and Restoration Ecology, School of Biological Sciences, Victoria University of Wellington, Wellington, New Zealand
- Institute of Evolutionary Ecology and Conservation Genomics, University of Ulm, Ulm, Germany
| | - James W Baty
- Centre for Biodiversity and Restoration Ecology, School of Biological Sciences, Victoria University of Wellington, Wellington, New Zealand
| | - Joseph McCormick
- Centre for Biodiversity and Restoration Ecology, School of Biological Sciences, Victoria University of Wellington, Wellington, New Zealand
- School of Life and Environmental Sciences, The University of Sydney, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia
| | - John Haywood
- School of Mathematics and Statistics, Victoria University of Wellington, Wellington, New Zealand
| | - Philip J Lester
- Centre for Biodiversity and Restoration Ecology, School of Biological Sciences, Victoria University of Wellington, Wellington, New Zealand
| |
Collapse
|
6
|
Baratelli E, Tillberg C, Suarez A, Menke S, Naughton I, Holway D. Variation in Argentine ant (Linepithema humile) trophic position as a function of time. Biol Invasions 2022. [DOI: 10.1007/s10530-022-02898-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
|
7
|
Gruber MAM, Santoro D, Cooling M, Lester PJ, Hoffmann BD, Boser C, Lach L. A global review of socioeconomic and environmental impacts of ants reveals new insights for risk assessment. ECOLOGICAL APPLICATIONS : A PUBLICATION OF THE ECOLOGICAL SOCIETY OF AMERICA 2022; 32:e2577. [PMID: 35191120 DOI: 10.1002/eap.2577] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/27/2021] [Revised: 11/18/2021] [Accepted: 12/21/2021] [Indexed: 06/14/2023]
Abstract
Risk assessments are fundamental to invasive species management and are underpinned by comprehensive characterization of invasive species impacts. Our understanding of the impacts of invasive species is growing constantly, and several recently developed frameworks offer the opportunity to systematically categorize environmental and socioeconomic impacts of invasive species. Invasive ants are among the most widespread and damaging invaders. Although a handful of species receives most of the policy attention, nearly 200 species have established outside their native range. Here, we provide a global, comprehensive assessment of the impacts of ants and propose a priority list of risk species. We used the Socioeconomic Impact Classification for Alien Taxa (SEICAT), Environmental Impact Classification for Alien Taxa (EICAT) and Generic Impact Scoring System (GISS) to analyze 642 unique sources for 100 named species. Different methodologies provided generally consistent results. The most frequently identified socioeconomic impacts were to human health. Environmental impacts were primarily on animal and plant populations, with the most common mechanisms being predation and competition. Species recognized as harmful nearly 20 years ago featured prominently, including Wasmannia auropunctata (little fire ant, electric ant), Solenopsis invicta (red imported fire ant), Anoplolepis gracilipes (yellow crazy ant), and Pheidole megacephala (African big-headed ant). All these species except W. auropunctata have been implicated in local extinctions of native species. Although our assessments affirmed that the most serious impacts have been driven by a small number of species, our results also highlighted a substantial number of less well publicized species that have had major environmental impacts and may currently be overlooked when prioritizing prevention efforts. Several of these species were ranked as high or higher than some of the previously recognized "usual suspects," most notably Nylanderia fulva (tawny crazy ant). We compared and combined our assessments with trait-based profiles and other lists to propose a consensus set of 31 priority species. Ever-increasing global trade contributes to growing rates of species introductions. The integrated approaches we used can contribute to robust, holistic risk assessments for many taxa entrained in these pathways.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Monica A M Gruber
- Centre for Biodiversity and Restoration Ecology, School of Biological Sciences, Victoria University of Wellington, Wellington, New Zealand
- Pacific Biosecurity, Wellington UniVentures, Victoria University of Wellington, Wellington, New Zealand
| | - Davide Santoro
- Centre for Biodiversity and Restoration Ecology, School of Biological Sciences, Victoria University of Wellington, Wellington, New Zealand
- Pacific Biosecurity, Wellington UniVentures, Victoria University of Wellington, Wellington, New Zealand
| | - Meghan Cooling
- Pacific Biosecurity, Wellington UniVentures, Victoria University of Wellington, Wellington, New Zealand
| | - Philip J Lester
- Centre for Biodiversity and Restoration Ecology, School of Biological Sciences, Victoria University of Wellington, Wellington, New Zealand
- Pacific Biosecurity, Wellington UniVentures, Victoria University of Wellington, Wellington, New Zealand
| | - Benjamin D Hoffmann
- CSIRO, Health & Biosecurity, Tropical Ecosystems Research Centre, Winnellie, Northwest Territories, Australia
| | | | - Lori Lach
- College of Science and Engineering, James Cook University, Cairns, Queensland, Australia
| |
Collapse
|
8
|
Gutiérrez Al‐Khudhairy OU, Rossberg AG. Evolution of prudent predation in complex food webs. Ecol Lett 2022; 25:1055-1074. [PMID: 35229972 PMCID: PMC9540554 DOI: 10.1111/ele.13979] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/28/2021] [Revised: 11/03/2021] [Accepted: 12/17/2021] [Indexed: 01/09/2023]
Abstract
Prudent predators catch sufficient prey to sustain their populations but not as much as to undermine their populations' survival. The idea that predators evolve to be prudent has been dismissed in the 1970s, but the arguments invoked then are untenable in the light of modern evolution theory. The evolution of prudent predation has repeatedly been demonstrated in two-species predator-prey metacommunity models. However, the vigorous population fluctuations that these models predict are not widely observed. Here we show that in complex model food webs prudent predation evolves as a result of consumer-mediated ('apparent') competitive exclusion of resources, which disadvantages aggressive consumers and does not generate such fluctuations. We make testable predictions for empirical signatures of this mechanism and its outcomes. Then we discuss how these predictions are borne out across freshwater, marine and terrestrial ecosystems. Demonstrating explanatory power of evolved prudent predation well beyond the question of predator-prey coexistence, the predicted signatures explain unexpected declines of invasive alien species, the shape of stock-recruitment relations of fish, and the clearance rates of pelagic consumers across the latitudinal gradient and 15 orders of magnitude in body mass. Specific research to further test this theory is proposed.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
| | - Axel G. Rossberg
- School of Biological and Behavioural SciencesQueen Mary University of LondonLondonUK
| |
Collapse
|
9
|
Pathogen-mediated natural and manipulated population collapse in an invasive social insect. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A 2022; 119:e2114558119. [PMID: 35344435 PMCID: PMC9168452 DOI: 10.1073/pnas.2114558119] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/18/2022] Open
Abstract
Invasive social insects are among the most damaging of invasive organisms and have proved universally intractable to biological control. Despite this, populations of some invasive social insects collapse from unknown causes. We report long-term studies demonstrating that infection by a microsporidian pathogen causes populations of a globally significant invasive ant to collapse to local extinction, providing a mechanistic understanding of a pervasive phenomenon in biological invasions: the collapse of established populations from endogenous factors. We apply this knowledge and successfully eliminate two large, introduced populations of these ants. More broadly, microsporidian pathogens should be evaluated for control of other supercolonial invasive social insects. Diagnosing the cause of unanticipated population collapse in invasive organisms can lead to applied solutions. Boom-bust population dynamics are a recurrent, widespread, and typically unexplained property of many species invasions. Declines also occur in invasive social insects from unknown causes. Nevertheless, social insects have proved intractable to biological control. Tawny crazy ants, an environmentally damaging invasive pest in several countries globally, are spreading in North America. Examining 15 local populations spanning 9 y, we document both the collapse of local populations of this ant in North America and a strong association of collapse with infection by the microsporidian pathogen, Myrmecomorba nylanderiae. Over the observation period, all longitudinally sampled local populations that harbored the pathogen declined, with 62% of these populations disappearing entirely. We test the causality of this relationship by introducing this pathogen into two local populations. At both sites, within 7 mo the pathogen was nearly universally prevalent, and within 2 y, tawny crazy ants were eliminated. In contrast, uninfected populations showed no tendency to decline over a similar period. Concurrent laboratory studies indicate that colony fragments died out because infected workers do not survive long enough to bridge the gap created by normal, winter cessation of immature ant production. Population-level collapse occurred because the pathogen spread faster than colony fragments declined, eliminating the density-dependent regulation seen with many pathogens. Invasive species beset by such pathogens may collapse if factors favoring transmission, like genetic homogeneity, high population density, or socially facilitated intragroup transmission, allow virulent pathogens to spread widely before disease impacts occur. These invasive species may be susceptible to boom-bust dynamics and pathogen-driven local extinction.
Collapse
|
10
|
Lee CY, Yang CCS. Biology, Ecology, and Management of the Invasive Longlegged Ant, Anoplolepis gracilipes. ANNUAL REVIEW OF ENTOMOLOGY 2022; 67:43-63. [PMID: 34587457 DOI: 10.1146/annurev-ento-033121-102332] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/13/2023]
Abstract
The longlegged ant (Anoplolepis gracilipes) is one of the most damaging invasive tramp ants globally. It is generally found between latitudes 27°N and 27°S in Asia, although it has been introduced to other continents. Its native range remains debatable, but it is believed to be in Southeast Asia. Anoplolepis gracilipes invasion has many serious ecological consequences, especially for native invertebrate, vertebrate, and plant communities, altering ecosystem dynamics and functions. We examine and synthesize the literature about this species' origin and distribution, impacts on biodiversity and ecosystems, biology and ecology, chemical control, and potential biocontrol agents. We highlight emerging research needs on the origin and invasion history of this species, its reproductive mode, its relationship with myrmecophiles, and its host-microbial interactions, and we discuss future research directions.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Chow-Yang Lee
- Department of Entomology, University of California, Riverside, California 92521, USA;
| | - Chin-Cheng Scotty Yang
- Department of Entomology, Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University, Blacksburg, Virginia 24061, USA;
| |
Collapse
|
11
|
Lach L. Invasive ant establishment, spread, and management with changing climate. CURRENT OPINION IN INSECT SCIENCE 2021; 47:119-124. [PMID: 34252591 DOI: 10.1016/j.cois.2021.06.008] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/30/2021] [Revised: 06/24/2021] [Accepted: 06/29/2021] [Indexed: 06/13/2023]
Abstract
Ant invasions and climate change both pose globally widespread threats to the environment and economy. I highlight our current knowledge of how climate change will affect invasive ant distributions, population growth, spread, impact, and invasive ant management. Invasive ants often have traits that enable rapid colony growth in a range of habitats. Consequently, many invasive ant species will continue to have large global distributions as environmental conditions change. Distributions and impacts at community scales will depend on how resident ant communities respond to local abiotic conditions as well as availability of plant-based carbohydrate resources. Though target species may change under an altered climate, invasive ant impacts are unlikely to diminish, and novel control methods will be necessary.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Lori Lach
- James Cook University, College of Science and Engineering, PO Box 6811, Cairns, 4870 Australia.
| |
Collapse
|
12
|
Blumenfeld AJ, Eyer PA, Helms AM, Buczkowski G, Vargo EL. Consistent signatures of urban adaptation in a native, urban invader ant Tapinoma sessile. Mol Ecol 2021; 31:4832-4850. [PMID: 34551170 DOI: 10.1111/mec.16188] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/22/2021] [Revised: 09/11/2021] [Accepted: 09/15/2021] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
Abstract
Biological invasions are becoming more prevalent due to the rise of global trade and expansion of urban areas. Ants are among the most prolific invaders with many exhibiting a multiqueen colony structure, dependent colony foundation and reduced internest aggression. Although these characteristics are generally associated with the invasions of exotic ants, they may also facilitate the spread of native ants into novel habitats. Native to diverse habitats across North America, the odorous house ant Tapinoma sessile has become abundant in urban environments throughout the United States. Natural colonies typically have a small workforce, inhabit a single nest, and are headed by a single queen, whereas urban colonies tend to be several orders of magnitude larger, inhabit multiple nests (i.e., polydomy) and are headed by multiple queens (i.e., polygyny). Here, we explore and compare the population genetic and breeding structure of T. sessile within and between urban and natural environments in several localities across its distribution range. We found the social structure of a colony to be a plastic trait in both habitats, although extreme polygyny was confined to urban habitats. Additionally, polydomous colonies were only present in urban habitats, suggesting T. sessile can only achieve supercoloniality within urbanized areas. Finally, we identified strong differentiation between urban and natural populations in each locality and continent-wide, indicating cities may restrict gene flow and exert intense selection pressure. Overall, our study highlights urbanization's influence in charting the evolutionary course for species.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
| | - Pierre-André Eyer
- Department of Entomology, TAMU, Texas A&M University, College Station, Texas, USA
| | - Anjel M Helms
- Department of Entomology, TAMU, Texas A&M University, College Station, Texas, USA
| | | | - Edward L Vargo
- Department of Entomology, TAMU, Texas A&M University, College Station, Texas, USA
| |
Collapse
|
13
|
Sugar is an ant’s best friend? Testing food web theory predictions about trophic position and abundance in an invasive ant (Nylanderia fulva). Biol Invasions 2021. [DOI: 10.1007/s10530-021-02627-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/25/2022]
|
14
|
Holway DA, Cameron EK. The importance of scavenging in ant invasions. CURRENT OPINION IN INSECT SCIENCE 2021; 46:39-42. [PMID: 33581352 DOI: 10.1016/j.cois.2021.01.007] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/20/2020] [Revised: 01/25/2021] [Accepted: 01/29/2021] [Indexed: 06/12/2023]
Abstract
Recent work underscores that ants are highly proficient and ubiquitous scavengers. These tendencies extend to numerically and behaviorally dominant introduced ants, which exhibit a suite of traits that allow them to exploit and monopolize carrion to a greater extent than is widely appreciated. We thus contend that an understanding of how introduced ants fit into food webs remains incomplete. Monopolization of carrion resources by introduced ants could increase worker production, enhance the ability of these species to compete with and prey upon other organisms, and alter the strength of direct and indirect interactions within food webs. Future work should consider how ant invasions influence energy transfer within and between green and brown food webs.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- David A Holway
- Division of Biological Sciences, University of California at San Diego, MC 0116, 9500 Gilman Drive, La Jolla, CA 92093, United States.
| | - Erin K Cameron
- Department of Environmental Science, Saint Mary's University, 923 Robie Street, Halifax, Nova Scotia B3H 3C3, Canada
| |
Collapse
|
15
|
Eyer PA, Vargo EL. Breeding structure and invasiveness in social insects. CURRENT OPINION IN INSECT SCIENCE 2021; 46:24-30. [PMID: 33549724 DOI: 10.1016/j.cois.2021.01.004] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/06/2020] [Revised: 01/15/2021] [Accepted: 01/22/2021] [Indexed: 06/12/2023]
Abstract
Plasticity in life history traits is commonly used to explain the invasion success of social insects. While intraspecific plasticity is often recognized, interspecific variability is easily overlooked, whereby different species exhibit different strategies. The presence of many queens per colony and the collapse of colony boundaries have favored invasiveness for many ant species. However, these strategies are absent from other successful social invaders. Here, we report that various life-history traits may differentially enhance the invasion success in social insects. We suggest that other aspects of their breeding system, like asexual reproduction, intranidal mating and pre-adaptation to inbreeding may enhance their invasion success. Thorough comparative studies between native and introduced populations or studies of closely related species will help identify additional traits favoring the invasion success of social insects, and ultimately provide a more comprehensive picture of the evolutionary factors enhancing invasiveness across this phylogenetically and ecologically diverse group.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Pierre-André Eyer
- Department of Entomology, 2143 TAMU, Texas A&M University, College Station, TX, 77843-2143, USA.
| | - Edward L Vargo
- Department of Entomology, 2143 TAMU, Texas A&M University, College Station, TX, 77843-2143, USA
| |
Collapse
|
16
|
An insight into the quality of sacred groves – an island habitat – using leaf-litter ants as an indicator in a context of urbanization. JOURNAL OF TROPICAL ECOLOGY 2021. [DOI: 10.1017/s0266467421000134] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/06/2022]
Abstract
AbstractSacred groves (SGs) of India are islets of forests providing ecosystem and spiritual services to man. Studies suggest that SGs are deteriorating on their quality due to urbanization, invasive species, land-use change, and religious modernization. We explored diversity, community, and abundance of overall and different functional groups of litter ants, including Anoplolepis gracilipes – an invasive ant – on paired SG-neighbouring home garden (HG) sites in rural and urban landscape to (a) assess the quality of SGs and (b) examine whether the variation in ant community of the two habitats was predicted by urbanization and abundance of A. gracilipes. We considered species and local contribution to β-diversity to identify species and sites crucial for conservation of sites. Abundance and richness of overall ants, proportional trap incidence of species, and abundance of A. gracilipes were similar on SG and HG, but species diversity and abundance of certain ant functional groups were higher on SG. Ant community of SG was different from HG, but was not affected by urbanization. A. gracilipes and rural SGs contributed the most to β diversity. A. gracilipes gave little pressure on native ant community. The study concludes that SGs, despite invaded by A. gracilipes, have potential for conserving biodiversity.
Collapse
|
17
|
Llanos EN, Saracho Bottero MA, Jaubet ML, Garaffo GV, Hines E, Cuello GV, Elías R. The boom-bust dynamic of the invader Boccardia proboscidea mediated by sewage discharge: The response of the intertidal epilithic community in the Southwest Atlantic. MARINE POLLUTION BULLETIN 2021; 164:112045. [PMID: 33515833 DOI: 10.1016/j.marpolbul.2021.112045] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/21/2020] [Revised: 01/05/2021] [Accepted: 01/06/2021] [Indexed: 06/12/2023]
Abstract
Biological invasions produce an invader population boom but are often followed by an invader population bust. The decrease of the invader abundance ends with the coexistence of native species and the invader or with repeated boom and bust events. In the southwest Atlantic, the polychaete Boccardia proboscidea invaded the coasts influenced by sewage discharge. We studied the change in the intertidal benthic community during the boom-bust dynamic of the Bo. proboscidea invasion. During the boom, the invader polychaete was dominant forming monoculture reefs. Species richness, diversity, and evenness indices decrease in the boom phase. During the bust of the Bo.proboscidea invasion, the decrease of organic matter allowed Br. rodriguezii to coexist with Bo. proboscidea. Beta diversity comparing boom with the bust phase showed a greater nesting (nestedness component); reflecting a process of species loss. We found that both boom and bust phases of the polychaete Bo. proboscidea invasion were mediated by sewage.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Elizabeth Noemi Llanos
- Instituto de Investigaciones Marinas y Costeras, (IIMyC), Facultad de Ciencias Exactas y Naturales (FCEyN), Universidad Nacional de Mar del Plata (UNMdP)- Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas (CONICET), Rodriguez Peña 4046, Nivel 1. Casilla de Correo 1260, Correo Central, Mar del Plata, Argentina.
| | - María Andrea Saracho Bottero
- Instituto de Investigaciones Marinas y Costeras, (IIMyC), Facultad de Ciencias Exactas y Naturales (FCEyN), Universidad Nacional de Mar del Plata (UNMdP)- Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas (CONICET), Rodriguez Peña 4046, Nivel 1. Casilla de Correo 1260, Correo Central, Mar del Plata, Argentina.
| | - María Lourdes Jaubet
- Instituto de Investigaciones Marinas y Costeras, (IIMyC), Facultad de Ciencias Exactas y Naturales (FCEyN), Universidad Nacional de Mar del Plata (UNMdP)- Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas (CONICET), Rodriguez Peña 4046, Nivel 1. Casilla de Correo 1260, Correo Central, Mar del Plata, Argentina.
| | - Griselda Valeria Garaffo
- Instituto de Investigaciones Marinas y Costeras, (IIMyC), Facultad de Ciencias Exactas y Naturales (FCEyN), Universidad Nacional de Mar del Plata (UNMdP)- Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas (CONICET), Rodriguez Peña 4046, Nivel 1. Casilla de Correo 1260, Correo Central, Mar del Plata, Argentina.
| | - Emiliano Hines
- Instituto de Investigaciones Marinas y Costeras, (IIMyC), Facultad de Ciencias Exactas y Naturales (FCEyN), Universidad Nacional de Mar del Plata (UNMdP)- Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas (CONICET), Rodriguez Peña 4046, Nivel 1. Casilla de Correo 1260, Correo Central, Mar del Plata, Argentina.
| | - Graciela Valeria Cuello
- Instituto de Investigaciones Marinas y Costeras, (IIMyC), Facultad de Ciencias Exactas y Naturales (FCEyN), Universidad Nacional de Mar del Plata (UNMdP)- Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas (CONICET), Rodriguez Peña 4046, Nivel 1. Casilla de Correo 1260, Correo Central, Mar del Plata, Argentina
| | - Rodolfo Elías
- Instituto de Investigaciones Marinas y Costeras, (IIMyC), Facultad de Ciencias Exactas y Naturales (FCEyN), Universidad Nacional de Mar del Plata (UNMdP)- Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas (CONICET), Rodriguez Peña 4046, Nivel 1. Casilla de Correo 1260, Correo Central, Mar del Plata, Argentina.
| |
Collapse
|
18
|
Blossey B, Nuzzo V, Dávalos A, Mayer M, Dunbar R, Landis DA, Evans JA, Minter B. Residence time determines invasiveness and performance of garlic mustard (Alliaria petiolata) in North America. Ecol Lett 2021; 24:327-336. [PMID: 33295700 PMCID: PMC7839695 DOI: 10.1111/ele.13649] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/30/2020] [Revised: 07/31/2020] [Accepted: 10/29/2020] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
Abstract
While biological invasions have the potential for large negative impacts on local communities and ecological interactions, increasing evidence suggests that species once considered major problems can decline over time. Declines often appear driven by natural enemies, diseases or evolutionary adaptations that selectively reduce populations of naturalised species and their impacts. Using permanent long-term monitoring locations, we document declines of Alliaria petiolata (garlic mustard) in eastern North America with distinct local and regional dynamics as a function of patch residence time. Projected site-specific population growth rates initially indicated expanding populations, but projected population growth rates significantly decreased over time and at the majority of sites fell below 1, indicating declining populations. Negative soil feedback provides a potential mechanism for the reported disappearance of ecological dominance of A. petiolata in eastern North America.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Bernd Blossey
- Department of Natural ResourcesFernow HallCornell UniversityIthacaNY14853USA
| | - Victoria Nuzzo
- Natural Area Consultants1 West Hill School RoadRichfordNY13835USA
| | - Andrea Dávalos
- Biological Sciences DepartmentSUNY CortlandCortlandNY13045USA
| | - Mark Mayer
- New Jersey Department of AgricultureDivision of Plant IndustryPO Box 330TrentonNJ08625USA
| | - Richard Dunbar
- Division of Nature PreservesIndiana Department of Natural Resources1040 E 700 N Columbia CityIN46725‐8948USA
| | - Douglas A. Landis
- Department of EntomologyMichigan State UniversityEast LansingMI48824USA
| | - Jeffrey A. Evans
- Department of EntomologyMichigan State UniversityEast LansingMI48824USA
- Farmscape Analytics16 Merrimack StConcordNH03301USA
| | - Bill Minter
- Institute for Ecological RegenerationGoshen College1700 South Main StreetGoshenIN46526USA
| |
Collapse
|
19
|
Density dependence and the spread of invasive big-headed ants (Pheidole megacephala) in an East African savanna. Oecologia 2021; 195:667-676. [PMID: 33506295 DOI: 10.1007/s00442-021-04859-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/22/2020] [Accepted: 01/14/2021] [Indexed: 10/22/2022]
Abstract
Supercolonial ants are among the largest cooperative units in nature, attaining extremely high densities. How these densities feed back into their population growth rates and how abundance and extrinsic factors interact to affect their population dynamics remain open questions. We studied how local worker abundance and extrinsic factors (rain, tree density) affect population growth rate and spread in the invasive big-headed ant, which is disrupting a keystone mutualism between acacia trees and native ants in parts of East Africa. We measured temporal changes in big-headed ant (BHA) abundance and rates of spread over 20 months along eight transects, extending from areas behind the front with high BHA abundances to areas at the invasion front with low BHA abundances. We used models that account for negative density dependence and incorporated extrinsic factors to determine what variables best explain variation in local population growth rates. Population growth rates declined with abundance, however, the strength of density dependence decreased with abundance. We suggest that weaker density dependence at higher ant abundances may be due to the beneficial effect of cooperative behavior that partially counteracts resource limitation. Rainfall and tree density had minor effects on ant population dynamics. BHA spread near 50 m/year, more than previous studies reported and comparable to rates of spread of other supercolonial ants. Although we did not detect declines in abundance in areas invaded a long time ago (> 10 years), continued monitoring of abundance at invaded sites may help to better understand the widespread collapse of many invasive ants.
Collapse
|
20
|
Achury R, Holway DA, Suarez AV. Pervasive and persistent effects of ant invasion and fragmentation on native ant assemblages. Ecology 2021; 102:e03257. [PMID: 33226643 DOI: 10.1002/ecy.3257] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/27/2020] [Accepted: 08/24/2020] [Indexed: 01/08/2023]
Abstract
Biological invasions are a leading cause of global change, yet their long-term effects remain hard to predict. Invasive species can remain abundant for long periods of time, or exhibit population crashes that allow native communities to recover. The abundance and impact of nonnative species may also be closely tied to temporally variable habitat characteristics. We investigated the long-term effects of habitat fragmentation and invasion by the Argentine ant (Linepithema humile) by resurveying ants in 40 scrub habitat fragments in coastal southern California that were originally sampled 21 yr ago. At a landscape scale, fragment area, but not fragment age or Argentine ant mean abundance, continued to explain variation in native ant species richness; the species-area relationship between the two sample years did not differ in terms of slope or intercept. At local scales, over the last 21 yr we detected increases in the overall area invaded (+36.7%, estimated as the proportion of occupied traps) and the relative abundance of the Argentine ant (+121.95%, estimated as mean number of workers in pitfall traps). Argentine ant mean abundance also increased inward from urban edges in 2017 compared to 1996. The greater level of penetration into fragments likely reduced native ant richness by eliminating refugia for native ants in fragments that did not contain sufficient interior area. At one fragment where we sampled eight times over the last 21 yr, Argentine ant mean abundance increased over time while the diversity of native ground-foraging ants declined from 14 to 4 species. Notably, native species predicted to be particularly sensitive to the combined effect of invasion and habitat loss were not detected at any sites in our recent sampling, including the army ant genus Neivamyrmex. Conversely, two introduced ant species (Brachymyrmex patagonicus and Pheidole flavens) that were undetected in 1996 are now common and widespread at our sites. Our results indicate that behaviorally and numerically dominant invasive species can maintain high densities and suppress native diversity for extended periods.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Rafael Achury
- Department of Entomology, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, 320 Morrill Hall, 505 S. Goodwin Avenue, Urbana, Illinois, 61801, USA
| | - David A Holway
- Division of Biological Sciences, University of California at San Diego, La Jolla, California, 92093, USA
| | - Andrew V Suarez
- Department of Entomology, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, 320 Morrill Hall, 505 S. Goodwin Avenue, Urbana, Illinois, 61801, USA.,Department of Evolution, Ecology and Behavior, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Urbana, Illinois, 61801, USA
| |
Collapse
|
21
|
Infestation by pollination-disrupting alien ants varies temporally and spatially and is worsened by alien plant invasion. Biol Invasions 2020. [DOI: 10.1007/s10530-020-02272-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/15/2022]
|
22
|
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.
Collapse
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
| |
Collapse
|
23
|
Menke SB, Holway DA. Historical resurvey indicates no decline in Argentine ant site occupancy in coastal southern California. Biol Invasions 2020. [DOI: 10.1007/s10530-020-02211-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
|
24
|
Bloch CP, Curry KD, Fisher-Reid MC, Surasinghe TD. Population Decline of the Invasive Asian Shore Crab (Hemigrapsus sanguineus) and Dynamics of Associated Intertidal Invertebrates on Cape Cod, Massachusetts. Northeast Nat (Steuben) 2019. [DOI: 10.1656/045.026.0408] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/20/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Christopher P. Bloch
- Department of Biological Sciences, Bridgewater State University, Bridgewater, MA 02325
| | - Kevin D. Curry
- Department of Biological Sciences, Bridgewater State University, Bridgewater, MA 02325
| | | | - Thilina D. Surasinghe
- Department of Biological Sciences, Bridgewater State University, Bridgewater, MA 02325
| |
Collapse
|
25
|
Perez A, Diamond SE. Idiosyncrasies in cities: evaluating patterns and drivers of ant biodiversity along urbanization gradients. JOURNAL OF URBAN ECOLOGY 2019. [DOI: 10.1093/jue/juz017] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Abstract
Urbanization is expected to reduce biodiversity. However, an increasing number of studies report urban biodiversity comparable to that of surrounding nonurban areas, leaving open the question: what maintains biodiversity in cities? We characterized patterns of ant biodiversity across urbanization gradients of three major cities in the Midwestern United States and evaluated the support for two mechanisms underlying the maintenance of biodiversity in cities, specifically via introduced non-native species and differential phenology of communities along each urbanization gradient. We observed idiosyncrasies in ant species diversity such that each city displayed either increased, decreased or no change in biodiversity across the urbanization gradient. We found partial support (one of the three cities) for the hypothesis that non-native species can contribute positively to overall species diversity in cities, though even with introduced species removed from consideration, native ant biodiversity was maintained along the urbanization gradient. We found no support for systematic differential phenology across urbanization gradients, although species diversity did vary over time across all sites. Our results further challenge the assumption of biodiversity loss in cities, as two of our three cities exhibited maintained species diversity along the urbanization gradient. Most importantly, our study demonstrates that urban biodiversity can be maintained entirely by native communities.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Abe Perez
- Department of Biology, Case Western Reserve University, 2080 Adelbert Road, Cleveland, OH, USA
| | - Sarah E Diamond
- Department of Biology, Case Western Reserve University, 2080 Adelbert Road, Cleveland, OH, USA
| |
Collapse
|
26
|
McDowell WG, Sousa R. Mass Mortality Events of Invasive Freshwater Bivalves: Current Understanding and Potential Directions for Future Research. Front Ecol Evol 2019. [DOI: 10.3389/fevo.2019.00331] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
|
27
|
Felden A, Paris C, Chapple DG, Suarez AV, Tsutsui ND, Lester PJ, Gruber MAM. Native and introduced Argentine ant populations are characterised by distinct transcriptomic signatures associated with behaviour and immunity. NEOBIOTA 2019. [DOI: 10.3897/neobiota.49.36086] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/17/2022]
Abstract
Biological invasions can be influenced by trait variation in the invader, such as behavioural traits and ecological factors, such as variation in pathogen pressure. High-throughput nucleotide sequencing has increased our capacity to investigate the genomic basis of the functional changes associated with biological invasions. Here, we used RNA-sequencing in Argentina and California, Australia and New Zealand to investigate if native and introduced Argentine ant populations were characterised by distinct transcriptomic signatures. We focused our analysis on viral pressure and immunity, as well as genes associated with biogenic amines known to modulate key behaviour in social insects. Using a combination of differential expression analysis, gene co-expression network analysis and candidate gene approach, we show that native and introduced populations have distinct transcriptomic signatures. Genes associated with biogenic amines were overall up-regulated in the native range compared to introduced populations. Although we found no significant variation in overall viral loads amongst regions for viruses known to infect Argentine ants, viral diversity was lower in most of the introduced range which was interestingly associated with down-regulation of the RNAi immune pathway, primarily directed against viruses. Altogether, our data show that Argentine ant populations exhibit range-specific transcriptomic signatures, perhaps reflecting regional adaptations that may contribute to the ecological success of introduced populations.
Collapse
|
28
|
Pernu TK, Helanterä H. Genetic relatedness and its causal role in the evolution of insect societies. J Biosci 2019. [DOI: 10.1007/s12038-019-9894-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/26/2022]
|
29
|
Lester PJ, Buick KH, Baty JW, Felden A, Haywood J. Different bacterial and viral pathogens trigger distinct immune responses in a globally invasive ant. Sci Rep 2019; 9:5780. [PMID: 30962470 PMCID: PMC6453929 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-019-41843-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/10/2019] [Accepted: 03/18/2019] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Invasive species populations periodically collapse from high to low abundance, sometimes even to extinction. Pathogens and the burden they place on invader immune systems have been hypothesised as a mechanism for these collapses. We examined the association of the bacterial pathogen (Pseudomonas spp.) and the viral community with immune gene expression in the globally invasive Argentine ant (Linepithema humile (Mayr)). RNA-seq analysis found evidence for 17 different viruses in Argentine ants from New Zealand, including three bacteriophages with one (Pseudomonas phage PS-1) likely to be attacking the bacterial host. Pathogen loads and prevalence varied immensely. Transcriptomic data showed that immune gene expression was consistent with respect to the viral classification of negative-sense, positive-sense and double-stranded RNA viruses. Genes that were the most strongly associated with the positive-sense RNA viruses such as the Linepithema humile virus 1 (LHUV-1) and the Deformed wing virus (DWV) were peptide recognition proteins assigned to the Toll and Imd pathways. We then used principal components analysis and regression modelling to determine how RT-qPCR derived immune gene expression levels were associated with viral and bacterial loads. Argentine ants mounted a substantial immune response to both Pseudomonas and LHUV-1 infections, involving almost all immune pathways. Other viruses including DWV and the Kashmir bee virus appeared to have much less immunological influence. Different pathogens were associated with varying immunological responses, which we hypothesize to interact with and influence the invasion dynamics of this species.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Philip J Lester
- Centre for Biodiversity and Restoration Ecology, School of Biological Sciences, Victoria University of Wellington, PO Box 600, Wellington, 6012, New Zealand.
| | - Kaitlin H Buick
- Centre for Biodiversity and Restoration Ecology, School of Biological Sciences, Victoria University of Wellington, PO Box 600, Wellington, 6012, New Zealand
- Malaghan Institute of Medical Research, PO Box 7060, Wellington, 6242, New Zealand
| | - James W Baty
- Centre for Biodiversity and Restoration Ecology, School of Biological Sciences, Victoria University of Wellington, PO Box 600, Wellington, 6012, New Zealand
| | - Antoine Felden
- Centre for Biodiversity and Restoration Ecology, School of Biological Sciences, Victoria University of Wellington, PO Box 600, Wellington, 6012, New Zealand
| | - John Haywood
- School of Mathematics and Statistics, Victoria University of Wellington, PO Box 600, Wellington, 6012, New Zealand
| |
Collapse
|
30
|
Lester PJ, Sébastien A, Suarez AV, Barbieri RF, Gruber MAM. Symbiotic bacterial communities in ants are modified by invasion pathway bottlenecks and alter host behavior. Ecology 2018; 98:861-874. [PMID: 28039867 DOI: 10.1002/ecy.1714] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/22/2016] [Revised: 12/13/2016] [Accepted: 12/29/2016] [Indexed: 01/06/2023]
Abstract
Biological invasions are a threat to global biodiversity and provide unique opportunities to study ecological processes. Population bottlenecks are a common feature of biological invasions and the severity of these bottlenecks is likely to be compounded as an invasive species spreads from initial invasion sites to additional locations. Despite extensive work on the genetic consequences of bottlenecks, we know little about how they influence microbial communities of the invaders themselves. Due to serial bottlenecks, invasive species may lose microbial symbionts including pathogenic taxa (the enemy release hypothesis) and/or may accumulate natural enemies with increasing time after invasion (the pathogen accumulation and invasive decline hypothesis). We tested these alternate hypotheses by surveying bacterial communities of Argentine ants (Linepithema humile). We found evidence for serial symbiont bottlenecks: the bacterial community richness declined over the invasion pathway from Argentina to New Zealand. The abundance of some genera, such as Lactobacillus, also significantly declined over the invasion pathway. Argentine ants from populations in the United States shared the most genera with ants from their native range in Argentina, while New Zealand shared the least (120 vs. 57, respectively). Nine genera were present in all sites around the globe possibly indicating a core group of obligate microbes. In accordance with the pathogen accumulation and invasive decline hypothesis, Argentine ants acquired genera unique to each specific invaded country. The United States had the most unique genera, though even within New Zealand these ants acquired symbionts. In addition to our biogeographic sampling, we administered antibiotics to Argentine ants to determine if changes in the micro-symbiont community could influence behavior and survival in interspecific interactions. Treatment with the antibiotics spectinomycin and kanamycin only slightly increased Argentine ant interspecific aggression, but this increase significantly decreased survival in interspecific interactions. The survival of the native ant species also decreased when the symbiotic microbial community within Argentine ants was modified by antibiotics. Our work offers support for both the enemy release hypothesis and that invasive species accumulate novel microbial taxa within their invaded range. These changes appear likely to influence invader behavior and survival.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Philip J Lester
- School of Biological Sciences, Victoria University of Wellington, PO Box 600, Wellington, New Zealand
| | - Alexandra Sébastien
- School of Biological Sciences, Victoria University of Wellington, PO Box 600, Wellington, New Zealand
| | - Andrew V Suarez
- Department of Animal Biology, University of Illinois, Urbana, Illinois, 61801, USA
| | - Rafael F Barbieri
- School of Biological Sciences, Victoria University of Wellington, PO Box 600, Wellington, New Zealand
| | - Monica A M Gruber
- School of Biological Sciences, Victoria University of Wellington, PO Box 600, Wellington, New Zealand
| |
Collapse
|
31
|
Viljakainen L, Holmberg I, Abril S, Jurvansuu J. Viruses of invasive Argentine ants from the European Main supercolony: characterization, interactions and evolution. J Gen Virol 2018; 99:1129-1140. [DOI: 10.1099/jgv.0.001104] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/18/2022] Open
Affiliation(s)
- Lumi Viljakainen
- 1Department of Ecology and Genetics, University of Oulu, Oulu, Finland
| | - Ida Holmberg
- 1Department of Ecology and Genetics, University of Oulu, Oulu, Finland
| | - Sílvia Abril
- 2Department of Environmental Sciences, University of Girona, Girona, Spain
| | - Jaana Jurvansuu
- 1Department of Ecology and Genetics, University of Oulu, Oulu, Finland
| |
Collapse
|
32
|
Goyal N, Shah K, Sharma GP. Does intrinsic light heterogeneity in Ricinus communis L. monospecific thickets drive species' population dynamics? ENVIRONMENTAL MONITORING AND ASSESSMENT 2018; 190:410. [PMID: 29923094 DOI: 10.1007/s10661-018-6791-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/14/2017] [Accepted: 06/12/2018] [Indexed: 06/08/2023]
Abstract
Ricinus communis L. colonizes heterogeneous urban landscapes as monospecific thickets. The ecological understanding on colonization success of R. communis population due to variable light availability is lacking. Therefore, to understand the effect of intrinsic light heterogeneity on species' population dynamics, R. communis populations exposed to variable light availability (low, intermediate, and high) were examined for performance strategies through estimation of key vegetative, eco-physiological, biochemical, and reproductive traits. Considerable variability existed in studied plant traits in response to available light. Individuals inhabiting high-light conditions exhibited high eco-physiological efficiency and reproductive performance that potentially confers population boom. Individuals exposed to low light showed poor performance in terms of eco-physiology and reproduction, which attribute to bust. However, individuals in intermediate light were observed to be indeterminate to light availability, potentially undergoing trait modulations with uncertainty of available light. Heterogeneous light availability potentially drives the boom and bust cycles in R. communis monospecific thickets. Such boom and bust cycles subsequently affect species' dominance, persistence, collapse, and/or resurgence as an aggressive colonizer in contrasting urban environments. The study fosters extensive monitoring of R. communis thickets to probe underlying mechanism(s) affecting expansions and/or collapses of colonizing populations.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Neha Goyal
- Department of Environmental Studies, University of Delhi, Delhi, 110 007, India
| | - Kanhaiya Shah
- Department of Environmental Studies, University of Delhi, Delhi, 110 007, India
| | - Gyan Prakash Sharma
- Department of Environmental Studies, University of Delhi, Delhi, 110 007, India.
| |
Collapse
|
33
|
Menke SB, Ward PS, Holway DA. Long-term record of Argentine ant invasions reveals enduring ecological impacts. Ecology 2018; 99:1194-1202. [PMID: 29504667 DOI: 10.1002/ecy.2200] [Citation(s) in RCA: 27] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/06/2017] [Revised: 02/05/2018] [Accepted: 02/09/2018] [Indexed: 11/06/2022]
Abstract
The ecological effects of species introductions can change in magnitude over time, but an understanding of how and why they do so remains incompletely understood. Clarifying this issue requires consideration of how temporal variation in invader traits affects invasion impacts (e.g., through differential effects on the diversity and composition of native species assemblages). We examine the temporal dynamics of Argentine ant invasions in northern California by resurveying 202 sites first sampled 30-40 yr ago. To test how invasion impacts change over time, we estimated native ant richness and species composition at 20 riparian woodland sites that span a 30-yr invasion chronosequence. We then use these data to test how variation in two invader traits (aggression and relative abundance) is related to time since invasion and invasion impact. Native ant assemblages along the chronosequence exhibited reduced native ant richness and altered species composition (compared to uninvaded control sites), but the magnitude of these impacts was independent of time since invasion. These results are corroborated by additional temporal comparisons of native ant assemblages at riparian sites sampled 20-30 yr ago. Our findings together illustrate that the impacts of invasions can persist undiminished over at least a 30-yr time frame and remain evident at regional scales. Although neither invader trait varied with time since invasion, native ant richness declined as the relative abundance of the Argentine ant increased. This latter result supports the hypothesis that factors reducing invader abundance at particular sites can decrease invasion impacts, but also that such changes may be due to site-specific factors (e.g., abiotic conditions) that affect invader abundance rather than time since invasion per se. Future studies should attempt to differentiate factors that are intrinsic to the process of invasion (e.g., changes in invader populations) from long-term environmental changes (e.g., climate change) that represent extrinsic influences on the dynamics of invasion.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Sean B Menke
- Department of Biology, Lake Forest College, Lake Forest, Illinois, 60045, USA
| | - Philip S Ward
- Department of Entomology & Nematology, and Center for Population Biology, University of California at Davis, Davis, California, 95616, USA
| | - David A Holway
- Division of Biological Sciences, University of California at San Diego, La Jolla, California, 92093, USA
| |
Collapse
|
34
|
Brückner A, Klompen H, Bruce AI, Hashim R, von Beeren C. Infection of army ant pupae by two new parasitoid mites (Mesostigmata: Uropodina). PeerJ 2017; 5:e3870. [PMID: 29038753 PMCID: PMC5639873 DOI: 10.7717/peerj.3870] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/01/2017] [Accepted: 09/08/2017] [Indexed: 11/20/2022] Open
Abstract
A great variety of parasites and parasitoids exploit ant societies. Among them are the Mesostigmata mites, a particularly common and diverse group of ant-associated arthropods. While parasitism is ubiquitous in Mesostigmata, parasitoidism has only been described in the genus Macrodinychus. Yet information about the basic biology of most Macrodinychus species is lacking. Out of 24 formally described species, information about basic life-history traits is only available for three species. Here we formally describe two new Macrodinychus species, i.e. Macrodinychus hilpertae and Macrodinychus derbyensis. In both species, immature stages developed as ecto-parasitoids on ant pupae of the South-East Asian army ant Leptogenys distinguenda. By piercing the developing ant with their chelicera, the mites apparently suck ant hemolymph, ultimately killing host individuals. We compare infection rates among all studied Macrodinychus species and discuss possible host countermeasures against parasitoidism. The cryptic lifestyle of living inside ant nests has certainly hampered the scientific discovery of Macrodinychus mites and we expect that many more macrodinychid species await scientific discovery and description.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Adrian Brückner
- Ecological Networks, Department of Biology, Technische Universität Darmstadt, Darmstadt, Germany
| | - Hans Klompen
- Department of Evolution, Ecology and Organismal Biology, Ohio State University, Columbus, OH, United States of America
| | - Andrew Iain Bruce
- School of Biological Sciences, Monash University, Melbourne VIC, Australia
| | - Rosli Hashim
- Institute of Biological Sciences, Faculty of Science Building, University of Malaya, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
| | - Christoph von Beeren
- Ecological Networks, Department of Biology, Technische Universität Darmstadt, Darmstadt, Germany
| |
Collapse
|
35
|
Plentovich S, Russell T, Fejeran CC. Yellow crazy ants (Anoplolepis gracilipes) reduce numbers and impede development of a burrow-nesting seabird. Biol Invasions 2017. [DOI: 10.1007/s10530-017-1516-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
|
36
|
Gruber MAM, Cooling M, Baty JW, Buckley K, Friedlander A, Quinn O, Russell JFEJ, Sébastien A, Lester PJ. Single-stranded RNA viruses infecting the invasive Argentine ant, Linepithema humile. Sci Rep 2017; 7:3304. [PMID: 28607437 PMCID: PMC5468335 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-017-03508-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 33] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/09/2017] [Accepted: 04/28/2017] [Indexed: 11/17/2022] Open
Abstract
Social insects host a diversity of viruses. We examined New Zealand populations of the globally widely distributed invasive Argentine ant (Linepithema humile) for RNA viruses. We used metatranscriptomic analysis, which identified six potential novel viruses in the Dicistroviridae family. Of these, three contigs were confirmed by Sanger sequencing as Linepithema humile virus-1 (LHUV-1), a novel strain of Kashmir bee virus (KBV) and Black queen cell virus (BQCV), while the others were chimeric or misassembled sequences. We extended the known sequence of LHUV-1 to confirm its placement in the Dicistroviridae and categorised its relationship to closest relatives, which were all viruses infecting Hymenoptera. We examined further for known viruses by mapping our metatranscriptomic sequences to all viral genomes, and confirmed KBV, BQCV, LHUV-1 and Deformed wing virus (DWV) presence using qRT-PCR. Viral replication was confirmed for DWV, KBV and LHUV-1. Viral titers in ants were higher in the presence of honey bee hives. Argentine ants appear to host a range of' honey bee' pathogens in addition to a virus currently described only from this invasive ant. The role of these viruses in the population dynamics of the ant remain to be determined, but offer potential targets for biocontrol approaches.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Monica A M Gruber
- Centre for Biodiversity and Restoration Ecology, School of Biological Sciences, Victoria University of Wellington, PO Box 600, Wellington, New Zealand.
- Pacific Biosecurity, Victoria Link Limited, Victoria University of Wellington, PO Box 1762, Wellington, New Zealand.
| | - Meghan Cooling
- Centre for Biodiversity and Restoration Ecology, School of Biological Sciences, Victoria University of Wellington, PO Box 600, Wellington, New Zealand
- Pacific Biosecurity, Victoria Link Limited, Victoria University of Wellington, PO Box 1762, Wellington, New Zealand
| | - James W Baty
- Centre for Biodiversity and Restoration Ecology, School of Biological Sciences, Victoria University of Wellington, PO Box 600, Wellington, New Zealand
- Malaghan Institute of Medical Research, PO Box 7060, Wellington, New Zealand
| | - Kevin Buckley
- School of Engineering and Computer Science, Victoria University of Wellington, PO Box 600, Wellington, New Zealand
| | - Anna Friedlander
- School of Engineering and Computer Science, Victoria University of Wellington, PO Box 600, Wellington, New Zealand
| | - Oliver Quinn
- Centre for Biodiversity and Restoration Ecology, School of Biological Sciences, Victoria University of Wellington, PO Box 600, Wellington, New Zealand
| | - Jessica F E J Russell
- Centre for Biodiversity and Restoration Ecology, School of Biological Sciences, Victoria University of Wellington, PO Box 600, Wellington, New Zealand
| | - Alexandra Sébastien
- Centre for Biodiversity and Restoration Ecology, School of Biological Sciences, Victoria University of Wellington, PO Box 600, Wellington, New Zealand
| | - Philip J Lester
- Centre for Biodiversity and Restoration Ecology, School of Biological Sciences, Victoria University of Wellington, PO Box 600, Wellington, New Zealand
- Pacific Biosecurity, Victoria Link Limited, Victoria University of Wellington, PO Box 1762, Wellington, New Zealand
| |
Collapse
|