1
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Contala ML, Krapf P, Steiner FM, Schlick-Steiner BC. Foraging valor linked with aggression: selection against completely abandoning aggression in the high-elevation ant Tetramorium alpestre? INSECT SCIENCE 2024; 31:953-970. [PMID: 37602971 DOI: 10.1111/1744-7917.13263] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/08/2023] [Revised: 06/29/2023] [Accepted: 07/12/2023] [Indexed: 08/22/2023]
Abstract
Aggression has multiple benefits and is often coupled with other behaviors ("behavioral syndromes"). The level of aggressiveness is influenced by an adaptive benefit-cost ratio suggesting that benefits should outweigh the costs of aggression. Here, we assess if several behaviors are coupled in two behaviorally different populations (aggressive, peaceful) of the high-elevation ant Tetramorium alpestre. For three weeks, we collected colony fragments and analyzed boldness, exploring, foraging, and risk-taking behaviors. We hypothesized that the aggressive population is bolder, more explorative and risk-prone, and forages more food than the peaceful population. To test whether (a) the combination of experiments and parameters used yields a good setup, (b) populations differ behaviorally, and (c) populations display behavioral syndromes, we assessed (a) the frequency of repeatable behaviors of each experiment, (b) the behavioral means among populations, and (c) the behavioral repeatability, respectively. We found that (a) boldness and exploring were most repeatable and represent a good experimental setup, (b) the aggressive population was bolder and more explorative and risk-prone than the peaceful population, (c) boldness and exploring behaviors were highly repeatable in both populations, thus corroborating our hypothesis. The results suggest that boldness, exploring, and risk-taking but not foraging are presumably coupled with aggression and indicate the presence of behavioral syndromes in this ant. Under specific ecological conditions, aggression may be coupled with other behaviors and important for finding food. Aggression is probably adaptive in T. alpestre, possibly indicating that selection favors aggression at least partially, which may counteract the complete loss of intraspecific aggression.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marie-Luise Contala
- Molecular Ecology Group, Department of Ecology, Universität Innsbruck, Innsbruck, Austria
| | - Patrick Krapf
- Molecular Ecology Group, Department of Ecology, Universität Innsbruck, Innsbruck, Austria
- Organismal & Evolutionary Biology Research Programme, University of Helsinki, Helsinki, Finland
| | - Florian M Steiner
- Molecular Ecology Group, Department of Ecology, Universität Innsbruck, Innsbruck, Austria
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2
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McGeoch MA, Clarke DA, Mungi NA, Ordonez A. A nature-positive future with biological invasions: theory, decision support and research needs. Philos Trans R Soc Lond B Biol Sci 2024; 379:20230014. [PMID: 38583473 PMCID: PMC10999266 DOI: 10.1098/rstb.2023.0014] [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: 07/05/2023] [Accepted: 01/24/2024] [Indexed: 04/09/2024] Open
Abstract
In 2050, most areas of biodiversity significance will be heavily influenced by multiple drivers of environmental change. This includes overlap with the introduced ranges of many alien species that negatively impact biodiversity. With the decline in biodiversity and increase in all forms of global change, the need to envision the desired qualities of natural systems in the Anthropocene is growing, as is the need to actively maintain their natural values. Here, we draw on community ecology and invasion biology to (i) better understand trajectories of change in communities with a mix of native and alien populations, and (ii) to frame approaches to the stewardship of these mixed-species communities. We provide a set of premises and actions upon which a nature-positive future with biological invasions (NPF-BI) could be based, and a decision framework for dealing with uncertain species movements under climate change. A series of alternative management approaches become apparent when framed by scale-sensitive, spatially explicit, context relevant and risk-consequence considerations. Evidence of the properties of mixed-species communities together with predictive frameworks for the relative importance of the ecological processes at play provide actionable pathways to a NPF in which the reality of mixed-species communities are accommodated and managed. This article is part of the theme issue 'Ecological novelty and planetary stewardship: biodiversity dynamics in a transforming biosphere'.
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Affiliation(s)
- Melodie A. McGeoch
- Securing Antarctica's Environmental Future, School of Biological Sciences, Monash University, Clayton 3800, Victoria, Australia
| | - David A. Clarke
- Securing Antarctica's Environmental Future, School of Biological Sciences, Monash University, Clayton 3800, Victoria, Australia
| | - Ninad Avinash Mungi
- Section of Ecoinformatics and Biodiversity, Department of Biology, Aarhus University, Aarhus 8000, Denmark
- Center for Ecological Dynamics in a Novel Biosphere (ECONOVO), Department of Biology, Aarhus University, Aarhus 8000, Denmark
| | - Alejandro Ordonez
- Section of Ecoinformatics and Biodiversity, Department of Biology, Aarhus University, Aarhus 8000, Denmark
- Center for Ecological Dynamics in a Novel Biosphere (ECONOVO), Department of Biology, Aarhus University, Aarhus 8000, Denmark
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3
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Taylor BA, Tembrock LR, Sankovitz M, Wilson TM, Looney C, Takahashi J, Gilligan TM, Smith-Pardo AH, Harpur BA. Population genomics of the invasive Northern Giant Hornet Vespa mandarinia in North America and across its native range. Sci Rep 2024; 14:10803. [PMID: 38734771 PMCID: PMC11088652 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-024-61534-0] [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: 03/04/2024] [Accepted: 05/07/2024] [Indexed: 05/13/2024] Open
Abstract
The northern giant hornet Vespa mandarinia (NGH) is a voracious predator of other insect species, including honey bees. NGH's native range spans subtropical and temperate regions across much of east and southeast Asia and, in 2019, exotic populations of the species were discovered in North America. Despite this broad range and invasive potential, investigation of the population genomic structure of NGH across its native and introduced ranges has thus far been limited to a small number of mitochondrial samples. Here, we present analyses of genomic data from NGH individuals collected across the species' native range and from exotic individuals collected in North America. We provide the first survey of whole-genome population variation for any hornet species, covering this species' native and invasive ranges, and in doing so confirm likely origins in Japan and South Korea for the two introductions. We additionally show that, while this introduced population exhibited strongly elevated levels of inbreeding, these signatures of inbreeding are also present in some long-standing native populations, which may indicate that inbreeding depression alone is insufficient to prevent the persistence of NGH populations. As well as highlighting the importance of ongoing monitoring and eradication efforts to limit the spread of this species outside of its natural range, our data will serve as a foundational database for future genomic studies into introduced hornet populations.
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Affiliation(s)
- Benjamin A Taylor
- Department of Entomology, Purdue University, West Lafayette, IN, 47907, USA.
| | - Luke R Tembrock
- Department of Agricultural Biology, Colorado State University, Fort Collins, CO, 80523, USA
| | - Madison Sankovitz
- Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology and BioFrontiers Institute, University of Colorado Boulder, Boulder, CO, 80303, USA
| | - Telissa M Wilson
- Washington State Department of Agriculture, Olympia, WA, 98501, USA
| | - Chris Looney
- Washington State Department of Agriculture, Olympia, WA, 98501, USA
| | - Junichi Takahashi
- Faculty of Life Sciences, Kyoto Sangyo University, Kyoto, 603-8047, Japan
| | - Todd M Gilligan
- USDA Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS), Fort Collins, CO, 80526-1825, USA
| | - Allan H Smith-Pardo
- USDA Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS), Fort Collins, CO, 80526-1825, USA
| | - Brock A Harpur
- Department of Entomology, Purdue University, West Lafayette, IN, 47907, USA
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4
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Banerjee AK, Feng H, Bhowmick AR, Peng H, Liang X, Yin M, Duan F, Yan Y, Huang Y. Alien flora are accumulating steadily in China over the last 80 years. iScience 2024; 27:109552. [PMID: 38632991 PMCID: PMC11022055 DOI: 10.1016/j.isci.2024.109552] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/03/2023] [Revised: 11/09/2023] [Accepted: 03/21/2024] [Indexed: 04/19/2024] Open
Abstract
New alien species are increasingly introduced and established outside their native range. The knowledge of the spatiotemporal dynamics of their accumulation and the factors determining their residence time in the introduced range is critical for proactive management, especially in emerging economies. Based on a comprehensive time series dataset of 721 alien angiosperms in China, we show that new alien flora has been accumulating steadily in China, particularly in the coastal regions, for the last 80 years without saturation. The ability to occupy a large number of habitats facilitates the early introduction of alien flora, whereas a large naturalized range, greater number of uses, and multiple introduction pathways directly contribute to their naturalization and invasion. The temporal pattern is predicted to remain consistent in the foreseeable future. We propose upgrading the country's biosecurity infrastructure based on a standardized risk assessment framework to safeguard the country from ongoing and future invasions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Achyut Kumar Banerjee
- State Key Laboratory of Biocontrol and Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Plant Resources, School of Life Sciences, Sun Yat-sen University, 135 Xingangxi Road, Guangzhou, Guangdong 510275, China
| | - Hui Feng
- State Key Laboratory of Biocontrol and Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Plant Resources, School of Life Sciences, Sun Yat-sen University, 135 Xingangxi Road, Guangzhou, Guangdong 510275, China
| | - Amiya Ranjan Bhowmick
- Department of Mathematics, Institute of Chemical Technology, Mumbai, Maharashtra 400019, India
| | - Hao Peng
- State Key Laboratory of Biocontrol and Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Plant Resources, School of Life Sciences, Sun Yat-sen University, 135 Xingangxi Road, Guangzhou, Guangdong 510275, China
| | - Xinru Liang
- State Key Laboratory of Biocontrol and Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Plant Resources, School of Life Sciences, Sun Yat-sen University, 135 Xingangxi Road, Guangzhou, Guangdong 510275, China
| | - Minghui Yin
- State Key Laboratory of Biocontrol and Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Plant Resources, School of Life Sciences, Sun Yat-sen University, 135 Xingangxi Road, Guangzhou, Guangdong 510275, China
| | - Fuyuan Duan
- State Key Laboratory of Biocontrol and Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Plant Resources, School of Life Sciences, Sun Yat-sen University, 135 Xingangxi Road, Guangzhou, Guangdong 510275, China
| | - Yubin Yan
- College of Life Sciences, Northwest A&F University, Yangling, Shaanxi 712100, China
| | - Yelin Huang
- State Key Laboratory of Biocontrol and Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Plant Resources, School of Life Sciences, Sun Yat-sen University, 135 Xingangxi Road, Guangzhou, Guangdong 510275, China
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5
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Cao R, Feng J. Future Climate Change and Anthropogenic Disturbance Promote the Invasions of the World's Worst Invasive Insect Pests. INSECTS 2024; 15:280. [PMID: 38667410 PMCID: PMC11050065 DOI: 10.3390/insects15040280] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/06/2024] [Revised: 04/07/2024] [Accepted: 04/15/2024] [Indexed: 04/28/2024]
Abstract
Invasive insect pests adversely impact human welfare and global ecosystems. However, no studies have used a unified scheme to compare the range dynamics of the world's worst invasive insect pests. We investigated the future range shifts of 15 of the world's worst invasive insect pests. Although future range dynamics varied substantially among the 15 worst invasive insect pests, most exhibited large range expansions. Increases in the total habitat suitability occurred in more than ca. 85% of global terrestrial regions. The relative impacts of anthropogenic disturbance and climate variables on the range dynamics depended on the species and spatial scale. Aedes albopictus, Cinara cupressi, and Trogoderma granarium occurred four times in the top five largest potential ranges under four future climate scenarios. Anoplophora glabripennis, Aedes albopictus, and Co. formosanus were predicted to have the largest range expansions. An. glabripennis, Pl. manokwari, Co. formosanus, and So. invicta showed the largest range centroid shifts. More effective strategies will be required to prevent their range expansions. Although the strategies should be species-specific, mitigating anthropogenic disturbances and climate change will be essential to preventing future invasions. This study provides critical and novel insights for developing global strategies to combat the invasions of invasive insect pests in the future.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Jianmeng Feng
- College of Agriculture and Biological Science, Dali University, Dali 671003, China;
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6
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O'Shea-Wheller TA, Corbett A, Osborne JL, Recker M, Kennedy PJ. VespAI: a deep learning-based system for the detection of invasive hornets. Commun Biol 2024; 7:354. [PMID: 38570722 PMCID: PMC10991484 DOI: 10.1038/s42003-024-05979-z] [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: 08/05/2023] [Accepted: 02/27/2024] [Indexed: 04/05/2024] Open
Abstract
The invasive hornet Vespa velutina nigrithorax is a rapidly proliferating threat to pollinators in Europe and East Asia. To effectively limit its spread, colonies must be detected and destroyed early in the invasion curve, however the current reliance upon visual alerts by the public yields low accuracy. Advances in deep learning offer a potential solution to this, but the application of such technology remains challenging. Here we present VespAI, an automated system for the rapid detection of V. velutina. We leverage a hardware-assisted AI approach, combining a standardised monitoring station with deep YOLOv5s architecture and a ResNet backbone, trained on a bespoke end-to-end pipeline. This enables the system to detect hornets in real-time-achieving a mean precision-recall score of ≥0.99-and send associated image alerts via a compact remote processor. We demonstrate the successful operation of a prototype system in the field, and confirm its suitability for large-scale deployment in future use cases. As such, VespAI has the potential to transform the way that invasive hornets are managed, providing a robust early warning system to prevent ingressions into new regions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Thomas A O'Shea-Wheller
- Environment and Sustainability Institute, University of Exeter, Penryn, Cornwall, TR109FE, UK.
| | - Andrew Corbett
- Institute for Data Science and Artificial Intelligence, University of Exeter, Exeter, EX44QF, UK
| | - Juliet L Osborne
- Environment and Sustainability Institute, University of Exeter, Penryn, Cornwall, TR109FE, UK
| | - Mario Recker
- Centre for Ecology and Conservation, University of Exeter, Penryn, Cornwall, TR109FE, UK
- Institute of Tropical Medicine, Universitätsklinikum Tübingen, 72074, Tübingen, Germany
| | - Peter J Kennedy
- Environment and Sustainability Institute, University of Exeter, Penryn, Cornwall, TR109FE, UK
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7
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Aulus-Giacosa L, Ollier S, Bertelsmeier C. Non-native ants are breaking down biogeographic boundaries and homogenizing community assemblages. Nat Commun 2024; 15:2266. [PMID: 38480710 PMCID: PMC10937723 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-024-46359-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/28/2023] [Accepted: 02/23/2024] [Indexed: 03/17/2024] Open
Abstract
As geographic distance increases, species assemblages become more distinct, defining global biogeographic realms with abrupt biogeographic boundaries. Yet, it remains largely unknown to what extent these realms may change because of human-mediated dispersal of species. Focusing on the distributions of 309 non-native ant species, we show that historical biogeographic patterns have already broken down into tropical versus non-tropical regions. Importantly, we demonstrate that these profound changes are not limited to the distribution patterns of non-native ants but fundamentally alter biogeographic boundaries of all ant biodiversity (13,774 species). In total, 52% of ant assemblages have become more similar, supporting a global trend of biotic homogenization. Strikingly, this trend was strongest on islands and in the tropics, which harbor some of the most vulnerable ecosystems. Overall, we show that the pervasive anthropogenic impacts on biodiversity override biogeographic patterns resulting from millions of years of evolution, and disproportionally affect particular regions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lucie Aulus-Giacosa
- Department of Ecology and Evolution, Biophore, UNIL - Sorge, University of Lausanne, 1015, Lausanne, Switzerland.
| | - Sébastien Ollier
- Department of Ecology and Evolution, Biophore, UNIL - Sorge, University of Lausanne, 1015, Lausanne, Switzerland
- Université Paris - Saclay, CNRS, AgroParisTech, Ecologie Systématique Evolution, 91405, Orsay, France
| | - Cleo Bertelsmeier
- Department of Ecology and Evolution, Biophore, UNIL - Sorge, University of Lausanne, 1015, Lausanne, Switzerland.
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8
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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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9
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Kardum Hjort C, Paris JR, Smith HG, Dudaniec RY. Selection despite low genetic diversity and high gene flow in a rapid island invasion of the bumblebee, Bombus terrestris. Mol Ecol 2024; 33:e17212. [PMID: 37990959 DOI: 10.1111/mec.17212] [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: 07/21/2023] [Revised: 10/31/2023] [Accepted: 11/06/2023] [Indexed: 11/23/2023]
Abstract
Invasive species are predicted to adjust their morphological, physiological and life-history traits to adapt to their non-native environments. Although a loss of genetic variation during invasion may restrict local adaptation, introduced species often thrive in novel environments. Despite being founded by just a few individuals, Bombus terrestris (Hymenoptera: Apidae) has in less than 30 years successfully spread across the island of Tasmania (Australia), becoming abundant and competitive with native pollinators. We use RADseq to investigate what neutral and adaptive genetic processes associated with environmental and morphological variation allow B. terrestris to thrive as an invasive species in Tasmania. Given the widespread abundance of B. terrestris, we expected little genetic structure across Tasmania and weak signatures of environmental and morphological selection. We found high gene flow with low genetic diversity, although with significant isolation-by-distance and spatial variation in effective migration rates. Restricted migration was evident across the mid-central region of Tasmania, corresponding to higher elevations, pastural land, low wind speeds and low precipitation seasonality. Tajima's D indicated a recent population expansion extending from the south to the north of the island. Selection signatures were found for loci in relation to precipitation, wind speed and wing loading. Candidate loci were annotated to genes with functions related to cuticle water retention and insect flight muscle stability. Understanding how a genetically impoverished invasive bumblebee has rapidly adapted to a novel island environment provides further understanding about the evolutionary processes that determine successful insect invasions, and the potential for invasive hymenopteran pollinators to spread globally.
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Affiliation(s)
- Cecilia Kardum Hjort
- Department of Biology, Lund University, Lund, Sweden
- School of Natural Sciences, Macquarie University, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia
| | - Josephine R Paris
- Department of Life and Environmental Sciences, Marche Polytechnic University, Ancona, Italy
| | - Henrik G Smith
- Department of Biology, Lund University, Lund, Sweden
- Centre for Environmental and Climate Science, Lund University, Lund, Sweden
| | - Rachael Y Dudaniec
- School of Natural Sciences, Macquarie University, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia
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10
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Masciocchi M, Mattiacci A, Villacide JM, Buteler M, Porrino AP, Martínez AS. Sugar responsiveness could determine foraging patterns in yellowjackets. Sci Rep 2023; 13:20448. [PMID: 37993633 PMCID: PMC10665408 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-023-47819-w] [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: 09/14/2023] [Accepted: 11/18/2023] [Indexed: 11/24/2023] Open
Abstract
Sympatric-related species often exhibit resource partitioning. This can occur through different mechanisms, such as behavioral, morphological, and sensory variations, leading to qualitative, temporal, or spatial differences in resource exploitation, such as consuming different types of food. Sensory-based niche partitioning could be the underlying mechanism through which closely related species effectively reduce niche overlap. Here we ask whether variations in sensory responses to carbohydrates could reflect differences in the foraging patterns of two Vespula species present in Patagonia. For this, we established (i) the response thresholds toward carbohydrate solutions of foraging V. germanica and V. vulgaris in the laboratory, (ii) the sugar concentration of foraged carbohydrates in the field, and (iii) possible effects of incoming sugar concentration and performance at individual and colony levels. Results indicate a higher sucrose response threshold in V. germanica than V. vulgaris. Field results indicate that higher carbohydrate concentrations foraged by V. germanica, with 57% of V. germanica foragers returning with concentrations above 50% w/w, while only 23% of V. vulgaris foragers did so. These differences in sucrose sensitivity and foraging patterns positively correlate with colony size, irrespective of the species. Our results suggest that competition could be reduced in these closely related invasive social wasp species through sensory differences in their sugar perception levels, which would lead to them foraging different carbohydrate sources. This study suggests that sensory niche partitioning could promote species coexistence in these social wasps.
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Affiliation(s)
- Maité Masciocchi
- Grupo de Ecología de Poblaciones de Insectos, IFAB - Instituto de Investigaciones Forestales y Agropecuarias Bariloche (INTA - CONICET), Bariloche, Argentina
| | - Analía Mattiacci
- Grupo de Ecología de Poblaciones de Insectos, IFAB - Instituto de Investigaciones Forestales y Agropecuarias Bariloche (INTA - CONICET), Bariloche, Argentina
| | - José M Villacide
- Grupo de Ecología de Poblaciones de Insectos, IFAB - Instituto de Investigaciones Forestales y Agropecuarias Bariloche (INTA - CONICET), Bariloche, Argentina
| | - Micaela Buteler
- INIBIOMA - Instituto de Investigaciones en Biodiversidad y Medioambiente (CONICET - UN Comahue), Bariloche, Argentina
| | - Agustina P Porrino
- Grupo de Ecología de Poblaciones de Insectos, IFAB - Instituto de Investigaciones Forestales y Agropecuarias Bariloche (INTA - CONICET), Bariloche, Argentina
| | - Andrés S Martínez
- Grupo de Ecología de Poblaciones de Insectos, IFAB - Instituto de Investigaciones Forestales y Agropecuarias Bariloche (INTA - CONICET), Bariloche, Argentina.
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11
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O'Shea-Wheller TA, Curtis RJ, Kennedy PJ, Groom EKJ, Poidatz J, Raffle DS, Rojas-Nossa SV, Bartolomé C, Dasilva-Martins D, Maside X, Mato S, Osborne JL. Quantifying the impact of an invasive Hornet on Bombus terrestris Colonies. Commun Biol 2023; 6:990. [PMID: 37798331 PMCID: PMC10556089 DOI: 10.1038/s42003-023-05329-5] [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: 11/09/2022] [Accepted: 09/07/2023] [Indexed: 10/07/2023] Open
Abstract
The invasive hornet Vespa velutina nigrithorax is considered a proliferating threat to pollinators in Europe and Asia. While the impact of this species on managed honey bees is well-documented, effects upon other pollinator populations remain poorly understood. Nonetheless, dietary analyses indicate that the hornets consume a diversity of prey, fuelling concerns for at-risk taxa. Here, we quantify the impact of V. velutina upon standardised commercially-reared colonies of the European bumblebee, Bombus terrestris terrestris. Using a landscape-scale experimental design, we deploy colonies across a gradient of local V. velutina densities, utilising automated tracking to non-invasively observe bee and hornet behaviour, and quantify subsequent effects upon colony outcomes. Our results demonstrate that hornets frequently hunt at B. terrestris colonies, being preferentially attracted to those with high foraging traffic, and engaging in repeated-yet entirely unsuccessful-predation attempts at nest entrances. Notably however, we show that B. terrestris colony weights are negatively associated with local V. velutina densities, indicating potential indirect effects upon colony growth. Taken together, these findings provide the first empirical insight into impacts on bumblebees at the colony level, and inform future mitigation efforts for wild and managed pollinators.
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Affiliation(s)
- Thomas A O'Shea-Wheller
- Environment and Sustainability Institute, University of Exeter, Penryn, Cornwall, TR109FE, United Kingdom.
| | - Robin J Curtis
- Environment and Sustainability Institute, University of Exeter, Penryn, Cornwall, TR109FE, United Kingdom
| | - Peter J Kennedy
- Environment and Sustainability Institute, University of Exeter, Penryn, Cornwall, TR109FE, United Kingdom
| | - Ellen K J Groom
- Environment and Sustainability Institute, University of Exeter, Penryn, Cornwall, TR109FE, United Kingdom
| | - Juliette Poidatz
- Environment and Sustainability Institute, University of Exeter, Penryn, Cornwall, TR109FE, United Kingdom
- UMR PVBMT, Peuplements Végétaux et Bioagresseurs en Milieu Tropical, CIRAD, 97410, Saint Pierre, La Réunion, France
| | - David S Raffle
- Environment and Sustainability Institute, University of Exeter, Penryn, Cornwall, TR109FE, United Kingdom
| | - Sandra V Rojas-Nossa
- Department of Ecology and Animal Biology, Faculty of Sciences, University of Vigo, 36310, Vigo, Pontevedra, Spain
| | - Carolina Bartolomé
- Grupo de Medicina Xenómica, CIMUS, Universidade de Santiago de Compostela, 15781, Santiago de Compostela, A Coruña, Spain
| | - Damián Dasilva-Martins
- Grupo de Medicina Xenómica, CIMUS, Universidade de Santiago de Compostela, 15781, Santiago de Compostela, A Coruña, Spain
| | - Xulio Maside
- Grupo de Medicina Xenómica, CIMUS, Universidade de Santiago de Compostela, 15781, Santiago de Compostela, A Coruña, Spain
| | - Salustiano Mato
- Department of Ecology and Animal Biology, Faculty of Sciences, University of Vigo, 36310, Vigo, Pontevedra, Spain
| | - Juliet L Osborne
- Environment and Sustainability Institute, University of Exeter, Penryn, Cornwall, TR109FE, United Kingdom
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12
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Zhou Y, Tao J, Yang J, Zong S, Ge X. Niche shifts and range expansions after invasions of two major pests: the Asian longhorned beetle and the citrus longhorned beetle. PEST MANAGEMENT SCIENCE 2023; 79:3149-3158. [PMID: 37013934 DOI: 10.1002/ps.7490] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/13/2022] [Revised: 02/27/2023] [Accepted: 04/04/2023] [Indexed: 05/03/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND In recent years, the quarantine forestry pests the Asian longhorned beetle (ALB) Anoplophora glabripennis and the citrus longhorned beetle (CLB) Anoplophora chinensis have spread across the Northern Hemisphere, triggering concern about their potential distribution. However, little is known about the niche shifts of the pests during the invasion, making it difficult to assess their potential ranges. We thus employed two distinct approaches (i.e., ordination-based and reciprocal model-based) to compare the native and invaded niches of ALB and CLB after their spread to new continents based on global occurrence records. We further constructed models with pooled occurrences from both the native and invaded ranges to analyze the effects of occurrence partitioning on predicted ranges. RESULTS We detected expansions in the invaded niches of both pests, indicating that the niches shifted to varying extents after the invasion. Large shares of the native niches of ALB and CLB remained unfilled, revealing the potential for further invasion in new regions. The models calibrated with pooled occurrences clearly underestimated the potential ranges in invaded regions compared with the projections based on partitioned models considering native and invaded areas separately. CONCLUSIONS These results emphasize the importance of elucidating the niche dynamics of invasive species for obtaining accurately predicted ranges, which may help identify risk areas masked by the assumption of niche conservatism. Furthermore, prevention and quarantine measures for ALB and CLB are clearly needed to avoid future serious damage to forest ecosystems. © 2023 Society of Chemical Industry.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yuting Zhou
- Beijing Key Laboratory for Forest Pest Control, Beijing Forestry University, Beijing, China
| | - Jing Tao
- Beijing Key Laboratory for Forest Pest Control, Beijing Forestry University, Beijing, China
| | | | - Shixiang Zong
- Beijing Key Laboratory for Forest Pest Control, Beijing Forestry University, Beijing, China
| | - Xuezhen Ge
- Department of Integrative Biology, University of Guelph, Guelph, Ontario, Canada
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13
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Barandika JF, de la Hera O, Fañanás R, Rivas A, Arroyo E, Alonso RM, Alonso ML, Galartza E, Cevidanes A, García-Pérez AL. Efficacy of Protein Baits with Fipronil to Control Vespa velutina nigrithorax (Lepeletier, 1836) in Apiaries. Animals (Basel) 2023; 13:2075. [PMID: 37443873 DOI: 10.3390/ani13132075] [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: 05/29/2023] [Revised: 06/15/2023] [Accepted: 06/20/2023] [Indexed: 07/15/2023] Open
Abstract
The yellow-legged hornet (Vespa velutina nigrithorax), outside its natural range, has become a major threat to domestic bees. Several control methods have been used to fight against V. velutina, but the results achieved are not satisfactory. The use of protein baits with biocides has shown to be an effective method to control invasive wasp populations, but they have not been used to control V. velutina. Thus, the efficacy of protein baits containing fipronil to reduce the presence of hornets in apiaries was evaluated in this study. After laboratory determination of the optimal efficacy of a protein bait at a 0.01% concentration of fipronil, field trials were conducted involving 222 beekeepers. The data reported by the 90 beekeepers who completed the requested questionnaire demonstrated that in the groups of apiaries with the highest pressure of hornets (groups with 10-30 and >30 hornets), there was a significant decrease in the presence of V. velutina, lasting at least two weeks. The reduction in the number of hornets was positively correlated with bait consumption, and bait consumption was positively correlated with the number of hornets present at the time of treatment. Although the method used has shown good efficacy and the concentration of fipronil used was very low; possible negative effects on the environment should also be evaluated.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jesús F Barandika
- NEIKER-Basque Institute for Agricultural Research and Development, Basque Research and Technology Alliance (BRTA), 48160 Derio, Spain
| | - Omaira de la Hera
- Zientzia eta Teknologia Facultatea, Euskal Herriko Universitatea, 48940 Leioa, Spain
| | - Roberto Fañanás
- D+S-OABE, Poligono Industrial Zabale, Parcela III, 48410 Orozko, Spain
| | - Arrate Rivas
- Zientzia eta Teknologia Facultatea, Euskal Herriko Universitatea, 48940 Leioa, Spain
| | - Eugenia Arroyo
- D+S-OABE, Poligono Industrial Zabale, Parcela III, 48410 Orozko, Spain
| | - Rosa M Alonso
- Zientzia eta Teknologia Facultatea, Euskal Herriko Universitatea, 48940 Leioa, Spain
| | - M Luz Alonso
- Zientzia eta Teknologia Facultatea, Euskal Herriko Universitatea, 48940 Leioa, Spain
| | | | - Aitor Cevidanes
- NEIKER-Basque Institute for Agricultural Research and Development, Basque Research and Technology Alliance (BRTA), 48160 Derio, Spain
| | - Ana L García-Pérez
- NEIKER-Basque Institute for Agricultural Research and Development, Basque Research and Technology Alliance (BRTA), 48160 Derio, Spain
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14
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Kronauer DJC. The unusual genetics of invasive ants. Science 2023; 380:33-34. [PMID: 37023202 DOI: 10.1126/science.adh1664] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 04/08/2023]
Abstract
The males of an invasive ant species are chimeras of two distinct genetic lineages.
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Affiliation(s)
- Daniel J C Kronauer
- Laboratory of Social Evolution and Behavior, The Rockefeller University, New York, NY, USA
- Howard Hughes Medical Institute, New York, NY, USA
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15
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Costa A, Heleno R, Freide EF, Dufrene Y, Huckle E, Kaiser-Bunbury CN. Impacts of invasive ants on pollination of native plants are similar in invaded and restored plant communities. Glob Ecol Conserv 2023. [DOI: 10.1016/j.gecco.2023.e02413] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/25/2023] Open
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16
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Martínez AS, Villacide JM, Buteler M, Serra MN, Masciocchi M. Honeydew production by the giant willow aphid (Tuberolachnus salignus, Hemiptera: Aphididae) and its effect on foraging yellowjackets (Hymenoptera: Vespidae). PEST MANAGEMENT SCIENCE 2023. [PMID: 36977969 DOI: 10.1002/ps.7468] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/13/2022] [Revised: 02/16/2023] [Accepted: 03/29/2023] [Indexed: 06/18/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Understanding the factors that promote the success of invasive species is important for managing biological invasions. Interactions between invasives and other species (e.g. competitors, pathogens, or predators), could favor or limit their success. In recent decades, yellowjacket wasps, including Vespula germanica and Vespula vulgaris, have successfully established in Patagonia. Additionally, the invasive willow Salix fragilis has invaded areas next to watercourses, which in turn are typically colonized by the giant willow aphid (GWA, Tuberolagnus salignus), an additional species characterized as a successful invader in many regions worldwide. Aphid exudate (honeydew) has been reported to be used as a carbohydrate source by social wasps. The aim of our study was to gain a better understanding of the infestation pattern of the GWA in north-western Patagonia, its effect on exudate availability and its relationship with yellowjacket foraging patterns. The study was conducted under the working hypothesis that the increase in the size of GWA colonies and resulting honeydew production, will fuel an increase in local Vespula spp. RESULTS We found that the aphid honeydew is produced in relatively high amounts in the region (estimated at 1517 ± $$ \pm $$ 139 kg/ha/season), with strong indications that it is used by yellowjackets because of the significantly higher abundance levels of yellowjackets foraging on honeydew compared to nearby areas. CONCLUSION Given its effect on yellowjacket foraging behavior, the interaction of these three invasive species, willows, GWA and yellowjackets, needs to receive special attention to develop future environmentally-sound mitigation tools of these nuisance pest. © 2023 Society of Chemical Industry.
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Affiliation(s)
- Andrés S Martínez
- Grupo de Ecología de Poblaciones de Insectos, IFAB-Instituto de Investigaciones Forestales y Agropecuarias Bariloche (INTA-CONICET), Bariloche, Argentina
| | - José M Villacide
- Grupo de Ecología de Poblaciones de Insectos, IFAB-Instituto de Investigaciones Forestales y Agropecuarias Bariloche (INTA-CONICET), Bariloche, Argentina
| | - Micaela Buteler
- INIBIOMA-Instituto de Investigaciones en Biodiversidad y Medioambiente (CONICET-UN Comahue), Bariloche, Argentina
| | - María Noel Serra
- Grupo de Ecología de Poblaciones de Insectos, IFAB-Instituto de Investigaciones Forestales y Agropecuarias Bariloche (INTA-CONICET), Bariloche, Argentina
| | - Maité Masciocchi
- Grupo de Ecología de Poblaciones de Insectos, IFAB-Instituto de Investigaciones Forestales y Agropecuarias Bariloche (INTA-CONICET), Bariloche, Argentina
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17
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Lin TH, Chan KW, Hsu FC, Lin CC, Tseng HY. Putative source and niche shift pattern of a new alien ant species ( Odontomachus troglodytes) in Taiwan. PeerJ 2023; 11:e14718. [PMID: 36778144 PMCID: PMC9910184 DOI: 10.7717/peerj.14718] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/03/2022] [Accepted: 12/19/2022] [Indexed: 02/09/2023] Open
Abstract
Alien species may pose substantial impacts on biodiversity around the globe through international trade and travel. A niche shift hypothesis was proposed to explain the adaptive change of alien or invasive species in new habitats. However, whether niche shifts occur in alien species likely depends on both characteristics inherent to the species itself and its original distribution. Here we identified a newly exotic trap-jaw ant (Odontomachus troglodytes) in Taiwan by morphological and phylogenetic analyses. The possible distribution range and the niche shift pattern were evaluated using ecological niche modelling. The results indicated that exotic O. troglodytes in the newly distributed area displayed a significant niche shift with low niche overlap and high niche expansion. This study reveals a long-distance invasive event from central Africa to Southeast Asia (more than 10,000 km) and predicts the potential distribution range of this new alien species in Taiwan.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tzong-Han Lin
- School of Life Science, National Taiwan Normal University, Taipei, Taiwan
| | - Kai-Wei Chan
- Department of Entomology, National Taiwan University, Taipei, Taiwan
| | - Feng-Chuan Hsu
- Institute of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, National Taiwan University, Taipei, Taiwan
| | - Chung-Chi Lin
- Department of Biology, National Changhua University of Education, Changhua, Taiwan
| | - Hui-Yun Tseng
- Department of Entomology, National Taiwan University, Taipei, Taiwan
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18
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The global spread and invasion capacities of alien ants. Curr Biol 2023; 33:566-571.e3. [PMID: 36610395 DOI: 10.1016/j.cub.2022.12.020] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/15/2022] [Revised: 10/20/2022] [Accepted: 12/08/2022] [Indexed: 01/09/2023]
Abstract
Many alien species are neither cultivated nor traded but spread unintentionally, and their global movements, capacities to invade ecosystems, and susceptibility to detection by biosecurity measures are poorly known.1,2,3,4 We addressed these key knowledge gaps for ants, a ubiquitous group of stowaway and contaminant organisms that include some of the world's most damaging invasive species.5,6,7,8,9,10 We assembled a dataset of over 146,000 occurrence records to comprehensively map the human-mediated spread of 520 alien ant species across 525 regions globally. From descriptions of the environments in which species were collected within individual regions-such as in imported cargoes, buildings, and outdoor settings-we determined whether different barriers to invasion had been overcome11 and classified alien ant species under three levels of invasion capacity corresponding to increasing biosecurity threat. We found that alien species of different invasion capacities had different sources and sinks globally. For instance, although the diversity of indoor-confined species peaked in the Palearctic realm, that of species able to establish outdoors peaked in the Nearctic and Oceanian realms, and these mainly originated from the Neotropical and Oriental realms. We also found that border interceptions worldwide missed two-thirds of alien species with naturalization capacity, many associated with litter and soil. Our study documents the vast spread of alien ants globally while highlighting avenues for more targeted biosecurity responses, such as prioritizing the screening of imports from regions that are diversity hotspots for species of high invasion capacity and improving the detection of cryptic alien invertebrates dwelling in substrates.
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19
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Meiborg AB, Faber NR, Taylor BA, Harpur BA, Gorjanc G. The suppressive potential of a gene drive in populations of invasive social wasps is currently limited. Sci Rep 2023; 13:1640. [PMID: 36717606 PMCID: PMC9886928 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-023-28867-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/25/2022] [Accepted: 01/25/2023] [Indexed: 02/01/2023] Open
Abstract
Social insects are very successful invasive species, and the continued increase of global trade and transportation has exacerbated this problem. The yellow-legged hornet, Vespa velutina nigrithorax (henceforth Asian hornet), is drastically expanding its range in Western Europe. As an apex insect predator, this hornet poses a serious threat to the honey bee industry and endemic pollinators. Current suppression methods have proven too inefficient and expensive to limit its spread. Gene drives might be an effective tool to control this species, but their use has not yet been thoroughly investigated in social insects. Here, we built a model that matches the hornet's life history and modelled the effect of different gene drive scenarios on an established invasive population. To test the broader applicability and sensitivity of the model, we also incorporated the invasive European paper wasp Polistes dominula. We find that, due to the haplodiploidy of social hymenopterans, only a gene drive targeting female fertility is promising for population control. Our results show that although a gene drive can suppress a social wasp population, it can only do so under fairly stringent gene drive-specific conditions. This is due to a combination of two factors: first, the large number of surviving offspring that social wasp colonies produce make it possible that, even with very limited formation of resistance alleles, such alleles can quickly spread and rescue the population. Second, due to social wasp life history, infertile individuals do not compete with fertile ones, allowing fertile individuals to maintain a large population size even when drive alleles are widespread. Nevertheless, continued improvements in gene drive technology may make it a promising method for the control of invasive social insects in the future.
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Affiliation(s)
- Adriaan B Meiborg
- HighlanderLab, The Roslin Institute and Royal (Dick) School of Veterinary Studies, The University of Edinburgh, Easter Bush Campus, Midlothian, EH25 9RG, UK. .,Developmental Biology Unit, European Molecular Biology Laboratory, Meyerhofstraße 1, 69117, Heidelberg, Germany.
| | - Nicky R Faber
- HighlanderLab, The Roslin Institute and Royal (Dick) School of Veterinary Studies, The University of Edinburgh, Easter Bush Campus, Midlothian, EH25 9RG, UK.,Laboratory of Genetics, Department of Plant Sciences, Wageningen University & Research, Droevendaalsesteeg 1, 6708 PB, Wageningen, The Netherlands
| | - Benjamin A Taylor
- Department of Entomology, Purdue University, West Lafayette, IN, 47907, USA
| | - Brock A Harpur
- Department of Entomology, Purdue University, West Lafayette, IN, 47907, USA
| | - Gregor Gorjanc
- HighlanderLab, The Roslin Institute and Royal (Dick) School of Veterinary Studies, The University of Edinburgh, Easter Bush Campus, Midlothian, EH25 9RG, UK
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20
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Ladin ZS, Eggen DA, Trammell TLE, D'Amico V. Human-mediated dispersal drives the spread of the spotted lanternfly (Lycorma delicatula). Sci Rep 2023; 13:1098. [PMID: 36658159 PMCID: PMC9852583 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-022-25989-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/17/2022] [Accepted: 12/07/2022] [Indexed: 01/20/2023] Open
Abstract
The spotted lanternfly (Lycorma delicatula) is a novel invasive insect from Asia now established and spreading throughout the United States. This species is of particular concern given its ability to decimate important crops such as grapes, fruit trees, as well as native hardwood trees. Since its initial detection in Berks County, Pennsylvania in 2014, spotted lanternfly infestations have been detected in 130 counties (87 under quarantine) within Connecticut, Delaware, Indiana, Maryland, New Jersey, New York, Ohio, Virginia, and West Virginia. Compounding this invasion is the associated proliferation and widespread distribution of the spotted lanternfly's preferred host plant, the tree-of-heaven (Ailanthus altissima). While alternate host plant species have been observed, the tree-of-heaven which thrives in disturbed and human-dominated areas (e.g., along roads and railways) is likely facilitating the population growth rates of spotted lanternfly. We simulated the population and spread dynamics of the spotted lanternfly throughout the mid-Atlantic USA to help determine areas of risk and inform continued monitoring and control efforts. We tested the prediction that spotted lanternfly spread is driven by human-mediated dispersal using agent-based models that incorporated information on its life-history traits, habitat suitability, and movement and natural dispersal behavior. Overwhelmingly, our results suggest that human-mediated dispersal (e.g., cars, trucks, and trains) is driving the observed spread dynamics and distribution of the spotted lanternfly throughout the eastern USA. Our findings should encourage future surveys to focus on human-mediated dispersal of egg masses and adult spotted lanternflies (e.g., attachment to car or transported substrates) to better monitor and control this economically and ecologically important invasive species.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zachary S Ladin
- Department of Plant and Soil Sciences, University of Delaware, 161 Townsend Hall, Newark, DE, 19716, USA.
| | - Donald A Eggen
- Pennsylvania Department of Conservation & Natural Resources, Bureau of Forestry, Rachel Carson State Office, Building, 6th Floor, P.O. Box 8552, Harrisburg, PA, USA
| | - Tara L E Trammell
- Department of Plant and Soil Sciences, University of Delaware, 161 Townsend Hall, Newark, DE, 19716, USA
| | - Vincent D'Amico
- USDA Forest Service, Northern Research Station, Newark, DE, USA
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21
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Putri D, Cronin AL. Widespread and ongoing invasion by the ant
Technomyrmex brunneus
Forel in eastern Asia as elucidated by molecular data. Ecol Res 2023. [DOI: 10.1111/1440-1703.12383] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/15/2023]
Affiliation(s)
- Diyona Putri
- Department of Biological Sciences Tokyo Metropolitan University Tokyo Japan
| | - Adam L. Cronin
- Department of Biological Sciences Tokyo Metropolitan University Tokyo Japan
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22
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Yainna S, Tay WT, Durand K, Fiteni E, Hilliou F, Legeai F, Clamens AL, Gimenez S, Asokan R, Kalleshwaraswamy CM, Deshmukh SS, Meagher RL, Blanco CA, Silvie P, Brévault T, Dassou A, Kergoat GJ, Walsh T, Gordon K, Nègre N, d’Alençon E, Nam K. The evolutionary process of invasion in the fall armyworm (Spodoptera frugiperda). Sci Rep 2022; 12:21063. [PMID: 36473923 PMCID: PMC9727104 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-022-25529-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/08/2022] [Accepted: 11/30/2022] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
The fall armyworm (FAW; Spodoptera frugiperda) is one of the major agricultural pest insects. FAW is native to the Americas, and its invasion was first reported in West Africa in 2016. Then it quickly spread through Africa, Asia, and Oceania, becoming one of the main threats to corn production. We analyzed whole genome sequences of 177 FAW individuals from 12 locations on four continents to infer evolutionary processes of invasion. Principal component analysis from the TPI gene and whole genome sequences shows that invasive FAW populations originated from the corn strain. Ancestry coefficient and phylogenetic analyses from the nuclear genome indicate that invasive populations are derived from a single ancestry, distinct from native populations, while the mitochondrial phylogenetic tree supports the hypothesis of multiple introductions. Adaptive evolution specific to invasive populations was observed in detoxification, chemosensory, and digestion genes. We concluded that extant invasive FAW populations originated from the corn strain with potential contributions of adaptive evolution.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sudeeptha Yainna
- grid.503158.aDGIMI, Univ Montpellier, INRAE, Montpellier, France ,grid.8183.20000 0001 2153 9871CIRAD, UPR AIDA, Montpellier, France
| | - Wee Tek Tay
- grid.1016.60000 0001 2173 2719Black Mountain Laboratories, CSIRO, Canberra, Australia
| | - Karine Durand
- grid.503158.aDGIMI, Univ Montpellier, INRAE, Montpellier, France
| | - Estelle Fiteni
- grid.503158.aDGIMI, Univ Montpellier, INRAE, Montpellier, France
| | - Frédérique Hilliou
- grid.435437.20000 0004 0385 8766INRAE, Institut Sophia Agrobiotech, Université Côte D’Azur, CNRS, Sophia Antipolis, France
| | - Fabrice Legeai
- INRAE, UMR-IGEPP, BioInformatics Platform for Agroecosystems Arthropods, Campus Beaulieu, 35042 Rennes, France ,grid.420225.30000 0001 2298 7270INRIA, IRISA, GenOuest Core Facility, Campus de Beaulieu, Rennes, France
| | - Anne-Laure Clamens
- grid.121334.60000 0001 2097 0141CBGP, INRAE, CIRAD, IRD, Institut Agro, Univ Montpellier, Montpellier, France
| | - Sylvie Gimenez
- grid.503158.aDGIMI, Univ Montpellier, INRAE, Montpellier, France
| | - R. Asokan
- grid.418222.f0000 0000 8663 7600Division of Biotechnology, ICAR - Indian Institute of Horticultural Research, Bengaluru, India
| | - C. M. Kalleshwaraswamy
- grid.509224.8Department of Entomology, College of Agriculture, University of Agricultural and Horticultural Sciences, Shivamogga, India
| | - Sharanabasappa S. Deshmukh
- grid.509224.8Department of Entomology, College of Agriculture, University of Agricultural and Horticultural Sciences, Shivamogga, India
| | - Robert L. Meagher
- grid.463419.d0000 0001 0946 3608United States Department of Agriculture, Agricultural Research Service, Gainesville, FL USA
| | - Carlos A. Blanco
- grid.413759.d0000 0001 0725 8379United States Department of Agriculture, Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service, Maryland, USA
| | - Pierre Silvie
- grid.8183.20000 0001 2153 9871CIRAD, UPR AIDA, Montpellier, France ,grid.121334.60000 0001 2097 0141AIDA, Univ Montpellier, CIRAD, Montpellier, France ,grid.121334.60000 0001 2097 0141PHIM, Univ Montpellier, IRD, CIRAD, INRAE, Institut Agro, Montpellier, France
| | - Thierry Brévault
- grid.8183.20000 0001 2153 9871CIRAD, UPR AIDA, Montpellier, France ,grid.121334.60000 0001 2097 0141AIDA, Univ Montpellier, CIRAD, Montpellier, France
| | - Anicet Dassou
- grid.510426.40000 0004 7470 473XENSBBA, UNSTIM, Dassa, Benin
| | - Gael J. Kergoat
- grid.420225.30000 0001 2298 7270INRIA, IRISA, GenOuest Core Facility, Campus de Beaulieu, Rennes, France
| | - Thomas Walsh
- grid.1016.60000 0001 2173 2719Black Mountain Laboratories, CSIRO, Canberra, Australia
| | - Karl Gordon
- grid.1016.60000 0001 2173 2719Black Mountain Laboratories, CSIRO, Canberra, Australia
| | - Nicolas Nègre
- grid.503158.aDGIMI, Univ Montpellier, INRAE, Montpellier, France
| | | | - Kiwoong Nam
- grid.503158.aDGIMI, Univ Montpellier, INRAE, Montpellier, France
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23
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Sevgili H, Yılmaz K. Contributions of citizen scientists to monitoring alien species: the case study on Giant Asian Mantes, Hierodula tenuidentata and H. patellifera (Mantodea: Mantidae). ZOOLOGY IN THE MIDDLE EAST 2022. [DOI: 10.1080/09397140.2022.2145802] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Hasan Sevgili
- Department of Molecular Biology and Genetic, Faculty of Art and Science, Ordu University, Ordu, Turkey
| | - Kaan Yılmaz
- Department of Molecular Biology and Genetic, Faculty of Art and Science, Ordu University, Ordu, Turkey
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24
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Predicting potential global and future distributions of the African armyworm (Spodoptera exempta) using species distribution models. Sci Rep 2022; 12:16234. [PMID: 36171335 PMCID: PMC9519994 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-022-19983-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/06/2022] [Accepted: 09/07/2022] [Indexed: 11/11/2022] Open
Abstract
Invasive species have historically been a problem derived from global trade and transport. To aid in the control and management of these species, species distribution models (SDMs) have been used to help predict possible areas of expansion. Our focal organism, the African Armyworm (AAW), has historically been known as an important pest species in Africa, occurring at high larval densities and causing outbreaks that can cause enormous economic damage to staple crops. The goal of this study is to map the AAW’s present and potential distribution in three future scenarios for the region, and the potential global distribution if the species were to invade other territories, using 40 years of data on more than 700 larval outbreak reports from Kenya and Tanzania. The present distribution in East Africa coincides with its previously known distribution, as well as other areas of grassland and cropland, which are the host plants for this species. The different future climatic scenarios show broadly similar potential distributions in East Africa to the present day. The predicted global distribution shows areas where the AAW has already been reported, but also shows many potential areas in the Americas where, if transported, environmental conditions are suitable for AAW to thrive and where it could become an invasive species.
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25
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Park HJ, Watson NL, Wauters RH, Lomasney EM, Punch C, Dewyea VA, Evans MO, Chavarria CS, Wong SC, Calais CJ, Kaplan MR, Banks TA, Beakes DE, Schwartz DJ. Multisite evaluation of fire ant venom immunotherapy safety and efficacy. THE JOURNAL OF ALLERGY AND CLINICAL IMMUNOLOGY. GLOBAL 2022; 1:154-161. [PMID: 37781270 PMCID: PMC10509916 DOI: 10.1016/j.jacig.2022.04.002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/04/2022] [Revised: 03/31/2022] [Accepted: 04/05/2022] [Indexed: 10/03/2023]
Abstract
Background Imported fire ant (IFA) venom immunotherapy (VIT) is the only disease-modifying treatment reported to be effective at decreasing the risk of systemic reactions (SRs) to IFA stings. Objective Our aims were to determine the baseline rates of IFA sensitization in subjects, describe IFA VIT prescribing patterns across the military health system (MHS), and retrospectively evaluate the safety and efficacy of IFA VIT. Methods We prospectively compared IFA sensitization in participants with and without an SR to flying Hymenoptera venom. Separately, IFA VIT prescription records were extracted from a centralized repository, and rates were described across the MHS. Additionally, we retrospectively reviewed the clinical course of patients being treated with IFA VIT at 11 military treatment facilities. Results The in vitro IFA sensitization rates in our prospective cohort ranged from 19.1% to 24.1%. Sensitization rates did not differ statistically between the subjects with or without an SR to flying Hymenoptera venom. We found that 60.9% of all MHS IFA VIT prescriptions (491 of 806) were from the 11 facilities in this study. We retrospectively identified 137 subjects actively undergoing IFA VIT. Among the subjects actively undergoing IFA VIT, 28 reported an SR to IFA venom and repeat stings by IFAs after reaching VIT maintenance, and 85.7% (24 of 28) of the subjects noted symptoms no worse than a large swelling reaction after a repeat IFA sting. Notably, only 2.9% of the subjects (4 of 137) had an SR due to VIT. Conclusion This study's results align with those of prior IFA sensitization reports. A substantial proportion of patients undergoing IFA VIT experienced protection against anaphylaxis with reexposure, with relatively few adverse events.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hyun J. Park
- Allergy and Immunology and Walter Reed National Military Medical Center, Bethesda, Md
| | - Nora L. Watson
- Department of Research Programs, Walter Reed National Military Medical Center, Bethesda, Md
| | - Robert H. Wauters
- Allergy and Immunology, Naval Medical Center Camp Lejeune, Camp Lejeune, Jacksonville, NC
| | | | - Chandra Punch
- Allergy and Immunology, Evans Army Community Hospital, Fort Carson, Colo
| | - Victor A. Dewyea
- Allergy and Immunology, Dwight D. Eisenhower Army Medical Center, Fort Gordon, Ga
| | - Martin O. Evans
- Allergy and Immunology, Blanchfield Army Community Hospital, Fort Campbell, Ky
| | | | - Stephen C. Wong
- Allergy and Immunology, Carl R. Darnall Army Medical Center, Fort Hood, Tex
| | - Charles J. Calais
- Allergy and Immunology, Brooke Army Medical Center, Fort Sam Houston, San Antonio, Tex
| | - Michael R. Kaplan
- Allergy and Immunology, Naval Hospital Jacksonville, Jacksonville, NC
| | | | - Douglas E. Beakes
- Allergy and Immunology and Walter Reed National Military Medical Center, Bethesda, Md
| | - David J. Schwartz
- Allergy and Immunology and Walter Reed National Military Medical Center, Bethesda, Md
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Stefanec M, Hofstadler DN, Krajník T, Turgut AE, Alemdar H, Lennox B, Şahin E, Arvin F, Schmickl T. A Minimally Invasive Approach Towards “Ecosystem Hacking” With Honeybees. Front Robot AI 2022; 9:791921. [PMID: 35572369 PMCID: PMC9096355 DOI: 10.3389/frobt.2022.791921] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/09/2021] [Accepted: 03/02/2022] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Honey bees live in colonies of thousands of individuals, that not only need to collaborate with each other but also to interact intensively with their ecosystem. A small group of robots operating in a honey bee colony and interacting with the queen bee, a central colony element, has the potential to change the collective behavior of the entire colony and thus also improve its interaction with the surrounding ecosystem. Such a system can be used to study and understand many elements of bee behavior within hives that have not been adequately researched. We discuss here the applicability of this technology for ecosystem protection: A novel paradigm of a minimally invasive form of conservation through “Ecosystem Hacking”. We discuss the necessary requirements for such technology and show experimental data on the dynamics of the natural queen’s court, initial designs of biomimetic robotic surrogates of court bees, and a multi-agent model of the queen bee court system. Our model is intended to serve as an AI-enhanceable coordination software for future robotic court bee surrogates and as a hardware controller for generating nature-like behavior patterns for such a robotic ensemble. It is the first step towards a team of robots working in a bio-compatible way to study honey bees and to increase their pollination performance, thus achieving a stabilizing effect at the ecosystem level.
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Affiliation(s)
- Martin Stefanec
- Artificial Life Lab, Institute of Biology, University of Graz, Graz, Austria
- *Correspondence: Martin Stefanec,
| | | | - Tomáš Krajník
- Artificial Intelligence Centre, Faculty of Electrical Engineering, Czech Technical University, Prague, Czechia
| | - Ali Emre Turgut
- Department of Mechanical Engineering, Middle East Technical University, Ankara, Türkiye
- ROMER-Center for Robotics and Artificial Intelligence, Middle East Technical University, Ankara, Türkiye
| | - Hande Alemdar
- ROMER-Center for Robotics and Artificial Intelligence, Middle East Technical University, Ankara, Türkiye
- Department of Computer Engineering, Middle East Technical University, Ankara, Türkiye
| | - Barry Lennox
- Department of Computer Engineering, Middle East Technical University, Ankara, Türkiye
| | - Erol Şahin
- ROMER-Center for Robotics and Artificial Intelligence, Middle East Technical University, Ankara, Türkiye
- Department of Computer Engineering, Middle East Technical University, Ankara, Türkiye
| | - Farshad Arvin
- Department of Computer Engineering, Middle East Technical University, Ankara, Türkiye
| | - Thomas Schmickl
- Artificial Life Lab, Institute of Biology, University of Graz, Graz, Austria
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Economic costs of invasive alien ants worldwide. Biol Invasions 2022. [DOI: 10.1007/s10530-022-02791-w] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/02/2022]
Abstract
AbstractInvasive ants are amongst the most destructive and widespread invaders across the globe; they can strongly alter invaded ecosystems and are responsible for the loss of native ant species. Several studies have reported that invasive ants can also lead to substantial economic costs. In this study, we search, describe and analyse 1342 reported costs of invasive ants compiled in the InvaCost database. Economic costs, reported since 1930 for 12 ant species in 27 countries, totalled US$ 51.93 billion, from which US$ 10.95 billion were incurred, and US$ 40.98 billion were potential costs (i.e., expected or predicted costs). More than 80% of total costs were associated with only two species, Solenopsis invicta and Wasmannia auropunctata; and two countries, the USA and Australia. Overall, damage costs amounted to 92% of the total cost, mainly impacting the agriculture, public and social welfare sectors. Management costs were primarily post-invasion management (US$ 1.79 billion), with much lower amounts dedicated to prevention (US$ 235.63 million). Besides the taxonomic bias, cost information was lacking for an average of 78% of the invaded countries. Moreover, even in countries where costs were reported, such information was available for only 56% of the invaded locations. Our synthesis suggests that the global costs of invasive ants are massive but largely biased towards developed economies, with a huge proportion of underreported costs, and thus most likely grossly underestimated. We advocate for more and improved cost reporting of invasive ants through better collaborations between managers, practitioners and researchers, a crucial basis for adequately informing future budgets and improving proactive management actions of invasive ants.
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Pailler L, Matte A, Groseiller A, Eyer PA, Ruhland F, Lucas C. High Exploration Behavior of Termite Propagules Can Enhance Invasiveness. Front Ecol Evol 2022. [DOI: 10.3389/fevo.2022.840105] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Social life is usually associated with enhanced propagule pressure, which increases the chance of introducing several individuals during a single introduction event. Social insects are therefore among the most successful invasive species, benefiting from rapid establishment and increased foundation success in new habitats. In termites, propagule pressure may also be increased by the development of reproductive individuals from a small group of foraging workers. This suggests that enhanced exploration activity may increase propagule pressure through an elevated chance of transporting isolated groups of foragers. Here, we analyzed the exploration behavior of three termite species of the Reticulitermes genus, comparing the invasive species Reticulitermes flavipes (testing both native and introduced populations) to the native species Reticulitermes grassei and Reticulitermes lucifugus. Different features representative of the exploration capacity were measured during 48 h, including: the number of tunnels, the length of tunnels, the number of foragers, and the interindividual distance of foragers in a straight line or through tunnels. Our results show that compared to the native Reticulitermes species, R. flavipes foragers from both populations dug more tunnels with a longer total length, and individuals were more spatially dispersed and covered a larger exploration zone. These findings suggest that the enhanced exploration ability of R. flavipes may have played a role in its invasion success, by increasing its propagule pressure through a higher chance of human-mediated transport. In addition, the absence of differences between the native and introduced populations of R. flavipes suggests that the exploration behaviors facilitating the worldwide invasion of this species originated in its native range.
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Wührl L, Pylatiuk C, Giersch M, Lapp F, von Rintelen T, Balke M, Schmidt S, Cerretti P, Meier R. DiversityScanner: Robotic handling of small invertebrates with machine learning methods. Mol Ecol Resour 2021; 22:1626-1638. [PMID: 34863029 DOI: 10.1111/1755-0998.13567] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/23/2021] [Revised: 11/20/2021] [Accepted: 11/30/2021] [Indexed: 01/04/2023]
Abstract
Invertebrate biodiversity remains poorly understood although it comprises much of the terrestrial animal biomass, most species and supplies many ecosystem services. The main obstacle is specimen-rich samples obtained with quantitative sampling techniques (e.g., Malaise trapping). Traditional sorting requires manual handling, while molecular techniques based on metabarcoding lose the association between individual specimens and sequences and thus struggle with obtaining precise abundance information. Here we present a sorting robot that prepares specimens from bulk samples for barcoding. It detects, images and measures individual specimens from a sample and then moves them into the wells of a 96-well microplate. We show that the images can be used to train convolutional neural networks (CNNs) that are capable of assigning the specimens to 14 insect taxa (usually families) that are particularly common in Malaise trap samples. The average assignment precision for all taxa is 91.4% (75%-100%). This ability of the robot to identify common taxa then allows for taxon-specific subsampling, because the robot can be instructed to only pick a prespecified number of specimens for abundant taxa. To obtain biomass information, the images are also used to measure specimen length and estimate body volume. We outline how the DiversityScanner can be a key component for tackling and monitoring invertebrate diversity by combining molecular and morphological tools: the images generated by the robot become training images for machine learning once they are labelled with taxonomic information from DNA barcodes. We suggest that a combination of automation, machine learning and DNA barcoding has the potential to tackle invertebrate diversity at an unprecedented scale.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lorenz Wührl
- Institute for Automation and Applied Informatics (IAI), Karlsruhe Institute of Technology (KIT), Karlsruhe, Germany
| | - Christian Pylatiuk
- Institute for Automation and Applied Informatics (IAI), Karlsruhe Institute of Technology (KIT), Karlsruhe, Germany
| | - Matthias Giersch
- Institute for Automation and Applied Informatics (IAI), Karlsruhe Institute of Technology (KIT), Karlsruhe, Germany
| | - Florian Lapp
- Institute for Automation and Applied Informatics (IAI), Karlsruhe Institute of Technology (KIT), Karlsruhe, Germany
| | - Thomas von Rintelen
- Museum für Naturkunde, Center for Integrative Biodiversity Discovery, Leibniz-Institut für Evolutions- und Biodiversitätsforschung, Berlin, Germany
| | - Michael Balke
- SNSB - Zoologische Staatssammlung München, Munich, Germany
| | - Stefan Schmidt
- SNSB - Zoologische Staatssammlung München, Munich, Germany
| | - Pierfilippo Cerretti
- Department of Biology and Biotechnology 'Charles Darwin', Sapienza University of Rome, Rome, Italy
| | - Rudolf Meier
- Museum für Naturkunde, Center for Integrative Biodiversity Discovery, Leibniz-Institut für Evolutions- und Biodiversitätsforschung, Berlin, Germany
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Verdasca MJ, Rebelo H, Carvalheiro LG, Rebelo R. Invasive hornets on the road: motorway-driven dispersal must be considered in management plans of Vespa velutina. NEOBIOTA 2021. [DOI: 10.3897/neobiota.69.71352] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/12/2022]
Abstract
Understanding the mechanisms that potentiate the dispersion of an invasive species is essential to anticipate its arrival into new regions and to develop adequate management actions to minimize damage to biodiversity and society. One of the most successful invaders in Europe, the yellow-legged hornet (Vespa velutina), is dispersing through self-diffusion and jump dispersal. Using information on species occurrence in Portugal from 2013 to 2018, this study aimed to understand the range expansion trajectory of V. velutina and to identify the role of climate, landscape and anthropogenic variables on the two mechanisms of spread. We found that in Portugal the invasion is proceeding faster southwards (45 km/year) along the Atlantic coast than eastwards (20 km/year) where the climatic suitability gradient is more compressed, with jump dispersal playing an important role in this difference and in the acceleration of the invasion process. Dispersal by diffusion was best explained by the annual range of temperature and precipitation of the wettest month, with distance to shrub land also having an important role. Additionally, jump dispersal appeared to be facilitated by motorways, hinting at the role of human-mediated dispersal. Indeed, the number of nests that resulted from this dispersive mechanism were significantly closer to motorways than expected by chance. To prevent the dispersal of V. velutina into Mediterranean regions, and in addition to a special attention to the advancing front, early monitoring programs should also target a buffer zone on both sides of motorways, and at freight shipping hubs.
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Abstract
Predictions of future biological invasions often rely on the assumption that introduced species establish only under climatic conditions similar to those in their native range. To date, 135 studies have tested this assumption of 'niche conservatism', yielding contradictory results. Here we revisit this literature, consider the evidence for niche shifts, critically assess the methods used, and discuss the authors' interpretations of niche shifts. We find that the true frequency of niche shifts remains unknown because of diverging interpretations of similar metrics, conceptual issues biasing conclusions towards niche conservatism, and the use of climatic data that may not be biologically meaningful. We argue that these issues could be largely addressed by focussing on trends or relative degrees of niche change instead of dichotomous classifications (shift versus no shift), consistently and transparently including non-analogous climates, and conducting experimental studies on mismatches between macroclimates and microclimates experienced by the study organism. Furthermore, an observed niche shift may result either from species filling a greater part of their fundamental niche during the invasion (a 'realised niche shift') or from rapid evolution of traits adapting species to novel climates in the introduced range (a 'fundamental niche shift'). Currently, there is no conclusive evidence distinguishing between these potential mechanisms of niche shifts. We outline how these questions may be addressed by combining computational analyses and experimental evidence.
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Affiliation(s)
- Olivia K Bates
- Department of Ecology and Evolution, Biophore, UNIL-Sorge, University of Lausanne, Lausanne 1015, Switzerland.
| | - Cleo Bertelsmeier
- Department of Ecology and Evolution, Biophore, UNIL-Sorge, University of Lausanne, Lausanne 1015, Switzerland.
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32
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Forensically relevant blow flies (Diptera: Calliphoridae) of Central Connecticut, USA. Forensic Sci Int 2021; 327:110940. [PMID: 34418648 DOI: 10.1016/j.forsciint.2021.110940] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/20/2021] [Revised: 08/03/2021] [Accepted: 08/04/2021] [Indexed: 11/20/2022]
Abstract
Connecticut and the Northeastern United States in general, lacks forensically relevant entomological survey data. To determine which forensically relevant calliphorid (blow flies, Diptera: Calliphoridae) and non-calliphorid species dominate Connecticut, 5 traps using pork bait were set out 7 times over a 2-year period to collect adult and immature specimens. Insects collected from human corpses in this region were also tabulated to collaborate the forensic relevance of trapped specimens. The survey identified a total of 8 species of blow flies of the Lucilia and Calliphora genera, 6 of which colonized the baits, and 5 of which have been found to colonize human corpses in the area. Non-calliphorid genera Sarcophaga and Muscina were also found to be colonizers of the baited traps but in relatively lower numbers. Trap sites differed significantly in the degree of urbanization which was determined by using GIS mapping to classify a 1 kilometer (km) radius around each site using land use and the percent of urban impervious surfaces. The 1 km radius revealed the highly fragmented nature of the immediate habitats of the trap sites and no habitat or seasonal preference was demonstrated by blow flies under these trap conditions. Temperature was the one variable which significantly affected the number of flies trapped and the colonizing species. All trapped species have been described previously as widespread and common in the United States and as synanthropic. Further research in this region should trap at the constantly changing extreme ends of the urban-rural gradient and in the colder temperatures of winter to explore the limits of the flexibility of these blow fly species.
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Eyer PA, Blumenfeld AJ, Johnson LNL, Perdereau E, Shults P, Wang S, Dedeine F, Dupont S, Bagnères AG, Vargo EL. Extensive human-mediated jump dispersal within and across the native and introduced ranges of the invasive termite Reticulitermes flavipes. Mol Ecol 2021; 30:3948-3964. [PMID: 34142394 DOI: 10.1111/mec.16022] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/12/2020] [Revised: 06/03/2021] [Accepted: 06/14/2021] [Indexed: 12/29/2022]
Abstract
As native ranges are often geographically structured, invasive species originating from a single source population only carry a fraction of the genetic diversity present in their native range. The invasion process is thus often associated with a drastic loss of genetic diversity resulting from a founder event. However, the fraction of diversity brought to the invasive range may vary under different invasion histories, increasing with the size of the propagule, the number of reintroduction events, and/or the total genetic diversity represented by the various source populations in a multiple-introduction scenario. In this study, we generated a SNP data set for the invasive termite Reticulitermes flavipes from 23 native populations in the eastern United States and six introduced populations throughout the world. Using population genetic analyses and approximate Bayesian computation random forest, we investigated its worldwide invasion history. We found a complex invasion pathway with multiple events out of the native range and bridgehead introductions from the introduced population in France. Our data suggest that extensive long-distance jump dispersal appears common in both the native and introduced ranges of this species, probably through human transportation. Overall, our results show that similar to multiple introduction events into the invasive range, admixture in the native range prior to invasion can potentially favour invasion success by increasing the genetic diversity that is later transferred to the introduced range.
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Affiliation(s)
- Pierre-André Eyer
- Department of Entomology, 2143 TAMU, Texas A&M University, College Station, TX, USA
| | | | - Laura N L Johnson
- Department of Entomology, 2143 TAMU, Texas A&M University, College Station, TX, USA.,Department of Veterinary Sciences, University of Wyoming, Laramie, WY, USA
| | | | - Phillip Shults
- Department of Entomology, 2143 TAMU, Texas A&M University, College Station, TX, USA
| | - Shichen Wang
- Texas A&M Agrilife Genomics and Bioinformatics Service, College Station, TX, USA
| | | | - Simon Dupont
- IRBI, UMR 7261 CNRS-Université de Tours, Tours, France
| | - Anne-Geneviève Bagnères
- IRBI, UMR 7261 CNRS-Université de Tours, Tours, France.,CEFE, CNRS, Univ Montpellier, Univ Paul Valéry Montpellier, Montpellier, France
| | - Edward L Vargo
- Department of Entomology, 2143 TAMU, Texas A&M University, College Station, TX, USA
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Liu YS, Huang SA, Lin IL, Lin CC, Lai HK, Yang CH, Huang RN. Establishment and Social Impacts of the Red Imported Fire Ant, Solenopsis invicta, (Hymenoptera: Formicidae) in Taiwan. INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH AND PUBLIC HEALTH 2021; 18:ijerph18105055. [PMID: 34064690 PMCID: PMC8151706 DOI: 10.3390/ijerph18105055] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/06/2021] [Revised: 05/05/2021] [Accepted: 05/07/2021] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
Abstract
The first report of the red imported fire ant (RIFA), Solenopsis invicta Buren, in Taiwan was in the city of Taoyuan in 2003. The government has made great efforts to bring RIFA-infested areas under control. RIFA has gradually spread outward since its discovery, but it is still confined in northern Taiwan, in part due to the control efforts. RIFA is well established in densely populated environments (i.e., urban areas), causing damage to public utilities and significantly affects the inhabitants of Taiwan. Out of 10,127 human encounters with RIFA reported by the Plant Pest Information Management System in the Bureau of Animal and Plant Health Inspection and Quarantine, Council of Agriculture, Executive Yuan, 3819 (37.71%) persons were stung, with 834 (21.8%) persons exhibiting wheal-and-flare reaction (swelling and redness of the skin). Among the victims, 288 (7.5%) sought medical care, and about 21 (0.6%) developed severe cellulitis and urticaria. Unexpectedly, 2.8% (106) of the victims exhibited anaphylactic shock, which was higher than previously reported cases (1%). The high anaphylactic shock percentage was probably because most victims were elderly farmers or because Asian people have higher sensitivity to the RIFA sting. RIFA is well adapted to the environmental conditions in Taiwan, which makes it extremely difficult (if not impossible) to eradicate. The management of RIFA in the future should focus on lowering the speed of spread to mitigate possible dangers to the inhabitants. Six major challenges of RIFA management in Taiwan are also discussed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yu-Sheng Liu
- Department of Business Management, National Sun Yat-sen University, Kaohsiung 80424, Taiwan;
| | - Sin-An Huang
- National Red Imported Fire Ant Control Center, Council of Agriculture, Executive Yuan, Taipei 10617, Taiwan; (S.-A.H.); (C.-C.L.); (H.-K.L.); (C.-H.Y.)
| | - I-Lin Lin
- Department of Political Science, National Taiwan University, Taipei 10617, Taiwan;
| | - Chung-Chi Lin
- National Red Imported Fire Ant Control Center, Council of Agriculture, Executive Yuan, Taipei 10617, Taiwan; (S.-A.H.); (C.-C.L.); (H.-K.L.); (C.-H.Y.)
- Department of Biology, National Changhua University of Education, Changhua City 50007, Taiwan
| | - Hung-Kuan Lai
- National Red Imported Fire Ant Control Center, Council of Agriculture, Executive Yuan, Taipei 10617, Taiwan; (S.-A.H.); (C.-C.L.); (H.-K.L.); (C.-H.Y.)
| | - Chun-Hsiang Yang
- National Red Imported Fire Ant Control Center, Council of Agriculture, Executive Yuan, Taipei 10617, Taiwan; (S.-A.H.); (C.-C.L.); (H.-K.L.); (C.-H.Y.)
| | - Rong-Nan Huang
- National Red Imported Fire Ant Control Center, Council of Agriculture, Executive Yuan, Taipei 10617, Taiwan; (S.-A.H.); (C.-C.L.); (H.-K.L.); (C.-H.Y.)
- Department of Entomology, National Taiwan University, Taipei 10617, Taiwan
- Correspondence:
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Essler JL, Kane SA, Collins A, Ryder K, DeAngelo A, Kaynaroglu P, Otto CM. Egg masses as training aids for spotted lanternfly Lycorma delicatula detection dogs. PLoS One 2021; 16:e0250945. [PMID: 33939739 PMCID: PMC8092771 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0250945] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/21/2021] [Accepted: 04/17/2021] [Indexed: 11/25/2022] Open
Abstract
The spotted lanternfly (Lycorma delicatula) is an invasive species first detected in 2014. The insect feeds on plants causing severe damage in vineyards such as the occurrence of sooty mold fungus that impairs leaf photosynthesis. Currently, there is extensive research on how to track and ultimately prevent the spread of this species. It lays eggs that persist through the winter, while the adults die out, which presents a unique opportunity to enter infested or suspected infested areas to begin quarantine and management of the spread while the species is dormant. Detection dogs may be a tool that can be used to search out the spotted lanternfly egg masses during this overwintering period, however it is not known whether dogs can detect any specific odor from the spotted lanternfly eggs. Moreover, as the eggs are only available during certain times of the year, and hatch based on temperature, finding training aids for the dogs could prove difficult. In this study, we investigated whether three detection dogs could learn the odor from dead spotted lanternfly egg masses and if so, whether that would allow them to recognize live spotted lanternfly egg masses. We found that dogs could be trained to find dead spotted lanternfly egg masses, and could learn to ignore relevant controls, with high levels of sensitivity and specificity (up to 94.6% and 92.8%, respectively). Further, we found that after the training, dogs could find live spotted lanternfly egg masses without additional training and returned to previous levels of sensitivity and specificity within a few sessions. Coded videos of training and testing sessions showed that dogs spent more time at the egg masses than at controls, as expected from training. These results suggest that dead spotted lanternfly egg masses could be a useful training aid for spotted lanternfly detection dogs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jennifer L Essler
- Penn Vet Working Dog Center, School of Veterinary Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States of America
| | - Sarah A Kane
- Penn Vet Working Dog Center, School of Veterinary Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States of America
| | - Amanda Collins
- Penn Vet Working Dog Center, School of Veterinary Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States of America
| | - Kaley Ryder
- Penn Vet Working Dog Center, School of Veterinary Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States of America
| | - Annemarie DeAngelo
- Penn Vet Working Dog Center, School of Veterinary Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States of America
| | - Patricia Kaynaroglu
- Penn Vet Working Dog Center, School of Veterinary Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States of America
| | - Cynthia M Otto
- Penn Vet Working Dog Center, School of Veterinary Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States of America
- Department of Clinical Science and Advanced Medicine, School of Veterinary Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States of America
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