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Coughlan NE, Dickey JWE, Dick JTA, Médoc V, McCard M, Lacroix G, Fiorini S, Millot A, Cuthbert RN. When worlds collide: Invader-driven benthic habitat complexity alters predatory impacts of invasive and native predatory fishes. Sci Total Environ 2022; 843:156876. [PMID: 35760170 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2022.156876] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/26/2022] [Revised: 05/27/2022] [Accepted: 06/18/2022] [Indexed: 06/15/2023]
Abstract
Interactions between multiple invasive alien species (IAS) might increase their ecological impacts, yet relatively few studies have attempted to quantify the effects of facilitative interactions on the success and impact of aquatic IAS. Further, the effect of abiotic factors, such as habitat structure, have lacked consideration in ecological impact prediction for many high-profile IAS, with most data acquired through simplified assessments that do not account for real environmental complexities. In the present study, we assessed a potential facilitative interaction between a predatory invasive fish, the Ponto-Caspian round goby (Neogobius melanostomus), and an invasive bivalve, the Asian clam (Corbicula fluminea). We compared N. melanostomus functional responses (feeding-rates under different prey densities) to a co-occurring endangered European native analogue fish, the bullhead (Cottus gobio), in the presence of increased levels of habitat complexity driven by the accumulation of dead C. fluminea biomass that persists within the environment (i.e. 0, 10, 20 empty bivalve shells). Habitat complexity significantly influenced predation, with consumption in the absence of shells being greater than where 10 or 20 shells were present. However, at the highest shell density, invasive N. melanostomus maximum feeding-rates and functional response ratios were substantially higher than those of native C. gobio. Further, the Relative Impact Potential metric, by combining per capita effects and population abundances, indicated that higher shell densities exacerbate the relative impact of the invader. It therefore appears that N. melanostomus can better tolerate higher IAS shell abundances when foraging at high prey densities, suggesting the occurrence of an important facilitative interaction. Our data are thus fully congruent with field data that link establishment success of N. melanostomus with the presence of C. fluminea. Overall, we show that invader-driven benthic habitat complexity can alter the feeding-rates and thus impacts of predatory fishes, and highlight the importance of inclusion of abiotic factors in impact prediction assessments for IAS.
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Affiliation(s)
- Neil E Coughlan
- School of Biological, Earth & Environmental Sciences, University College Cork, Distillery Fields, North Mall, Cork, Ireland; Institute for Global Food Security, School of Biological Sciences, Queen's University Belfast, 19 Chlorine Gardens, Belfast, Northern Ireland BT9 5DL, UK.
| | - James W E Dickey
- Institute for Global Food Security, School of Biological Sciences, Queen's University Belfast, 19 Chlorine Gardens, Belfast, Northern Ireland BT9 5DL, UK; Leibniz-Institute of Freshwater Ecology and Inland Fisheries (IGB), 12587 Berlin, Germany; Freie Universität Berlin, Institute of Biology, Königin-Luise-Str. 1-3, 14195 Berlin, Germany; GEOMAR Helmholtz-Zentrum für Ozeanforschung Kiel, 24105 Kiel, Germany
| | - Jaimie T A Dick
- Institute for Global Food Security, School of Biological Sciences, Queen's University Belfast, 19 Chlorine Gardens, Belfast, Northern Ireland BT9 5DL, UK
| | - Vincent Médoc
- Equipe Neuro Ethologie Sensorielle, ENES/Neuro-PSI CNRS UMR 9197, Université de Lyon/Saint-Etienne, Saint-Etienne, France
| | - Monica McCard
- Institute for Global Food Security, School of Biological Sciences, Queen's University Belfast, 19 Chlorine Gardens, Belfast, Northern Ireland BT9 5DL, UK
| | - Gérard Lacroix
- iEES-Paris, Institut d'Ecologie et des Sciences de l'Environnement de Paris, UMR 7618 (CNRS, INRAE, IRD, Sorbonne Université, UPEC, Université de Paris), CC237 Paris, France; Ecole Normale Supérieure, PSL Research University, CNRS, Centre de Recherche en Écologie Expérimentale et Prédictive (CEREEP-Ecotron Ile-De-France), UAR 3194 Saint-Pierre-lès-Nemours, France
| | - Sarah Fiorini
- Ecole Normale Supérieure, PSL Research University, CNRS, Centre de Recherche en Écologie Expérimentale et Prédictive (CEREEP-Ecotron Ile-De-France), UAR 3194 Saint-Pierre-lès-Nemours, France
| | - Alexis Millot
- Ecole Normale Supérieure, PSL Research University, CNRS, Centre de Recherche en Écologie Expérimentale et Prédictive (CEREEP-Ecotron Ile-De-France), UAR 3194 Saint-Pierre-lès-Nemours, France
| | - Ross N Cuthbert
- Institute for Global Food Security, School of Biological Sciences, Queen's University Belfast, 19 Chlorine Gardens, Belfast, Northern Ireland BT9 5DL, UK
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Dickey JWE, Coughlan NE, Dick JTA, Médoc V, McCard M, Leavitt PR, Lacroix G, Fiorini S, Millot A, Cuthbert RN. Breathing space: deoxygenation of aquatic environments can drive differential ecological impacts across biological invasion stages. Biol Invasions 2021; 23:2831-2847. [PMID: 34720687 PMCID: PMC8550720 DOI: 10.1007/s10530-021-02542-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/26/2020] [Accepted: 04/16/2021] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
Abstract
The influence of climate change on the ecological impacts of invasive alien species (IAS) remains understudied, with deoxygenation of aquatic environments often-overlooked as a consequence of climate change. Here, we therefore assessed how oxygen saturation affects the ecological impact of a predatory invasive fish, the Ponto-Caspian round goby (Neogobius melanostomus), relative to a co-occurring endangered European native analogue, the bullhead (Cottus gobio) experiencing decline in the presence of the IAS. In individual trials and mesocosms, we assessed the effect of high, medium and low (90%, 60% and 30%) oxygen saturation on: (1) functional responses (FRs) of the IAS and native, i.e. per capita feeding rates; (2) the impact on prey populations exerted; and (3) how combined impacts of both fishes change over invasion stages (Pre-invasion, Arrival, Replacement, Proliferation). Both species showed Type II potentially destabilising FRs, but at low oxygen saturation, the invader had a significantly higher feeding rate than the native. Relative Impact Potential, combining fish per capita effects and population abundances, revealed that low oxygen saturation exacerbates the high relative impact of the invader. The Relative Total Impact Potential (RTIP), modelling both consumer species’ impacts on prey populations in a system, was consistently higher at low oxygen saturation and especially high during invader Proliferation. In the mesocosm experiment, low oxygen lowered RTIP where both species were present, but again the IAS retained high relative impact during Replacement and Proliferation stages at low oxygen. We also found evidence of multiple predator effects, principally antagonism. We highlight the threat posed to native communities by IAS alongside climate-related stressors, but note that solutions may be available to remedy hypoxia and potentially mitigate impacts across invasion stages.
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Affiliation(s)
- James W E Dickey
- Institute for Global Food Security, School of Biological Sciences, Queen's University Belfast, 19 Chlorine Gardens, Belfast, BT9 5DL Northern Ireland, UK.,Leibniz-Institute of Freshwater Ecology and Inland Fisheries (IGB), 12587 Berlin, Germany
| | - Neil E Coughlan
- Institute for Global Food Security, School of Biological Sciences, Queen's University Belfast, 19 Chlorine Gardens, Belfast, BT9 5DL Northern Ireland, UK.,School of Biological, Earth and Environmental Sciences, University College Cork, Distillery Fields, North Mall, Cork, Ireland
| | - Jaimie T A Dick
- Institute for Global Food Security, School of Biological Sciences, Queen's University Belfast, 19 Chlorine Gardens, Belfast, BT9 5DL Northern Ireland, UK
| | - Vincent Médoc
- Equipe de Neuro-Ethologie Sensorielle (ENES), Centre de Recherche en Neurosciences de Lyon (CRNL), CNRS, INSERM, Université de Lyon/Saint-Etienne, Saint-Etienne, France
| | - Monica McCard
- Institute for Global Food Security, School of Biological Sciences, Queen's University Belfast, 19 Chlorine Gardens, Belfast, BT9 5DL Northern Ireland, UK
| | - Peter R Leavitt
- Institute for Global Food Security, School of Biological Sciences, Queen's University Belfast, 19 Chlorine Gardens, Belfast, BT9 5DL Northern Ireland, UK.,Department of Biology, University of Regina, Regina, SK S4S 0A2 Canada
| | - Gérard Lacroix
- iEES-Paris, Institut d'Ecologie et des Sciences de l'Environnement de Paris (IRD, Sorbonne Université, CNRS, INRA, UPEC, Université Paris Diderot), CC237 Paris, France.,Ecole Normale Supérieure, CNRS, Centre de Recherche en Écologie Expérimentale et Prédictive (CEREEP-Ecotron Ile-De-France), UMS 3194, PSL Research University, Saint-Pierre-lès-Nemours, France
| | - Sarah Fiorini
- Ecole Normale Supérieure, CNRS, Centre de Recherche en Écologie Expérimentale et Prédictive (CEREEP-Ecotron Ile-De-France), UMS 3194, PSL Research University, Saint-Pierre-lès-Nemours, France
| | - Alexis Millot
- Ecole Normale Supérieure, CNRS, Centre de Recherche en Écologie Expérimentale et Prédictive (CEREEP-Ecotron Ile-De-France), UMS 3194, PSL Research University, Saint-Pierre-lès-Nemours, France
| | - Ross N Cuthbert
- Institute for Global Food Security, School of Biological Sciences, Queen's University Belfast, 19 Chlorine Gardens, Belfast, BT9 5DL Northern Ireland, UK.,GEOMAR, Helmholtz-Zentrum für Ozeanforschung Kiel, 24105 Kiel, Germany
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Dickey JWE, Cuthbert RN, South J, Britton JR, Caffrey J, Chang X, Crane K, Coughlan NE, Fadaei E, Farnsworth KD, Ismar-Rebitz SMH, Joyce PWS, Julius M, Laverty C, Lucy FE, MacIsaac HJ, McCard M, McGlade CLO, Reid N, Ricciardi A, Wasserman RJ, Weyl OLF, Dick JTA. On the RIP: using Relative Impact Potential to assess the ecological impacts of invasive alien species. NB 2020. [DOI: 10.3897/neobiota.55.49547] [Citation(s) in RCA: 28] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/12/2022]
Abstract
Invasive alien species continue to arrive in new locations with no abatement in rate, and thus greater predictive powers surrounding their ecological impacts are required. In particular, we need improved means of quantifying the ecological impacts of new invasive species under different contexts. Here, we develop a suite of metrics based upon the novel Relative Impact Potential (RIP) metric, combining the functional response (consumer per capita effect), with proxies for the numerical response (consumer population response), providing quantification of invasive species ecological impact. These metrics are comparative in relation to the eco-evolutionary baseline of trophically analogous natives, as well as other invasive species and across multiple populations. Crucially, the metrics also reveal how impacts of invasive species change under abiotic and biotic contexts. While studies focused solely on functional responses have been successful in predictive invasion ecology, RIP retains these advantages while adding vital other predictive elements, principally consumer abundance. RIP can also be combined with propagule pressure to quantify overall invasion risk. By highlighting functional response and numerical response proxies, we outline a user-friendly method for assessing the impacts of invaders of all trophic levels and taxonomic groups. We apply the metric to impact assessment in the face of climate change by taking account of both changing predator consumption rates and prey reproduction rates. We proceed to outline the application of RIP to assess biotic resistance against incoming invasive species, the effect of evolution on invasive species impacts, application to interspecific competition, changing spatio-temporal patterns of invasion, and how RIP can inform biological control. We propose that RIP provides scientists and practitioners with a user-friendly, customisable and, crucially, powerful technique to inform invasive species policy and management.
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South J, McCard M, Khosa D, Mofu L, Madzivanzira TC, Dick JTA, Weyl OLF. The effect of prey identity and substrate type on the functional response of a globally invasive crayfish. NB 2019. [DOI: 10.3897/neobiota.52.39245] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/12/2022]
Abstract
Biological invasions threaten biodiversity on a global scale, therefore, developing predictive methods to understand variation in ecological change conferred is essential. Trophic interaction strength underpins community dynamics, however, these interactions can be profoundly affected by abiotic context, such as substrate type. The red swamp crayfish (Procambarus clarkii) has successfully invaded a number of freshwater ecosystems. We experimentally derive the Functional Response (FR) (density dependent predation) of the red swamp crayfish preying upon both a benthic prey; chironomid larvae, and a pelagic prey; Daphnia magna, on a no substrate control, sand, and gravel substrates to determine whether (1) there is a higher impact on prey that are benthic, and (2) whether the presence of different substrate types can dampen the interaction strength. We apply and demonstrate the utility of the Functional Response Ratio (FRR) metric in unravelling differences in ecological impact not obvious from traditional FR curves. Procambarus clarkii is capable of constantly utilising high numbers of both benthic and pelagic prey items, showing a Type II functional response under all scenarios. The presence of gravel and sand substrate each independently decreased the magnitude FR upon D. magna. Though, with regards to chironomid larvae the FR curves showed no difference in magnitude FR, the FRR reveals that the highest impact is conferred when foraging on sand substrate. This reinforces the need for impact assessments to be contextually relevant.
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