Evolutionarily Labile Species Interactions and Spatial Spread of Invasive Species

2012 ◽  
Vol 179 (2) ◽  
pp. E37-E54 ◽  
Author(s):  
T. Alex Perkins
Keyword(s):  
Invasive Species ◽  
Species Interactions ◽  
Spatial Spread

Biological invasions in the context of green roofs

2016 ◽  
Vol 62 (1-2) ◽  
pp. 32-43 ◽  
Author(s):  
Nicole L. Kinlocka ◽  
Bracha Y. Schindler ◽  
Jessica Gurevitch
Keyword(s):  
Invasive Species ◽  
Biological Invasions ◽  
Plant Communities ◽  
Species Interactions ◽  
Green Roof ◽  
Green Roofs ◽  
Plant Invasions ◽  
Ecological Aspects ◽  
Urban Environmental Problems

Green roofs can mitigate a number of urban environmental problems when green roof plant communities provide ecosystem services. However, this perspective may fail to address ecological aspects of the plant community. In particular, it does not account for the potential for green roofs to facilitate biological invasions. We consider current research in green roof ecology in light of the literature on biological invasions, focusing on plant invasion. We evaluate the role of species composition and novel communities, species interactions, succession, and dispersal on the trajectory of green roof plant communities. Green roofs have the potential to introduce invasive species through initial plantings, to become dominated by invasive species, and to spread invasive species, and we provide recommendations for plant selection and maintenance to reduce the risks of facilitating plant invasions to surrounding communities.

scholarly journals An invasive herbivore structures plant competitive dynamics

2017 ◽  
Vol 13 (11) ◽  
pp. 20170374
Author(s):  
Lydia Wong ◽  
Tess Nahanni Grainger ◽  
Denon Start ◽  
Benjamin Gilbert
Keyword(s):  
Invasive Species ◽  
Indirect Effects ◽  
Species Interactions ◽  
Native Species ◽  
Community Dynamics ◽  
Aphid Species ◽  
Ecological Communities ◽  
Native Plant ◽  
Native Communities ◽  
Species Invasions

Species interactions are central to our understanding of ecological communities, but may change rapidly with the introduction of invasive species. Invasive species can alter species interactions and community dynamics directly by having larger detrimental effects on some species than others, or indirectly by changing the ways in which native species compete among themselves. We tested the direct and indirect effects of an invasive aphid herbivore on a native aphid species and two host milkweed species. The invasive aphid caused a 10-fold decrease in native aphid populations, and a 30% increase in plant mortality (direct effects). The invasive aphid also increased the strength of interspecific competition between the two native plant hosts (indirect effects). By investigating the role that indirect effects play in shaping species interactions in native communities, our study highlights an understudied component of species invasions.

scholarly journals Smaller climatic niche shifts in invasive than non-invasive alien ant species

2020 ◽  
Vol 11 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Olivia K. Bates ◽  
Sébastien Ollier ◽  
Cleo Bertelsmeier
Keyword(s):  
Invasive Species ◽  
Alien Species ◽  
Invasive Alien Species ◽  
Invasion Biology ◽  
Human Movement ◽  
Climatic Niche ◽  
Spatial Spread ◽  
Non Invasive ◽  
Niche Shifts ◽  
Negative Impacts

Abstract The globalization of trade and human movement has resulted in the accidental dispersal of thousands of alien species worldwide at an unprecedented scale. Some of these species are considered invasive because of their extensive spatial spread or negative impacts on native biodiversity. Explaining which alien species become invasive is a major challenge of invasion biology, and it is often assumed that invasiveness is linked to a greater ability to establish in novel climates. To test whether invasive species have expanded more into novel climates than non-invasive alien species, we quantified niche shifts of 82 ant species. Surprisingly, invasive species showed smaller niche shifts than non-invasive alien species. Independent of their invasiveness, the species with the smallest native niches and range sizes, experienced the greatest niche shifts. Overall, our results challenge the assumption that invasive species are particularly good pioneers of novel climates.

scholarly journals Interpreting Pattern in Plant-Soil Feedback Experiments with Co-occurring Invasive Species: A Graphical Framework and Case Study

Diversity ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 12 (5) ◽  
pp. 201
Author(s):  
Emma Oschrin ◽  
Heather L. Reynolds
Keyword(s):  
Invasive Species ◽  
Tallgrass Prairie ◽  
Species Interactions ◽  
Plant Invasions ◽  
Plant Soil ◽  
Legacy Effect ◽  
Species Invasions ◽  
Soil Feedback ◽  
Enemy Escape

Despite the ubiquity of multiple plant invasions, the underlying mechanisms of invasive-invasive interactions remain relatively unknown. Given the importance of plant–soil feedback (PSF) in contributing to single species invasions, it may be an important factor influencing invasive–invasive species interactions as well. PSF between multiple invaders has rarely been examined, but could inform the nature of invasive–invasive interactions and advance understanding of how multiple invaders impact plant communities. Alternative mechanisms of plant invasions include novel weapons and enemy escape. We develop graphical PSF predictions based on these mechanisms and other possible invasive–invasive dynamics. Comparing these predictions to observed results is a first step in interpreting PSF among co-occurring invasive species. We illustrate this with a case study of net pairwise PSF among three common invaders of tallgrass prairie: Lotus corniculatus (birdsfoot trefoil), Phalaris arundinacea (reed canarygrass), and Cirsium arvense (Canada thistle). We found that feedback among all pairwise combinations of these invasive species was neutral. Neutral feedback can arise from a mutual lack of soil borne pathogens, consistent with the enemy escape hypothesis, although we cannot rule out shared benefit from generalist mutualists. While both facilitative and competitive interactions among these three species have previously been shown, our data suggest that such interactions are unlikely to operate through a legacy effect of PSF. Our results inform follow-up PSF experiments that would help to confirm the existence and nature of PSF interactions among these species.

scholarly journals Size, not temperature, drives cyclopoid copepod predation of invasive mosquito larvae

PLoS ONE ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 16 (2) ◽  
pp. e0246178
Author(s):  
Marie C. Russell ◽  
Alima Qureshi ◽  
Christopher G. Wilson ◽  
Lauren J. Cator
Keyword(s):  
Invasive Species ◽  
Functional Response ◽  
Species Interactions ◽  
Display Type ◽  
Effect Of Temperature ◽  
Cyclopoid Copepod ◽  
Predator Species ◽  
Copepod Predation ◽  
Predation Efficiency ◽  
The Uk

During range expansion, invasive species can experience new thermal regimes. Differences between the thermal performance of local and invasive species can alter species interactions, including predator-prey interactions. The Asian tiger mosquito, Aedes albopictus, is a known vector of several viral diseases of public health importance. It has successfully invaded many regions across the globe and currently threatens to invade regions of the UK where conditions would support seasonal activity. We assessed the functional response and predation efficiency (percentage of prey consumed) of the cyclopoid copepods Macrocyclops albidus and Megacyclops viridis from South East England, UK against newly-hatched French Ae. albopictus larvae across a relevant temperature range (15, 20, and 25°C). Predator-absent controls were included in all experiments to account for background prey mortality. We found that both M. albidus and M. viridis display type II functional response curves, and that both would therefore be suitable biocontrol agents in the event of an Ae. albopictus invasion in the UK. No significant effect of temperature on the predation interaction was detected by either type of analysis. However, the predation efficiency analysis did show differences due to predator species. The results suggest that M. viridis would be a superior predator against invasive Ae. albopictus larvae due to the larger size of this copepod species, relative to M. albidus. Our work highlights the importance of size relationships in predicting interactions between invading prey and local predators.

scholarly journals The role of disturbance in invasive plant establishment in a changing climate: insights from a drought experiment

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ildikó Orbán ◽  
Katalin Szitár ◽  
Tibor Kalapos ◽  
György Körel-Dulay
Keyword(s):  
Climate Change ◽  
Invasive Species ◽  
Aboveground Biomass ◽  
Species Interactions ◽  
Invasive Plant ◽  
Seedling Survival ◽  
Soil Disturbance ◽  
Ambrosia Artemisiifolia ◽  
Interactive Effects ◽  
Deciduous Tree

AbstractClimate change and disturbance are two major factors affecting the establishment of invasive species, yet few studies to date have assessed the individual and interactive effects of these two factors in a common setting. Disturbance has often been found to facilitate the establishment of invading species, while climate change may affect them positively or negatively through altering abiotic conditions, or indirectly by modifying species interactions. In a full-factorial field experiment in a semiarid temperate grassland in Central Hungary, we studied the effects of drought (40% rain exclusion throughout the year) and soil disturbance on the emergence, survival and aboveground biomass of four invasive plant species that represent different life forms and that are of concern in the region and at a broader scale. We added seeds of Ambrosia artemisiifolia (annual forb), Cenchrus incertus (annual grass), Asclepias syriaca (perennial forb) and Ailanthus altissima (deciduous tree) in drought and non-drought plots with and without soil disturbance. Ailanthus germinated poorly irrespective of treatments. Disturbance facilitated while drought suppressed seedling emergence in the other three species. Ambrosia was more sensitive to disturbance, while Cenchrus was more responsive to drought. Asclepias achieved substantial emergence in disturbed non-drought plots only, as drought strongly suppressed its emergence even in the presence of disturbance. Seedling survival and late-season aboveground biomass of Ambrosia and Cenchrus were positively affected by disturbance but were unaffected by drought, while no Asclepias seedling survived until late summer. Our results highlight that both drought and disturbance may considerably impact the establishment of invasive plants, with potential interactive effects, but responses may greatly differ among species and life stages. Overall, our findings in this study suggest that although drought may negatively affect seedling establishment, a drier climate may not suppress or eliminate invasive species if soil disturbance is present. They also highlight the importance of including disturbance in studies assessing the potential effects of climate change on plant invasions.

Race to Displace: A Game to Model the Effects of Invasive Species on Plant Communities

2013 ◽  
Vol 75 (3) ◽  
pp. 194-201 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jennifer L. Hopwood ◽  
Susan K. Flowers ◽  
Katie J. Seidler ◽  
Erica L. Hopwood
Keyword(s):  
Invasive Species ◽  
Community Composition ◽  
Plant Communities ◽  
Environmental Conditions ◽  
Species Interactions ◽  
Environmental Science ◽  
Game Play ◽  
Introduced Plants ◽  
Game Board

Invasive species are a substantial threat to biodiversity. Educating students about invasive species introduces fundamental concepts in biology, ecology, and environmental science. In the Race to Displace game, students assume the characteristics of select native or introduced plants and experience first hand the influences of species interactions and changing environmental conditions on community composition as they advance across a game board. Through game play, students learn about ways in which species can interact, as well as attributes of successful invaders and the impacts of invasion on communities.

Presence of invasive Gambusia alters ecological communities and the functions they perform in lentic ecosystems

2017 ◽  
Vol 68 (10) ◽  
pp. 1867 ◽  
Author(s):  
Charles Hinchliffe ◽  
Trisha Atwood ◽  
Quinn Ollivier ◽  
Edd Hammill
Keyword(s):  
Invasive Species ◽  
Species Interactions ◽  
Native Species ◽  
Freshwater Ecosystems ◽  
Trophic Levels ◽  
Ecosystem Functions ◽  
Ecological Communities ◽  
Macroinvertebrate Communities ◽  
Decomposition Rates ◽  
Selective Predation

By acting as novel competitors and predators, a single invasive species can detrimentally affect multiple native species in different trophic levels. Although quantifying invasive effects through single-species interactions is important, understanding their effect on ecosystems as a whole is vital to enable effective protection and management. This is particularly true in freshwater ecosystems, where invasive species constitute the single greatest threat to biodiversity. Poeciliid fishes of the genus Gambusia are among the most widespread invasive species on earth. In the present study of lentic ecosystems (i.e. lakes), we first showed that Gambusia alter zooplankton community composition and size distribution, likely through size-selective predation. Second, we demonstrate that benthic macroinvertebrate communities significantly differ between sites with and without invasive Gambusia. The presence of Gambusia appears to reduce leaf-litter decomposition rates, which is likely an indirect effect of reductions in detritivore abundances. Reductions in decomposition rates found in the present study suggest that through trophic cascades, invasive Gambusia is able to indirectly alter ecosystem functions. The study has highlighted that the widespread effects of invasive aquatic species are able to permeate through entire ecosystems, being more pervasive than previously recognised.

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