scholarly journals Competitive release from native range does not predict invasive success of a globally dominant exotic ant species

2017 ◽  
Author(s):  
Senay Yitbarek ◽  
Ivette Perfecto ◽  
John H. Vandermeer
Keyword(s):  
Puerto Rico ◽  
Exotic Species ◽  
Comparative Studies ◽  
Competitive Ability ◽  
Resource Competition ◽  
Invasion Success ◽  
Native Range ◽  
Short Term ◽  
Competitive Release ◽  
Introduced Range

AbstractA major goal of invasion biology is to understand under what conditions exotic species thrive in the introduced range. High competitive abilities are thought to be an important characteristic of exotic species. Most invasion studies focus on the competitive ability of exotic species in the introduced range and attribute their ecological success to competitive release, but fewer studies have compared the relative competitive differences within the native range. These comparative studies are important in order to determine if competitive abilities of exotic species are strong predictors of invasion success. The little fire ant Wasmmnia auropunctata is a highly invasive species that has spread from its original range (Central and South America) to becoming a globally distributed exotic species in recent decades. It is generally accepted that island ecosystems offer weak biotic resistance to exotic species as compared to their native range. Here, we examined this empirically by comparing the relative competitive difference of W. auropunctata and locally dominant ants, between its native range of Mexico and introduced range of Puerto Rico. Resource competition was assessed between W. auropunctata and native ants under field conditions and in the laboratory. Furthermore, we compared resource competition at different temporal intervals ranging from short-term (< 2 hours) to long-term (14-days) dynamics. Our results are in contrast to common invasion predictions on island communities because we show that native species were resistant to W. auropunctata in its introduced range of Puerto Rico. We observed that the ground-foraging ant Solenopsis invicta competitive displaced W. auropunctata in Puerto Rico during short-term experiments. Meanwhile, the native arboreal ant Linepithema iniquum withstood competitive pressure from W. auropunctata. In the native range of Mexico, W. auropunctata was superior against Solenopsis Picea and Pheidole protensa species, but was outcompeted by dominant ants Solenopsis geminata and Pheidole synanthropica. This study challenges the relative importance of competitive ability in predicting invasion success. This is one of the few detailed comparative studies that examines exotic species performance between native and introduced habitats.

scholarly journals Differences in seed properties and germination between native and introduced populations of Triadica sebifera

2019 ◽  
Vol 13 (1) ◽  
pp. 70-77 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jialiang Zhang ◽  
Evan Siemann ◽  
Baoliang Tian ◽  
Wei Huang ◽  
Jianqing Ding
Keyword(s):  
United States ◽  
Seed Germination ◽  
Soluble Protein ◽  
Native Species ◽  
Seed Mass ◽  
The United States ◽  
Invasion Success ◽  
Native Range ◽  
Triadica Sebifera ◽  
Introduced Range

Abstract Aims Seeds of many invasive plants germinate more quickly than those of native species, likely facilitating invasion success. Assessing the germination traits and seed properties simultaneously for introduced and native populations of an invasive plant is essential to understanding biological invasions. Here, we used Triadica sebifera as a study organism to examine intraspecific differences in seed germination together with seed characteristics. Methods We measured physical (volume, mass, coat hardness and coat thickness of seeds) and chemical (crude fat, soluble protein, sugar, gibberellins [GA] and abscisic acid [ABA] of kernels) properties of T. sebifera seeds collected in 2017 from 12 introduced (United States) populations and 12 native (China) populations and tested their germination rates and timing in a greenhouse experiment in China. Furthermore, we conducted an extra experiment in the United States using seeds collected in 2016 and 2017 to compare the effects of study sites (China vs. United States) and seed collection time (2016 vs. 2017) on seed germination. Important Findings Seeds from the introduced range germinated faster than those from the native range. Physical and chemical measurements showed that seeds from the introduced range were larger, had higher GA concentrations and GA:ABA ratio, but lower crude fat concentrations compared to those from the native range. There were no significant differences in seed mass, coat hardness and coat thickness or kernel ABA, soluble protein or sugar concentrations between seeds from introduced vs. native ranges. Germination rates were correlated between United States and China greenhouses but germination rates for populations varied between collection years. Our results suggest that larger seeds and higher GA likely contribute to faster germination, potentially facilitating T. sebifera invasion in the introduced range.

Parasites and marine invasions

Parasitology ◽  
2002 ◽  
Vol 124 (7) ◽  
pp. 137-151 ◽  
Author(s):  
M. E. TORCHIN ◽  
K. D. LAFFERTY ◽  
A. M. KURIS
Keyword(s):  
Invasive Species ◽  
Marine Species ◽  
Economic Problem ◽  
Invasion Success ◽  
Native Range ◽  
Marine Systems ◽  
Introduced Populations ◽  
Marine Invasions ◽  
Introduced Range ◽  
Marine Parasites

Introduced marine species are a major environmental and economic problem. The rate of these biological invasions has substantially increased in recent years due to the globalization of the world's economies. The damage caused by invasive species is often a result of the higher densities and larger sizes they attain compared to where they are native. A prominent hypothesis explaining the success of introduced species is that they are relatively free of the effects of natural enemies. Most notably, they may encounter fewer parasites in their introduced range compared to their native range. Parasites are ubiquitous and pervasive in marine systems, yet their role in marine invasions is relatively unexplored. Although data on parasites of marine organisms exist, the extent to which parasites can mediate marine invasions, or the extent to which invasive parasites and pathogens are responsible for infecting or potentially decimating native marine species have not been examined. In this review, we present a theoretical framework to model invasion success and examine the evidence for a relationship between parasite presence and the success of introduced marine species. For this, we compare the prevalence and species richness of parasites in several introduced populations of marine species with populations where they are native. We also discuss the potential impacts of introduced marine parasites on native ecosystems.

scholarly journals An experimental study of competition between fire ants and Argentine ants in their native Range

2017 ◽  
Author(s):  
E. G. LeBrun ◽  
C. V. Tillberg ◽  
Suarez Av ◽  
A. V. Suarez ◽  
P. J. Folgarait ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Stable Isotope ◽  
Stable Isotope Analysis ◽  
Interference Competition ◽  
Isotope Analysis ◽  
Invasion Success ◽  
Limiting Factor ◽  
Native Range ◽  
Introduced Range ◽  
Removal Experiments ◽  
Ecological Success

An understanding of why introduced species achieve ecological success in novel environments often requires information about the factors that limit the abundance of these taxa in their native ranges. Although numerous recent studies have evaluated the importance of natural enemies in this context, relatively few have examined how ecological success may result from differences in the magnitude of interference competition between communities in the native and introduced ranges of nonnative species. Here we examine how native-range competitive environments may relate to invasion success for two important invasive species, the red imported fire ant (Solenopsis invicta) and the Argentine ant (Linepithema humile), in a region of native-range sympatry. At two study sites in northern Argentina, we used stable-isotope analysis, a variety of observational approaches, and two different reciprocal removal experiments to test (1) whether S. invicta competes asymmetrically with L. humile (as suggested by the 20th century pattern of replacement in the southeastern United States) and (2) the extent to which these two species achieve behavioral and numerical dominance. Stable-isotope analysis and activity surveys indicated that S. invicta and L. humile are both omnivores and forage during broadly overlapping portions of the diel cycle. Short-term removal experiments at baits revealed no competitive asymmetry between S. invicta and L. humile. Longer-term colony removal experiments illustrated that S. invicta and L. humile experience an approximately equal competitive release upon removal of the other. Our results indicate that neither S. invicta nor L. humile achieves the same degree of behavioral or ecological dominance where they co-occur in native populations as they do in areas where either is common in their introduced range. These results strongly suggest that interspecific competition is an important limiting factor for both S. invicta and L. humile in South America.

Toxicity studies on tetrasul III. Short-term comparative studies in rats with tetrasul and structurally related acaricides

Toxicology ◽  
1973 ◽  
Vol 1 (2) ◽  
pp. 113-123 ◽  
Author(s):  
H.G. Verschuuren ◽  
R. Kroes ◽  
Engelina M. Den Tonkelaar
Keyword(s):  
Comparative Studies ◽  
Short Term ◽  
Toxicity Studies

scholarly journals Photosynthesis of Papaya as Affected by Leaf Mosaic

1969 ◽  
Vol 42 (3) ◽  
pp. 145-150
Author(s):  
John P. Decker ◽  
Marco A. Tió
Keyword(s):  
Puerto Rico ◽  
Comparative Studies ◽  
Photosynthetic Rates ◽  
The Mean ◽  
Serious Disease

Comparative studies were made of the photosynthetic rates of leaves on normal papaya plants and of leaves on plants showing characteristic symptoms of papaya mosaic, a serious disease in southern Puerto Rico. The mean rate for diseased leaves was 36 percent of that for normal leaves.

Short-term response of secondary forests to hurricane disturbance in Puerto Rico, USA

2004 ◽  
Vol 199 (2-3) ◽  
pp. 379-393 ◽  
Author(s):  
John B. Pascarella ◽  
T. Mitchell Aide ◽  
Jess K. Zimmerman
Keyword(s):  
Puerto Rico ◽  
Secondary Forests ◽  
Short Term ◽  
Hurricane Disturbance ◽  
Term Response

Meaningful Language and Cultural Experiences for Future Teachers in Puerto Rico

2016 ◽  
pp. 160-176
Author(s):  
Judith Cruzado-Guerrero ◽  
Gilda Martinez-Alba
Keyword(s):  
Puerto Rico ◽  
Study Abroad ◽  
Implementation Strategies ◽  
Lessons Learned ◽  
Teacher Preparation Program ◽  
Short Term ◽  
Short Term Study ◽  
Puerto Rican Culture ◽  
Travel Abroad ◽  
Study Abroad Program

The authors describe a faculty led study abroad program implemented in Puerto Rico. The short-term study abroad model highlights both design and implementation strategies for travel abroad. This chapter also focuses on the unique cultural and linguistic experiences in Puerto Rico which were planned for college students in an early childhood education teacher preparation program. The chapter addresses the strategies used to facilitate learning about Puerto Rican culture and languages, methods to support students learning dual languages and strategies for working with families, communities, and other professionals. The chapter concludes with lessons learned from this experience and emphasizes both issues and recommendations for faculty who are developing future short-term travel experiences.

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