Invasion Ecology Research Papers - Academia.edu (original) (raw)

The American mink (Neovison vison) is a semi-aquatic, generalist carnivore released onto Tierra del Fuego (TDF) Island in the 1940s, subsequently spreading to adjacent islands in the archipelago with potential effects on native prey populations. Knowledge of this new predator’s trophic ecology is essential to identify threats, plan control strategies and conserve native fauna. We studied seasonal mink diet in TDF in different habitats. We identified undigested remains from 493 scats collected between May 2005 and March 2009 along marine coasts and freshwater shores (rivers and lakes). Small mammals and fish were the main mink prey in TDF (over 65% of diet items). Seasonal variations were not detected, but diet did vary significantly between marine and freshwater habitats, where more terrestrial items were consumed. Among mammals, mink consumed more small native rodents than exotic species. Native fish consumption was also important with greater representation of species from the families Nototheniidae and Galaxiidae in marine and freshwater habitats respectively. Birds were the third item in importance, but did not constitute a particularly large part of the mink’s diet on TDF. Overall, differences found in mink diet between habitats reflected their generalist/opportunistic feeding behaviour and did not differ greatly from observations in its native range or in other areas where it has been introduced. Our results establish the interactions between this novel predator and its prey and also illustrate the need to continue research on native prey populations to quantify mink impact on them and understand the ecological context of this biotic assemblage.

Admixture between differentiated populations is considered to be a powerful mechanism stimulating the invasive success of some introduced species. It is generally facilitated through multiple introductions; however, the importance of admixture prior to introduction has rarely been considered. We assess the likelihood that the invasive Ambrosia artemisiifolia populations of Europe and Australia developed through multiple introductions or were sourced from a historical admixture zone within native North America. To do this, we combine large genomic and sampling datasets analyzed with approximate Bayesian computation and Random Forest scenario evaluation to compare single and multiple invasion scenarios with pre- and post-introduction admixture simultaneously. We show the historical admixture zone within native North America originated before global invasion of this weed, and could act as a potential source of introduced populations. We provide evidence supporting the hypothesis that the invasive populations established through multiple introductions from the native range into Europe and subsequent bridgehead invasion into Australia. We discuss the evolutionary mechanisms that could promote invasiveness and evolutionary potential of alien species from bridgehead invasions and admixed source populations.

- by L A van Boheemen
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- ABC, Invasion Ecology, Biological invasions, Invasive Alien Species

Xiphosurids are an archaic group of aquatic chelicerate arthropods, generally known by the colloquial misnomer of ‘horseshoe crabs’. Known from marine envi- ronments as far back as the early Ordovician, horseshoe crabs are generally considered ‘living fossils’ – descendants of a bradytelic lineage exhibiting little morphological or ecological variation throughout geological time. However, xiphosurids are known from freshwater sediments in the Palaeozoic and Mesozoic; furthermore, the contention that xiphosurids show little morphological variation has never been tested empirically. Attempts to test this are hampered by the lack of a modern phylogenetic framework with which to explore different evolutionary scenarios. Here, I present a phylogenetic analysis of Xiphosurida and explore patterns of morphospace and environmental occupation of the group throughout the Phanerozoic. Xiphosurids are shown to have invaded non-marine environments indepen- dently at least five times throughout their evolutionary history, twice resulting in the radiation of major clades – bellinurines and austrolimulids – that occupied novel regions of morphospace. These clades show a convergent ecological pattern of differentiation, speciation and subse- quent extinction. Horseshoe crabs are shown to have a more dynamic and complex evolutionary history than previ- ously supposed, with the extant species representing only a fraction of the group’s past ecological and morphological diversity.

- by James Lamsdell
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- Evolutionary Biology, Paleobiology, Systematics (Taxonomy), Paleontology

Understanding the amount of impact and distribution of invasive species is important for both basic ecological research and making management decisions. Because of their extensive impacts in southern Patagonia, invasive North American beavers (Castor canadensis) are considered both a scientific and conservation priority. However, little is known about the landscape-scale effects of these exotic ecosystem engineers. Using satellite imagery, we estimated the impact of beavers in the Argentine portion of Tierra del Fuego Island and determined the habitat factors (vegetation cover, forest type, stream presence and topography) related to their presence using both non-parametric statistical and information-theoretic approaches. Results indicated that more than 31,000 ha (1.6 % of the study area) were impacted by beavers and that the presence, but not the amount, of beaver impacts were spatially clustered. Impacts were greater in the Mountain ecoregion (2.8 % of the ecoregion) and lower in the Steppe (0.1 %). The best model for predicting beaver presence included variables related to water availability (presence of peat-lands and streams), forage availability (forest type cover), and topography (slope and elevation). These findings support previous assertions that this invasion is the largest alteration to the sub-Antarctic forests in the Holocene. They also serve as a foundation for the development of maps based on habitat-and landscape-scale conditions to assist with the orientation of control, eradication, and restoration efforts currently being planned.

El humedal de Kirpas, Pinilla – La Cuerera actualmente categorizado como “Distrito Especial de Protección de Suelo” ha sido objeto de estudio durante años por diferentes actores y estancias a nivel local. La situación de deterioro ecosistémico a raíz de la inadecuada disposición de residuos sólidos, contaminación de las fuentes hídricas y uso irracional de los bosques, fueron motivo para la elaboración del presente trabajo de grado que tuvo como objetivo principal la Evaluación multitemporal de la transformación del humedal La Cuerera, localizado en la intersección de los barrios Kirpas, Pinilla y La Cuerera de la ciudad de Villavicencio entre el periodo de 1960 a 2017, mediante el uso de fotografías aéreas e imágenes satelitales.

- by Md. Nazim Uddin and +1
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- Invasion Ecology, Biodiversity, Ecosystem Processes and Ecological Restoration

As unlikely as it seems, in February 2014 I was asked to write a chapter for a book about the Arab Spring - based on invasion biology. This is the result. It was originally intended to be a quick-turnaround project, but that plan was... more

- by Matt Chew
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- Middle East Studies, Middle East History, Islamic Studies, Invasion Ecology

Mysis diluviana and Hemimysis anomala are the only two species of mysid shrimps in the order Mysidacea that are present in the Laurentian Great Lakes of North America. M. diluviana has inhabited the deep, cold waters of this region since Pleistocene-era glacial retreat and is widely considered to have a central role in the functioning of offshore food webs in systems they inhabit. More recently, the Great Lakes were invaded by
the Ponto-Caspian native Hemimysis, a species that inhabits warmer water and shallower depths relative to M. diluviana. Hemimysis has rapidly expanded throughout the Great Lakes region and has become integrated into nearshore food webs as both food for planktivorous fish and predators and competitors of zooplankton.
This special issue is composed of 14 papers that represent the most recent advances in our understanding of the ecological importance of both species of mysids to lake and river ecosystems in the Great Lakes region of North America. Topics discussed in this special issue will inform future research in all systems influenced by mysid ecology.

- by Jérôme Marty
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- Invasive species ecology, Invasion Ecology, Great Lakes, Hemimysis anomala

This review is a first attempt to summarize data on the records and distribution of 240 alien species in fresh water, brackish water and marine water areas of Ukraine, from unicellular algae up to fish. A checklist of alien species with their taxonomy, synonymy and with a complete bibliography of their first records is presented. Analysis of the main trends of alien species introduction, present ecological status, origin and pathways is considered.

- by Mikhail Son
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- Invasive species ecology, Invasive Species, Invasion Ecology, Biological invasions

An unresolved problem in the invasibility study of the Australian Acacia longifolia species is that many of its invaded ranges are characterized by coastal environment systems occuring in the boundaries between continents with a long history of human presence which are classified as 'temperate zones' when they are functionally a mix of specific climate conditions (oceanic, humid, subtropical, mediterranean, and other different types). More problematically, this climate zone is widely regarded as the ecological niche of Acacia longifolia's invasive species distribution, because (i) the two Acacia longifolia species (A. longifolia subsp. longifolia and A. longifolia subsp. sophorae) occur predominantly in areas of coastal dunes with poor soils and ecosystems historically modified, and (ii) the temperate Australian regions where many of these species occur can also climatically support both native and non‐native distributions of A. longifolia. Here, we examine multiple lines of evidence to disentangle this issue on how ecological similarity is determined between different invaded ranges in order to explain the susceptibility to invasion by Acacia longifolia.

- by Jorge Luis P. Oliveira-Costa
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- Invasion Ecology, Biological invasions

The commonplace, quantitative assertion that ‘invasions’ of exotic (introduced) organisms constitute the ‘second greatest threat’ of species extinction debuted in Edward O. Wilson’s 1992 book, The Diversity of Life. Based only on three interrelated publications summarising concerns about the conservation status of North American freshwater fishes, Wilson laconically extended the claim to planetary significance. This inspired the most-cited article ever published in the American journal BioScience, subsequently underpinning thousands of peer-reviewed publications, government reports, academic and popular books, commentaries, and news stories. While carefully recounting the origin, promotion, and deployment of the ‘second greatest threat’, I argue that its uncritical acceptance exemplifies confirmation bias in scientific advocacy: an overextended claim reflexively embraced by conservation practitioners and lay environmentalists because it apparently corroborated one particular, widely shared dismay about modern society’s regrettable effects on nature.

Different drivers can contribute to shape the pattern associated to invasion, and the disturbance of natural habitats has been reported as one of the main contributing factors. This work aims to evaluate how far land-use change is contributing to define the invasion pattern of two exotic acacia species (Acacia dealbata and Acacia melanoxylon) on the Arouce river basin. A spatio-temporal analysis is carried on for land-use change along 50 years (1960-2010), and information about the distribution of such species was collected. Besides the statistical analysis between land use and species’ distribution, a detailed analysis is completed is order to evaluate the contribution of network driving factors, namely those associated to human activities (roads, pathways, railways, energy transportation networks) and natural corridors (rivers and water streams). The current area occupied by invasive species has changed from 55 to 936 hectares during the reference period. The most affected land use types by invasion were pine forests, and areas abandoned by agriculture. Although current pattern in the basin is still shaped by the dominance of such species on areas where they have been introduced (steep slopes and poor soils), new habitats are becoming invaded, namely riparian areas. In fact, small groups and young individuals are becoming more frequent in new areas. The identification of the role of different triggering factors is crucial in order to identify with higher precision areas highly susceptible to invasion, an important step to set prevention measures

Invasion Biology, the study of biota redistributed via human agency, has traditionally traced its founding to Charles Elton’s 1958 book The Ecology of invasions by Animals and Plants. But there were many substantial, scientific pre-Eltonian accounts and analyses of redistributed biota dating back at least to the mid-1700s; and non-Eltonian treatments appeared into the late 1950s. Elton began writing on the topic by 1925. From 1931 to 1948 he developed his ideas on conservation in association with Aldo Leopold. Their “competitive collaboration” is explored and documented, showing that each supported and contextualized the other. Elton was, in part, inspired to write The Ecology of invasions by Animals and Plants in dissatisfied response to an earlier effort by American Marston Bates. The two authors, and these works, are compared and contrasted. The Ecology of Invasions by Animals is analyzed in detail, showing how Elton framed his arguments in terms of warfare and cold-war era nuclear alarmism, making a plea for action without providing a strong theoretical basis for preventing the redistribution of biota. The republication of Elton’s book in 2000 iincited a new round of interpretation, but even while its proponents hailed the book as invasion biology’s ‘bible,’ they prepared to replace it with more modern texts. The narrative shows how a ideas about the origins of life on earth, the role of humans in nature, a sense of place and biogeographical belonging, and concerns about the unintended consequences of human agency motivated scientists to attempt to impute order to, and impose it upon, the historically contingent distribution of biota.

- by Aravind N.A.
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- Conservation Biology, Invasive Species, Invasion Ecology, Biological invasions

Rostlinné invaze v České republice: současný stav, dynamika zavlékání, invazní druhy a invadovaná stanoviště D e d i c a t e d t o t h e c e n t e n a r y o f t h e C z e c h B o t a n i c a l S o c i e t y ( 1 9 1 2 -2 0 1 2 ) : Plant invasions in the Czech Republic: current state, introduction dynamics, invasive species and invaded habitats. -Preslia 84: 575-629.

- by Milan Chytrý
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- Invasion Ecology, Biological invasions, Plant Invasions

In marine environments Ostracoda and Foraminifera have been very successful invaders. During the Phanerozoic they colonised the majority of shallow, marginal to deep water, fully marine habitats. Both groups had developed physiological adaptations which pre-adapted them to the invasion of new marine habitats.
They adopted a broad range of feeding strategies and reproduction modes. The production of resting stages and brood care may also have contributed to them being efficient invaders. They are also both highly tolerant to variations in salinity. The first invasions of non-marine habitats by ostracods appear to have taken place at the turn of the Devonian and Carboniferous. It is estimated that there had been between 9 and 12 independent invasions of fresh waters by the ostracods. In contrast Foraminifera are typically marine organisms, and only a few species of
agglutinated and organic-walled Foraminifera are to be found in brackish and freshwater environments. Agglutinated species build their test using ambient
components but are not commonly regarded as calcifying organisms. An impact of salinity on foraminiferal calcification has been observed in several studies. It seems
that Foraminifera are incapable of constructing a fully calcified test in low salinity regimes; they use sea water not only as a source of ions to construct shell, but also
as a biomineralisation solution. Thus, the success of ostracods in invading freshwater habitats can be attributed to their development of a more effective mechanism
of calcification in low mineralisation waters. The core question of this study is to examine possible causes for the differences in success between the two taxa.

- by Anna Iglikowska
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- Invasion Ecology, Foraminifera, Ostracoda, Calcification

We often hear that complex environmental problems need to be communicated better – that scientists need to tell 'arresting stories' before governments and the public will act. But arresting stories can also be profoundly damaging – they are often arresting because they tie-in with taken-for-granted fears, prejudices, and premature judgments. To address and manage environmental change, we need to pay close attention not only to how we act, but also to how we think about nature, and the stories we use to understand it.

- by Susanna Lidström and +1
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- Landscape Ecology, Human Geography, Conservation Biology, Political Ecology

Decision makers and researchers recognize the need to effectively confront the social dimensions
and conflicts inherent to invasive species research and management. Yet, despite numerous contentious situations that have arisen, no systematic evaluation of the literature has examined the commonalities in the patterns and types of these emergent social issues. Using social and ecological keywords, we reviewed trends in the social dimensions of invasive species research and management and the sources and potential solutions to problems and conflicts that arise around invasive species. We integrated components of cognitive hierarchy theory and risk perceptions theory to provide a conceptual framework to identify, distinguish, and provide understanding of the driving factors underlying disputes associated with invasive species. In the ISI Web of Science database, we found 15,915 peer-reviewed publications on biological invasions, 124 of
which included social dimensions of this phenomenon. Of these 124, 28 studies described specific contentious situations. Social approaches to biological invasions have emerged largely in the last decade and have focused on both environmental social sciences and resource management. Despite being distributed in a range of journals, these 124 articles were concentrated mostly in ecology and conservation-oriented outlets. We found that conflicts surrounding invasive species arose based largely on differences in value systems and to a lesser extent stakeholder and decision maker’s risk perceptions. To confront or avoid such situations, we suggest integrating the plurality of environmental values into invasive species research and management via
structured decision making techniques, which enhance effective risk communication that promotes trust and confidence between stakeholders and decision makers.

The diatom Didymosphenia geminata (Lyngbye) M.Schmidt has been commonly considered a taxon restricted to pristine habitats in mountainous areas of circumboreal regions. Recent studies show that it has a broader distribution and ecological amplitude. This shift seems to have occurred recently, as it now forms large growths in rivers within its native geographical area (North America, Europe) but also mass developments have recently appeared in New Zealand, where it is considered an aggressive invasive species with dramatic ecological and economic impacts. This nuisance organism grows attached in streambeds and may impact freshwater fish and aquatic plants and insects, causing severe disturbance in food webs. This paper investigates the historic and current biogeographic range of this invasive species (and varieties) based on 1000 citations collected mainly from the scientific literature. The locations where this diatom has appeared, including both fossil and recent records, are presented in world distribution maps. Our results confirm that the native range of D. geminata is almost restricted to the Holarctic region, though its distribution area is broader than usually reported in the literature. The ecological profile of this alga, along with its nuisance effects, is also discussed. Excessive growths do not only appear in areas where this species is presumably exotic. Contrarily to general statement, reports of mass developments of D. geminata date back to the 19th century. World references to D. geminata have increased exponentially during the last decades; however; with respect to the whole diatom literature during the XIX and XX centuries, the relative frequency of citations has decreased progressively.

- by Saúl Blanco
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- Phycology, Stream ecology, Taxonomy, Invasive species ecology
- by Neal R Haddaway
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- Parasitology, Conservation Biology, Animal Behavior, Morphology

Ikan Louhan adalah ikan hias dari famili Cichlidae yang tersebar dan menjadi invasif di Danau Matano. Penelitian ini mengkaji keberadaan ikan Louhan di Danau Matano, Sulawesi Selatan, dan bertujuan untuk mendapatkan informasi tentang sebarannya, supaya populasinya dapat dikendalikan untuk menjaga kelestarian keanekaragaman hayati jenis ikan asli dan endemik Danau Matano. Penelitian dilakukan di 13 stasiun pengamatan di Danau Matano pada tahun 2015 dan 2016. Data tangkapan ikan diperoleh dari hasil tangkapan jaring insang percobaan dan tangkapan nelayan. Ikan Louhan yang tertangkap berjumlah 4.156 ekor dengan kisaran panjang total 4,0‒35,0 cm dan kisaran berat tubuh 0,8–330,0 g. Hasil penelitian ini menunjukkan bahwa ikan Louhan telah menyebar di seluruh perairan Danau Matano, terutama di daerah litoral. Kelimpahan tertinggi ditemukan di Stasiun Soroako dan Petea.

- by Agus Arifin Sentosa and +1
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- Fisheries, Invasive species ecology, Fisheries Management, Invasive Species

Through this book, specialists from around the world share the latest information on the ecology and management of Golden Apple Snails (now referred to as Invasive Apple Snails) in a single, comprehensive publication. The lessons and knowledge gained in one country or region can be helpful in arresting the spread of this invasive species elsewhere in the world, which is listed as 100 of the World's Worst Invasive Species by IUCN/GISD/ISSG.

- by Ravindra C . Joshi
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- Knowledge Management, Invasive species ecology, Ecology, Risk Management

As invasões biológicas têm assumido uma importância crescente nos estudos relacionados com a susceptibilidade ambiental. No entanto, os modelos utilizados implicam um conjunto de opções de indicadores que podem provocar dificuldades no entendimento da complexidade envolvida. Um problema no estudo da susceptibilidade ambiental às invasões por Acacia longifolia prende-se com o facto de que muitas das áreas invadidas, normalmente, sistemas costeiros, serem classificadas como “zonas temperadas”, quando, localmente, estas áreas correspondem a condições específicas no âmbito da capacidade de suporte à distribuição da A. longifolia. O presente trabalho objetiva a proposição e teste de um modelo conceptual para a avaliação da susceptibilidade à invasão por A. longifolia, com resposta a aspetos principais: (i) estabelecer ligações entre a susceptibilidade às invasões e a resolução da escala climática de análise; (ii) explicitar o contributo da escala geográfica considerada na distribuição da espécie e o seu alcance nativo; (iii) definir critérios de seleção taxonômica (dimensão escalar).

American birds face an estimated 117 to 157 million exotic predators in the form of free-ranging domestic cats (Felis catus), which are estimated to kill at least one billion birds every year in the United States. Cats have contributed to declines and extinctions of birds worldwide and are one of the most important drivers of global bird extinctions. In this paper, we review recent scientifi c research on the impacts of free-ranging cats on birds, with an emphasis on threats to migratory landbirds in the United States. Studies have shown that cats pose threats to many bird populations, including priority species for conservation, through their predation of adult, nestling, and juvenile birds. Cats also have impacts on birds through competition with native predators such as raptors, and through the harboring and transmission of zoonotic and other diseases to birds and other wildlife. In addition to direct mortality, cats may also cause stress responses in birds due to predation risk that may result in bird population declines. A substantial increase in public outreach is urgently needed to educate citizens about the conservation and welfare problems caused and faced by outdoor cats. Effective cat and wildlife management in this context will also require strengthening and enforcing policies and laws that control outdoor cats, many of which are already in place. IMPACTOS DE LOS GATOS DOMÉSTICOS SUR LAS AVES EN LOS ESTADOS UNIDOS Resumen. Las aves Americanas enfrentan un estimado de 117 a 157 millones de depredadotes exóti-cos en la forma de gatos domésticos (Felis catus) en condición de libertad, los cuales probablemente matan anualmente al menos, mil millones de aves cada año en Estados Unidos. Los gatos han con-tribuido a la declinación y extinción de las aves a nivel mundial, y pueden ser la mayor causa de la extinción global de las aves luego de la destrucción de hábitat. En este articulo, yo reviso la reciente investigación científi ca sobre el impacto que los gatos en condición de libertad causan a las poblacio-nes de aves en los Estados Unidos, con énfasis en su amenaza a las aves migratorias. Estudios han demostrado que los gatos constituyen una amenaza importante para muchas poblaciones de aves, incluyendo aquellas especies cuya conservación es prioritaria, a través de la depredación de adultos, las nidadas y los juveniles, compitiendo también con depredadores nativos, tales como las aves de presa. En adicción a la mortalidad directa causada, los gatos causan reducciones en la fecundidad y supervivencia en las aves expuestas al riesgo de depredación, las mismas que potencialmente y substancialmente dañan y reducen las poblaciones. Acciónas efectivas para la conservación de las aves requerirá del fortalecimiento y aplicación de leyes que prohíben los gatos en condición de lib-ertad, muchas de las cuales ya han sido promulgadas, así como también una mejora sustancial en la educación y que este esfuerzo por enfrentar los problemas que son causados por los gatos llegue al público en general, y producir métodos para controlar las poblaciones y movimientos de los gatos en condición de libertad.

- by Nico Dauphiné
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- Invasion Ecology

Different drivers can contribute to determine the patterns and impacts associated to spatial and temporal spread and invasions by non-native species. Endemic to Australia, Acacia species has invaded many temperate locations, causing impacts already reported around the world (biodiversity loss, disrupted forest successional trajectories and flows). This study is approached by assessing the present and past of the landscape invaded by two Acacia species (A. dealbata and A. melanoxylon) in the Arouce River Basin area (Lousã/Portugal), through information about: (i) species distribution patterns, (ii) habitat suitability, (iii) land-use history, (iv) geo-ecological impacts. We aim to discuss how far landscape structure has supported invasions by Acacia species in the study area. The applied methods include spatial-temporal analysis of orbital images and land use maps. A GIS program “ArcGIS 10.1” for Windows was used to generate spatial information. The timespan covers 50 years, along 1960-2010. The study area is situated in the ‘Serra da Lousã’, a mountainous system at Central Portugal. A field analysis was developed for species, using a grid with 200x200 meters, through which Data was collected on the species presence/abundance about its occupation (<5%; 5-25%; 25-50%; 50-75%; >75%) and sociability degrees (isolated species, small and large paths). Besides the statistical analysis produced between land changes and species distribution data (Moran’s Index, Spearman’s Correlation, Path Analysis), a detailed analysis was completed assessing the contribution of network driving factors (natural and human corridors), through buffers overlaid to maps of species densities and covers in the GIS. The results showed trends: (i) to changes in the land use, with decrease of the agriculture and native forests (-15% original area), in opposite the increase of the social zones and non-native forests (+10% original area); (ii) species distribution patterns, with improve the Acacia range in the last 50 years, from 55 to 936 hectares, what seems the invasion increase under clustered patterns (0,28 Moran’s); (iii) habitat suitability and favorable conditions, where analysis have suggested that the colonization of the study area by Acacia occur in a possible way: coming from the central area (+75% invaded) and disseminating to lower stream of the Arouce River (+25% invaded). The most affected land use types by invasions were pine forests, abandoned agriculture zones and riparian areas. The identification of the role of different triggering factors is crucial in order to identify areas susceptible to invasion.

The establishment of self-sustaining invasive plant communities is traditionally associated with environmental variables, although functional traits among species occupying similar indicate that sustainable invasive communities may also be mediated by intrinsic species attributes. Endemic to Australia, Acacia has spread to Mediterranean and Tropical regions virtually worldwide. Despite the impacts already reported elsewhere – biodiversity loss, altered forest successional trajectories, disrupted nutrient cycles, there has been a notable lack of studies addressing Acacia phenotypic plasticity among plant communities elsewhere in the world. Analysis on the plant phenotypic plasticity is fundamental to understand the potential invasiveness, and therefore, minimize ecological and economic impacts. In the literature, invasive plants are usually related to their high rates of nitrogen acquisition, and their abundance may be related to nitrogen-rich zones. Therefore, in this symposium we aimed to discuss about phenotypic plasticity among terrestrial plants, verifying a possible relationship between a phenotypic trait associated to resource acquisition traits to the invasiveness of Australian Acacia species by comparing it with coastal species between Mediterranean and Tropical regions. We present here some preliminary results of an ongoing research project that intends to extend to other countries the comparison between Acacia and native species ability to acquire nitrogen.

1 Historically, humans have translocated some species of Leporidae (order Lagomorpha) around the world as an introduced food source and as game species. This family is now cosmopolitan and occupies areas where it did not previously exist. With the exception of European rabbits Oryctolagus cuniculus, evidence of the effects of these introduced species is scattered and in many cases anecdotal, though they share many biological traits with Oryctolagus cuniculus, one of the most harmful invasive species worldwide.
2 We review available studies on the 12 leporid species that have been introduced by humans to areas beyond their native ranges. Our aim is to describe and compare the species’ ecological roles in their native geographic ranges and in their exotic ranges. We review the species’ effects on the ecosystem at different levels of the trophic chain. We also evaluate the consequences of introductions for animal and human health, and their economic consequences, and we consider control measures.
3 In their native ranges, the 12 leporids are known to provide resources for other species, act as seed dispersers and ecosystem engineers, function as primary prey items for several predator species, and have many other functions. The effects of the leporids in their exotic geographic ranges are also conspicuous, and in many cases strongly negative, due to competition with native fauna and the facilitation of the presence of other invaders. Nonetheless, they constitute a food resource for native and exotic predators. As game species for humans, their hunting may indirectly impact the ecosystems by increasing the amount of lead in the environment. Moreover, they may be carriers of zoonotic diseases.
4 Conservation biologists should carefully consider the contrasting effects of the introduced leporids species in the ecosystem before developing any management strategy including these species.

- by Sergio Lambertucci
- •
- Landscape Ecology, Zoology, Animal Science, Animal Behavior

La anémona criptogénica Anemonia alicemartinae, una especie exótica que ha expandido su distribución en Chile desde 1975, fue detectada en costas rocosas de Concepción asociada al poliqueto Phragmatopoma virgini, el cual construye tubos protectores individuales cuya agregación forma arrecifes que modifican sustancialmente el paisaje intermareal. Dado que P. virgini desarrolla casi todos sus procesos vitales dentro del tubo, y necesita extender sus tentáculos fuera de él para respirar y alimentarse, en este trabajo evaluamos la hipótesis de que el asentamiento de anémonas sobre o cerca de la apertura de sus tubos afectaría negativamente su adecuación biológica. Para ello
analizamos distintos atributos de historia de vida de P. virgini en la localidad de Punta de Parra, en sectores con distinto nivel de abundancia de A. alicemartinae. Encontramos que el tamaño corporal de P. virgini fue menor en presencia de una alta densidad de anémonas, y que el número de huevos varió negativamente con la distancia a las anémonas, la cual no afectó al tamaño de los huevos. Estos resultados sugieren que A. alicemartinae podría reducir el desempeño y potencial reproductivo de P. virgini, afectando sus poblaciones a mediano o largo plazo, y eventualmente a otras especies
al alterar su acción bioingeniera en la comunidad. Considerando que P. virgini no afectaría a la anémona, esta interacción calificaría como amensalismo, y sería además el primer registro de efectos interespecíficos sobre especies chilenas por parte de A. alicemartinae, señalándola como una especie potencialmente agresiva entre la fauna invasora de nuestras costas.

- by Paulina A. Arancibia
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- Marine Ecology, Invasive species ecology, Invasion Ecology
- by Jessica Costall
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- Community Ecology, Invasion Ecology

A concise biogeographical overview of South Africa's sub-Antarctic islands

- by Morgan Commins
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- Geology, Geomorphology, Oceanography, Pedology

In this work we aim to review empirical evidences using data for Acacia longifolia to analyze coastal systems invasibility, under three synthetic steps: (i) explaining the influence of geographic conditions on invasibility levels at large spatial scales; (ii) correlating this knowledge with the dynamics of A. longifolia invasiveness in temperate regions; (iii) seeking to understand the coastline invasibility phenomenon, using the A. longifolia as an empirical example of invasive species. We examine multiple lines of evidence to try to untangle these issues, about how determinant is ecological similarity between different ranges to explain the susceptibility to invasion by A. longifolia.

This report is the officially adopted Action Plan for Dublin City. It includes summaries of the known invasive alien species in Dublin City, their geographic distribution and impacts. It also gives guidance to those working in Dublin City... more

- by Maryann Harris
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- Invasion Ecology, Biological invasions, Biodiversity, Invasive Alien Species

The invasive alien species Robinia pseudoacacia may lead to species homogenization in high invaded forest ecosystems. Its invasive
behaviour is poorly known in dry forest habitats and low cover-abundance conditions. We have investigated central-northern Italian Quercus pubescens
forest habitats (code 91AA* - EU Habitat Directive) without and with the presence of R. pseudoacacia and in respect of R. pseudoacacia dominant
communities that are present in the same forest potential areas. Using levels of R. pseudoacacia cover-abundance values (Braun-Blanquet scale)
we classified the vegetation relevés in five groups: from 0 (total absence) to 4 (dominant conditions). Through the calculation of some indices, we
highlighted the relations between groups of relevés and the variation in term of ecological features. A threshold has been identified at low coverage
values of R. pseudoacacia. We detected a significant difference in the lower invaded sites in term of presence of nitrophilous and alien species,
Shannon diversity index and changes in nutrient, moisture, light and reaction Ellenberg indicator values. These results inform about the early alarm
level to set in monitoring Q. pubescens forest habitats in sub-Mediterranean areas.

Identifying species and population genetic compositions of biological invasions at early life stages and/or from environmental (e)DNA using targeted high‐throughput sequencing (HTS) metabarcode assays offers powerful and cost‐effective means for early detection, analysis of spread patterns, and evaluating population changes. The present study develops, tests, and applies this method with a targeted sequence assay designed to simultaneously identify and distinguish between the closely related
invasive Eurasian zebra and quagga mussels (Dreissena polymorpha and D. rostriformis) and their relatives and discern their respective population genetic patterns. Invasions of these dreissenid mussel species have markedly changed freshwater ecosystems throughout North America and Europe, exerting severe ecological and economic damage. Their planktonic early life stages (eggs and larvae) are morphologically indistinguishable, yet each species exerts differential ecological effects, with the quagga often outcompeting the zebra mussel as adults. Our targeted assay analyzes genetic variation from a diagnostic sequence region of the mitochondrial (mt)DNA cytochrome oxidase I (COI) gene, to assess temporal and spatial inter‐ and intra‐specific genetic variability. The assay facilitates analysis of environmental (e)DNA from water, early life stages from thousands of individuals, and simultaneous analysis of 50–100 tagged field‐collected samples. Experiments evaluated its accuracy and performance using: (a) mock laboratory communities containing known DNA quantities per taxon, (b) aquaria with mixed‐species/haplotype compositions of adults, and (c) field‐collected water and plankton versus traditional sampling of adult communities. Results delineated species compositions, relative abundances, and population‐level
diversity differences among ecosystems, habitats, time series, and life stages from two allopatric concurrent invasions in the Great Lakes (Lake Erie) and the Hudson River, which had separate founding histories. Findings demonstrate application of this targeted assay and our approach to accurately and simultaneously discern species‐ and population‐level differences across spatial and temporal scales, facilitating
early detection and ecological understanding of biological invasions.

- by Carol A Stepien and +1
- •
- Population Genetics, Invasive Species, Invasion Ecology, Next generation sequencing

How humans perceive and judge nature and relate it to their life is shaped by emotional, cognitive, cultural and social factors. Whether a species is considered native, non-native or invasive can affect such aesthetics of nature by interacting with our emotions, affronting or confirming our cognitive categories, or engaging in our social, economic and cultural worlds. Consequently, how humans perceive and judge the presence of such species, or how they judge an ecosystem or landscape change triggered by them, is not fixed and easy to define. Here, some of the psychological, cognitive, and social dimensions that influence how humans judge non-native and invasive species and their effects on ecosystems are reviewed. It is concluded, at least in the case of non-native species, that the reduction of aesthetics to a 'service' is problematic, for it occludes the complex psychological and social processes that shape divergent perceptions of changing species distributions.

This paper frames genetically modified organisms (GMOs) as invasive species. This offers a way of considering the reception, diffusion and management of GMOs in the foodscape. “An invasive non-native species is any non-native animal or plant that has the ability to spread causing damage to the environment, the economy, our health and the way we live” (NNSS, 2017). Without any social licence, pesticide companies have thrust GMOs into the foodscape. The release of GMOs has generally been unwelcome, there has been no ‘pull’ factor from consumers and there has been vocal resistance from many. The apologists for GMOs have argued the self-contradictory conceit that GMOs are ‘same but different’. Under this logically untenable stance, GMOs are to be excluded from specific regulation because they are the ‘same’ as existing organisms, while simultaneously they are ‘different’ and so open to patenting. GMOs are patented and this demonstrates that, prima facie, these are novel organisms which are non-native to the foodscape. GMO apologists have campaigned intensively, and successfully in USA, to ensure that consumers are kept in the dark and that GMOs remain unlabelled - as a consequence GMOs are ubiquitous in US consumer foods. In contrast, in Australia GMOs are required to be labelled if present in consumer products and, in consequence, Australian food manufacturers do not use them. The release of a GMO calls for biosecurity measures. After trial plots of Monsanto GM canola in Tasmania in the 1990s, the sites continue to be biosecurity monitored for GMO escape, and volunteer canola plants continue to appear two decades later. In Western Australia the escape of GMO canola into a neighbouring organic farm resulted in the loss of organic certification and the monetary loss of the organic premium for produce. GMO produce sells for a 10% discount because of market forces and the consumer aversion to GMOs. Where non-GM product is accidentally contaminated with some GM grain, the whole batch is discounted and is sold as GMO. There is a lack of evidence that GMOs can be contained and many jurisdictions have banned the introduction of GMOs. GMOs have the potential and the propensity to contaminate non-GMO crops and thereby devalue them. The evidence is that GMOs are invasive species, they are unwelcome by consumers, peaceful coexistence with non-GM varieties is a fiction, and GMOs are appropriately managed as a biosecurity issue.

- by John Paull, PhD
- •
- Environmental Science, Agronomy, Environmental Studies, Sustainable Development

Invasive introduced mammals (IIMs) have ecological and social dimensions that require holistic research to integrate academic disciplines with basic and applied sciences.
We assessed current knowledge of IIMs to determine trends in their study and management in southern South America.
A keyword search was used to select indexed papers in the Web of Science. These were reviewed to assess each study's objective, methodology, country, publication year, and taxa. Unpublished ‘grey’ literature was added to evaluate further each species’ native range, year of introduction, the reason for its introduction, its distribution, dispersal pathways, impacts, and management.
Most of the 190 peer-reviewed publications were focused on autecology and impacts of IIMs; less than 4% addressed management or social topics. Twenty-three IIMs have been documented in the study area. The southern Magellanic subpolar forest was the most invaded ecoregion (17 spp.), and the most studied orders, from 440 records in 190 papers, were Artiodactyla (35%) and Rodentia (28%). Together, livestock and commensals brought during early European colonisation constituted 44% of this assemblage, but hunting was the major reason behind the introduction of IIMs (30%).
To enhance policies and institutional frameworks pertaining to biological invasions, we highlight the importance of: 1) recognising the presence and spread of IIMs in ‘pristine’ or protected areas; 2) improving controls to prevent new introductions and escapes; 3) including social and cultural aspects of biological invasions in research and management plans; 4) reinforcing hunting regulations; 5) establishing long-term programmes to monitor distribution and dispersion; 6) creating mechanisms for scientists and managers to co-produce research and policy programmes oriented towards applied issues; 7) developing pilot management projects in critical areas; 8) achieving societal involvement in management programmes to ensure public acceptance; and 9) developing prioritisation tools, as resources needed to manage IIMs are often limited.

Nonostante la diffusa presenza dell'ailanto in Sicilia, mancavano sino ad oggi studi specifici a carattere regionale su questa specie arborea esotica invasiva. Allo scopo di colmare alcune di queste lacune, il presente lavoro si è posto cinque obiettivi: 1) ripercorrere la storia della diffusione globale dell'ailanto, prestando particolare attenzione all'Italia ed alla Sicilia; 2) analizzare le cause (antropiche e biologiche) della sua spiccata invasività a livello globale e locale; 3) fornire un primo quadro della sua distribuzione e della sua auto-e sinecologia sul territorio regionale; 4) stabilire i metodi più idonei ed efficaci per contenerne la diffusione e ridurne l'impatto ecologico sulla flora e sulle comunità vegetali locali di maggior valore; 5) evidenziare i possibili usi di questa xenofita. Giacché appare impossibile una sua completa eradicazione -quantomeno a livello regionale -il suo sfruttamento economico potrebbe costituire una soluzione ottimale per tenerne sotto controllo i processi d'espansione.

La vegetación ribereña comprende la zona ecotonal en la transición entre un cuerpo de agua y el ambiente terrestre
contiguo, desempeñando un rol elemental en el funcionamiento de los ecosistemas acuáticos. La cobertura, estructura, y
composición de la vegetación influyen de manera fundamental en el control de la entrada de energía al ecosistema acuático.
Las múltiples funciones ambientales que cumplen los ecosistemas ribereños, y el flujo de servicios ecosistémicos que
directa o indirectamente influyen en el bienestar de la sociedad, hacen que el conocimiento de la calidad ecológica de estas
áreas sea considerado como un buen indicador ambiental, útil en la planificación y gestión del territorio, especialmente en
ecosistemas costeros. Mediante la aplicación del índice QBR se determinó la calidad de la vegetación ribereña en los ríos
Lingue y Chaihuín, ambas cuencas costeras del sur de Chile. Los resultados obtenidos indican que el río Chaihuín presenta
una vegetación de mejor calidad en sus riberas, en comparación con el río Lingue, donde los bajos valores de QBR son
producto de la sustitución de la vegetación ribereña natural para el establecimiento de terrenos agrícolas y plantaciones
forestales. La aplicación de este índice y la experiencia global de su utilización indican que resulta ser un instrumento
económico y de rápida aplicación, que entrega resultados confiables y útiles para la toma de decisiones en el diagnóstico
territorial, considerando las múltiples funciones y valores que hacen de los ecosistemas ribereños buenos indicadores
ambientales, diagnosticando los principales impactos y problemas para proponer medidas de restauración y/o mitigación.

- by Sebastián Carrasco
- •
- Landscape Ecology, Plant Ecology, Conservation Biology, Restoration Ecology

Novel disturbance regimes (e.g. introduced herbivores and fire) are among the major drivers of degradation in island ecosystems. High elevation ecosystems (HEEs) on islands might be especially vulnerable to these disturbances due to high endemism. Here, data from an 11-year exclosure experiment in the HEE of La Palma (Canary Islands) are presented where mammalian herbivores have been introduced. We investigate the combined effect of herbivory and fire on total species richness, seedling richness and seedling establishment on the whole system and a subset of highly endangered species (target species). Total species richness, seedling species richness, and seedling establishment decreased with herbivory. Five out of eight target species were exclusively found inside the exclosures indicating the negative impact of introduced herbivores on endemic high elevation flora. Target species were generally affected more negatively by introduced herbivores and were subject to significantly higher browsing pressure, probably owing to their lack of defense strategies. A natural wildfire that occurred six years before data sampling substantially increased total species richness and seedling richness in both herbivory exclosure and reference conditions. We conclude that species composition of the HEE has been severely altered by the introduction of non-native herbivores, even though fire seems to have a positive effect on this system.

- by Severin Irl
- •
- Invasion Ecology, Biological invasions, Canary Islands, Goats

In 2000 the European Parliament and The European Union Council recommended that member countries assess water quality using diatoms, as part of the phytobenthos. In Italy this recommendation has given new impetus to the study of diatom communities and the application of biotic indices. During the summer of 2004, a total of 11 rivers of the Trentino province (Northern Italy) were sampled, revealing the presence in low abundances of the diatom Didymosphenia geminata (Lyngbye) M. Schmidt. The sites where this diatom occurred were characterised by a low pollution impact; they were also lake fed or had a regulated flow regime, although with different geologies. Morphological features of D. geminata frustules were analysed using LM and SEM and specimens could be referred to the morphotype "geminata". In many countries this species is expanding its distribution and in New Zealand it is considered an invasive alga. This work provides an initial report on the presence of D. geminata in the Trento province, and contributes to increasing the knowledge on its distribution in Italy and its ecology in the Alps.

- by Saúl Blanco
- •
- Phycology, Stream ecology, Taxonomy, Invasive species ecology

The identication of taxa and discernment of evolutionary
relationships within the family Dreissenidae have been confounded
by morphological plasticity as well as prior lack of a
comprehensive DNA sequence data analysis. We thus analyzed
the phylogenetic relationships of putative taxa (species and subspecies)
in the genus Dreissena in relation to its nearest living
relatives (Mytilopsis leucophaeata and Congeria kusceri) using
DNA sequence data from the nuclear 28S RNA gene and three
mitochondrial genes: cytochrome c oxidase subunit I (COI),
16S RNA, and cytochrome (cyt) b oxidase. Relationships
resolved by maximum likelihood and Bayesian phylogenetic
trees are robust and congruent and support division of
Dreissena into three subgenera: Dreissena, Pontodreissena,
and Carinodreissena. The subgenus Pontodreissena contains
two species: Dreissena caputlacus and Dreissena rostriformis.
Putative subspecies once proposed for D. rostriformis
lack genetic divergence and likely should no longer be recognized;
these include D. r. “bugensis” (the quagga mussel),D. r. “grimmi,” D. r. “distincta,” and D. r. “compressa.” The
Pontodreissena then comprises the sister group (nearest relative)
to a clade comprising the other two subgenera (Dreissena and
Carinodreissena). The subgenus Carinodreissena contains
the valid taxa Dreissena carinata and Dreissena blanci; both
inhabit ancient lakes in the Balkan Peninsula. We consider
the once recognized Dreissena “stankovici” and Dreissena
“presbensis” to be synonyms of Dreissena carinata; DNA and
morphological evidence supports this conclusion. The subgenus
Dreissena includes two species, Dreissena polymorpha
and Dreissena anatolica. D. anatolica is endemic to Turkey
in lakes north of the Mediterranean, and D. polymorpha (the
zebra mussel) has been widely introduced throughout much of
Eurasia and North America, spreading from its native distribution
in the Pontocaspian region.
We additionally analyze population genetic variation
for invasive and native populations of the zebra mussel
D. polymorpha (using 11 nuclear DNA microsatellite loci)
and the quagga mussel D. r. “bugensis” (using 9 microsatellite
loci) across North America and Eurasia and compare
our results with previous studies that used other markers.
Results reveal signicant genetic structuring of introduced
populations from Eurasia and North America for both species.
North American invasions of both species were founded
from multiple source populations and a large number of
propagules, showing no founder effects and substantial
genetic diversity. In contrast, recently colonized quagga
mussel populations from the Colorado River and California
exhibit some founder effects. Genetic compositions of both
species have changed over time at given colonization sites,
with some populations adding alleles from adjacent populations,
some losing them, and most retaining closest similarity
to their original composition. In conclusion, these genetic
data comprise a valuable baseline for resolving present and
future invasion pathways for dreissenids, as well as interpreting
patterns of distributions in their native ecosystems.

- by Carol Stepien and +1
- •
- Phylogeography, Invasive species ecology, Invasive Species, Invasion Ecology

The book presents results of the project “Reduction of Negative Impact of Alien Invasive Plant Species on Ecosystems and Human Wellbeing in Cross-border Region of Lithuania-Belarus (ENI-LLB-1-207, Alien Invasive Plants)”. During the implementation of the project, eight invasive plant species were inventoried and mapped in the transboundary region of Belarus and Lithuania according to the common methodology. The following invasive species were selected for the evaluation: Acer negundo, Asclepias syriaca, Echinocystis lobata, Heracleum sosnowskyi, Solidago canadensis and Solidago gigantea. Acer negundo was the most frequent in the target area. It prevailed both in terms of the number of occupied sites (69% and 44% of all sites invaded by the study species in Lithuania and Belarus, respectively) and in terms of occupied area (5.5 thousand ha and 0.8 thousand ha in Lithuania and Belarus, respectively). Echinocystis lobata and Solidago canadensis are also widespread invasive species in the territory. However, Solidago canadensis was more frequent in Belarus, whereas Echinocystis lobata was much more widespread in Lithuania. The frequency of Impatiens glandulifera is just slightly higher in Lithuania than in Belarus. It should be noted that the most dangerous invasive species, Heracleum sosnowskyi, was quite rare in the project target area.