Interference competition by Argentine ants displaces native ants: implications for biotic resistance to invasion |
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Authors: | Alexei D Rowles Dennis J O’Dowd |
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Institution: | (1) Australian Centre for Biodiversity, School of Biological Sciences, Monash University, Clayton, Vic., 3800, Australia;(2) Department of Entomology, North Carolina State University, Campus Box 7613, Raleigh, NC 27695-7613, USA |
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Abstract: | The Argentine ant Linepithema humile (Dolichoderinae) is one of the most widespread invasive ant species in the world. Throughout its introduced range, it is
associated with the loss or reduced abundance of native ant species. The mechanisms by which these native species are displaced
have received limited attention, particularly in Australia. The role of interference competition in the displacement of native
ant species by L. humile was examined in coastal vegetation in central Victoria (southeastern Australia). Foragers from laboratory colonies placed
in the field consistently and rapidly displaced the tyrant ant Iridomyrmex bicknelli, the big-headed ant Pheidole sp. 2, and the pony ant Rhytidoponera victoriae from baits. Numerical and behavioural dominance enabled Argentine ants to displace these ants in just 20 min; the abundance
of native species at baits declined 3.5–24 fold in direct relation to the rapid increase in L. humile. Most precipitous was the decline of I. bicknelli, even though species in this typically dominant genus have been hypothesized to limit invasion of L. humile in Australia. Interspecific aggression contributed strongly to the competitive success of Argentine ants at baits. Fighting
occurred in 50–75% of all observed interactions between Argentine and native ants. This study indicates that Argentine ants
recruit rapidly, numerically dominate, and aggressively displace from baits a range of Australian native ant species from
different subfamilies and functional groups. Such direct displacement is likely to reduce native biodiversity and indirectly
alter food web structure and ecosystem processes within invaded areas. Biotic resistance to Argentine ant invasion from native
ants in this coastal community in southeastern Australia is not supported in this study. |
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Keywords: | Ant Argentine Australia Biotic resistance Interference competition Invasion Iridomyrmex Linepithema humile nest raids |
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