Competition between invasive and indigenous species: an insular case study of subterranean termites

Abstract

International audienceAn important requirement for the management of invasive species is to identify the biological and ecological factors that influence the ability of such species to become established and spread within a new environment. Although competition is one of the key interactions determining the coexistence of species and exclusion, few studies directly examine the mechanism of competitive interactions within invasive communities. This study focused on putative competition in a social insect invader, R. flavipes, an American termite introduced into France, and an indigenous European termite, R. grassei. We first characterized and mapped a zone of sympatry between these two species. We then evaluated the degree of direct and indirect competition by comparing several life-history traits: behavioral aggression, chemical recognition and dispersion modes. Interspecific competition revealed that R. flavipes was dominant over R. grassei. Intraspecific competition was not found in R. flavipes while it appeared in varying degrees in R. grassei. These findings seemed to be correlated with the remarkable chemical homogeneity found in R. flavipes in comparison with R. grassei. Genetic analyses revealed that R. flavipes foraged over a greater distance than R. grassei colonies and might suggest a difference in the capacity to produce secondary reproductives. These findings suggest that R. flavipes has a significant advantage owing to competitive asymmetry that may enable the species to become dominant. The interspecific superiority, lack of intraspecific aggression and large extensive colonies, seem to be some of the reasons for its invasive success

Brood care and social evolution in termites

“…Using three colonies transferred to Plexiglas boxes (90 Â 60 Â 50 mm; Boite Lab Ltd, France) with moistured Fontainebleau sand and pieces of wood, we prepared three subcolonies (one from each colony) of 200-350 individuals with several nymphs and neotenics present. The species was determined by morphological and chemical identification as described previously [52] and confirmed by molecular data as in [53]. These colonies were transferred to Germany; where they were kept under the same conditions until experiments started.…”

The gut microbiota of the wood-feeding termite Reticulitermes lucifugus (Isoptera; Rhinotermitidae)

“…Reticulitermes lucifugus (Rossi) (Isoptera: Rhinotermitidae), along with Reticulitermes flavipes (Kollar) and the recently recorded Reticulitermes urbis Bagneres Uva et Clement, represent the most harmful pests for wooden objects and structural timbers as well as for historical and artistic wooden structures, thus representing a great threat to Italian cultural heritage (Liotta 1991;Liotta 2005;Perdereau et al 2011). Only a few studies have focused specifically on the Italian range, concentrating primarily on species origin and evolution (Luchetti et al 2013), and little information is available on the gut microbiota of this species.…”

Traits related to biological invasion: A note on the applicability of risk assessment tools across taxa

“…Invasive insect foundresses more aggressive towards offspring than natives (Armstrong and Stamp 2003) E Aggression Level of aggression Invasive insects show less intraspecific aggression compared to natives , Suarez et al 1999, Le Breton et al 2004, Errard et al 2005, Cremer et al 2008, Fournier et al 2009, Perdereau et al 2011, Suhr et al 2011, Ugelvig and Cremer 2012, Hoffmann 2014); Low intraspecific aggression may promote invasion success (Moller 1996); Invasive insects show more interspecific aggression than natives (Human and Gordon 1999, Cremer et al 2006, Duyck et al 2006, Snyder and Evans 2006, Rowles and O'Dowd 2007, Carpintero and Reyes-Lopez 2008, Fournier et al 2009, Blight et al 2010…”

“…Recognition cues Invasive insects are more chemically similar than natives (Errard et al 2005, Cremer et al 2008, Brandt et al 2009, Fournier et al 2009, Perdereau et al 2011; Invasive insects are more genetically similar than native insects (Tsusui and Suarez 2003, Suarez et al 2008, Ugelvig and Cremer 2012 A, E, O Colony longevity Shift from small, annual colony to large, perennial colony can increase invasion success (Wilson et al 2009) E, O Queen characteristics Queen longevity Queen longevity is greater in invasive insects than in natives (Gamboa et al 2002) O Queen number Invasive insects have more queens per nest than natives (Ross et al 1996, Tsusui and Suarez 2003, Abril et al 2013;…”

“…For ants and termites, invasive species tend to have lower intraspecific aggression than native species , Suarez et al 1999, Le Breton et al 2004, Errard et al 2005, Cremer et al 2008, Fournier et al 2009, Perdereau et al 2011, Suhr et al 2011, Ugelvig and Cremer 2012, Hoffmann 2014, suggesting that multiple invasive colonies may behave as a supercolony (Suhr et al 2011). Interspecific aggression is also exhibited in invasive ants and Ceratitis catoirii (Mascarenes fruit fly; Human and Gordon 1999, Cremer et al 2006, Duyck et al 2006, Snyder and Evans 2006, Rowles and O'Dowd 2007, Carpintero and Reyes-Lopez 2008, Fournier et al 2009, Blight et al 2010, Perdereau et al 2011. Low intraspecific aggression combined with high interspecific aggression can lead to ecological dominance of the invasive species while allowing individuals of the same species to amalgamate, possibly behaving as a supercolony (Suhr et al 2011).…”