Forest invader replaces predation but not dispersal services by a keystone species

Warren, Robert J.; McMillan, Amy M.; King, Joshua R.; Chick, Lacy D.; Bradford, Mark A.

doi:10.1007/s10530-015-0942-z

Cited by 30 publications

(25 citation statements)

References 51 publications

(75 reference statements)

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“…Although some researchers suggested B. chinensis may outcompete native ants and other insects for food and nesting sites (Guénard and Dunn , Warren et al. ), we found no decrease in ant taxa richness within MB, where B. chinensis was most abundant. Additionally, some ant species (e.g., Crematogaster lineolata and Monomorium minimum ) did not exhibit any declines within MB and were relatively more common within MB, despite the higher abundance of their potential competitor B. chinensis .…”

Section: Discussioncontrasting

confidence: 92%

“…Additionally, some ant species (e.g., Crematogaster lineolata and Monomorium minimum) did not exhibit any declines within MB and were relatively more common within MB, despite the higher abundance of their potential competitor B. chinensis. In its native habitat and introduced areas, B. chinensis primarily feeds on termites (Bednar and Silverman 2011), and therefore, it has a niche overlap with Aphaenogaster (rudis) complex (Warren et al 2015). Potentially, competitive exclusion by B. chinensis could explain the relatively lower abundance of Aphaenogaster (rudis) complex in MB; however, this trend was not statistically significant.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 94%

“…chinensis primarily feeds on termites (Bednar and Silverman ), and therefore, it has a niche overlap with Aphaenogaster ( rudis ) complex (Warren et al. ). Potentially, competitive exclusion by B .…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…chinensis is not an efficient disperser of seeds (Warren et al. ). Additionally, the increase in B. chinensis in the MB occurred after the last round of fuel reduction treatments were implemented at the end of 2014, suggesting that heavily disturbed forests could aid the spread of B. chinensis .…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Potentially, competitive exclusion by B. chinensis could explain the relatively lower abundance of Aphaenogaster (rudis) complex in MB; however, this trend was not statistically significant. Displacement of Aphaenogaster (rudis) complex by B. chinensis could have important implications for the greater forest ecosystem because, unlike Aphaenogaster (rudis) complex, B. chinensis is not an efficient disperser of seeds (Warren et al 2015). Additionally, the increase in B. chinensis in the MB occurred after the last round of fuel reduction treatments were implemented at the end of 2014, suggesting that heavily disturbed forests could aid the spread of B. chinensis.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Asian needle ant (Brachyponera chinensis) and woodland ant responses to repeated applications of fuel reduction methods

et al. 2019

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Ants (Formicidae: Hymenoptera) are important components of forest ecosystems and can be affected by fuel reduction forest management practices. We assessed the impact of repeated applications of fuel reduction treatments on abundance and diversity of ants within upland mixed-hardwood forests in the Southern Appalachian Mountains in North Carolina, USA. We established three replicate blocks (~56 ha each) and split each block into four fuel reduction treatments, which included prescribed burning (B), mechanical felling (M), a combination of prescribed burning and mechanical felling (MB), and a control (C; i.e., no treatment). We implemented treatments multiple times (two mechanical thinnings and four prescribed burns) over the course of a 15-yr period. Due to tree mortality and resultant canopy gaps from high-severity burns, forest structure was dramatically altered in MB. Over a 3-yr period (2014-2016), we captured 54,219 ants comprised of 23 genera using pitfall and colored pan traps. Prenolepis imparis was the most common ant species collected, and it was significantly lower in abundance in MB than all other treatments. However, the non-native species Brachyponera chinensis was more abundant in MB than all other treatments. Thus, some fuel reduction treatments may have consequences for invasive ant colonization in forests. Most ant taxa did not differ in abundance among treatments, suggesting that some fuel reduction practices may affect some, but not all ant species. Our results indicate that some fuel reduction treatments can alter forest ant communities, thus contributing to changing forest ecosystem dynamics. Monitoring of ants and other bioindicators after repeated rounds of fuel reduction treatments could provide useful knowledge that can be used to help balance forest management and biological diversity.

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Section: Discussioncontrasting

confidence: 92%

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 94%

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Asian needle ant (Brachyponera chinensis) and woodland ant responses to repeated applications of fuel reduction methods

et al. 2019

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Antagonistic and mutualistic interactions alter seed dispersal of understory plants at forest edges

2021

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Seed dispersal by ants is an important interaction in North American eastern deciduous forests, where 30-40% of understory plants are myrmecochores, with seeds that possess lipid-rich appendages (elaiosomes) that attract seed-dispersing ants. Contemporary forests are fragmented and have regenerated from being previously cleared (secondary forests). In secondary forests, and especially along edges, myrmecochores are a depauperate component of forests. Here, we assess if seed dispersal of myrmecochores by ants, particularly the keystone disperser, Aphaenogaster sp., is intact in forest interiors compared to edges. In three North American northeastern deciduous forests, we compared myrmecochore cover and richness, seed dispersal by ants, and the abundance and richness of ants and other forest floor invertebrates between interiors and edges. We also conducted a seed removal experiment, excluding either ants, rodents (seed predators), or ants and rodents, to test their effects on seed dispersal between interiors and edges. We found differences in the composition of understory plants between interiors and edges, with edges lacking myrmecochores. We also found that seed dispersal by ants was lower in two of the three edges and corresponded to Aphaenogaster sp. abundance. Antagonistic interactions with an invasive slug that is an elaiosome robber, Arion subfuscus, was more apparent than damage by rodents in the experiment, negatively affected dispersal by ants more at edges than in interiors. Here we show that changes in mutualistic and antagonistic interactions affect seed dispersal at forest edges and that not all forest edges are the same, with some more intact than others. Understanding how seed dispersal is impacted in contemporary forests is important towards the goal of conserving and restoring depauperate forest understory communities.

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Historical forest disturbance results in variation in functional resilience of seed dispersal mutualisms

Buono

Lofaso

Smisko

et al. 2023

Ecology

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Mutualistic interactions provide essential ecosystem functions that contribute to promoting and maintaining diversity in ecosystems. Understanding if functionally important mutualisms are "resilient" (i.e., able to resist or recover) to anthropogenic disturbance is essential for revealing the capacity for diversity to recover. Animal-mediated seed dispersal supports plant population growth and influences community structure, and disturbance affecting seed dispersal can contribute to low resiliency of plant diversity. Ant-seed dispersal mutualisms are sensitive to anthropogenic disturbance, as they rely on one to a few high-quality dispersal partners. In North American eastern deciduous forests, ants in the genus Aphaenogaster are "keystone dispersers" of understory forbs adapted to dispersal by ants (myrmecochores), which make up more than one-third of the understory herbaceous community. The majority of forests within this region have regenerated from previous disturbance in the form of clearing for agriculture. Previous studies have revealed that myrmecochore diversity is not resilient to previous clearing. Here, we ask if seed dispersal mutualisms are resilient to historical forest disturbance and if decreases in mutualistic interactions with partners, Aphaenogaster sp., or increases in antagonistic interactions cause degradation of function. In a large-scale natural experiment (20 sites), we measured seed removal, the abundance of mutualis-

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Forest invader replaces predation but not dispersal services by a keystone species

Cited by 30 publications

References 51 publications

Asian needle ant (Brachyponera chinensis) and woodland ant responses to repeated applications of fuel reduction methods

Asian needle ant (Brachyponera chinensis) and woodland ant responses to repeated applications of fuel reduction methods

Antagonistic and mutualistic interactions alter seed dispersal of understory plants at forest edges

Historical forest disturbance results in variation in functional resilience of seed dispersal mutualisms

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