Invasion of yellow crazy ant Anoplolepis gracilipes in a Seychelles UNESCO palm forest

Kaiser‐Bunbury, Christopher N.; Cuthbert, Harriet; Fox, R. S.; Birch, Darryl; Bunbury, Nancy

doi:10.3897/neobiota.22.6634

Cited by 16 publications

(16 citation statements)

References 44 publications

(53 reference statements)

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“…, Gerlach ) or fauna associated with an iconic palm (Kaiser‐Bunbury et al . ). Few studies have investigated effects of any invasive ant species on lepidopterans in a conservation context (but see Trager & Daniels and Forys et al .…”

Section: Results Of the Generalized Linear Mixed Models Of The Likelimentioning

confidence: 97%

“…Almost all reports of ecological effects of A. gracilipes are from islands ( e.g ., Seychelles [Kaiser‐Bunbury et al . ]; Samoa [Savage et al . ]; Christmas Island [Green et al .…”

Section: Results Of the Generalized Linear Mixed Models Of The Likelimentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Almost all reports of ecological effects of A. gracilipes are from islands (e.g., Seychelles [Kaiser-Bunbury et al 2014]; Samoa [Savage et al 2009]; Christmas Island [Green et al 2011];Tokelau [McNatty et al 2009]; Borneo [Drescher et al 2011], Hawai'i [Plentovich et al 2011]), which may be more susceptible to effects of invasive species than continental ecosystems (Simberloff 1995). Only one published study has investigated effects of A. gracilipes on invertebrate communities on mainlands, and it found no significant effect of A. gracilipes on the abundance or richness of ground invertebrates (Hoffmann & Saul 2010).…”

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confidence: 99%

“…The ant has also invaded the Seychelles, which has 552 Lepidoptera species, about half of them endemic (Gerlach & Matyot 2006). Investigations of the ant on this archipelago have mostly focused on relationships with honeydew-producing insects and ground invertebrates (Haines & Haines 1978, Hill et al 2003, Gerlach 2004 or fauna associated with an iconic palm (Kaiser-Bunbury et al 2014). Few studies have investigated effects of any invasive ant species on lepidopterans in a conservation context (but see Trager &Daniels 2009 andForys et al 2001).…”

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confidence: 99%

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High invasive ant activity drives predation of a native butterfly larva

et al. 2015

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Yellow crazy ants (Anoplolepis gracilipes) threaten invertebrates on many tropical islands, but little work has been done in continental ecosystems. We found 4.4-16.0 times more cruiser butterfly caterpillars were attacked in Australian rain forest sites with A. gracilipes than in native ant sites, and extrafloral nectar had little influence. , which may be more susceptible to effects of invasive species than continental ecosystems (Simberloff 1995). Only one published study has investigated effects of A. gracilipes on invertebrate communities on mainlands, and it found no significant effect of A. gracilipes on the abundance or richness of ground invertebrates (Hoffmann & Saul 2010).Butterflies are a group of invertebrates that may be particularly susceptible to invasions by A. gracilipes because their larval stages forage on plants. Larvae that forage on plants with EFN may be particularly at risk because A. gracilipes increases recruitment and aggressive behavior with increasing EFN availability (Savage & Whitney 2011). The aim of our study was to compare attack rates of a native caterpillar by the invasive A. gracilipes and native O. smaragdina. We conducted our experiments on two species of host plants and manipulated access to EFN on one of them. We addressed two questions: (1) are attack rates of caterpillars by A. gracilipes higher than by O. smaragdina? And (2) how does availability of EFN influence attack rates by the invasive and native ant species?We conducted our study with the native cruiser butterfly, Vindula arsinoe (Nymphalidae), an excellent proxy for many threatened butterfly species in the Wet Tropics. It oviposits in clusters, its instars have spines, and it does not sequester phytotoxins. Its preference for lowland rain forest and vine thickets (Braby 2009) overlaps with habitat invaded by A. gracilipes. Vindula arsinoe oviposits and develops on the introduced weedy vine, Passiflora foetida and the native vine, Adenia heterophylla (both Passifloraceae). Passiflora foetida has multiple minuscule extrafloral nectaries on its leaf margins, and A. heterophylla has two prominent extrafloral nectaries at the base of the petiole and underside of

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Section: Results Of the Generalized Linear Mixed Models Of The Likelimentioning

confidence: 97%

“…Almost all reports of ecological effects of A. gracilipes are from islands ( e.g ., Seychelles [Kaiser‐Bunbury et al . ]; Samoa [Savage et al . ]; Christmas Island [Green et al .…”

Section: Results Of the Generalized Linear Mixed Models Of The Likelimentioning

confidence: 99%

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confidence: 99%

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High invasive ant activity drives predation of a native butterfly larva

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“…; Kaiser‐Bunbury et al . ). While fire is the most acute and severe short‐term threat, overexploitation of nuts ultimately limits coco de mer recruitment in existing and newly planted populations, thereby compromising long‐term conservation of the species.…”

Section: Conserving a Keystone Species In The Seychelles: A Case Studymentioning

confidence: 97%

Scientists’ responsibilities towards evidence‐based conservation in a Small Island Developing State

Kaiser‐Bunbury

Fleischer‐Dogley

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et al. 2014

Journal of Applied Ecology

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Pollination effectiveness of specialist and opportunistic nectar feeders influenced by invasive alien ants in the Seychelles

Fuster

Kaiser‐Bunbury

Traveset

2020

American J of Botany

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PREMISE: Opportunistic nectar-feeders may act as effective pollinators; nonetheless, we still lack information on whether these opportunistic species differ in their pollination effectiveness from specialized nectarivorous vertebrates and insects. Many nectar specialists have coevolved with the plants on which they feed; therefore, we would expect higher pollination effectiveness in specialists than in opportunistic feeders. Here, we assessed quantity and quality components of pollination effectiveness in specialist and opportunistic vertebrate nectarivores and insects, focusing on three plants from the Seychelles, Thespesia populnea, Polyscias crassa and Syzygium wrightii. METHODS:We determined the quantity component of pollination effectiveness (QNC) with pollinator observations, and the quality component (QLC) by measuring fruit and seed set resulting from single visits by each pollinator. To detect potential negative effects of invasive ants on native plant-pollinator interactions, we classified pollinator visits (quantity component) as disturbed (> 6 ants/30 min) vs. undisturbed. RESULTS:All focal plants were visited by insects and vertebrate specialist and opportunist nectarivores, yet their pollination effectiveness differed. Flying insects were the most effective pollinators of T. populnea. The other two plants were most effectively pollinated by vertebrates; i.e., sunbirds (nectar specialists) in S. wrightii and Phelsuma geckos (nectar opportunists) in P. crassa, despite marked variation in QNC and QLC. Ant presence was associated with lower pollinator visitation rate in P. crassa and S. wrightii. CONCLUSIONS:Our study highlights the importance of all pollinator guilds, including opportunist nectarivorous vertebrates as pollinators of island plants, and the vulnerability of such interactions to disruption by non-native species.

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Invasion of yellow crazy ant Anoplolepis gracilipes in a Seychelles UNESCO palm forest

Cited by 16 publications

References 44 publications

High invasive ant activity drives predation of a native butterfly larva

High invasive ant activity drives predation of a native butterfly larva

Scientists’ responsibilities towards evidence‐based conservation in a Small Island Developing State

Pollination effectiveness of specialist and opportunistic nectar feeders influenced by invasive alien ants in the Seychelles

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