Invasive acacias experience higher ant seed removal rates at the invasion edges

Montesinos, Daniel; Castro, Sílvia; Rodríguez‐Echeverría, Susana

doi:10.5194/we-12-33-2012

Cited by 13 publications

(18 citation statements)

References 34 publications

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“…and Pinus pinaster . In Tocha, the mean annual precipitation is 948 mm and the mean annual temperature is 16.2 °C (Montesinos, Castro & Rodríguez‐Echeverría, ).…”

Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Reproductive biology and success of invasive Australian acacias in Portugal

et al. 2014

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Reproductive traits are crucial for the establishment and maintenance of populations in new areas, and therefore for the invasion process. This work aimed to study the reproductive biology of four aggressive invasive Australian Acacia spp. in Portugal. Fruit and seed set, seed weight and germinability, and seedling growth were assessed for self-and outcross treatments in invasive populations of A. dealbata, A. longifolia, A. melanoxylon and A. saligna. Acacia spp. showed different investments in the production of reproductive units and in natural reproductive success, with A. dealbata, the most aggressive species, having the highest investment and reproductive success. Acacia melanoxylon showed a different reproductive strategy, andromonoecy, contrasting with the other hermaphroditic species. Acacia spp. were shown to be predominantly self-incompatible, but a low level of spontaneous selfing enabled the production of viable offspring. Acacia dealbata and A. longifolia suffered pollen limitation. Self-progeny had lower viability than progeny from outcrossing for A. dealbata and A. melanoxylon. Acacia spp. did not show higher compatibility rates in comparison with the native area. They had low fruit set but, as a result of their massive flower production, their realized reproductive success was high and could have contributed to the invasion.

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“…and Pinus pinaster . In Tocha, the mean annual precipitation is 948 mm and the mean annual temperature is 16.2 °C (Montesinos, Castro & Rodríguez‐Echeverría, ).…”

Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Reproductive biology and success of invasive Australian acacias in Portugal

et al. 2014

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“…Nevertheless, massive seed production and accumulation is highly variable within acacias . Once released, seeds can be dispersed by water or wind, but also through myrmecochory (seeds with elaiosomes) or ornithochory (seeds with arils) (French and Major 2001;Richardson and Kluge 2008;Marchante et al 2010;Montesinos et al 2012), remaining viable for up to 150-200 years (Daws et al 2007;Leino and Edqvist 2010).…”

Section: Reproductive Featuresmentioning

confidence: 99%

Here to stay. Recent advances and perspectives about Acacia invasion in Mediterranean areas

Souza‐Alonso

Rodríguez

González

et al. 2017

Annals of Forest Science

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Key message The above-and belowground impacts due to Acacia invasions have been described in detail over the last 25 years. Future research should focus on the early detection and prevention of new Acacia introductions and on a cost-effective and sustainable management of the novel ecosystems resulting from invasions.• Context Invasive alien plants (IAPs) strongly alter ecosystems reducing biodiversity, modifying ecosystem services and increasing negative impacts at social and economic level. Among invasive taxa, Acacia is a highly problematic genus worldwide. In fact, almost 500 papers have been published on several aspects of Acacia invasions for the last 25 years.• Aims We aim at reviewing the current knowledge on the consequences of the invasion by Acacia genus in Mediterranean ecosystems. We also collect and propose different approaches for the management and recovery of invaded areas and suggest future perspectives on Acacia research. • Methods We compile, summarise and discuss recent findings on physicochemical, ecological, microbiological and socioeconomic aspects of invasion related to Australian acacias (Acacia dealbata, Acacia longifolia, Acacia mearnsii, Acacia saligna and Acacia melanoxylon) focusing on Mediterranean areas.• Results Acacia invasion generally entails soil physicochemical alterations and changes in microbial function and structure. Consequences such as the decreased biodiversity, altered ecosystem structure, larger seed banks dominated by invasive species, new biotrophic relationships or alterations in water availability and fire regimes suggest that acacias are locally creating novel ecosystems.• Conclusions Forecasting invasions, modelling and managing ecosystems dominated by acacias are challenging tasks that should be addressed in the future, since climatic conditions and intensification in land uses are increasing the likelihood of Acacia invasions in Mediterranean areas. Unsuccessful management actions suggest that restoration should be meticulously monitored, but the magnitude of invasion or the inconsistency of economic investment indicate that eradication is often unfeasible. Alternatively, novel integrative and cost-effective solutions including the collaboration of society, politicians and stakeholders are necessary to prevent new introductions and achieve sustainable control of acacias. There is a growing interest in applied research on the valorisation or novel uses for acacias and their residues that result in economic benefits.

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“…In addition to changes in mutualistic interactions, invasive species frequently develop locally adapted traits as a response to the different environmental conditions found in their nonnative ranges (Hierro et al 2005). Plant traits can differ among different areas within a single non-native region, showing, in some cases, differences between the expanding invasion edges and mature invaded areas (Phillips et al 2006(Phillips et al , 2007Lankau et al 2009;Montesinos et al 2012). Recent studies showed that acacias from non-native populations were investing more resources into seed mass than acacias from native populations, but proportionally less resources in elaiosomes than their conspecifics in the native range (Correia et al 2016).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Diminishing importance of elaiosomes for acacia seed removal in non-native ranges

et al. 2018

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Myrmecochorous plants produce seeds with lipid-rich appendages (elaiosomes) which act as a reward for seed-dispersing ants. Seed dispersal is important for exotic species, which often need to establish new mutualistic interactions in order to colonize new non-native habitats. However, little is known about the importance of elaiosomes for seed removal in many of their non-native ranges. We studied ant-seed interactions of elaiosome-bearing and elaiosome-removed seeds of the Australian trees Acacia dealbata and Acacia longifolia in order to assess the relative importance of elaiosomes for seed removal between their native (Australia) and non-native (Portugal) ranges. In Portugal, we also studied the cooccurring native plant species with myrmecochorous seeds, Pterospartum tridentatum and Ulex europaeus, across three contiguous levels of acacia invasion: control (i.e. no acacia), low, and high acacia tree density. Acacia seeds were successfully removed by ants in their non-native region by a diversified assemblage of ant species, even in sites where native plants interacted with only one specialized ant species. In the invaded range, diminishing relative importance of elaiosomes was associated with changes in the ant community due to acacia invasion, and for A. dealbata, ant species richness decreased with increasing acacia tree density. Although seed removal was high for both acacia species, the importance of elaiosomes was proportionally lower for A. dealbata in the non-native region. Native plant species experienced significant reductions in seed removal in areas highly invaded by acacia, identifying another mechanism of displacement of native plants by acacias.

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Invasive acacias experience higher ant seed removal rates at the invasion edges

Cited by 13 publications

References 34 publications

Reproductive biology and success of invasive Australian acacias in Portugal

Reproductive biology and success of invasive Australian acacias in Portugal

Here to stay. Recent advances and perspectives about Acacia invasion in Mediterranean areas

Diminishing importance of elaiosomes for acacia seed removal in non-native ranges

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