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Endemic predators, invasive prey and native diversity
Citation
Wanger, TC and Wielgoss, AC and Motzke, I and Clough, Y and Brook, BW and Sodhi, NS and Tscharntke, T, Endemic predators, invasive prey and native diversity, Proceedings of the Royal Society of London: Biological Sciences, 278, (1706) ISSN 0962-8452 (2011) [Refereed Article]
Copyright Statement
This journal is copyright 2010 The Royal Society
DOI: doi:10.1098/rspb.2010.1512
Abstract
Interactions between native diversity and invasive species can be more complex than is currently understood. Invasive ant species often substantially reduce diversity in the native ants diversity that act as natural control agents for pest insects. In Indonesia (on the island of Sulawesi), the third largest cacao producer worldwide, we show that a predatory endemic toad (Ingerophrynus celebensis) controls invasive ant (Anoplolepis gracilipes) abundance, and positively affects native ant diversity. We call this the invasive-naivety effect (an opposite of enemy release), whereby alien species may not harbour anti-predatory defences against a novel native predator. A positive effect of the toads on native ants may facilitate their predation on insect vectors of cacao diseases. Hence, toads may increase crop yield, but further research is needed on this aspect. Ironically, amphibians are globally the most threatened vertebrate class and are strongly impacted by the conversion of rainforest to cacao plantations in Sulawesi. It is, therefore, crucial to manage cacao plantations to maintain these endemic toads, as they may provide critical ecosystem services, such as invasion resistance and preservation of native insect diversity.
Item Details
Item Type: | Refereed Article |
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Keywords: | amphibians, ants, biocontrol, ecosystem services, invasive-naivety effect, toads |
Research Division: | Environmental Sciences |
Research Group: | Ecological Applications |
Research Field: | Ecosystem Function |
Objective Division: | Environment |
Objective Group: | Control of Pests, Diseases and Exotic Species |
Objective Field: | Control of Pests, Diseases and Exotic Species not elsewhere classified |
UTAS Author: | Brook, BW (Professor Barry Brook) |
ID Code: | 116026 |
Year Published: | 2011 (online first 2010) |
Web of Science® Times Cited: | 24 |
Deposited By: | Biological Sciences |
Deposited On: | 2017-04-28 |
Last Modified: | 2018-01-24 |
Downloads: | 0 |
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