PDF(Pubmed)
Abstract：
The invasive Argentine ant (Linepithema humile) poses a significant threat to ecosystem stability worldwide. In Mediterranean citrus ecosystems, its spread may be limited by interactions with dominant native ant species. We conducted laboratory experiments to investigate the competitive dynamics between Argentine ants and two major native species, Tapinoma nigerrimum and Lasius grandis. At the individual level, both native species exhibited superior competitive performance, attributed to their larger body sizes and potential differences in chemical defences. At the colony level, T. nigerrimum demonstrated efficiency in interference competition, successfully defending food resources from Argentine ants. However, the Argentine ant exhibited higher recruitment capacity, albeit it was density-dependent. Our findings support the hypothesis that dominant native ants can serve as barriers against Argentine ant invasion in citrus ecosystems, highlighting the importance of interspecific competition in shaping community dynamics and invasive species management. This study underscores the potential role of native ant species in mitigating the impacts of invasive ants on ecosystem functioning and biodiversity conservation in agricultural landscapes, offering valuable insights for invasive species management strategies in Mediterranean citrus ecosystems.
摘要：
入侵的阿根廷蚂蚁（Linepithemahumile）对全球生态系统的稳定构成了重大威胁。在地中海柑橘生态系统中，它的传播可能受到与优势本地蚂蚁物种相互作用的限制。我们进行了实验室实验，以调查阿根廷蚂蚁和两个主要本地物种之间的竞争动态，黑丝虫和拉西乌斯·格兰迪斯。在个人层面,这两个本地物种都表现出优越的竞争性能，归因于它们更大的体型和化学防御的潜在差异。在殖民地一级，T.nigerrimum在干扰竞争中表现出了效率，成功保护来自阿根廷蚂蚁的食物资源。然而,阿根廷蚂蚁表现出更高的招募能力，尽管它依赖于密度。我们的发现支持以下假设：优势本地蚂蚁可以作为柑橘生态系统中阿根廷蚂蚁入侵的障碍，强调种间竞争在塑造社区动态和入侵物种管理中的重要性。这项研究强调了本地蚂蚁物种在减轻入侵蚂蚁对农业景观中生态系统功能和生物多样性保护的影响方面的潜在作用。为地中海柑橘生态系统中的入侵物种管理策略提供有价值的见解。
