Introduction Of Other Species Research Articles

Preliminary Results of the Introduction of Dicotyledonous Meadow Species

The reintroduction and introduction of native plant species is becoming more and more important in the restoration of plant communities. The study aimed to determine the possibility of predicting the effectiveness of the introduction of dicotyledonous species into impoverished patches of meadows in the landscape nature reserve in the proglacial valley of the Vistula River (Poland). Fourteen species planted into the soil from seedlings, after growing them from seeds in pots, in pure stands were assessed. Field studies were carried out in 2015–2017 on post-bog soil. Parameters of plant development and growth that were analysed included, among others, range, condition and height of shoots (vegetative and generative). Based on the biometric parameters, a statistical analysis (PCA, analysis of variance, decision tree) was performed. It was found that the range, i.e., the spread of the population, did not determine the classification of species into groups with a different nature of development after introduction. This classification was mainly determined by the plant condition in the following years after the introduction (over 3.4 on a 5-point scale), and the occurrence of generative shoots in the second year after planting. The group with the highest potential efficiency of introduction included three species: Achillea millefolium, Hypericum perforatum, Veronica longifolia. The failure of the introduction of other species resulted from their life form (two years old) and unfavourable weather conditions in the third year of study (2017), due to the high level of groundwater.

Invasive Potential of Pet-Traded Pill-Box Crabs from Genus Limnopilos

The pet trade in aquatic animals is known to be one of the main sources of non-native species worldwide. Freshwater decapod crustaceans have increased in popularity as ornamentals in the last two decades. Freshwater crabs of the genus Limnopilos were discovered by hobby aquarists and introduced on the market in 2008. They are generally considered interesting additions to an aquarium, but information about their living requirements are scarce. Additionally, their invasive potential is not known. Here, we present a survey of the availability of Limnopilos crabs on the market in Europe and North America and analyzed the invasive potential of all species from the genus based on climate matching from a global perspective. The only species recorded in the pet trade is L. naiyanetri, but future introduction of other species is discussed. Certain tropical regions were identified as the most suitable for the potential establishment of Limnopilos crabs including the northern part of South America, and L. microrhynchus was evaluated as the highest risk species. In this pilot study, we also suggest some points to be answered regarding further improving the risk assessment and also recommend continuous monitoring of the market for ornamental decapods.

Reappearance of Eumarcia fumigata (G.B. Sowerby II, 1853) (Bivalvia: Veneridae) into the Swan River, Western Australia

ABSTRACTThe venerid bivalve Eumarcia fumigata was a common species in Western Australia (WA) during the Pleistocene, where it was distributed as far north as Shark Bay. It became extinct in WA as the climate changed several thousand years ago but remains common in eastern Australia from southern Queensland to South Australia and Tasmania. The species has recently reappeared in the Swan River, probably due to shipping movements. Of the > 60 marine and estuarine species introduced into WA it is only the third confirmed introduction from eastern Australia, and the first that is a reappearance in the Swan River of a species present in the geological past. The present reappearance of E. fumigata, and the introduction of other species, has been made possible by the removal of a rocky bar at the mouth of the estuary and the creation of more marine conditions in the lower Swan estuary.

The status of the introduced Mourning Gecko (Lepidodactylus lugubris) in Guadeloupe (French Antilles) and the high probability of introduction of other species with the same pattern of distribution

The Mourning Gecko, Lepidodactylus lugubris, is an invasive parthenogenetic species first recorded on Guadeloupe in November 2010. Today it is widely distributed on the island, at least in the south of Grande-Terre and the northeast of Basse-Terre. It occurs in and around human habitations, often together with another invasive gecko, Hemidactylus mabouia. Other species of invasive geckos native to the Eastern Hemisphere have similar life histories and therefore are expected to become established in Guadeloupe in the future. The impact of these introduced species on the native biodiversity of the island is not yet clear.

Korean sharpbelly Hemiculter leucisculus (Basilewsky, 1855) (Cypriniformes, Cyprinidae) is a new species of Azerbaijan fauna

The invasive species Korean sharpbelly Hemiculter leucisculus was found in the watershed area of the Caspian Sea (Azerbaijan). The species status was confirmed by the morphological analysis and by the genetic analysis of two loci of mtDNA: COI and cytochrome b. The data on distribution, morphology, and biology of sharpbelly in freshwaters of Azerbaijan are provided. Nowadays, Korean sharpbelly H. leucisculus is a common naturalized species that is widely distributed throughout Azerbaijan. Probably, it penetrated into freshwaters of Azerbaijan from the water bodies of neighboring countries, where this species was detected previously as an invasive one, or it settled here owing to the accidental appearance during the introduction of other species of water organisms to Azerbaijan.

Neo-Allopatry and Rapid Reproductive Isolation

Over the past 3 centuries, many species have been dispersed beyond their natural geographic limits by humans, but to our knowledge, reproductive isolation has not been demonstrated for such neo-allopatric species. We grew seeds from three species of Centaurea (Centaurea solstitialis, Centaurea calcitrapa, and Centaurea sulphurea) that are native to Spain and have been introduced into California, and we tested to what extent seed production was affected by pollen source. Compared with within-population crosses, seed production decreased by 52% and 44%, respectively, when C. solstitialis and C. sulphurea from California were pollinated with conspecific pollen from native populations in Spain. This implies rapid evolution of reproductive isolation between populations in their native and nonnative ranges. Whether reproductive isolation has evolved following the introduction of other species is unknown, but additional cases are likely, considering the large number of neo-allopatric species.

Callosciurus squirrels: worldwide introductions, ecological impacts and recommendations to prevent the establishment of new invasive populations

Abstract Rodents are traded as pet species, a practice that frequently results in new introduced populations. This is particularly true for tree squirrels where, often, only a few founders can establish viable colonies. Here, we review the worldwide introductions, ecology and impacts of two tree squirrel species, Callosciurus erythraeus and Callosciurus finlaysonii, and discuss the elements of a strategy to reduce squirrel introductions and settlements. C. erythraeus has established viable populations in Argentina, France, The Netherlands, Hong Kong and Japan. An introduction to Belgium may have been stopped successfully. C. finlaysonii has been introduced to Italy, Singapore and Japan. After 1950, the mean number of introduction events was one every two years. The most evident damage caused by these species is bark stripping that can be severe and may significantly impact trees and timber plantations. Data on negative impacts to native species are reported but have not yet been formally quantified. Both squirrel species carried with them parasites from the native range into the new habitats, leading to the introduction of other species. The ability of tree squirrels to establish themselves successfully, often from only a few founders, combined with their human appeal make them high‐risk species, and the pet trade should be considered as a high‐risk pathway for new introductions. A proactive approach to preventing new introductions should therefore include trade restrictions, and should be combined with public education initiatives at national and European scales. Tree squirrels represent an ‘alien species conundrum’. Experience from the UK and Italy has shown that if action is delayed until introductions are recognized as a problem, it is generally too late to control populations effectively, due to logistic, legal or economic reasons, or due to lack of public support. In the case of new populations, a rapid response mechanism is therefore critical. Once established, populations may become invasive and difficult or impossible to control.

Ecosystem engineers: from pattern formation to habitat creation.

Habitat and species richness in drylands are affected by the dynamics of a few key species, termed "ecosystem engineers." These species modulate the landscape and redistribute the water resources so as to allow the introduction of other species. A mathematical model is developed for a pair of ecosystem engineers commonly found in drylands: plants forming vegetation patterns and cyanobacteria forming soil crusts. The model highlights conditions for habitat creation and for high habitat richness, and suggests a novel mechanism for species loss events as a result of environmental changes.

Dispersal of Steinernema glaseri (Nematoda: Steinernematidae) in adult Japanese beetles, Popillia japonica (Coleoptera: Scarabaeidae)

Japanese beetle adults, Popillia japonica, can become infected with and disperse the entomopathogenic nematode, Steinernema glaseri, under laboratory and field conditions. After a 24-h exposure to 10 000 infective juveniles/20 adult beetles, 45% of the beetles died within 4 days post-treatment, but only 59% of these were infected with the nematode. Corresponding control mortality was 6.5%. An average of 238 infective juveniles were produced/beetle. Beetles exposed to 4000 and 10 000 infectives/10 adults carried with them an average of 17 and 59 infectives/adult on external body surfaces respectively. When beetles that had been exposed to 4000 infectives/20 adults were transferred to, and held in, cages containing soil for 2 weeks, up to 89% of the adults died, as did 74% of the P. japonica larvae that were subsequently placed in the cages. When adults that had been exposed to 50 000 infectives/250 beetles in moist sand for 16 h were released into screened cages in the field at soil temperatures of over 25 C, the soil beneath 83% of the cages tested positive for the nematode, using Galleria mellonella larvae as bait, 2 weeks after releasing the beetles. No nematodes were detected in control plots. The potential of infected adult P. japonica for dispersing S. glaseri by flight was investigated by exposing adults to 50 000 infectives/250 beetles, marking and releasing them in the field and recapturing them in lure-baited Japanese beetle traps. Less than 1% of the treated beetles were recaptured, but 33% of these had one or more nematodes in their hemocoels. Accordingly, this approach does not appear to be feasible for large-scale augmentation and dispersal of the nematode using currently developed methods of infection. If improvements in mass-inoculation methods can be made that enable a rapid high percentage of infection while still permitting flight, this concept could be employed to establish new foci of infection or for the introduction of other species of nematodes.

THE STATUS OF INSECTS INTRODUCED FOR THE BIOLOGICAL CONTROL OF WEEDS IN QUEENSLAND

AbstractThe current status of insects introduced into Queensland against the weeds Opuntia spp., Lantana camara L., Xanthium pungens Wallr., and Eupatorium adenophorum Spreng is reviewed. A high degree of control over most of the Opuntia is claimed. Damage caused by insects introduced against Lantana and Xanthium is regarded as insufficient to exert any significant biological control; introduction of other species of insects against these plants is continuing. The contributions of an exotic insect. an exotic fungus and a native insect in reducing the vitality of Eupatorium are discussed.

The Time Factor in Biological Control

The Presidential Address given by C. P. Clausen to the 62nd Annual Meeting of the Association of Economic Entomologists and recently published in the Journal of Economic Entomology (1) contains much food for thought for workers in the field of biological control. The thesis developed by Clausen in his address is, briefly, that any introduced parasite or predator that is destined to produce full commercial corkrol wiIl do so within three generations or at most within three years. If it does not produce full commercial control within this period it is safe to say that it will never do so. Species that prove ineffective after three generations or three years from the period of introduction should therefore be dropped and efforts directed toward the introduction of other species.