Search results for "INVASIVE SPECIES"

Maritime antarctic lakes as sentinels of climate change

2012

Remote lakes, such as lakes from the Maritime Antarctica, can be used as sentinels of climate change, because they are mostly free of direct anthropogenic pressures, and they experience climate change as a main stressor capable of modifying the ecosystem structure and function. In this paper, the content of a lecture that has been presented at the First Conference of Lake Sustainability, which has been centred in our studies on lakes from Byers Peninsula (Maritime Antarctica), are summarized. These included physical, chemical and biological studies of these lakes and other freshwater ecosystems, which highlighted the relevance of biotic interactions for these ecosystems and its sensibility …

Invasion ecology of the alien tussock grassNardus stricta(Poaceae) at Lake Pukaki, Canterbury, New Zealand

2005

Abstract The European matgrass Nardus stricta has naturalised in New Zealand, often on damp soils within wetlands and grasslands. In this paper, we present for the first time field data on the ecology of this alien invader in New Zealand, from eight kettle‐hole wetlands on lateral moraine along the western side of Lake Pukaki, South Canterbury. The invaded wetland sites were all acidic but varied in other soil characteristics. Nardus stricta was the most dominant species within these wetland communities with 40% of all plots showing more than 50% coverage, and 21% having more than 90% cover. Species richness (including vascular plants and mosses) at some sites was relatively high (c. 40 spe…

Global distribution of Fabaeformiscandona subacuta: an exotic invasive Ostracoda on the Iberian Peninsula?

2012

Although exotic species of Ostracoda have been recorded from various sites in Europe, none of them have a widespread European distribution. Reviews of existing literature, examination of specimens, and sampling in Spain and Japan has greatly expanded the known distribution of the candonid ostracode Fabaeformiscandona subacuta (Yang, 1982). We herein present new reports of its presence in mainland eastern Asia, Australia, and South America, and we review its distribution on the Iberian Peninsula. Although this species is globally widespread, we hypothesize that it is an invasive species on the Iberian Peninsula in light of the following facts: it is not known from other European countries, i…

<i>Acacia cyclops</i> A. Cunn. ex G. Don (Leguminosae) in Italy: first cases of naturalization

2012

The first two cases of naturalization of <i>Acacia cyclops</i> are reported for Italy. Young trees were observed growing in the wild some 15 years ago on Linosa (Pelagie Islands, Strait of Sicily). A decade later, this alien plant should no longer be considered as a casual, since a very intensive process of self-sown regeneration has been observed in some plantations on Lampedusa, the major island of the same Archipelago. The available literature suggests the need for careful monitoring of the ongoing invasion process, as <i>A. cyclops</i> has already shown a very invasive behaviour elsewhere within Mediterranean-type biomes due to its ability to withstand high envir…

Scope for Growth of the intertidal Lessepsian bivalve Brachidontes pharaonis (Fischer 1870) at varying environmental variables

2009

The concept of energy available to organismal growth (i.e. scope for growth; SFG) assumes a central role in studying the behaviour of successful invaders in aquatic habitats: the higher the energy allocated to growth and reproduction, the greater the likelihood of stability/persistence in space over time of aquatic populations. When successful invaders find useful life conditions (i.e., allowing to reach maximum SFG), they compete for space and resources with indigenous species, altering the functioning of entire ecosystems. The Indo-Pacific bivalve Brachidontes pharaonis offers an excellent model for the study of “Lessepsian migration” and the successive colonization at new Mediterranean l…

Invasive mussels directly threat intertidal vermetid reef: some evidences from a Sicilian MPA

2009

Biological invasions pose a great threat to natural communities. Brachidontes pharaonis is an Eritrean mussel that has accessed in the Mediterranean sea shortly after the opening of the Suez Canal. At the beginning it had a restrained distribution with small local populations along the Israeli intertidal coast. More than a hundred years later it spread westward as far as NW Sicily, colonizing some hyperaline and natural habitats. Previous studies along the Israeli coast have proved that anthropogenic habitat modi#- cations occurring on vermetid reefs may promote the colonization of this invasive mussel causing a reduction of the indigenous mussel Mytilaster minimus. This study focuses on a …

Invasive crayfish increase habitat connectivity: a case study in a large boreal lake

2013

Several studies have shown that distinct compartments of lake ecosystems are coupled via transportation of organic matter, nutrients and energy across habitat boundaries. Here we evaluate the potential of the invasive signal crayfish (Pacifastacus leniusculus (Dana)) to modify energy pathways in large boreal lakes. Using a stable isotope mixing model and calculation of the isotopic niches we estimated the contribution of different food sources to the diets of crayfish captured from different habitats, and from that inferred their potential to transport energy across the littoral-profundal gradient. The crayfish caught from the littoral area utilized mainly littoral food sources, whereas the…

Ambrosia trifida L. in France: current distribution and ecological knowledge. Towards an eradication of the species?

2014

National audience; Giant ragweed (Ambrosia trifida L.) is an annual plant belonging to Asteraceae, originating from North America. It was introduced in France in the early twentieth century. Originally described as a ruderal plant, Ambrosia trifida was recently reported in agricultural areas (maize and soybean) in the region Midi-Pyrénées. Beyond the potential public health issue, this species is a major invasive weed in North America, its native area. That is why a question arises about the future trend of the species in France. Can we expect a low ability of the species to adapt the French habitats and land-uses, with a low probability of naturalization? Viceversa, should we consider lead…

Ecological impacts of invasive signal crayfish in large boreal lakes

2012

Ocena możliwości potencjalnej ekspansji prześwietlika dębowego Corythucha arcuata (Say, 1832), inwazyjnego gatunku z rodziny Tingidae (Hemiptera: Het…

2020

Corythucha arcuata, the North American oak lace bug feeding on leaves of “white oaks” in its native range, was discovered in Europe in 2000 (in northern Italy). Since that time it has spread rapidly in several European countries where its population outbreaks have been observed. However, the species was not reported from Poland, so far. In this study the potential geographic distribution of Corythucha arcuata was modelled using maximum entropy (Max-Ent) in order to predict the regions of Poland where it would have found the best environmental conditions for its further spread. The results showed that the highest habitat suitability areas were located in the central-eastern parts…