Search results for "Introduced species"
showing 7 items of 147 documents
Invasion success despite reduction of genetic diversity in the European populations of eastern mosquitofish (Gambusia holbrooki)
2006
The introduction of a few individuals to new, isolated habitats (founder effect) is expected to reduce the genetic variability of a population. At the beginning of the last century a few eastern mosquitofish (Gambusia holbrooki) individuals were introduced to Southern Europe from North America to control malaria‐carrying mosquitoes. We studied the effect of this severe bottleneck on genetic variability in four populations of eastern mosquitofish introduced to Spain and Italy in the early 1900s and compared them to a native population in North America. Using amplified polymorphic DNA–polymerase chain reaction (RADP–PCR) we found a strong reduction of genetic diversity, in terms of both numbe…
Evidence from mtDNA RFLP analysis for the introduction of Fundulus heteroclitus to southwestern Spain
1996
Restriction analysis of mitochondrial DNA confirmed the taxonomic status of a southwestern Iberian Peninsula population of Fundulus heteroclitus and its probable origin in North America.
First record of an established marbled crayfish Procambarus virginalis (Lyko, 2017) population in Estonia
2019
Invasive marbled crayfish Procambarus virginalis (Lyko, 2017) is spreading alarmingly fast across European countries and beyond. Early maturation, parthenogenetic reproduction mode and high growth rate contribute to a high potential invasiveness. Marbled crayfish can pose severe effects on native communities impacting the native crayfish populations being carrier of the crayfish plague disease caused by Aphanomyces astaci. Here we report the first record of marbled crayfish in Estonia. In total, 104 individuals were found in the artificially warm outflow channel of the cooling system of Balti Power Plant, entering to the water reservoir of the River Narva. Molecular analyses confirmed the m…
Yet another alien: a second species of Lepisiota spreading across the Canary Islands, Spain (Hymenoptera: Formicidae)
2018
The Canary Islands are a biologically important archipelago hosting many unique species, whose myrmecofauna is peculiarly rich in both endemic and introduced species. Lepisiota frauenfeldi cfr. kantarensis Forel, 1911 is reported for the first time from Fuerteventura and Tenerife. It is the second species of Lepisiota introduced in the archipelago in the last few years, and one of the few documented cases in which Lepisiota frauenfeldi (Mayr, 1855) s.l. acts as a successful tramp species. Comments are also given on taxonomic problems involving the L. frauenfeldi-group and related taxa. Finally, new additional information and comments are presented on the distribution of other alien ants 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…
Exotic Guavas are Foci of Forest Regeneration in Kenyan Farmland
2007
Fruiting trees in degraded areas are attractive for frugivorous birds and may become centers of regeneration. However, a number of tree species in degraded areas are exotic species. Thus, the question arises whether these exotic species can also act as foci for forest regeneration. In the farmland adjacent to Kakamega Forest, Kenya, we investigated the frugivore assemblage in, and seed rain and seedling establishment under, 29 fruiting exotic guava trees (Psidium guajava) at different distances to the forest. The results show that 40 frugivorous bird species visited guava trees. All of the seed and 82 percent of the seedling species found under the treecrowns were animal dispersed, 58 and 5…
<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…