Changes in an invaded Florida ant (Hymenoptera: Formicidae) community over 25 years

Authors

  • Leo Ohyama University of Central Florida, Department of Biology, Orlando, Florida 32816, USA
  • Joshua R. King University of Central Florida, Department of Biology, Orlando, Florida 32816, USA
  • Benjamin M. Gochnour University of Georgia, Department of Entomology, Athens, Georgia 30602, USA

Abstract

Exotic invasive species are one of the most widespread and common agents of change in ecosystems worldwide. Here, we are focused on community level changes associated with the appearance and persistence of exotic species in an ecosystem over more than 2 decades. We combined datasets of Florida’s ant (Hymenoptera: Formicidae) community from Wekiwa Springs State Park, Florida, USA, spanning 25 yr, which included 3 sampling events in several distinct upland ecosystems. Species accumulation curves, non-parametric species estimators, community similarity indices, and ratios of exotic to native ants were used to assess sampling effort, including patterns of diversity, and changes in community composition. Our data showed that the ant community of Wekiwa Springs has at least 4 exotic species present in all of the ecosystems sampled within the park. These upland ecosystems are accumulating exotics slowly and, with one exception, there is no clear signal that the exotic species are displacing native species. The likely exception is the invasive fire ant, Solenopsis invicta Buren (Hymenoptera: Formicidae), causing local extinction of the native fire ant Solenopsis geminata (Fabricius) (Hymenoptera: Formicidae). Continued long-term monitoring efforts are necessary to understand how these exotics may impact native communities in the future.

 

Resumen

Las especies exóticas invasoras son uno de los agentes comunes más extendidos de cambio en los ecosistemas de todo el mundo. Aquí, nos enfocamos sobre los cambios a nivel comunitario asociados con la aparición y persistencia de especies exóticas en un ecosistema durante más de 2 décadas. Combinamos las series de datos de las comunidades de hormigas de la Florida (Hymenoptera: Formicidae) del Parque Estatal Wekiwa Springs, Florida, EE. UU. que abarcan 25 años e incluyen 3 eventos de muestreo en varios ecosistemas de distintas tierras altas. Se utilizaron curvas de acumulación de especies, estimadores de especies no paramétricas, índices de similitud de la comunidad y proporciones de hormigas exóticas a nativas para evaluar el esfuerzo de muestreo, incluidos los patrones de diversidad y los cambios en la composición de la comunidad. Nuestros datos mostraron que la comunidad de hormigas de Wekiwa Springs tiene al menos 4 especies exóticas presentes en todos los ecosistemas muestreados dentro del parque. Estos ecosistemas de tierras altas están acumulando lentamente especies exóticas y, con una excepción, no hay una señal clara de que las especies exóticas estén desplazando a las especies nativas. La probable excepción es la hormiga de fuego invasiva, Solenopsis invicta Buren (Hymenoptera: Formicidae), que causa la extinción local de la hormiga de fuego nativa Solenopsis geminata (Fabricius) (Hymenoptera: Formicidae). Los esfuerzos continuos de monitoreo a largo plazo son necesarios para comprender cómo estos organismos exóticos podrían afectar a las comunidades nativas en el futuro.

Key Words: displacement; fire; fire ants; ecosystem management; invasion; persistence

Supplementary material for this article in Florida Entomologist 103(2) (June 2020) is online at http://purl.fcla.edu/fcla/entomologist/browse

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Published

2020-07-09

Issue

Vol. 103, No. 2 (June 2020)

Section

Research Papers

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