This Is Auburn

Show simple item record

Using the red-imported fire ant to study invasive species removal and reinvasion


Metadata FieldValueLanguage
dc.contributorMorgan A. Morehart, mam0254@auburn.eduen_US
dc.creatorMorehart, Morgan A.
dc.creatorGitzen, Robert A.
dc.creatorTerhune, Theron M. II
dc.creatorLepczyk, Christopher A.
dc.creatorSisson, D. Clay
dc.date.accessioned2024-02-02T22:11:00Z
dc.date.available2024-02-02T22:11:00Z
dc.date.created2022-07
dc.identifierhttps://doi.org/10.1002/ecs2.4075en_US
dc.identifier.urihttps://esajournals.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1002/ecs2.4075en_US
dc.identifier.urihttps://aurora.auburn.edu/handle/11200/50630
dc.identifier.urihttp://dx.doi.org/10.35099/aurora-698
dc.description.abstractInvasive species are a major driver of native species declines, frequently resulting in a reduction of ecosystem function. Though control of invasive species is often beneficial, it can create other ecological issues. However, studying the results can give insight into the benefits of removal and most effective management techniques. A model invasive species to test the effects of removal is the red-imported fire ant (Solenopsis invicta, hereafter RIFA), which depredates and competes with native species. We hypothesized that following removal, RIFA would recolonize treated areas from untreated borders, resulting in reinvasion and higher densities due to elimination of competition from native species that would also be extirpated by treatments. To test our hypothesis, we compared RIFA relative abundance on large sites (>400 ha) treated with a granular insecticide (Extinguish Plus, Central Life Sciences, Schaumburg, IL) in southwest Georgia, USA. Extinguish Plus effectively removed RIFA, but the treated sites were reinvaded approximately 14 months after treatment with higher densities of RIFA than on untreated areas, potentially reflecting release from competition from native ants removed by treatments. Invasive species removal may elicit a rapid recolonization via a density-dependent response mechanism and potentially increase abundance of the target species. Management strategies integrating temporal and spatial replication of control measures and multiple management techniques will be most successful in controlling invasive species.en_US
dc.formatPDFen_US
dc.publisherEcological Society of Americaen_US
dc.relation.ispartofEcosphereen_US
dc.relation.ispartofseries2150-8925en_US
dc.rightsCreative Commons Attribution 4.0 International (CC-BY)en_US
dc.subjectExtinguish Plusen_US
dc.subjectinvasive speciesen_US
dc.subjectred-imported fire anten_US
dc.subjectreinvasionen_US
dc.subjectSolenopsis invictaen_US
dc.titleUsing the red-imported fire ant to study invasive species removal and reinvasionen_US
dc.typeTexten_US
dc.type.genreJournal Article, Academic Journalen_US
dc.citation.volume13en_US
dc.citation.issue7en_US
dc.citation.spagee4075en_US
dc.description.peerreviewYesen_US
dc.creator.orcid0000-0003-0869-9656en_US

Files in this item

Show simple item record