Endemic predators, invasive prey and native diversity
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In: Proceedings of the Royal Society B , Vol. 278, No. 1706, 07.03.2011, p. 690-694.
Research output: Journal contributions › Journal articles › Research › peer-review
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TY - JOUR
T1 - Endemic predators, invasive prey and native diversity
AU - Wanger, Thomas Cherico
AU - Wielgoss, Arno C.
AU - Motzke, Iris
AU - Clough, Yann
AU - Brook, Barry W.
AU - Sodhi, Navjot S.
AU - Tscharntke, Teja
PY - 2011/3/7
Y1 - 2011/3/7
N2 - Interactions between native diversity and invasive species can be more complex than is currently understood. Invasive ant species often substantially reduce diversity in the native ants diversity that act as natural control agents for pest insects. In Indonesia (on the island of Sulawesi), the third largest cacao producer worldwide, we show that a predatory endemic toad (Ingerophrynus celebensis) controls invasive ant (Anoplolepis gracilipes) abundance, and positively affects native ant diversity. We call this the invasive-naivety effect (an opposite of enemy release), whereby alien species may not harbour antipredatory defences against a novel native predator. A positive effect of the toads on native ants may facilitate their predation on insect vectors of cacao diseases. Hence, toads may increase crop yield, but further research is needed on this aspect. Ironically, amphibians are globally the most threatened vertebrate class and are strongly impacted by the conversion of rainforest to cacao plantations in Sulawesi. It is, therefore, crucial to manage cacao plantations to maintain these endemic toads, as they may provide critical ecosystem services, such as invasion resistance and preservation of native insect diversity. This journal is
AB - Interactions between native diversity and invasive species can be more complex than is currently understood. Invasive ant species often substantially reduce diversity in the native ants diversity that act as natural control agents for pest insects. In Indonesia (on the island of Sulawesi), the third largest cacao producer worldwide, we show that a predatory endemic toad (Ingerophrynus celebensis) controls invasive ant (Anoplolepis gracilipes) abundance, and positively affects native ant diversity. We call this the invasive-naivety effect (an opposite of enemy release), whereby alien species may not harbour antipredatory defences against a novel native predator. A positive effect of the toads on native ants may facilitate their predation on insect vectors of cacao diseases. Hence, toads may increase crop yield, but further research is needed on this aspect. Ironically, amphibians are globally the most threatened vertebrate class and are strongly impacted by the conversion of rainforest to cacao plantations in Sulawesi. It is, therefore, crucial to manage cacao plantations to maintain these endemic toads, as they may provide critical ecosystem services, such as invasion resistance and preservation of native insect diversity. This journal is
KW - Ecosystems Research
KW - biocontrol
KW - invasive-naivety effect
KW - amphibians ants biocontrol ecosystem services
KW - ants
KW - amphibians
KW - Biology
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=79951790217&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1098/rspb.2010.1512
DO - 10.1098/rspb.2010.1512
M3 - Journal articles
C2 - 20826488
VL - 278
SP - 690
EP - 694
JO - Proceedings of the Royal Society B
JF - Proceedings of the Royal Society B
SN - 1471-2954
IS - 1706
ER -