Huxel,
G. R. 1999.Rapid displacement of
native species by invasive species: effects of hybridization. Biological
Conservation 89:143-152.
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version of this article.
Abstract: The introduction of non-native populations can lead to the
competitive exclusion (displacement) of native populations. This has been
hypothesized to be further exacerbated by the potential of hybridization,
which can dilute or genetically assimilate the native genotype leaving
no "pure" natives. With relatively moderate to high rates of immigration,
the loss of native species can be rapid with or without hybridization.
Using single-locus, two allele models, I find that species replacement
can occur very rapidly and the time to displacement decreases rapidly with
increasing immigration and selection differential. Immigration and selection
act in two different ways: increasing immigration results in displacement
by overwhelming the native; whereas increasing the selection differential
in favor of the invader leads to displacement via genetic assimilation.
The implications of these results are the need for more empirical studies
on the immigration patterns of invasive species and their potential for
interbreeding with natives.
The
effect of the Argentine ant on the threatened valley elderberry longhorn
beetle.
Huxel, G. R., 2000. Biological Invasions 2:81-84.
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version of this article.
Abstract: Many extinctions have followed the introduction of
exotic predatory species, yet this is still a rarely (if ever) reported
phenomenon for insect species. Here, I present intriguing evidence
of an endangered insect under risk of increased extinction due to an invasive
predator. The Argentine ant (Linepithema humile) has been
spreading throughout California, especially in riparian woodland habitat
along permanent streams, posing a serious risk to the threatened valley
elderberry longhorn beetle (hereafter VELB; Desmocerus californicus dimorphus).
Recent surveys have found that in location along Putah Creek the VELB was
present in sites where L. humile has not yet colonized, but not present
in sites where L. humile is present, with the exception of two sites recently
colonized by L. humile. Along the American River there was no significant
relationship between the two species. However, the coexistence of
L. humile and native ant species suggests that L. humile has only recently
invaded the riparian woodlands along the American River. These findings
indicate that L. humile is currently impacting the VELB along Putah Creek
and will soon be an important factor along the American River given continued
rapid spread along permanent streams in California's Central Valley.
The local extirpation of VELB from these two critical drainages represents
a critical obstacle for the persistence of this threated species.