Dissertation Research: Mechanisms of Species Coexistence with the Fire Ant in Western Brazil

9801175芬纳和瓦克福德 这项研究的重点是进口火蚁（Solenopsis invicta），它已经成为美国东南部的一种入侵性害虫。火蚁入侵的地方，减少了其他节肢动物的多样性，特别是它消灭了大多数其他蚂蚁物种。虽然火蚁在巴西的本土范围内是一个强大的竞争对手，但在那里并没有达到同样的总优势水平，实际上与一个多样化的本土蚂蚁社区共存。本研究将探讨竞争和种群调节机制内的蚂蚁社区在本地范围内的火蚁，在巴西。 三种机制，可以让火蚁和其他蚂蚁之间的共存将被测试：1）之间的权衡扩散能力和竞争能力，2）调解竞争能力的物种特异性寄生蜂，和3）季节性的空间结构，导致自我限制。 这项研究将是第一个研究入侵蚂蚁物种在其本土范围内的社区相互作用的研究之一。这项工作的结果将在设计针对美国东南部火蚁的生物防治方案时具有直接的实用价值。

9801175 Fenner and Wackford This research focuses on the imported fire ant (Solenopsis invicta) that has become an invasive pest throughout the southeastern United States. Where it has invaded, the fire ant reduces diversity of other arthropods, and in particular it eliminates most other ant species. While a strong competitor within its native range in Brazil, the fire ant does not achieve the same level of total dominance there and in fact coexists with a diverse community of native ants. This research will examine mechanisms of competition and population regulation within an ant community in the native range of the fire ant, in Brazil. Three mechanisms that could allow coexistence between the fire ant and other ants will be tested: 1) tradeoffs between dispersal ability and competitive ability, 2) mediation of competitive ability by species-specific parasitoids, and 3) seasonal spatial structure that leads to self-limitation. This research will be one of the first to study the community interactions of an invasive ant species within its native range. Results of this work will be of immediate practical value in designing biological control programs directed at the fire ant in the southeastern U.S.