U.S.-Argentina Collaborative Research Program: Factors Promoting Coexistence Between Sympatric Native Populations of Argentine Ants and Fire Ants

0305660 Holway/Suarez这个美国-阿根廷奖项将支持加州大学圣地亚哥分校的David A.Holway博士和伊利诺伊大学Urbana-Champaign分校的Andrew Suarez博士，他们将与Patricia J.Folgarait博士在阿根廷布宜诺斯艾利斯的国立奎尔姆斯大学合作。研究人员正在研究促进阿根廷蚂蚁和火蚁在广泛的原生共生地区共处的本土种群之间共存的因素。这项工作代表了一项新的贡献，因为它研究了在这些类群进化和共存的地区，广泛和重要的入侵者之间竞争性相互作用的性质和重要性。大多数关于入侵物种的研究都集中在引进种群上，而不是从它们所在地区的一开始就开始研究它们。因此，这个项目将为这些物种成为成功的入侵者提供基本的理解。美国PIS在阿根廷蚂蚁入侵的原因和后果方面拥有专业知识。Folgarait博士将她在火蚁和它们的幽灵方面的专业知识带到了这个项目中，并对阿根廷的蚂蚁社区有了全面的了解。双方的学生将参与这一国际合作。

0305660Holway/SuarezThis U.S.-Argentina award will support Drs. David A. Holway, University of California, San Diego and Andrew Suarez, University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign, who will work in collaboration with Dr. Patricia J. Folgarait at Universidad Nacional de Quilmes in Buenos Aires, Argentina. The researchers are working on factors promoting coexistence between sympatric, native populations of Argentina ants and fire ants across an extensive region of native-range sympatry. This work represents a novel contribution in that it examines the nature and importance of competitive interactions between widespread and important invaders in areas where these taxa evolved and coexist together. Most research on invasive species focuses on introduced populations, rather than starting to study them at the beginning in their native regions. This project will therefore provide the basic understanding on why these species become successful invaders.The U.S. Pis have expertise on the causes and consequences of Argentine ant invasions. Dr. Folgarait brings her expertise in fire ants and their phorids to this project as well as a comprehensive understanding of the ant communities of Argentina. Students from both sides will be involved in this international collaboration.