Collaborative Research: Do Positive Species Interactions Promote Invasions? Effects of Ant-hemipteran Mutualisms on the Success and Consequences of Ant Invasions

合作研究：积极的物种相互作用是否会促进入侵？

• 批准号: 0716966
• 负责人: Andrew Suarez
• 金额: $ 16.57万
• 依托单位: University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign
• 依托单位国家: 美国
• 项目类别: Standard Grant
• 财政年份: 2007
• 资助国家: 美国
• 起止时间: 2007-09-01 至 2010-08-31
• 项目状态: 已结题
• 来源: https://www.nsf.gov/awardsearch/showAward?AWD_ID=0716966&HistoricalAwards=false
• 关键词: Collaborative; Research; Do; Positive; Species

The proposed research centers on the red imported fire ant (Solenopsis invicta) and the Argentine ant (Linepithema humile), the two most widespread, abundant and ecologically damaging invasive ants in North America. Both of these ants commonly develop mutualistic relationships with honeydew-producing true bugs (Hemiptera), including a wide variety of aphids, scales, and mealybugs. These associations lead to immense damage in agricultural systems. The goal of this research is to understand how these associations between invasive ants and honeydew producing insects enhance the dominance of invasive ants and their impacts in the United States. This will be accomplished through a combination of greenhouse experiments, field manipulations, and stable-isotope analysis. Ants and their associated Hemiptera provide unique educational opportunities. The familiarity of fire ants and Argentine ants as urban pests and their prominence as invasive species make them ideal instructional tools for students interested in ecology, behavior, and conservation. Moreover, interactions between ants and honeydew-producing Hemiptera provide ubiquitous and easily observed examples of mutualisms. The experimental tractability of this research has the potential to generate numerous opportunities for student involvement. The PIs are committed to fostering diversity and will continue to involve and to mentor under-represented groups in science. The findings of the proposed research will also figure prominently in a web-based educational tool.

拟议的研究集中在红色进口的火蚁（Solenopsis Invicta）和阿根廷蚂蚁（Linepithema humile）中，这是北美两个最广泛，最丰富和生态破坏性的入侵蚂蚁。这两种蚂蚁通常都会与产生蜜糖的真实虫子（半翅目）建立共同的关系，包括各种各样的蚜虫，鳞片和味bug。这些关联导致农业系统造成巨大破坏。 这项研究的目的是了解侵入性蚂蚁和蜜糖产生昆虫之间的这些关联如何增强侵入性蚂蚁的优势及其在美国的影响。 这将通过温室实验，现场操作和稳定异位分析的结合来实现。蚂蚁及其相关的半翅目提供了独特的教育机会。熟悉火蚂蚁和阿根廷蚂蚁作为城市害虫及其作为入侵物种的突出性使他们成为对生态，行为和保护感兴趣的学生的理想教学工具。此外，蚂蚁和产生蜜糖的半翅目之间的相互作用提供了无处不在且易于观察到的互助实例。这项研究的实验性障碍有可能为学生参与而产生许多机会。 PI致力于促进多样性，并将继续参与并指导代表性不足的科学群体。拟议的研究的发现还将在基于网络的教育工具中显着。