Dissertation Research: Ecological Effects of an Invasive Social Wasp on Endemic Hawaiian Arthropods

外来生物的引入是物种灭绝的主要原因。通过研究本地物种和引进物种之间的相互作用，可以更好地了解入侵的原因和后果。这项拟议的研究将研究群居黄蜂入侵的潜在机制，并通过对其原生范围(加利福尼亚州)和引进范围(夏威夷)的比较研究，确定影响西部黄夹克黄蜂成功的特征。入侵捕食者对本地物种的影响取决于接受社区的历史。由于夏威夷缺乏本土群居昆虫，引入的西部黄夹克可能会严重威胁到当地的无脊椎动物，包括食草动物、捕食者和传粉者。该研究采用经典生态学方法和现代分子方法相结合的方法(1)量化入侵黄蜂对本地猎物和竞争类群的影响，以及(2)评估美洲黄蜂和本地独居黄蜂在资源开发方面的差异。初步结果表明，在这种入侵黄夹克的存在下，猎物和竞争对手的丰度显著下降。此外，这项研究还调查了美洲斑潜蝇的觅食策略，并比较了美洲斑潜蝇和本土独居黄蜂的资源耗竭模式。这项研究的更广泛的影响将是(1)加深我们对入侵成功的因素的理解，以及(2)有助于制定有效的管理策略，试图将入侵群居黄蜂的生态影响降至最低，如美洲黄蜂。

The introduction of non-native organisms is a leading cause of species imperilment. Through the study of interactions between native and introduced species, a better understanding of the causes and consequences of invasions may be obtained. This proposed research will examine the underlying mechanisms of a social wasp invasion and identify traits influencing the success of Vespula pensylvanica, the western yellowjacket, through comparative studies in its native range (California) and introduced range (Hawaii). The effect of invasive predators on native species depends upon the history of the recipient community. Because Hawaii lacks native social insects, the introduced western yellowjacket may seriously threaten endemic invertebrates, including herbivores, predators and pollinators. The proposed study uses a combination of classic ecological approaches and modern molecular methods (1) to quantify the effect of an invasive yellowjacket on native prey and competitor taxa, and (2) to assess differences in resource exploitation between V. pensylvanica and native solitary wasps. Preliminary results indicate that prey and competitor abundance decline significantly in the presence of this invasive yellowjacket. In addition, this research investigates the foraging strategies of V. pensylvanica and compares patterns of resource depletion by V. pensylvanica and native solitary wasps. The broader impacts of this study will be (1) to further our understanding of factors contributing to invasion success, and (2) to contribute to the development of effective management strategies that seek to minimize the ecological impacts of invasive social wasps, such as V. pensylvanica.