SpringerLink
Log in

Direct evidence of native ant displacement by the Argentine ant in island ecosystems

  • Original Paper
  • Published:
Biological Invasions Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Ecological impacts associated with ant introductions have received considerable attention, but most studies that report on these impacts contrast species assemblages between invaded and uninvaded sites. Given the low inferential power of this type of space-for-time comparison, alternative approaches are needed to evaluate claims that ant invasions drive native species loss. Here, we use long-term data sets from two different Argentine ant eradication programs on the California Channel Islands to examine how the richness and composition of native ant assemblages change before and after invasion (but prior to the initiation of treatments). At four different sites on two different islands, pre-invasion native ant assemblages closely resembled those at uninvaded (control) sites in terms of species richness, species composition, and the presence of multiple indicator species. Invader arrival coincided with large (> 75%) and rapid (within 1 year) declines in species richness, shifts in species composition, and the loss of indicator species. These impacts will hopefully be reversed by the recolonization of formerly invaded areas by native ant species following Argentine ant treatment, and long-term studies of native ant recovery at these sites are ongoing. Unchecked spread of the Argentine ant on other islands in this archipelago, however, poses a grave threat to native ants, which include a number of endemic taxa.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Subscribe and save

Springer+ Basic
EUR 32.99 /Month
  • Get 10 units per month
  • Download Article/Chapter or Ebook
  • 1 Unit = 1 Article or 1 Chapter
  • Cancel anytime
Subscribe now

Buy Now

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Fig. 1
Fig. 2

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  • Anderson MJ, Crist TO, Chase JM, Vellend M, Inouye BD, Freestone AL, Sanders NJ, Cornell HV, Comita LS, Davies KF, Harrison SP, Kraft NJB, Stegen JC, Swenson NG (2011) Navigating the multiple meanings of β diversity: a roadmap for the practicing ecologist. Ecol Lett 14:19–28

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Bellard C, Cassey P, Blackburn TM (2016) Alien species as a driver of recent extinctions. Biol Lett 12:20150623

    PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  • Beltran RS, Kreidler N, Van Vuren DH, Morrison SA, Zavaleta ES, Newton K, Tershy BR, Croll DA (2014) Passive recovery of vegetation after herbivore eradication on Santa Cruz Island, California. Restor Ecol 22:790–797

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Bestelmeyer BT, Agosti D, Alonso LE, Brandao CRF, Brown WL, Delabie JHC, Silvestre R (2000) Field techniques for the study of ground-dwelling ants: an overview, description, and evaluation. In: Agosti D, Majer JD, Alonso LE, Schultz TR (eds) Ants: standard methods for measuring and monitoring biodiversity. Smithsonian Institution, Washington, DC, pp 122–144

    Google Scholar 

  • Boser CL, Hanna C, Holway DA, Faulkner KR, Naughton I, Merrill K, Randall JM, Cory C, Morrison SA (2017) Protocols for Argentine ant eradication in conservation areas. J Appl Entomol 141:540–550

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Boser CL, Merrill KC, Fisher RN, Naughton I, Holway DA (2018) The introduced Argentine ant (Linepithema humile) on the California Channel Islands: distribution and patterns of spread. Monogr Western North Am Nat 78:820–828

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Cameron EK, Vilà M, Cabeza M (2016) Global meta-analysis of the impacts of terrestrial invertebrate invaders on species, communities and ecosystems. Glob Ecol Biogeogr 25:596–606

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Crowell KL (1968) Rates of competitive exclusion by the Argentine ant in Bermuda. Ecology 49:551–555

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Didham RK, Tylianakis JM, Hutchison MA, Ewers RM, Gemmell NJ (2005) Are invasive species the drivers of ecological change? Trends Ecol Evol 20:470–474

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Dufrêne M, Legendre P (1997) Species assemblages and indicator species: the need for a flexible asymmetrical approach. Ecol Monogr 67:345–366

    Google Scholar 

  • Erickson JM (1971) The displacement of native ant species by the introduced Argentine ant Iridomyrmex humilis Mayr. Psyche 78:257–266

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Estany-Tigerström D, Bas JM, Pons P (2010) Does Argentine ant invasion affect prey availability for foliage-gleaning birds? Biol Invasions 12:827–839

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Hanna C, Naughton I, Boser CL, Holway DA (2015) Testing the effects of ant invasions on non-ant arthropods with high-resolution taxonomic data. Ecol Appl 25:1841–1850

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Hoffmann BD, Parr K (2008) An invasion revisited: the African big-headed ant (Pheidole megacephala) in northern Australia. Biol Invasions 10:1171–1181

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Hoffmann BD, Andersen AN, Hill GJE (1999) Impact of an introduced ant on native rain forest invertebrates: Pheidole megacephala in monsoonal Australia. Oecologia 120:595–604

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Holway DA (1998a) Effect of Argentine ant invasions on ground-dwelling arthropods in Northern California riparian woodlands. Oecologia 116:252–258

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Holway DA (1998b) Factors governing rate of invasion: a natural experiment using Argentine ants. Oecologia 115:206–212

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Holway DA (1999) Competitive mechanisms underlying the displacement of native ants by the invasive Argentine ant. Ecology 80:238–251

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Holway DA (2005) Edge effects of an invasive species across a natural ecological boundary. Biol Conserv 121:561–567

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Holway DA, Lach L, Suarez AV, Tsutsui ND, Case TJ (2002) The causes and consequences of ant invasions. Annu Rev Ecol Syst 33:181–233

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Human KG, Gordon DM (1996) Exploitation and interference competition between the invasive Argentine ant, Linepithema humile, and native ant species. Oecologia 105:405–412

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Human KG, Gordon DM (1997) Effects of Argentine ants on invertebrate biodiversity in northern California. Conserv Biol 11:1242–1248

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Kaspari M, Majer JD (2000) Using ants to monitor environmental change. In: Agosti D, Majer JD, Alonso LE, Schultz TR (eds) Ants: standard methods for measuring and monitoring biodiversity. Smithsonian Institution, Washington, DC, pp 89–98

    Google Scholar 

  • Knapp RA, Matthews KR, Sarnelle O (2001) Resistance and resilience of alpine lake fauna to fish introductions. Ecol Monogr 71:401–421

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Krushelnycky PD, Gillespie RG (2010) Sampling across space and time to validate natural experiments: an example with ant invasions in Hawaii. Biol Invasions 12:643–655

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Kumschick S, Gaertner M, Vilà M, Essi F, Jeschke JM, Pysek P, Ricciardi A, Bacher S, Blackburn TM, Dick JTA, Evans T, Hulme PE, Kuhn I, Mrugala A, Pergi J, Rabitsch W, Richardson DM, Sendek A, Winter M (2014) Ecological impacts of alien species: quantification, scope, caveats, and recommendations. Bioscience 65:55–63

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Lach L (2007) A mutualism with a native membracid facilitates pollinator displacement by Argentine ants. Ecology 88:1994–2004

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Lach L, Parr CL, Abbott KL (eds) (2010) Ant ecology. Oxford University Press, Oxford

    Google Scholar 

  • Lawton JH, Bignel DE, Bolton B, Bloemers GF, Eggleton P, Hammond PM, Hodda M, Holt RD, Larsenk TB, Mawdsley NA, Stork NE, Srivastava DS, Watt AD (1997) Biodiversity inventories, indicator taxa and effects of habitat modification in tropical forest. Nature 391:72–76

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • LeBrun EG, Abbott J, Gilbert LE (2013) Imported crazy ant displaces imported fire ant, reduces and homogenizes grassland ant and arthropod assemblages. Biol Invasions 15:2429–2442

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Liu C, Guénard B, Blachard B, Peng Y-Q, Economo EP (2016) Reorganization of taxonomic, functional, and phylogenetic ant biodiversity after conversion to rubber plantation. Ecol Monogr 86:215–227

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Majer JD, Nichols OG (1998) Long-term recolonization patterns of ants in Western Australian rehabilitated bauxite mines with reference to their use as indicators of restoration success. J Appl Ecol 35:161–182

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Menke AS, Miller DR (eds) (1985) Entomology of the California Channel Islands. In: Proceedings of the first symposium. Santa Barbara Museum of Natural History, Santa Barbara, CA

  • Menke SB, Fisher RN, Jetz W, Holway DA (2007) Biotic and abiotic controls of Argentine ant invasion success at local and landscape scales. Ecology 88:3164–3175

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Menke SB, Ward PS, Holway DA (2018) Long-term record of Argentine ant invasions reveals enduring ecological impacts. Ecology 99:1194–1202

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Merrill KC, Boser CL, Hanna C, Holway DA, Naughton I, Cho D-H, Wilson Rankin EE (2018) Argentine Ant (Linepithema humile, Mayr) eradication efforts on San Clemente Island, CA, USA. Monogr Western North Am Nat 78:829–836

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Mitrovich MJ, Matsuda T, Pease KH, Fisher RN (2010) Ants as a measure of effectiveness of habitat conservation planning in Southern California. Conserv Biol 24:1239–1248

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Oksanen J, Guillaume Blanchet F, Kindt R, Legendre P, Minchin PR, O’Hara RB, Simpson GL, Solymos P, Henry M, Stevens H, Wagner H (2012) vegan: Community Ecology Package. R package version 2.0-4. http://CRAN.R-project.org/package=vegan

  • Osenberg CW, Bolker BM, White JS, St. Mary CM, Shima JS (2006) Statistical issues and study design in ecological restorations: lessons learned from marine reserves. In: Falk DA, Palmer MA, Zedler L (eds) Foundations of restoration ecology. Island Press, Washington, DC, pp 280–302

    Google Scholar 

  • Porter SD, Van Eimeren B, Gilbert LE (1988) Invasion of red imported fire ants (Hymenoptera: Formicidae): microgeography of competitive replacement. Ann Entomol Soc Am 81:913–918

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Rick TC, Sillett TS, Ghalambor CK, Hofman CA, Ralls K, Anderson RS, Boser CL, Braje TJ, Cayan DR, Chesser RT, Collins PW, Erlandson JM, Faulkner KR, Fleischer R, Funk WC, Galipeau R, Huston A, King J, Laughrin L, Maldonado J, McEachern K, Muhs DR, Newsome SD, Reeder-Myers L, Still C, Morrison SA (2014) Ecological change on California’s Channel Islands from the Pleistocene to the Anthropocene. Bioscience 64:680–692

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Roberts DW (2012) labdsv: ordination and multivariate analysis for ecology. R package version 1.5-0. http://CRAN.R-project.org/package=labdsv

  • R Core Team (2016) R: A language and environment for statistical computing. R Foundation for Statistical Computing, Vienna, Austria. ISBN 3-900051-07-0. http://www.R-project.org/

  • Sanders NJ, Gotelli NJ, Heller N, Gordon DM (2003) Community disassembly by an invasive ant species. Proc Natl Acad Sci 100:2474–2477

    Article  CAS  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  • Suarez AV, Bolger DT, Case TJ (1998) Effects of fragmentation and invasion on native ant communities in coastal southern California. Ecology 79:2041–2056

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Tillberg CV, Holway DA, LeBrun EG, Suarez AV (2007) Trophic ecology of Argentine ants in their native and introduced ranges. Proc Natl Acad Sci 104:20856–20861

    Article  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  • Tremper BS (1976) Distribution of the Argentine ant, Iridomyrmex humilis Mayr, in relation to certain native ants in California: ecological, physiological, and behavioral aspects. PhD Dissertation, University of California, Berkeley

  • Underwood EC, Fisher BL (2006) The role of ants in conservation monitoring: if, when, and how. Biol Conserv 132:166–182

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Ward PS (1987) Distribution of the introduced Argentine ant (Iridomyrmex humilis) in natural habitats of the lower Sacramento Valley and its effects on the indigenous ant fauna. Hilgardia 55(2):1–16

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Wetterer JK, Ward PS, Wetterer AL, Longino JT, Trager JC, Miller SE (2000) Ants (Hymenoptera: Formicidae) of Santa Cruz Island, California. Bull Southern Calif Acad Sci 99:25–31

    Google Scholar 

  • Zee J, Holway DA (2006) Nest raiding by the invasive Argentine ant on colonies of the harvester ant, Pogonomymex subnitidus. Insectes Soc 53:161–167

    Article  Google Scholar 

Download references

Acknowledgements

Funding for this research was provided by The Nature Conservancy (DAH), US Navy (DAH), California Coastal Conservancy (DAH), National Science Foundation Long-term Research in Environmental Biology 1654525 (DAH and NDT) and US Department of Agriculture National Institute of Food and Agriculture Hatch project CA-B-INS-0087-H (NDT). We acknowledge The Nature Conservancy, Channel Islands National Park, US Navy, and University of California Natural Reserve System for granting access to field sites. The following people provided invaluable help and logistical support: M Booker, A Chisholm, D Dewey, K Faulkner, C Gagorik, C Hanna, A Hebshi, W Hoyer, L Laughrin, K Merrill, J Randall, and V Vartanian. M Booker, W Hoyer, EG Le Brun, AV Suarez, and three anonymous reviewers offered helpful comments on the manuscript.

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Division of Biological Sciences, University of California at San Diego, La Jolla, USA

    Ida Naughton & David A. Holway

  2. The Nature Conservancy, Ventura, USA

    Christina Boser

  3. Department of Environmental Science, Policy, and Management, University of California at Berkeley, Berkeley, USA

    Neil D. Tsutsui

Authors
  1. Ida Naughton
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Christina Boser
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. Neil D. Tsutsui
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  4. David A. Holway
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to David A. Holway.

Additional information

Publisher's Note

Springer Nature remains neutral with regard to jurisdictional claims in published maps and institutional affiliations.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Check for updates. Verify currency and authenticity via CrossMark

Cite this article

Naughton, I., Boser, C., Tsutsui, N.D. et al. Direct evidence of native ant displacement by the Argentine ant in island ecosystems. Biol Invasions 22, 681–691 (2020). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10530-019-02121-7

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10530-019-02121-7

Keywords

Search

Navigation