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Publication Details
AFRICAN RESEARCH NEXUS
SHINING A SPOTLIGHT ON AFRICAN RESEARCH
agricultural and biological sciences
Existing and emerging high impact invasive species are characterized by higher functional responses than natives
Biology Letters, Volume 10, No. 2, Article 20130946, Year 2014
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Description
Predicting ecological impacts of invasive species and identifying potentially damaging future invaders are research priorities. Since damage by invaders is characterized by their depletion of resources, comparisons of the 'functional response' (FR; resource uptake rate as a function of resource density) of invaders and natives might predict invader impact. We tested this by comparing FRs of the ecologically damaging 'world's worst' invasive fish, the largemouth bass (Micropterus salmoides), with a native equivalent, the Cape kurper (Sandelia capensis), and an emerging invader, the sharptooth catfish (Clarias gariepinus), with the native river goby (Glossogobius callidus), in South Africa, a global invasion hotspot. Using tadpoles (Hyperolius marmoratus) as prey, we found that the invaders consumed significantly more than natives. Attack rates at lowprey densities within invader/native comparisons reflected similarities in predatory strategies; however, both invasive species displayed significantly higher Type II FRs than the native comparators. This was driven by significantly lower prey handling times by invaders, resulting in significantly higher maximumfeeding rates. The higher FRs of these invaders are thus congruent with, and can predict, their impacts on native communities. Comparative FRs may be a rapid and reliable method for predicting ecological impacts of emerging and future invasive species. © 2014 The Author(s) Published by the Royal Society.
Authors & Co-Authors
Alexander, Mhairi E.
South Africa, Stellenbosch
Stellenbosch University
Jaimie Dick, Jaimie T.A.
United Kingdom, Belfast
Queen's University Belfast
Weyl, Olaf F.
South Africa, Grahamstown
South African Institute for Aquatic Biodiversity
Robinson, Tamara B.
South Africa, Stellenbosch
Stellenbosch University
Richardson, David M.
South Africa, Stellenbosch
Stellenbosch University
Statistics
Citations: 150
Authors: 5
Affiliations: 3
Identifiers
Doi:
10.1098/rsbl.2013.0946
ISSN:
17449561
e-ISSN:
1744957X
Study Locations
South Africa