Contrasting patterns from two invasion fronts suggest a niche shift of an invasive predator of native bees
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2022
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Background. The accuracy of predictions of invasive species ranges is dependent on
niche similarity between invasive and native populations and on our ability to identify
the niche characteristics. With this work we aimed to compare the niche dynamics
of two genetically related invasive populations of Vespa velutina (an effective predator
of honeybees and wild pollinators), in two distinct climatic regions, one in central
Europe and another one in the north-western Iberian Peninsula, and hence to identify
uninvaded regions susceptible to invasion.
Methods. Niche dynamics and shifts of V. velutina were assessed by comparing the
environmental niches of the native and of the two invasive populations, using climatic,
topographic and land use variables. We also ran reciprocal distribution models using
different algorithms and records from both native and invasive ranges to compare
model predictions and estimate which regions are at a greater risk of being invaded.
Results. An apparent niche shift was detected in the population of the NW of Iberian
Peninsula, where the species is living under environmental conditions different from
the native niche. In central Europe, large suitable areas remain unoccupied. The fact
that both invasive populations are well established, despite occupying environmentally
distinct regions indicates that V. velutina has a high ability to successfully invade
different environmental envelopes from those existing in its native range. For example,
in north-western Iberian Peninsula the species is now thriving out of its native niche
limits. Moreover, the large extent of still unoccupied environmental space with similar conditions to those used by the species in its native range suggests that there is still a
large area of central and eastern Europe that can be potentially invaded by the species.
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Invasive species, Vespa velutina, Niche dynamics, Realized niche, Reciprocal distribution models
Citação
VERDASCA, Maria João et al. Contrasting patterns from two invasion fronts suggest a niche shift of an invasive predator of native bees. PeerJ, Corte Madera, v. 10, e13269, 2022. DOI: 10.7717/peerj.13269. Disponível em: https://peerj.com/articles/13269/#. Acesso: 12 jan. 2023.