2026-10-07T01:10:11Z https://neobiota.pensoft.net/oai.php

10.3897/neobiota.9.1835 2011-08-11 neobiota

Open minded and open access: introducing NeoBiota, a new peer-reviewed journal of biological invasions Kühn,Ingolf Kowarik,Ingo Kollmann,Johannes Starfinger,Uwe Bacher,Sven Blackburn,Tim Bustamante,Ramiro Celesti-Grapow,Laura Chytrý,Milan Colautti,Robert Essl,Franz Foxcroft,Llewellyn Gollasch,Stephan García-Berthou,Emili Hierro,José Hufbauer,Ruth Hulme,Philip Jarošik,Vojtěch Jeschke,Jonathan M. Karrer,Gerhard Mack,Richard Molofsky,Jane Murray,Brad Nentwig,Wolfgang Osborne,Bruce Pyšek,Petr Rabitsch,Wolfgang Rejmanek,Marcel Roques,Alain Shaw,Richard Sol,Daniel van Kleunen,Mark Vilà,Montserrat von der Lippe,Moritz Wolfe,Lorne Penev,Lyubomir NeoBiota invasion biology alien species semantic markup semantic enhancements data publishing NeoBiota 9: 1-12 The Editorial presents the focus, scope, policies, and the inaugural issue of NeoBiota, a new open access peer-reviewed journal of biological invasions. The new journal NeoBiota is a continuation of the former NEOBIOTA publication series. The journal will deal with all aspects of invasion biology and impose no restrictions on manuscript size neither on use of color. NeoBiota implies an XML-based editorial workflow and several cutting-edge innovations in publishing and dissemination, such as semantic markup of and enhancements to published texts, data publication, and extensive cross-linking within the journal and to external sources. info:eu-repo/semantics/altIdentifier/eissn/1314-2488 info:eu-repo/semantics/altIdentifier/pissn/1619-0033 info:eu-repo/semantics/openAccess CC BY 3.0 Pensoft Publishers 2011 Editorial text/html info:doi:10.3897/neobiota.9.1835 https://doi.org/10.3897/neobiota.9.1835 https://neobiota.pensoft.net/article/1209/ https://neobiota.pensoft.net/article/1209/download/pdf/ en

10.3897/neobiota.9.1156 2011-08-11 neobiota

Invasive plants as catalysts for the spread of human parasites Mack,Richard Smith,Melissa bamboos disease hantavirus malaria quarantine schistosomiasis trypanosomiasis vectors NeoBiota 9: 13-29 As serious as are the consequences of invasive species that directly cause human afflictions through their production of lethal protease inhibitors (Bryonia alba), allergens (Parthenium hysterophorus) or furanocoumarins (Hercaleum mantegazzianum), other introduced species may cause even greater risks to human health by enhancing the proliferation of vectors of virulent human parasites. The dense, floating mats of Eichhornia crassipes (water hyacinth) create habitat for larvae of the dipteran vectors of Plasmodium spp., the causative agents of malaria, and other parasites. Facilitation of a human parasite is not restricted to aquatic systems. In Africa, the tropical American shrub Lantana camara (lantana) provides essential habitat for dipteran vectors (Glossina spp.) of protozoans (Trypanosoma spp.) that cause trypanosomiasis. Unanticipated health consequences will likely continue to emerge from new plant introductions. Sin Nombre Virus (SNV) is a rodent-borne parasite that causes Hantavirus Pulmonary Syndrome, an often-lethal disease in humans. Populations of rodent vectors of SNV in South America increase rapidly in response to synchronous fruit availability among masting, native bamboos. With depletion of this temporary food source, the rodents seek food near human settlements, increasing the risk of human infections with SNV. In the United States the omnivorous deer mouse Peromyscus maniculatus is also a SNV carrier. The escape of Asian cold-tolerant bamboos from cultivation raises the possibility of invasions (several have already become naturalized) and providing a temporary boost to populations of infected native rodents. Proposed introductions of aquatic vascular species, species with masting reproduction and those that would occupy an unfilled niche in the proposed new range deserve careful evaluation for their possible roles as unforeseen catalysts of species interactions, especially of human parasites. info:eu-repo/semantics/altIdentifier/eissn/1314-2488 info:eu-repo/semantics/altIdentifier/pissn/1619-0033 info:eu-repo/semantics/openAccess CC BY 3.0 Pensoft Publishers 2011 Research Article text/html info:doi:10.3897/neobiota.9.1156 https://doi.org/10.3897/neobiota.9.1156 https://neobiota.pensoft.net/article/1208/ https://neobiota.pensoft.net/article/1208/download/pdf/ en

10.3897/neobiota.9.1266 2011-08-11 neobiota

Potential phytotoxic and shading effects of invasive Fallopia (Polygonaceae) taxa on the germination of native dominant species Moravcová,Lenka Pyšek,Petr Jarošik,Vojtěch Zákravský,Petr allelopathy canopy shading leaf and rhizome extracts light regimes phytotoxicity plant invasions Reynoutria NeoBiota 9: 31-47 Two species of knotweeds (genus Fallopia, Polygonaceae), native to Asia (Fallopia sachalinensis, F. japonica) and their hybrid (F. ×bohemica) belong to the most noxious plant invaders in Europe and exert a high impact on invaded plant communities that are therefore typically extremely poor in species. The remarkable paucity of invaded communities points to the possible existence of mechanisms suppressing germinating populations of native species in invaded stands. In this pilot study we assessed, under laboratory conditions, whether there are phytotoxic effects of the three Fallopia congeners on seed germination of three target species: two native species commonly growing in habitats that are often invaded by knotweeds (Urtica dioica, Calamagrostis epigejos), and Lepidium sativum, a species commonly used in allelopathic bioassay as a control. Since knotweeds generally form stands with a high cover, we included varying light conditions as an additional factor, to simulate the effects on germination of shading by leaf canopy. The effects of aqueous extracts (2.5, 5.0%, and 0% as a control) from dry leaves and rhizomes of the Fallopia congeners on germination of the target species were thus studied under two light regimes, simulating full daylight (white light) and light filtered through canopy (green light), and in dark as a control regime. Rhizome extracts did not affect germination. Light treatments yielded inconclusive results, indicating that poor germination and establishment of species in invaded stands is unlikely to be caused by shading alone, but we found a pronounced phytotoxic effect of leaf extracts of Fallopia taxa, more so at 5.0% than 2.5% extract concentration. Fallopia sachalinensis exerted the largest negative effect on the germination of Urtica dioica, F. ×bohemica on that of C.epigejos, and F. japonica had invariably the lowest inhibitory effect. In the field in Central Europe, F. sachalinensis often invades less disturbed, moist riparian-like habitats where it often encounters U. dioica populations, while F. ×bohemica tends to occur more often in ruderal sites with a high representation of C. epigejos; this might imply that each of the knotweed species exhibits a stronger effect on native species that are dominant in habitats they typically invade. The weakest phytotoxic effect of F. japonica corresponds to the results of previous studies that found this species to be generally a weaker competitor than its two congeners. Although the results of our experiments cannot be taken as a direct evidence for allelopathic effects acting in the field, the demonstrated potential phytotoxic effect of invasive Fallopia species on the germination of native species suggests that allelopathy may play a role in the strong impact of knotweed invasion on species diversity of invaded communities observed in the field. info:eu-repo/semantics/altIdentifier/eissn/1314-2488 info:eu-repo/semantics/altIdentifier/pissn/1619-0033 info:eu-repo/semantics/openAccess CC BY 3.0 Pensoft Publishers 2011 Research Article text/html info:doi:10.3897/neobiota.9.1266 https://doi.org/10.3897/neobiota.9.1266 https://neobiota.pensoft.net/article/1207/ https://neobiota.pensoft.net/article/1207/download/pdf/ en

10.3897/neobiota.9.1469 2011-08-11 neobiota

Secondary wind dispersal enhances long-distance dispersal of an invasive species in urban road corridors Kowarik,Ingo von der Lippe,Moritz Alien species anemochory dispersal kernel exotic species habitat connectivity seed tracking NeoBiota 9: 49-70 Roads contribute to habitat fragmentation and function as dispersal barriers for many organisms. At the same time many nonnative plant species are associated with road systems, a relationship that has been explained by the availability of disturbed habitats along roadsides and traffic-mediated dispersal of species. By studying secondary wind dispersal (SWD) over paved ground in an urban road corridor, we add the perspective of corridor-specific, but traffic-independent dispersal processes to the complex dispersal systems along roads. We analyzed (1) the seed shadow of an invasive tree Ailanthus altissima along a sidewalk subsequent to a strong wind and (2) the movements of painted samaras of this species released at ground level at the same site to identify the functioning of SWD. For the first experiment, we searched for samaras in the vicinity of an isolated tree three days after a strong wind. For the second experiment, we tracked the movement of the released samaras repeatedly over a period of 9–11 days, approximated probability-distance functions to the frequency distribution of samaras along the transect for different times after release, and related nearby measured wind data to changes in dispersal kernels. Single samaras from an isolated tree formed a seed shadow that extended for a distance of 456m and fragments of fruit clusters traveled up to 130m. Forty-twopercent of the sampled samaras were moved >100 m. The second experiment revealed that painted samaras released on the ground were moved up to 150m over the pavement. Dispersal distances increased with time after seed release. A significant increase in the scale parameter b of the dispersal kernel with higher wind sums above 3.7 m/s illustrates a threshold for movement of samaras over the ground. Habitat shifts to safe sites for germination occurred during SWD, and different types of pavement influenced these processes. Smooth-surfaced pavement enhanced SWD, while cobbles with irregular surfaces slowed down or terminated SWD. During the observation period, 17% of released samaras accumulated in patches with a planted tree. Some were recaptured within the median strip and thus must have been lifted and moved over four lanes of heavy traffic. Our results suggest that impervious surfaces within road corridors can function as powerful avenues of wind-mediated long-distance dispersal and may counteract fragmentation of urban habitats. This also offers a functional explanation for the invasion success of Ailanthus at isolated urban sites. info:eu-repo/semantics/altIdentifier/eissn/1314-2488 info:eu-repo/semantics/altIdentifier/pissn/1619-0033 info:eu-repo/semantics/openAccess CC BY 3.0 Pensoft Publishers 2011 Research Article text/html info:doi:10.3897/neobiota.9.1469 https://doi.org/10.3897/neobiota.9.1469 https://neobiota.pensoft.net/article/1206/ https://neobiota.pensoft.net/article/1206/download/pdf/ en

10.3897/neobiota.9.1316 2011-08-11 neobiota

Counting “exotics” Guo,Qinfeng domestic native invaders NeoBiota 9: 71-73 None (as it is submitted as a "Short Communication") info:eu-repo/semantics/altIdentifier/eissn/1314-2488 info:eu-repo/semantics/altIdentifier/pissn/1619-0033 info:eu-repo/semantics/openAccess CC BY 3.0 Pensoft Publishers 2011 Short Communication text/html info:doi:10.3897/neobiota.9.1316 https://doi.org/10.3897/neobiota.9.1316 https://neobiota.pensoft.net/article/1205/ https://neobiota.pensoft.net/article/1205/download/pdf/ en

10.3897/neobiota.10.2194 2011-10-05 neobiota

Invasion science, ecology and economics: seeking roads not taken Williamson,Mark Meyerson,Laura Auge,Harald none NeoBiota 10: 1-5 info:eu-repo/semantics/altIdentifier/eissn/1314-2488 info:eu-repo/semantics/altIdentifier/pissn/1619-0033 info:eu-repo/semantics/openAccess CC BY 3.0 Pensoft Publishers 2011 Editorial text/html info:doi:10.3897/neobiota.10.2194 https://doi.org/10.3897/neobiota.10.2194 https://neobiota.pensoft.net/article/1215/ https://neobiota.pensoft.net/article/1215/download/pdf/ en

10.3897/neobiota.10.954 2011-10-05 neobiota

Beyond EICA: understanding post-establishment evolution requires a broader evaluation of potential selection pressures Atwood,Joshua Meyerson,Laura EICA ERCA invasion ecology invasive plants natural selection NeoBiota 10: 7-25 Research on post-establishment evolution in nonnative plant populations has focused almost exclusively on testing the Evolution of Increased Competitive Ability (EICA) hypothesis, which posits that the lack of specialized herbivores in the invaded range drives evolution in nonnative plant populations. Fifteen years of conflicting EICA test results suggest that selection pressures other than specialized herbivory are important in driving post-establishment evolution in invasive species. Alternative hypotheses, such as the Evolution of Reduced Competitive Ability (ERCA) hypothesis, have been proposed but have received little attention or testing. We argue that the lack of consensus across studies that test EICA may be due in part to the lack of consistent definitions and varying experimental design parameters, and that future research in this field would benefit from new methodological considerations. We examined previous work evaluating post-establishment evolution and evaluated the range of study systems and design parameters used in testing the EICA hypothesis. Our goal was to identify where different uses of ecological terms and different study parameters have hindered consensus and to suggest a path forward to move beyond EICA in post-establishment evolution studies. We incorporated these methods into a design framework that will increase data harmony across future studies and will facilitate examinations of any potential selection pressure driving evolution in the invaded range. info:eu-repo/semantics/altIdentifier/eissn/1314-2488 info:eu-repo/semantics/altIdentifier/pissn/1619-0033 info:eu-repo/semantics/openAccess CC BY 3.0 Pensoft Publishers 2011 Review Article text/html info:doi:10.3897/neobiota.10.954 https://doi.org/10.3897/neobiota.10.954 https://neobiota.pensoft.net/article/1214/ https://neobiota.pensoft.net/article/1214/download/pdf/ en

10.3897/neobiota.10.1262 2011-10-05 neobiota

Alien plants in urban nature reserves: from red-list species to future invaders? Jarošik,Vojtěch Pyšek,Petr Kadlec,Tomáš alien plants archaeophyte Czech Republic nature reserve neophyte plant invasions red list urban NeoBiota 10: 27-46 Urban reserves, as other protected areas, are aimed at preserving species richness but the conservation effort in these protected areas is complicated by a high proportion of alien species. We examined which environmental factors determine the representation of alien species in 48 city reserves of Prague, Czech Republic, distinguishing between archaeophytes, i.e. alien species introduced since the beginning of Neolithic agriculture up to 1500 A. D., and neophytes, i.e. modern invaders introduced after that date, with the former group separately analysed for endangered archaeophytes (listed as C1 and C2 categories on national red list). Archaeophytes responded positively to the extent of arable land that was in place at the time of the reserve establishment, and to a low altitudinal range. Neophytes, beside soil properties responded to recent human activities proxied by current proportion of built-up area in the reserves. Endangered archaeophytes, besides the same affinity for past arable land as other archaeophytes, were supported by the presence of current wasteland habitats in the reserve. This suggests that for endangered archaeophytes it might have been difficult to adapt to changing agricultural practices, and ruderal wasteland might act as a refugium for them. From the viewpoint of conservation, ruderal habitats of nature reserves thus can be more important than was previously though. Forty-six of the 155 neophytes recorded in the reserves are classified as invasive. The reserves thus harbour 67% of the 69 invasive neophytes recorded in the country, and particularly warning is that among the most invasive species are many shrubs and trees, a life form that is known to account for widespread invasions with high impacts. Our results thus strongly suggest that in Prague nature reserves there is a warning potential for future invasions. info:eu-repo/semantics/altIdentifier/eissn/1314-2488 info:eu-repo/semantics/altIdentifier/pissn/1619-0033 info:eu-repo/semantics/openAccess CC BY 3.0 Pensoft Publishers 2011 Research Article text/html info:doi:10.3897/neobiota.10.1262 https://doi.org/10.3897/neobiota.10.1262 https://neobiota.pensoft.net/article/1213/ https://neobiota.pensoft.net/article/1213/download/pdf/ en

10.3897/neobiota.10.1047 2011-10-05 neobiota

Characteristics of exotic ants in North America Wittenborn,Daniela Jeschke,Jonathan M. alien species Formicidae Hymenoptera insects invasions invasives North America tramp ants NeoBiota 10: 47-64 The worldwide transport of species beyond their native range is an increasing problem, e.g. for global biodiversity. Many introduced species are able to establish in new environments and some even become invasive. However, we do not know which traits enable them to survive and reproduce in new environments. This study aims to identify the characteristics of exotic ants, and to quantitatively test previously postulated but insufficiently tested assumptions. We collected data on nine traits of 93 exotic ant species (42 of them being invasive) and 323 native ant species in North America. The dataset includes 2536 entries from over 300 different sources; data on worker head width were mostly measured ourselves. We analyzed the data with three complementary analyses: univariate and multivariate analyses of the raw data, and multivariate analyses of phylogenetically independent contrasts. These analyses revealed significant differences between the traits of native and exotic ant species. In the multivariate analyses, only one trait was consistently included in the best models, estimated with AICc values: colony size. Thus, of the nine investigated traits, the most important characteristic of exotic ants as compared to native ants appears to be their large colony size. Other traits are also important, however, indicating that native and exotic ants differ by a suite of traits. info:eu-repo/semantics/altIdentifier/eissn/1314-2488 info:eu-repo/semantics/altIdentifier/pissn/1619-0033 info:eu-repo/semantics/openAccess CC BY 3.0 Pensoft Publishers 2011 Research Article text/html info:doi:10.3897/neobiota.10.1047 https://doi.org/10.3897/neobiota.10.1047 https://neobiota.pensoft.net/article/1212/ https://neobiota.pensoft.net/article/1212/download/pdf/ en

10.3897/neobiota.10.1191 2011-10-05 neobiota

Impact scores of invasive plants are biased by disregard of environmental co-variation and non-linearity Thiele,Jan Isermann,Maike Kollmann,Johannes Otte,Annette effect model Heracleum mantegazzianum impact assessment Lupinus polyphyllus management non-indigenous non-native prioritisation Rosa rugosa NeoBiota 10: 65-79 Prioritisation of high-impact species is becoming increasingly important for management of introduced species (‘neobiota’) because of their growing number of which, however, only a small fraction has substantial impacts. Impact scores for prioritising species may be affected by the type of effect model used. Recent studies have shown that environmental co-variation and non-linearity may be significant for effect models of biological invasions. Here, we test for differences in impact scores between simple and complex effect models of three invasive plant species (Heracleum mantegazzianum, Lupinus polyphyllus, Rosa rugosa).We investigated the effects of cover percentages of the invasive plants on species richness of invaded communities using both simple linear effect models (‘basic models’) and more complex linear or non-linear models including environmental co-factors (‘full models’). Then, we calculated impact scores for each invasive species as the average reduction of species richness predicted by basic and full effect models.All three non-native species had negative effects on species richness, but the full effect models also indicated significant influence of habitat types. Heracleum mantegazzianum had uniform linear effects in all habitats, while effects of L. polyphyllus interacted strongly with habitat type, and R. rugosa showed a marked non-linear relationship. Impact scores were overestimated by basic effect models for H. mantegazzianum and R. rugosa due to disregard of habitat effects and non-linearity, respectively. In contrast, impact of L. polyphyllus was underestimated by the basic model that did not account for the strong interaction of invader cover and habitat type.We conclude that simple linear models will often yield inaccurate impact scores of non-native species. Hence, effect models should consider environmental co-variation and, if necessary, non-linearity of the effects of biological invasions on native ecosystems. info:eu-repo/semantics/altIdentifier/eissn/1314-2488 info:eu-repo/semantics/altIdentifier/pissn/1619-0033 info:eu-repo/semantics/openAccess CC BY 3.0 Pensoft Publishers 2011 Research Article text/html info:doi:10.3897/neobiota.10.1191 https://doi.org/10.3897/neobiota.10.1191 https://neobiota.pensoft.net/article/1211/ https://neobiota.pensoft.net/article/1211/download/pdf/ en

10.3897/neobiota.10.1976 2011-10-05 neobiota

Knowing what we count: a comment on Guo Pyšek,Petr alien species richness scale ecology biogeography NeoBiota 10: 81-88 info:eu-repo/semantics/altIdentifier/eissn/1314-2488 info:eu-repo/semantics/altIdentifier/pissn/1619-0033 info:eu-repo/semantics/openAccess CC BY 3.0 Pensoft Publishers 2011 Letter To The Editor text/html info:doi:10.3897/neobiota.10.1976 https://doi.org/10.3897/neobiota.10.1976 https://neobiota.pensoft.net/article/1210/ https://neobiota.pensoft.net/article/1210/download/pdf/ en

10.3897/neobiota.11.1803 2011-11-30 neobiota

Plant pathogens as biocontrol agents of Cirsium arvense – an overestimated approach? Müller,Esther Nentwig,Wolfgang Cirsium arvense bioherbicide biological control fungi bacteria NeoBiota 11: 1-24 Cirsium arvense is one of the worst weeds in agriculture. As herbicides are not very effective and not accepted by organic farming and special habitats, possible biocontrol agents have been investigated since many decades. In particular plant pathogens of C. arvense have received considerable interest and have been promoted as “mycoherbicides” or “bioherbicides”. A total of 10 fungi and one bacterium have been proposed and tested as biocontrol agents against C. arvense. A variety of experiments analysed the noxious influence of spores or other parts of living fungi or bacteria on plants while others used fungal or bacterial products, usually toxins. Also combinations of spores with herbicides and combinations of several pathogens were tested. All approaches turned out to be inappropriate with regard to target plant specificity, effectiveness and application possibilities. As yet, none of the tested species or substances has achieved marketability, despite two patents on the use of Septoria cirsii and Phomopsis cirsii. We conclude that the potential of pathogens for biocontrol of C. arvense has largely been overestimated. info:eu-repo/semantics/altIdentifier/eissn/1314-2488 info:eu-repo/semantics/altIdentifier/pissn/1619-0033 info:eu-repo/semantics/openAccess CC BY 3.0 Pensoft Publishers 2011 Review Article text/html info:doi:10.3897/neobiota.11.1803 https://doi.org/10.3897/neobiota.11.1803 https://neobiota.pensoft.net/article/1219/ https://neobiota.pensoft.net/article/1219/download/pdf/ en

10.3897/neobiota.11.1349 2011-11-30 neobiota

Ploidy levels and reproductive behaviour in invasive Hieracium pilosella in Patagonia Krahulec,František Krahulcova,Anna Hieracium pilosella Patagonia ploidy levels hybridisation clonal structure NeoBiota 11: 25-31 Within a population of invasive Hieracium pilosella in Chilean Patagonia we found two ploidy levels, pentaploid and hexaploid. Each ploidy level was represented by one clone. Their reproductive system was apomictic (and thus replicating the maternal genome), with a low degree of residual sexuality. It is necessary to prevent the evolution of new biotypes via hybridisation with different clones of H. pilosella or other Hieracium species introduced into Patagonia. info:eu-repo/semantics/altIdentifier/eissn/1314-2488 info:eu-repo/semantics/altIdentifier/pissn/1619-0033 info:eu-repo/semantics/openAccess CC BY 3.0 Pensoft Publishers 2011 Research Article text/html info:doi:10.3897/neobiota.11.1349 https://doi.org/10.3897/neobiota.11.1349 https://neobiota.pensoft.net/article/1218/ https://neobiota.pensoft.net/article/1218/download/pdf/ en

10.3897/neobiota.11.2060 2011-11-30 neobiota

Modelling the distribution of the invasive Roesel’s bush-cricket (Metrioptera roeselii) in a fragmented landscape Preuss,Sonja Lundhagen,Anna Berggren,Åsa Orthoptera presence-absence data spatial scale landscape structure land use NeoBiota 11: 33-49 The development of conservation strategies to mitigate the impact of invasive species requires knowledge of the species ecology and distribution. This is, however, often lacking as collecting biological data may be both time-consuming and resource intensive. Species distribution models can offer a solution to this dilemma by analysing the species-environment relationship with help of Geographic information systems (GIS). In this study, we model the distribution of the non-native bush-cricket Metrioptera roeselii in the agricultural landscape in mid-Sweden where the species has been rapidly expanding in its range since the 1990s. We extract ecologically relevant landscape variables from Swedish CORINE land-cover maps and use species presence-absence data from large-scale surveys to construct a species distribution model (SDM). The aim of the study is to increase the knowledge of the species range expansion pattern by examining how its distribution is affected by landscape composition and structure, and to evaluate SDM performance at two different spatial scales. We found that models including data on a scale of 1 × 1 km were able to explain more of the variation in species distribution than those on the local scale (10 m buffer on each side of surveyed road). The amount of grassland in the landscape, estimated from the area of arable land, pasture and rural settlements, was a good predictor of the presence of the species on both scales. The measurements of landscape structure – linear elements and fragmentation - gave ambivalent results which differed from previous small scaled studies on species dispersal behaviour and occupancy patterns. The models had good predictive ability and showed that areas dominated by agricultural fields and their associated grassland edges have a high probability being colonised by the species. Our study identified important landscape variables that explain the distribution of M. roeselii in Mid-Sweden that may also be important to other range expanding orthopteran species. This work will serve as a foundation for future analyses of species spread and ecological processes during range expansion. info:eu-repo/semantics/altIdentifier/eissn/1314-2488 info:eu-repo/semantics/altIdentifier/pissn/1619-0033 info:eu-repo/semantics/openAccess CC BY 3.0 Pensoft Publishers 2011 Research Article text/html info:doi:10.3897/neobiota.11.2060 https://doi.org/10.3897/neobiota.11.2060 https://neobiota.pensoft.net/article/1217/ https://neobiota.pensoft.net/article/1217/download/pdf/ en

10.3897/neobiota.11.1819 2011-11-30 neobiota

Impact of the introduced small Indian mongoose (Herpestes auropunctatus) on abundance and activity time of the introduced ship rat (Rattus rattus) and the small mammal community on Adriatic islands, Croatia Barun,Arijana Simberloff,Daniel Tvrtkovic,Nikola Pascal,Michel introduced predator Apodemus Crocidura NeoBiota 11: 51-61 The small Indian mongoose (Herpestes auropunctatus) is one of the world’s 100 worst invasive species (IUCN 2000). It has negative impacts on several small mammals on islands where it was introduced. We assess the abundance of small mammal populations and the activity time of introduced ship rats (Rattus rattus) on three mongoose-infested and three mongoose-free islands in the Adriatic Sea, Croatia. We set up three transects on each island with a trapping system consisting of 30 small live traps to capture small mammals under 30 grams and 30 larger traps to capture ship rats and mongooses, on each transect. Our results support an already large but mostly speculative literature that suggests inability of the small Indian mongoose to reduce high abundances of introduced R. rattus. Further, we suggest that the low abundance of native small mammals is probably not solely caused by the mongoose but also by high R. rattus populations on all six islands. In addition, we provide evidence that R. rattus has changed its activity time to become more nocturnal on mongoose-infested islands, possibly to avoid predation by the mongoose. As R. rattus became more nocturnal, the diurnal mongoose may have become the main predator on amphibians, reptiles, and poultry. info:eu-repo/semantics/altIdentifier/eissn/1314-2488 info:eu-repo/semantics/altIdentifier/pissn/1619-0033 info:eu-repo/semantics/openAccess CC BY 3.0 Pensoft Publishers 2011 Research Article text/html info:doi:10.3897/neobiota.11.1819 https://doi.org/10.3897/neobiota.11.1819 https://neobiota.pensoft.net/article/1216/ https://neobiota.pensoft.net/article/1216/download/pdf/ en

10.3897/neobiota.12.2357 2012-02-15 neobiota

Native fruit traits may mediate dispersal competition between native and non-native plants Aslan,Clare Rejmanek,Marcel Catharus guttatus feeding preference frugivory Sturnus vulgaris Turdus migratorius NeoBiota 12: 1-24 Seed disperser preferences may mediate the impact of invasive, non-native plant species on their new ecological communities. Significant seed disperser preference for invasives over native species could facilitate the spread of the invasives while impeding native plant dispersal. Such competition for dispersers could negatively impact the fitness of some native plants. Here, we review published literature to identify circumstances under which preference for non-native fruits occurs. The importance of fruit attraction is underscored by several studies demonstrating that invasive, fleshy-fruited plant species are particularly attractive to regional frugivores. A small set of studies directly compare frugivore preference for native vs. invasive species, and we find that different designs and goals within such studies frequently yield contrasting results. When similar native and non-native plant species have been compared, frugivores have tended to show preference for the non-natives. This preference appears to stem from enhanced feeding efficiency or accessibility associated with the non-native fruits. On the other hand, studies examining preference within existing suites of co-occurring species, with no attempt to maximize fruit similarity, show mixed results, with frugivores in most cases acting opportunistically or preferring native species. A simple, exploratory meta-analysis finds significant preference for native species when these studies are examined as a group. We illustrate the contrasting findings typical of these two approaches with results from two small-scale aviary experiments we conducted to determine preference by frugivorous bird species in northern California. In these case studies, native birds preferred the native fruit species as long as it was dissimilar from non-native fruits, while non-native European starlings preferred non-native fruit. However, native birds showed slight, non-significant preference for non-native fruit species when such fruits were selected for their physical resemblance to the native fruit species. Based on our review and case studies, we propose that fruit characteristics of native plant communities could dictate how well a non-native, fleshy-fruited plant species competes for dispersers with natives. Native bird preferences may be largely influenced by regional native fruits, such that birds are attracted to the colors, morphology, and infructescence structures characteristic of preferred native fruits. Non-native fruits exhibiting similar traits are likely to encounter bird communities predisposed to consume them. If those non-natives offer greater fruit abundance, energy content, or accessibility, they may outcompete native plants for dispersers. info:eu-repo/semantics/altIdentifier/eissn/1314-2488 info:eu-repo/semantics/altIdentifier/pissn/1619-0033 info:eu-repo/semantics/openAccess CC BY 3.0 Pensoft Publishers 2012 Review Article text/html info:doi:10.3897/neobiota.12.2357 https://doi.org/10.3897/neobiota.12.2357 https://neobiota.pensoft.net/article/1223/ https://neobiota.pensoft.net/article/1223/download/pdf/ en

10.3897/neobiota.12.2341 2012-02-15 neobiota

Potential distribution range of invasive plant species in Spain Gassó,Núria Thuiller,Wilfried Pino,Joan Vilà,Montserrat alien plants climate distribution range landscape minimum residence time niche models propagule pressure range size species occupancy NeoBiota 12: 25-40 Success of invasive species has been frequently estimated as the present distribution range size in the introduced region. However, the present distribution range is only a picture of the invasion for a given time step and do not inform on the potential distribution range of the species. Based on niche-based models we used climatic, geographic and landscape information on the present distribution range for 78 major plant invaders in Spain to estimate and map their potential distribution range. We found a positive relationship between present and potential distribution of species. Most of the species have not yet occupied half of their potential distribution range. Sorghum halepense and Amaranthus retroflexus have the widest potential distribution range. Sorghum halepense and Robinia pseudoacacia have the highest relative occupancy (i.e. proportion of potential distribution range currently occupied). Species with a larger minimum residence time have, on average, higher relative occupancy. Our study warns managers that it might be only a matter of time that currently localized invasive species reach their potential area of distribution. info:eu-repo/semantics/altIdentifier/eissn/1314-2488 info:eu-repo/semantics/altIdentifier/pissn/1619-0033 info:eu-repo/semantics/openAccess CC BY 3.0 Pensoft Publishers 2012 Research Article text/html info:doi:10.3897/neobiota.12.2341 https://doi.org/10.3897/neobiota.12.2341 https://neobiota.pensoft.net/article/1222/ https://neobiota.pensoft.net/article/1222/download/pdf/ en

10.3897/neobiota.12.2419 2012-02-15 neobiota

Geographical, socioeconomic, and ecological determinants of exotic plant naturalization in the United States: insights and updates from improved data Guo,Qinfeng Rejmanek,Marcel Wen,Jun Native species diversity domestic exotics spatial correlation species richness state-level analysis NeoBiota 12: 41-55 Previous studies on alien species establishment in the United States and around the world have drastically improved our understanding of the patterns of species naturalization, biological invasions, and underlying mechanisms. Meanwhile, relevant new data have been added and the data quality has significantly increased along with the consistency of related concepts and terminology that are being developed. Here using new and/or improved data on the native and exotic plant richness and many socioeconomic and physical variables at the state level in the United States, we attempt to test whether previously discovered patterns still hold, particularly how native and exotic species are related and what are the dominant factors controlling the plant naturalization. We found that, while the number of native species is largely controlled by natural factors such as area and temperature, exotic species and exotic fraction are predominantly influenced by social factors such as human population. When domestically introduced species were included, several aspects in earlier findings were somewhat altered and additional insights regarding the mechanisms of naturalization could be achieved. With increased data availability, however, a greater challenge ahead appears to be how many and which variables to include in analyses. info:eu-repo/semantics/altIdentifier/eissn/1314-2488 info:eu-repo/semantics/altIdentifier/pissn/1619-0033 info:eu-repo/semantics/openAccess CC BY 3.0 Pensoft Publishers 2012 Research Article text/html info:doi:10.3897/neobiota.12.2419 https://doi.org/10.3897/neobiota.12.2419 https://neobiota.pensoft.net/article/1221/ https://neobiota.pensoft.net/article/1221/download/pdf/ en

10.3897/neobiota.12.2123 2012-02-15 neobiota

Insights into invasion and restoration ecology: Time to collaborate towards a holistic approach to tackle biological invasions Gaertner,Mirijam Fisher,Judith Sharma,Gyan Esler,Karen Adaptive management disturbance ecosystem function exotic plants knowledge-doing gap rehabilitation NeoBiota 12: 57-76 The aim of our study is to provide an integrated framework for the management of alien plant invasions, combining insights and experiences from the fields of invasion and restoration ecology to enable more effective management of invasive species. To determine linkages between the scientific outputs of the two disciplines we used an existing data base on restoration studies between 2000 and 2008 and did a bibliometric analysis. We identified the type of restoration applied, determined by the aim of the study, and conducted a content analysis on 208 selected studies with a link to biological invasions (invasion-restoration studies). We found a total of 1075 articles on ecosystem restoration, with only eight percent of the studiesthe main objective to control alien invasions. The content analysis of 208 invasion-restoration studies showed that the majority of the studies focused on causes of degradation other than alien invasions. If invaders were referred to as the main driver of degradation, the prevalent cause for degradation was invaders outcompeting and replacing native species. Mechanical control of alien plant invasions was by far the most common control method used. Measures that went beyond the removal of alien plants were implemented in sixty-five percent of the studies.Although invasion control was not as common as other types of restoration, a closer look at the sub-group of invasion-restoration studies shows a clear link between restoration and invasion ecology. Concerns, as identified in the literature review, are firstly that restoration activities mostly focus on controlling the invader while other underlying causes for degradation are neglected, and secondly that the current approach of dealing with alien invasions lacks a combination of theoretical and practical aspects. We suggest that closer collaboration between invasion and restoration ecologists can help to improve the management of alien plant invasions. We conclude with a framework and a case study from Perth Western Australia integrating the two disciplines, with the aim of informing restoration practice. info:eu-repo/semantics/altIdentifier/eissn/1314-2488 info:eu-repo/semantics/altIdentifier/pissn/1619-0033 info:eu-repo/semantics/openAccess CC BY 3.0 Pensoft Publishers 2012 Review Article text/html info:doi:10.3897/neobiota.12.2123 https://doi.org/10.3897/neobiota.12.2123 https://neobiota.pensoft.net/article/1220/ https://neobiota.pensoft.net/article/1220/download/pdf/ en

10.3897/neobiota.13.2422 2012-05-16 neobiota

Temporal introduction patterns of invasive alien plant species to Australia Murray,Brad Phillips,Megan Biological invasions exotic plants introduction history invasion ecology residence time NeoBiota 13: 1-14 We examined temporal introduction patterns of 132 invasive alien plant species (IAPS) to Australia since European colonisation in 1770. Introductions of IAPS were high during 1810–1820 (10 species), 1840–1880 (51 species, 38 of these between 1840 and 1860) and 1930–1940 (9 species). Conspicuously few introductions occurred during 10-year periods directly preceding each introduction peak. Peaks during early European settlement (1810–1820) and human range expansion across the continent (1840-1860) both coincided with considerable growth in Australia’s human population. We suggest that population growth during these times increased the likelihood of introduced plant species becoming invasive as a result of increased colonization and propagule pressure. Deliberate introductions of IAPS (104 species) far outnumbered accidental introductions (28 species) and were particularly prominent during early settlement. Cosmopolitan IAPS (25 species) and those native solely to South America (53 species), Africa (27 species) and Asia (19 species) have been introduced deliberately and accidentally to Australia across a broad period of time. A small number of IAPS, native solely to Europe (5 species) and North America (2 species), were all introduced to Australia prior to 1880. These contrasting findings for native range suggest some role for habitat matching, with similar environmental conditions in Australia potentially driving the proliferation of IAPS native to southern-hemisphere regions. Shrub, tree and vine species dominated IAPS introduced prior to 1840, with no grasses or forbs introduced during early colonisation. Since 1840, all five growth forms have been introduced deliberately and accidentally in relatively large numbers across a broad period of time. In particular, a large number of grass and forb IAPS were deliberately introduced between 1840 and 1860, most likely a direct result of the introduction of legislation promoting intensive agriculture across large areas of the continent. Since the 1980s, only three IAPS have been introduced (all deliberately introduced forbs). The decline in IAPS introductions is most likely a reflection of both increased surveillance and biosecurity efforts and the likelihood that many potential IAPS are still within a pre-expansion lag period. info:eu-repo/semantics/altIdentifier/eissn/1314-2488 info:eu-repo/semantics/altIdentifier/pissn/1619-0033 info:eu-repo/semantics/openAccess CC BY 3.0 Pensoft Publishers 2012 Research Article text/html info:doi:10.3897/neobiota.13.2422 https://doi.org/10.3897/neobiota.13.2422 https://neobiota.pensoft.net/article/1228/ https://neobiota.pensoft.net/article/1228/download/pdf/ en

10.3897/neobiota.13.3039 2012-05-16 neobiota

Sources and modes of action of invasive knotweed allelopathy: the effects of leaf litter and trained soil on the germination and growth of native plants Parepa,Madalin Schaffner,Urs Bossdorf,Oliver Biological invasions Fallopia × bohemica litter leachate plant-plant interactions soil training NeoBiota 13: 15-30 Invasive knotweeds, native to Eastern Asia, are among the most dominant plant invaders of European and North American temperate ecosystems. Recent studies indicate that one cause of this dominance might be allelopathy, but the possible sources and modes of action of this allelopathy are insufficiently understood. Here, we asked whether the invasive knotweed Fallopia × bohemica can exert allelopathic effects on native plants also through its leaf litter, or through persistent soil contaminants, and whether these affect the germination or growth of native plants. In a germination experiment with nine native species neither litter leachate, an aqueous extract of knotweed leaves added to the soil, nor trained soil with a history of Fallopia pre-cultivation suppressed the germination or early growth of natives. A mesocosm study with experimental native communities showed that the presence of F. × bohemica, although not a dominant in these communities, caused significant shifts of life-history strategy in two dominant natives, and that similar effects could be elicited through litter leachates or trained soil alone. However, there were hardly any effects on the biomass of natives. Our study indicates that knotweed allelopathy acts on the growth rather than germination of natives, and that soil contamination through persistent allelochemicals may not be a significant problem in habitat restoration. It also shows that allelopathic effects can sometimes be subtle changes in life-history and allocation patterns of the affected species. info:eu-repo/semantics/altIdentifier/eissn/1314-2488 info:eu-repo/semantics/altIdentifier/pissn/1619-0033 info:eu-repo/semantics/openAccess CC BY 3.0 Pensoft Publishers 2012 Research Article text/html info:doi:10.3897/neobiota.13.3039 https://doi.org/10.3897/neobiota.13.3039 https://neobiota.pensoft.net/article/1227/ https://neobiota.pensoft.net/article/1227/download/pdf/ en

10.3897/neobiota.13.3137 2012-05-16 neobiota

Plant pathogens as biocontrol agents for Cirsium arvense – an answer to Müller and Nentwig Cripps,Michael Bourdôt,Graeme Bailey,Karen bioherbicides innudative biocontrol Classical biocontrol weeds Cirsium arvense NeoBiota 13: 31-39 /none/ info:eu-repo/semantics/altIdentifier/eissn/1314-2488 info:eu-repo/semantics/altIdentifier/pissn/1619-0033 info:eu-repo/semantics/openAccess CC BY 3.0 Pensoft Publishers 2012 Letter To The Editor text/html info:doi:10.3897/neobiota.13.3137 https://doi.org/10.3897/neobiota.13.3137 https://neobiota.pensoft.net/article/1226/ https://neobiota.pensoft.net/article/1226/download/pdf/ en

10.3897/neobiota.13.3381 2012-05-16 neobiota

Highest degrees of host specificity even in the inundative biocontrol approach. Response to Cripps et al. Nentwig,Wolfgang n/a NeoBiota 13: 41-42 n/a info:eu-repo/semantics/altIdentifier/eissn/1314-2488 info:eu-repo/semantics/altIdentifier/pissn/1619-0033 info:eu-repo/semantics/openAccess CC BY 3.0 Pensoft Publishers 2012 Letter To The Editor text/html info:doi:10.3897/neobiota.13.3381 https://doi.org/10.3897/neobiota.13.3381 https://neobiota.pensoft.net/article/1225/ https://neobiota.pensoft.net/article/1225/download/pdf/ en

10.3897/neobiota.13.2946 2012-05-23 neobiota

Increase of an introduced bird competitor in old-growth forest associated with restoration Freed,Leonard Cann,Rebecca Introduced bird restoration exponential population growth propagule pressure biotic resistance competition time-lag NeoBiota 13: 43-60 Many successful invasions involve long initial periods in which the invader exists at low densities followed by sudden population increases. The reasons for such time-lags remain poorly understood. Here we document a sudden increase in density of the introduced Japanese white-eye (Zosterops japonicus) in a restoration area contiguous with old-growth forest at Hakalau Forest National Wildlife Refuge on the Island of Hawaii. The refuge, with very high density of native birds, existed in a pocket of low white-eye density that persisted for at least 20 years since the late 1970s. The refuge began an extensive native trees restoration project in 1989 within a 1314 ha abandoned pasture above old-growth forest. This area was soon colonized by white-eyes and their population grew exponentially once the trees had grown tall enough to develop a canopy. This increase was in turn followed by significantly more white-eyes in the open and closed forests adjacent to the restoration area. Competition between white-eyes and native species was documented on study sites within these forests. Density data indicate that competition was more widespread, with loss of tens of thousands of native birds in the 5371 ha area surveyed. Our results are consistent with the view that ecological barriers may delay the population increase of invaders and that human-derived activities may help invaders cross these barriers by creating new ecological opportunities. Control of white-eye numbers may be essential for recovery of native species. info:eu-repo/semantics/altIdentifier/eissn/1314-2488 info:eu-repo/semantics/altIdentifier/pissn/1619-0033 info:eu-repo/semantics/openAccess CC BY 3.0 Pensoft Publishers 2012 Research Article text/html info:doi:10.3897/neobiota.13.2946 https://doi.org/10.3897/neobiota.13.2946 https://neobiota.pensoft.net/article/1224/ https://neobiota.pensoft.net/article/1224/download/pdf/ en

10.3897/neobiota.14.3435 2012-08-22 neobiota

Support for major hypotheses in invasion biology is uneven and declining Jeschke,Jonathan M. Gómez Aparicio,Lorena Haider,Sylvia Heger,Tina Lortie,C Pyšek,Petr Strayer,David Biological invasions biotic resistance hypothesis decline effect enemy release hypothesis invasional meltdown hypothesis island susceptibility hypothesis novel weapons hypothesis tens rule NeoBiota 14: 1-20 Several major hypotheses have been proposed to explain and predict biological invasions, but the general applicability of these hypotheses is largely unknown, as most of them have not been evaluated using a standard approach across taxonomic groups and habitats. We offer such an evaluation for six selected leading hypotheses. Our global literature review reveals that those hypotheses that consider interactions of exotic invaders with their new environment (invasional meltdown, novel weapons, enemy release) are better supported by empirical evidence than other hypotheses (biotic resistance, island susceptibility, tens rule). We also show that empirical support for the six hypotheses has declined over time, and that support differs among taxonomic groups and habitats. Our results have implications for basic and applied research, policy making, and invasive species management, as their effectiveness depends on sound hypotheses. info:eu-repo/semantics/altIdentifier/eissn/1314-2488 info:eu-repo/semantics/altIdentifier/pissn/1619-0033 info:eu-repo/semantics/openAccess CC BY 3.0 Pensoft Publishers 2012 Review Article text/html info:doi:10.3897/neobiota.14.3435 https://doi.org/10.3897/neobiota.14.3435 https://neobiota.pensoft.net/article/1232/ https://neobiota.pensoft.net/article/1232/download/pdf/ en

10.3897/neobiota.14.2927 2012-08-22 neobiota

A review of the influence of root-associating fungi and root exudates on the success of invasive plants Bongard,Cindy arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi plant invasions root exudates NeoBiota 14: 21-45 Plant-fungal interactions are essential for understanding the distribution and abundance of plants species. Recently, arbuscular mycorrhizal fungal (AMF) partners of non-indigenous invasive plants have been hypothesized to be a critical factor influencing the invasion processes. AMF are known to improve nutrient and moisture uptake, as well as disrupt parasitic and pathogenic microbes in the host plant. Such benefits may enable invaders to establish significant and persistent populations in environments previously dominated by natives. Coupling these findings with studies on invader pathogen-disrupting root exudates is not well documented in the literature describing plant invasion strategies. The interaction effects of altered AMF associations and the impact of invader root exudates would be more relevant than understanding the AMF dynamics or the phytochemistry of successful invaders in isolation, particularly given that AMF and root exudates can have a similar role in pathogen control but function quite differently. One means to achieve this goal is to assess these strategies concurrently by characterizing both the general (mostly pathogens or commensals) and AM-specific fungal colonization patterns found in field collected root samples of successful invaders, native plants growing within dense patches of invaders, and native plants growing separately from invaders. In this review I examine the emerging evidence of the ways in which AMF-plant interactions and the production of defensive root exudates provide pathways to invasive plant establishment and expansion, and conclude that interaction studies must be pursued to achieve a more comprehensive understanding of successful plant invasion. info:eu-repo/semantics/altIdentifier/eissn/1314-2488 info:eu-repo/semantics/altIdentifier/pissn/1619-0033 info:eu-repo/semantics/openAccess CC BY 3.0 Pensoft Publishers 2012 Review Article text/html info:doi:10.3897/neobiota.14.2927 https://doi.org/10.3897/neobiota.14.2927 https://neobiota.pensoft.net/article/1231/ https://neobiota.pensoft.net/article/1231/download/pdf/ en

10.3897/neobiota.14.3273 2012-08-22 neobiota

Does residence time affect responses of alien species richness to environmental and spatial processes? Dainese,Matteo Poldini,Livio Climate dispersal limitation energy environmental filtering human pressure land-use niche-based processes propagule pressure NeoBiota 14: 47-66 One of the most robust emerging generalisations in invasion biology is that the probability of invasion increases with the time since introduction (residence time). We analysed the spatial distribution of alien vascular plant species in a region of north-eastern Italy to understand the influence of residence time on patterns of alien species richness. Neophytes were grouped according to three periods of arrival in the study region (1500–1800, 1800–1900, and > 1900). We applied multiple regression (spatial and non-spatial) with hierarchical partitioning to determine the influence of climate and human pressure on species richness within the groups. We also applied variation partitioning to evaluate the relative importance of environmental and spatial processes. Temperature mainly influenced groups with speciesa longer residence time, while human pressure influenced the more recently introduced species, although its influence remained significant in all groups. Partial regression analyses showed that most of the variation explained by the models is attributable to spatially structured environmental variation, while environment and space had small independent effects. However, effects independent of environment decreased, and spatially independent effects increased, from older to the more recent neophytes. Our data illustrate that the distribution of alien species richness for species that arrived recently is related to propagule pressure, availability of novel niches created by human activity, and neutral-based (dispersal limitation) processes, while climate filtering plays a key role in the distribution of species that arrived earlier. This study highlights the importance of residence time, spatial structure, and environmental conditions in the patterns of alien species richness and for a better understanding of its geographical variation. info:eu-repo/semantics/altIdentifier/eissn/1314-2488 info:eu-repo/semantics/altIdentifier/pissn/1619-0033 info:eu-repo/semantics/openAccess CC BY 3.0 Pensoft Publishers 2012 Research Article text/html info:doi:10.3897/neobiota.14.3273 https://doi.org/10.3897/neobiota.14.3273 https://neobiota.pensoft.net/article/1230/ https://neobiota.pensoft.net/article/1230/download/pdf/ en

10.3897/neobiota.14.3140 2012-08-22 neobiota

Tolerance to air exposure of the New Zealand mudsnail Potamopyrgus antipodarum (Hydrobiidae, Mollusca) as a prerequisite to survival in overland translocations Alonso,Alvaro Castro-Díez,Pilar Exotic species aquatic ecosystem mudsnail desiccation spread NeoBiota 14: 67-74 Spreading throughout a new ecosystem is the last step of an exotic species to become invasive. In the case of invasive aquatic molluscs, tolerance to air exposure is one of the main mechanisms allowing overland translocation and spreading. The mudsnail Potamopyrgus antipodarum (Hydrobiidae, Mollusca) is native to New Zealand but it has spread worldwide, invading ecosystems in Europe, Australia, America and Asia. The aim of our study is to assess mudsnail tolerance to air exposure, which may contribute to the successful overland translocation of this species. We conducted a laboratory experiment with four levels of air exposure (9, 18, 24 and 36 hours in a controlled climatic chamber). Snails were placed for 60 seconds in a laboratory paper filter to remove surface snail water. Then they were placed back in empty vessels during the four periods of air exposure, except the control group, which was immediately returned to water. At the end of each period of air exposure all vessels were filled with water and the cumulative mortality was monitored after 24, 96, 168 and 264 hours of rehydration. The calculated Lethal Times (i.e. the time of air exposure (in hours) necessary to cause the death of 50% (LT50) or 99% (LT99) of the population) and their 95% confidence limits at 24, 96, 168 and 264 hours were 28.1 (25.2–31.9), 26.9 (24.2–30.1), 25.9 (23.4–28.9) and 25.9 (23.4–28.9) hours, respectively for LT50, and 49.6 (42.7–63.3), 45.6 (39.9–56.5), 43.2 (38.0–53.0) and 43.2 (38.0–53.0) hours, respectively for LT99. Therefore an air exposure time over 43 hours caused the death of all studied individuals during all monitoring periods. Extending the monitoring period beyond 24 hours did not significantly change lethal times. Therefore, we recommend exposing fishing tools or boats at open air during at least 53 hours as a low cost measure to control mudsnail spread in early stages of invasion. info:eu-repo/semantics/altIdentifier/eissn/1314-2488 info:eu-repo/semantics/altIdentifier/pissn/1619-0033 info:eu-repo/semantics/openAccess CC BY 3.0 Pensoft Publishers 2012 Research Article text/html info:doi:10.3897/neobiota.14.3140 https://doi.org/10.3897/neobiota.14.3140 https://neobiota.pensoft.net/article/1229/ https://neobiota.pensoft.net/article/1229/download/pdf/ en

10.3897/neobiota.15.3575 2012-12-14 neobiota

An inventory of invasive alien species in China Xu,Haigen Qiang,Sheng Genovesi,Piero Ding,Hui Wu,Jun Meng,Ling Han,Zhengmin Miao,Jinlai Hu,Baishi Guo,Jiangying Sun,Hongying Huang,Cheng Lei,Juncheng Le,Zhifang Zhang,Xiaoping He,Shunping Wu,YU Zheng,Zhou Chen,Lian Jarošik,Vojtěch Pyšek,Petr Invasive plants and animals distribution origin pathway rate of introduction NeoBiota 15: 1-26 Invasive alien species (IAS) are a major global challenge requiring urgent action, and the Strategic Plan for Biodiversity (2011–2020) of the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD) includes a target on the issue. Meeting the target requires an understanding of invasion patterns. However, national or regional analyses of invasions are limited to developed countries. We identified 488 IAS in China’s terrestrial habitats, inland waters and marine ecosystems based on available literature and field work, including 171 animals, 265 plants, 26 fungi, 3 protists, 11 procaryots, and 12 viruses. Terrestrial plants account for 51.6% of the total number of IAS, and terrestrial invertebrates (104 species) for 21.3%. Of the total numbers, 67.9% of plant IAS and 34.8% of animal IAS were introduced intentionally. All other taxa were introduced unintentionally despite very few animal and plant species that invaded naturally. In terms of habitats, 64.3% of IAS occur on farmlands, 13.9% in forests, 8.4% in marine ecosystems, 7.3% in inland waters, and 6.1% in residential areas. Half of all IAS (51.1%) originate from North and South America, 18.3% from Europe, 17.3% from Asia not including China, 7.2% from Africa, 1.8% from Oceania, and the origin of the remaining 4.3% IAS is unknown. The distribution of IAS can be divided into three zones. Most IAS are distributed in coastal provinces and the Yunnan province; provinces in Middle China have fewer IAS, and most provinces in West China have the least number of IAS. Sites where IAS were first detected are mainly distributed in the coastal region, the Yunnan Province and the Xinjiang Uyghur Autonomous Region. The number of newly emerged IAS has been increasing since 1850. The cumulative number of firstly detected IAS grew exponentially. info:eu-repo/semantics/altIdentifier/eissn/1314-2488 info:eu-repo/semantics/altIdentifier/pissn/1619-0033 info:eu-repo/semantics/openAccess CC BY 3.0 Pensoft Publishers 2012 Review Article text/html info:doi:10.3897/neobiota.15.3575 https://doi.org/10.3897/neobiota.15.3575 https://neobiota.pensoft.net/article/1236/ https://neobiota.pensoft.net/article/1236/download/pdf/ en

10.3897/neobiota.15.3751 2012-12-14 neobiota

Plant invasions in China: an emerging hot topic in invasion science Liu,Jian Chen,Hua Kowarik,Ingo Zhang,Yiran Wang,Renqing Alien invasive species biodiversity conservation control flora ecological impact management NeoBiota 15: 27-51 China has shown a rapid economic development in recent decades, and several drivers of this change are known to enhance biological invasions, a major cause of biodiversity loss. Here we review the current state of research on plant invasions in China by analyzing papers referenced in the ISI Web of Knowledge. Since 2001, the number of papers has increased exponentially, indicating that plant invasions in China are an emerging hot topic in invasion science. The analyzed papers cover a broad range of methodological approaches and research topics. While more that 250 invasive plant species with negative impacts have been reported from China, only a few species have been considered in more than a handful of papers (in order of decreasing number of references: Spartina alterniflora, Ageratina adenophora, Mikania micrantha, Alternanthera philoxeroides, Solidago canadensis, Eichhornia crassipes). Yet this selection might rather reflect the location of research teams than the most invasive plant species in China. Considering the previous achievements in China found in our analysis research in plant invasions could be expanded by (1) compiling comprehensive lists of non-native plant species at the provincial and national scales and to include species that are native to one part of China but non-native to others in these lists; (2) strengthening pathways studies (primary introduction to the country, secondary releases within the country) to enhance prevention and management; and (3) assessing impacts of invasive species at different spatial scales (habitats, regions) and in relation to conservation resources. info:eu-repo/semantics/altIdentifier/eissn/1314-2488 info:eu-repo/semantics/altIdentifier/pissn/1619-0033 info:eu-repo/semantics/openAccess CC BY 3.0 Pensoft Publishers 2012 Review Article text/html info:doi:10.3897/neobiota.15.3751 https://doi.org/10.3897/neobiota.15.3751 https://neobiota.pensoft.net/article/1235/ https://neobiota.pensoft.net/article/1235/download/pdf/ en

10.3897/neobiota.15.4057 2012-12-14 neobiota

Germination performance of native and non-native Ulmus pumila populations Hirsch,Heidi Wypior,Catherina von Wehrden,Henrik Wesche,Karsten Renison,Daniel Hensen,Isabell Climatic influence survival analysis biological invasions Ulmus pumila NeoBiota 15: 53-68 Germination is a crucial step for invasive plants to extend their distribution under different environmental conditions in a new range. Therefore, information on germination characteristics of invasive plant species provides invaluable knowledge about the factors which might contribute to the invasion success. Moreover, intra-specific comparisons under controlled conditions will show if different responses between non-native and native populations are caused by evolutionary changes or by phenotypic plasticity towards different environmental influences.This paper focuses on the germination of native and non-native Ulmus pumila populations. We expected that non-native populations would be characterized by their higher final germination percentage and enhanced germination rate, which might indicate an influence due to corresponding climatic conditions.Germination experiments with a moderate and a warm temperature treatment did not reveal significant differences in final germination percentage. However, seeds from the North American non-native range germinated significantly faster than native seeds (p < 0.001). Additionally, mean time to germination in both ranges was significantly negatively correlated with annual precipitation (p = 0.022). At the same time, this relationship is stronger in the native range whereas mean time to germination in non-native populations seems to be less influenced by climatic conditions.Different germination responses of the North American populations could be caused by a fast evolutionary change mediating a higher tolerance to current climatic conditions in the non-native range. However, our findings could also be caused by artificial selection during the introduction process and extensive planting of U. pumila in its non-native range. Nevertheless, we assume that the faster germination rate of non-native populations is one potential explanation for the invasion success of U. pumila in its new range since it might provide a competitive advantage during colonization of new sites. info:eu-repo/semantics/altIdentifier/eissn/1314-2488 info:eu-repo/semantics/altIdentifier/pissn/1619-0033 info:eu-repo/semantics/openAccess CC BY 3.0 Pensoft Publishers 2012 Research Article text/html info:doi:10.3897/neobiota.15.4057 https://doi.org/10.3897/neobiota.15.4057 https://neobiota.pensoft.net/article/1234/ https://neobiota.pensoft.net/article/1234/download/pdf/ en

10.3897/neobiota.15.3323 2012-12-14 neobiota

A conceptual framework for prioritization of invasive alien species for management according to their impact Kumschick,Sabrina Bacher,Sven Dawson,Wayne Heikkilä,Jaakko Sendek,Agniezska Pluess,Therese Robinson-Smythe,Tammy Kühn,Ingolf stakeholder decision maker exotic generic scoring system impact value NeoBiota 15: 69-100 The number of invasive alien species is increasing and so are the impacts these species cause to the environment and economies. Nevertheless, resources for management are limited, which makes prioritization unavoidable. We present a prioritization framework which can be useful for decision makers as it includes both a scientific impact assessment and the evaluation of impact importance by affected stakeholders. The framework is divided into five steps, namely 1) stakeholder selection and weighting of stakeholder importance by the decision maker, 2) factual description and scoring of changes by scientists, 3) evaluation of the importance of impact categories by stakeholders, 4) calculation of weighted impact categories and 5) calculation of final impact score and decision making. The framework could be used at different scales and by different authorities. Furthermore, it would make the decision making process transparent and retraceable for all stakeholders and the general public. info:eu-repo/semantics/altIdentifier/eissn/1314-2488 info:eu-repo/semantics/altIdentifier/pissn/1619-0033 info:eu-repo/semantics/openAccess CC BY 3.0 Pensoft Publishers 2012 Review Article text/html info:doi:10.3897/neobiota.15.3323 https://doi.org/10.3897/neobiota.15.3323 https://neobiota.pensoft.net/article/1233/ https://neobiota.pensoft.net/article/1233/download/pdf/ en

10.3897/neobiota.16.4012 2013-03-12 neobiota

The exotic invasive plant Vincetoxicum rossicum is a strong competitor even outside its current realized climatic temperature range Sanderson,Laurа Antunes,Pedro Dog-Strangling Vine Vincetoxicum rossicum invasive species invasion ecology competition phenotypic plasticity climatic temperature range spread reproductive phenology NeoBiota 16: 1-15 Dog-strangling vine (Vincetoxicum rossicum) is an exotic plant originating from Central and Eastern Europe that is becoming increasingly invasive in southern Ontario, Canada. Once established, it successfully displaces local native plant species but mechanisms behind this plant’s high competitive ability are not fully understood. It is unknown whether cooler temperatures will limit the range expansion of V. rossicum, which has demonstrated high tolerance for other environmental variables such as light and soil moisture. Furthermore, if V. rossicum can establish outside its current climatic limit it is unknown whether competition with native species can significantly contribute to reduce fitness and slow down invasion. We conducted an experiment to test the potential of V. rossicum to spread into northern areas of Ontario using a set of growth chambers to simulate southern and northern Ontario climatic temperature regimes. We also tested plant-plant competition by growing V. rossicum in pots with a highly abundant native species, Solidago canadensis, and comparing growth responses to plants grown alone. We found that the fitness of V. rossicum was not affected by the cooler climate despite a delay in reproductive phenology. Growing V. rossicum with S. canadensis caused a significant reduction in seedpod biomass of V. rossicum. However, we did not detect a temperature x competition interaction in spite of evidence for adaptation of S. canadensis to cooler temperature conditions. We conclude that the spread of V. rossicum north within the tested range is unlikely to be limited by climatic temperature but competition with an abundant native species may contribute to slow it down. info:eu-repo/semantics/altIdentifier/eissn/1314-2488 info:eu-repo/semantics/altIdentifier/pissn/1619-0033 info:eu-repo/semantics/openAccess CC BY 3.0 Pensoft Publishers 2013 Research Article text/html info:doi:10.3897/neobiota.16.4012 https://doi.org/10.3897/neobiota.16.4012 https://neobiota.pensoft.net/article/1241/ https://neobiota.pensoft.net/article/1241/download/pdf/ en

10.3897/neobiota.16.3806 2013-03-13 neobiota

Stomach contents from invasive American bullfrogs Rana catesbeiana (= Lithobates catesbeianus) on southern Vancouver Island, British Columbia, Canada Jancowski,Kevin Orchard,Stan Bullfrog Rana catesbeiana Lithobates catesbeianus predation diet invasive species NeoBiota 16: 17-37 Invasive alien American bullfrog populations are commonly identified as a pernicious influence on the survival of native species due to their adaptability, proliferation and consequent ecological impacts through competition and predation. However, it has been difficult to determine conclusively their destructive influence due to the fragmentary and geographically dispersed nature of the historical database. An expanding meta-population of invasive American bullfrogs, Rana catesbeiana (= Lithobates catesbeianus), became established on southern Vancouver Island, British Columbia, Canada in the mid- to late 1980s. An on-going bullfrog control program begun in 2006 offered a unique opportunity to examine the stomach contents removed from 5,075 adult and juvenile bullfrogs collected from 60 sites throughout the active season (April to October). Of 15 classes of organisms identified in the diet, insects were numerically dominant, particularly social wasps and odonates (damselflies and dragonflies). Seasonality and site-specific habitat characteristics influenced prey occurrence and abundance. Native vertebrates in the diet included fish, frogs, salamanders, snakes, lizards, turtles, birds, and mammals, including some of conservation concern. Certain predators of bullfrog tadpoles and juveniles are commonly preyed upon by adult bullfrogs, thereby suppressing their effectiveness as biological checks to bullfrog population growth. Prey species with anti-predator defences, such as wasps and sticklebacks, were sometimes eaten in abundance. Many prey species have some type of anti-predator defence, such as wasp stingers or stickleback spines, but there was no indication of conditioned avoidance to any of these. Results from this study reinforce the conclusion that, as an invasive alien, the American bullfrog is an opportunistic and seemingly unspecialized predator that has a uniquely large and complex ecological footprint both above and below the water surface. info:eu-repo/semantics/altIdentifier/eissn/1314-2488 info:eu-repo/semantics/altIdentifier/pissn/1619-0033 info:eu-repo/semantics/openAccess CC BY 3.0 Pensoft Publishers 2013 Review Article text/html info:doi:10.3897/neobiota.16.3806 https://doi.org/10.3897/neobiota.16.3806 https://neobiota.pensoft.net/article/1240/ https://neobiota.pensoft.net/article/1240/download/pdf/ en

10.3897/neobiota.16.3615 2013-03-14 neobiota

Can Daphnia lumholtzi invade European lakes? Wittmann,Meike Gabriel,Wilfried Harz,Eva-Maria Laforsch,Christian Jeschke,Jonathan M. invasive species competition climate change inducible defenses NeoBiota 16: 39-57 The cladoceran Daphnia lumholtzi is a subtropical and tropical zooplankter, and an invasive species in North America. Thus far, D. lumholtzi has not been detected in Europe. Here we investigated whether a hypothetical introduction to Europe could result in a successful invasion, either now or in the near future when facilitated by climate change. In laboratory experiments, we tested whether different clones of D. lumholtzi can invade a resident community consisting of native Daphnia from lake Klostersee, Germany, and how invasion success depends on temperature and the presence or absence of planktivorous fish. In some treatments, invasion success was consistently high, and D. lumholtzi reached densities similar to the native competitors by the end of the experiment. The presence of a planktivorous fish reduced the invasion success of D. lumholtzi, and a clone with an inducible defense against fish predation was a more successful invader than a permanently defended clone. Of the three temperatures tested in this study (15, 20, and 24 °C), invasion success was highest at 20 °C. To understand the competitive interaction between native and introduced Daphnia, we fit a Lotka-Volterra-type competition model to the population dynamics. Our experimental and modeling results suggest that D. lumholtzi can invade European lakes and can cause substantial declines in the population size of native Daphnia, with potential consequences for higher trophic levels. info:eu-repo/semantics/altIdentifier/eissn/1314-2488 info:eu-repo/semantics/altIdentifier/pissn/1619-0033 info:eu-repo/semantics/openAccess CC BY 3.0 Pensoft Publishers 2013 Research Article text/html info:doi:10.3897/neobiota.16.3615 https://doi.org/10.3897/neobiota.16.3615 https://neobiota.pensoft.net/article/1239/ https://neobiota.pensoft.net/article/1239/download/pdf/ en

10.3897/neobiota.16.4351 2013-04-08 neobiota

Correlations between global and regional measures of invasiveness vary with region size Dawson,Wayne Keser,Lidewij Winter,Marten Pyšek,Petr Kartesz,John Nishino,Misako Fuentes,Nicol Chytrý,Milan Celesti-Grapow,Laura van Kleunen,Mark abundance alien species distribution database exotic plant global invasiveness range size NeoBiota 16: 59-80 We aimed to assess the utility of the Global Compendium of Weeds (GCW) as an indicator of plant invasiveness, by relating it to invasiveness at smaller scales. We correlated two global measures of invasiveness for alien plant species taken from the GCW (the total number of references for each species and the number of continental areas they are reported from), against distribution data from 18 regions (countries and continents). To investigate relationships between correlation strength and region size and spatial resolution (size of distribution units), we conducted meta-analyses. Finally, invasiveness measures were correlated against the number of habitats occupied by alien plant species and their median abundance in those habitats, in fine-scale vegetation plots in the Czech Republic and the state of Montana (USA). The majority of Spearman’s rho coefficients between GCW-derived invasiveness and regional distributions were less than 0.4. Correlation strength was positively related to region size and resolution. Correlations were weaker when the number of habitats occupied by a species, and species abundances within occupied habitats, were considered. We suggest that the use of the GCW as an invasiveness measure is most appropriate for hypotheses posed at coarse, large scales. An exhaustive synthesis of existing regional distributions should provide a more accurate index of the global invasiveness of species. info:eu-repo/semantics/altIdentifier/eissn/1314-2488 info:eu-repo/semantics/altIdentifier/pissn/1619-0033 info:eu-repo/semantics/openAccess CC BY 3.0 Pensoft Publishers 2013 Research Article text/html info:doi:10.3897/neobiota.16.4351 https://doi.org/10.3897/neobiota.16.4351 https://neobiota.pensoft.net/article/1238/ https://neobiota.pensoft.net/article/1238/download/pdf/ en

10.3897/neobiota.16.4190 2013-04-08 neobiota

A systematic review of arthropod community diversity in association with invasive plants Spafford,Ryan Lortie,C Butterfield,Bradley arthropod invasive plant multi-trophic interactions biogeographic contrast phylogenetic differences NeoBiota 16: 81-102 Invasive plants represent a significant financial burden for land managers and also have the potential to severely degrade ecosystems. Arthropods interact strongly with plants, relying on them for food, shelter, and as nurseries for their young. For these reasons, the impacts of plant invasions are likely strongly reflected by arthropod community dynamics including diversity and abundances. A systematic review was conducted to ascertain the state of the literature with respect to plant invaders and their associated arthropod communities. We found that the majority of studies did not biogeographically contrast arthropod community dynamics from both the home and away ranges and that studies were typically narrow in scope, focusing only on the herbivore feeding guild, rather than assessing two or more trophic levels. Importantly, relative arthropod richness was significantly reduced on invasive plant species. Phylogenetic differences between the invasive and local plant community as well as the plant functional group impact arthropod diversity patterns. A framework highlighting some interaction mechanisms between multiple arthropod trophic levels and native and invasive plants is discussed and future research directions relating to these interactions and the findings herein are proposed. info:eu-repo/semantics/altIdentifier/eissn/1314-2488 info:eu-repo/semantics/altIdentifier/pissn/1619-0033 info:eu-repo/semantics/openAccess CC BY 3.0 Pensoft Publishers 2013 Review Article text/html info:doi:10.3897/neobiota.16.4190 https://doi.org/10.3897/neobiota.16.4190 https://neobiota.pensoft.net/article/1237/ https://neobiota.pensoft.net/article/1237/download/pdf/ en

10.3897/neobiota.17.4841 2013-06-28 neobiota

Body size changes in passerine birds introduced to New Zealand from the UK Blackburn,Tim Monroe,Melanie Lawson,Becki Cassey,Phill Ewen,John Body size Exotic species Historical population New Zealand Passerine Bird Tarsus length NeoBiota 17: 1-18 One feature of global geographic variation in avian body sizes is that they are larger on isolated islands than on continental regions. Therefore, this study aims to assess whether there have been changes in body size following successful establishment for seven passerine bird species (blackbird Turdus merula, song thrush T. philomelos, house sparrow Passer domesticus, chaffinch Fringilla coelebs, greenfinch Chloris chloris, goldfinch Carduelis carduelis, yellowhammer Emberiza citrinella) introduced from the continental islands of the UK to the more isolated oceanic landmass of New Zealand in the middle of the nineteenth century. Measures of tarsus length were taken from individuals from contemporary UK and New Zealand populations of these species, and from historical specimens collected around the time that individuals were translocated from the UK to New Zealand. Analysis of Variance was used to test for size differences between contemporary UK and New Zealand populations, and between historical UK and contemporary UK and New Zealand populations. Historical UK populations have longer tarsi, on average, than 12 (7 UK and 5 New Zealand) of the 14 contemporary populations. Significant decreases in tarsus length relative to the historical populations have occurred in the UK for blackbird, chaffinch and greenfinch, and in the New Zealand blackbird population. Contemporary New Zealand house sparrows have significantly longer tarsi, on average, than both historical and contemporary UK populations. Exposure to novel environments may be expected to lead to changes in the morphology and other traits of exotic species, but changes have also occurred in the native range. In fact, contrary to expectations, the most common differences we found were between contemporary and historical UK populations. Consideration of contemporary populations alone would underestimate the true scale of morphological change in these species over time, which may be due to phenotypic plasticity or genetic adaptation to environmental changes experienced by all populations in the last 150 years. info:eu-repo/semantics/altIdentifier/eissn/1314-2488 info:eu-repo/semantics/altIdentifier/pissn/1619-0033 info:eu-repo/semantics/openAccess CC BY 3.0 Pensoft Publishers 2013 Research Article text/html info:doi:10.3897/neobiota.17.4841 https://doi.org/10.3897/neobiota.17.4841 https://neobiota.pensoft.net/article/1245/ https://neobiota.pensoft.net/article/1245/download/pdf/ en

10.3897/neobiota.17.4217 2013-06-28 neobiota

Horticultural markets promote alien species invasions: an Estonian case study of herbaceous perennials Ööpik,Merle Bunce,Robert G.H. Bunce Tischler,Monika Perennial alien species commercial horticulture human-mediated propagule pressure residence time legislation and regulation NeoBiota 17: 19-37 Gardening is a popular pastime, but commercial horticulture is responsible for the introduction of alien species and contributes to invasions in a variety of ways. Although an extensive international literature is available on plant invasions, it is still important at the national level to examine the influence of local factors. Accordingly, 17 nurseries in Estonia that cultivated and sold perennial alien species were selected, and a list of species and prices was compiled. The relationships between species status, and factors such as their abundance in the wild were examined statistically. A qualitative list of the nationally problematic species among herbaceous perennials was also completed. A total of 880 taxa were recorded, of which 10.3% were native and 89.7% alien. In all, 87.3% of the alien species were still confined to cultivated areas. The ecological and socio-economic characteristics of the taxa were described, and lists of the families of casual, naturalised and invasive aliens were provided. Both native and increasing wild alien species have a very similar profile on the market. Alien species that are less expensive, widely available and have more cultivars per species on the market are also more likely to escape. The invasive status and abundance of escaped aliens in an area increases with residence time. In general, socio-economic factors create new and reflect previous propagule pressures from commercial horticulture, which continuously increase the likelihood of alien species surviving and invading new areas. Our findings suggest that these national socio-economic market-related factors explain much of the invasiveness of various perennial ornamental species, and therefore regional and national authorities urgently need to regulate and control the ornamental plant trade to diminish the risk of new invasions. info:eu-repo/semantics/altIdentifier/eissn/1314-2488 info:eu-repo/semantics/altIdentifier/pissn/1619-0033 info:eu-repo/semantics/openAccess CC BY 3.0 Pensoft Publishers 2013 Research Article text/html info:doi:10.3897/neobiota.17.4217 https://doi.org/10.3897/neobiota.17.4217 https://neobiota.pensoft.net/article/1244/ https://neobiota.pensoft.net/article/1244/download/pdf/ en

10.3897/neobiota.17.4317 2013-06-28 neobiota

Do species differ in their ability to coexist with the dominant alien Lupinus polyphyllus? A comparison between two distinct invaded ranges and a native range Hejda,Martin Lupinus polyphyllus invasive alien species native range invaded range coexistence of species diversity dominance NeoBiota 17: 39-55 The community-level impacts of invasive plants are likely to vary depending on the character of native species of the target communities and their ability to thrive within the stands of the dominant alien invader. Therefore, I examined the response of native species richness to the cover of the dominant alien Lupinus polyphyllus in two distinct invaded ranges: Czech Republic (Central Europe) and New Zealand. I compared the relation between native species richness and the cover of the dominant alien L. polyphyllus with that in its native range, Pacific Northwest, USA.In the native range, I found no response of native species richness to the cover of L. polyphyllus. In the Czech Republic (central Europe), the richness of native species related to it negativelly, but the relation was only marginally significant. Contrary to that, the richness of species native to New Zealand related to the cover of L. polyphyllus strongly negatively and the negative relation was significantly stronger than that of species native to Europe.Of the two invaded ranges, species native to New Zealand have been documented to be much more vulnerable to the conditions associated with the invasion and dominance of L. polyphyllus, compared to species native to central Europe. This principle has been shown both across these two invaded ranges and in New Zealand, where the aliens of european origin successfully coexist with the dominant invasive alien L. polyphyllus. Similarly, species in the native range of L. polyphyllus showed no relation to its cover, indicating their ability to thrive even in dense stands of this dominant species. info:eu-repo/semantics/altIdentifier/eissn/1314-2488 info:eu-repo/semantics/altIdentifier/pissn/1619-0033 info:eu-repo/semantics/openAccess CC BY 3.0 Pensoft Publishers 2013 Research Article text/html info:doi:10.3897/neobiota.17.4317 https://doi.org/10.3897/neobiota.17.4317 https://neobiota.pensoft.net/article/1243/ https://neobiota.pensoft.net/article/1243/download/pdf/ en

10.3897/neobiota.17.5208 2013-06-28 neobiota

The role of eco-evolutionary experience in invasion success Saul,Wolf-Christian Jeschke,Jonathan M. Heger,Tina Alien species ecological novelty ecological similarity introduced species invasibility invasiveness naïveté non-indigenous species NeoBiota 17: 57-74 Invasion ecology has made considerable progress in identifying specific mechanisms that potentially determine success and failure of biological invasions. Increasingly, efforts are being made to interrelate or even synthesize the growing number of hypotheses in order to gain a more comprehensive and integrative understanding of invasions. We argue that adopting an eco-evolutionary perspective on invasions is a promising approach to achieve such integration. It emphasizes the evolutionary antecedents of invasions, i.e. the species’ evolutionary legacy and its role in shaping novel biotic interactions that arise due to invasions. We present a conceptual framework consisting of five hypothetical scenarios about the influence of so-called ‘eco-evolutionary experience’ in resident native and invading non-native species on invasion success, depending on the type of ecological interaction (predation, competition, mutualism, and commensalism). We show that several major ecological invasion hypotheses, including ‘enemy release’, ‘EICA’, ‘novel weapons’, ‘naïve prey’, ‘new associations’, ‘missed mutualisms’ and ‘Darwin’s naturalization hypothesis’ can be integrated into this framework by uncovering their shared implicit reference to the concept of eco-evolutionary experience. We draft a routine for the assessment of eco-evolutionary experience in native and non-native species using a food web-based example and propose two indices (xpFocal index and xpResidents index) for the actual quantification of eco-evolutionary experience. Our study emphasizes the explanatory potential of an eco-evolutionary perspective on biological invasions. info:eu-repo/semantics/altIdentifier/eissn/1314-2488 info:eu-repo/semantics/altIdentifier/pissn/1619-0033 info:eu-repo/semantics/openAccess CC BY 3.0 Pensoft Publishers 2013 Research Article text/html info:doi:10.3897/neobiota.17.5208 https://doi.org/10.3897/neobiota.17.5208 https://neobiota.pensoft.net/article/1242/ https://neobiota.pensoft.net/article/1242/download/pdf/ en

10.3897/neobiota.18.6108 2013-09-13 neobiota

Invasive alien species in the food chain: Advancing risk assessment models to address climate change, economics and uncertainty Kriticos,Darren Venette,Robert C. Baker,Richard Brunel,Sarah Koch,Frank Rafoss,Trond Van der Werf,Wopke Worner,Sue biosecurity pest risk mapping OECD international pest risk mapping workgroup NeoBiota 18: 1-7 Pest risk maps illustrate where invasive alien arthropods, molluscs, pathogens, and weeds might become established, spread, and cause harm to natural and agricultural resources within a pest risk area. Such maps can be powerful tools to assist policymakers in matters of international trade, domestic quarantines, biosecurity surveillance, or pest-incursion responses. The International Pest Risk Mapping Workgroup (IPRMW) is a group of ecologists, economists, modellers, and practising risk analysts who are committed to improving the methods used to estimate risks posed by invasive alien species to agricultural and natural resources. The group also strives to improve communication about pest risks to biosecurity, production, and natural-resource-sector stakeholders so that risks can be better managed. The IPRMW previously identified ten activities to improve pest risk assessment procedures, among these were: “improve representations of uncertainty, … expand communications with decision-makers on the interpretation and use of risk maps, … increase international collaboration, … incorporate climate change, … [and] study how human and biological dimensions interact” (Venette et al. 2010). info:eu-repo/semantics/altIdentifier/eissn/1314-2488 info:eu-repo/semantics/altIdentifier/pissn/1619-0033 info:eu-repo/semantics/openAccess CC BY 3.0 Pensoft Publishers 2013 Editorial text/html info:doi:10.3897/neobiota.18.6108 https://doi.org/10.3897/neobiota.18.6108 https://neobiota.pensoft.net/article/1258/ https://neobiota.pensoft.net/article/1258/download/pdf/ en

10.3897/neobiota.18.4049 2013-09-13 neobiota

Interface between pest risk science and policy: the EPPO perspective Brunel,Sarah Suffert,Muriel Petter,Françoise Baker,Richard Pest Risk Analysis pest risk mapping modelling Thaumatotibia leucotreta Apriona germari NeoBiota 18: 9-23 The European and Mediterranean Plant Protection Organisation (EPPO) is an intergovernmental organization responsible for cooperation in plant protection in the European and Mediterranean region. It provides global distribution maps of pests, and intends to identify the areas at risk from new and emerging pests, in the framework of Pest Risk Analyses. EPPO has developed a decision-support scheme for Pest Risk Analysis (DSS) and a computer program (CAPRA) to assist pest risk analysts in running the decision-support scheme. Dedicated rating guidance and a Climatic Suitability Risk Mapping Decision-Support Scheme have recently been developed to guide assessors in identifying the potential area of establishment of a pest. All these tools have been developed taking into account both pest risk science available and needs of policy makers. The use of these tools and of mapping software are undertaken within the framework of EPPO Pest Risk Analyses, as illustrated through the examples of Thaumatotibia leucotreta (Lepidoptera) and Apriona germari (Coleoptera). info:eu-repo/semantics/altIdentifier/eissn/1314-2488 info:eu-repo/semantics/altIdentifier/pissn/1619-0033 info:eu-repo/semantics/openAccess CC BY 3.0 Pensoft Publishers 2013 Research Article text/html info:doi:10.3897/neobiota.18.4049 https://doi.org/10.3897/neobiota.18.4049 https://neobiota.pensoft.net/article/1257/ https://neobiota.pensoft.net/article/1257/download/pdf/ en

10.3897/neobiota.18.4056 2013-09-13 neobiota

Matching methods to produce maps for pest risk analysis to resources Baker,Richard Eyre,Dominic Brunel,Sarah Pest risk mapping area of potential establishment area at highest risk endangered area Phytophthora austrocedrae Drosophila suzukii Thaumatotibia leucotreta Thaumetopoea pityocampa NeoBiota 18: 25-40 Decision support systems (DSSs) for pest risk mapping are invaluable for guiding pest risk analysts seeking to add maps to pest risk analyses (PRAs). Maps can help identify the area of potential establishment, the area at highest risk and the endangered area for alien plant pests. However, the production of detailed pest risk maps may require considerable time and resources and it is important to match the methods employed to the priority, time and detail required. In this paper, we apply PRATIQUE DSSs to Phytophthora austrocedrae, a pathogen of the Cupressaceae, Thaumetopoea pityocampa, the pine processionary moth, Drosophila suzukii, spotted wing Drosophila, and Thaumatotibia leucotreta, the false codling moth. We demonstrate that complex pest risk maps are not always a high priority and suggest that simple methods may be used to determine the geographic variation in relative risks posed by invasive alien species within an area of concern. info:eu-repo/semantics/altIdentifier/eissn/1314-2488 info:eu-repo/semantics/altIdentifier/pissn/1619-0033 info:eu-repo/semantics/openAccess CC BY 3.0 Pensoft Publishers 2013 Research Article text/html info:doi:10.3897/neobiota.18.4056 https://doi.org/10.3897/neobiota.18.4056 https://neobiota.pensoft.net/article/1256/ https://neobiota.pensoft.net/article/1256/download/pdf/ en

10.3897/neobiota.18.4305 2013-09-13 neobiota

Practical guidelines for modelling post-entry spread in invasion ecology Parry,Hazel Sadler,Rohan Kriticos,Darren Biosecurity Dispersal Migration Modelling Post-entry spread NeoBiota 18: 41-66 In this article we review a variety of methods to enable understanding and modelling the spread of a pest or pathogen post-entry. Building upon our experience of multidisciplinary research in this area, we propose practical guidelines and a framework for model development, to help with the application of mathematical modelling in the field of invasion ecology for post-entry spread. We evaluate the pros and cons of a range of methods, including references to examples of the methods in practice. We also show how issues of data deficiency and uncertainty can be addressed. The aim is to provide guidance to the reader on the most suitable elements to include in a model of post-entry dispersal in a risk assessment, under differing circumstances. We identify both the strengths and weaknesses of different methods and their application as part of a holistic, multidisciplinary approach to biosecurity research. info:eu-repo/semantics/altIdentifier/eissn/1314-2488 info:eu-repo/semantics/altIdentifier/pissn/1619-0033 info:eu-repo/semantics/openAccess CC BY 3.0 Pensoft Publishers 2013 Research Article text/html info:doi:10.3897/neobiota.18.4305 https://doi.org/10.3897/neobiota.18.4305 https://neobiota.pensoft.net/article/1255/ https://neobiota.pensoft.net/article/1255/download/pdf/ en

10.3897/neobiota.18.3863 2013-09-13 neobiota

An assessment of the benefits of yellow Sigatoka (Mycosphaerella musicola) control in the Queensland Northern Banana Pest Quarantine Area Cook,David Liu,Shuang Edwards,Jacqueline Villalta,Oscar Aurambout,Jean-Philippe Kriticos,Darren Drenth,Andre De Barro,Paul Biosecurity invasive alien species banana pathogen yellow Sigatoka NeoBiota 18: 67-81 The banana leaf spotting disease yellow Sigatoka is established and actively controlled in Australia through intensive chemical treatments and diseased leaf removal. In the State of Queensland, the State government imposes standards for de-leafing to minimise the risk of the disease spreading in 6 banana pest quarantine areas. Of these, the Northern Banana Pest Quarantine Area is the most significant in terms of banana production. Previous regulations imposed obligations on owners of banana plants within this area to remove leaves from plants with visible spotting on more than 15 per cent of any leaf during the wet season. Recently, this leaf disease threshold has been lowered to 5 per cent. In this paper we examine the likely impact this more-costly regulation will have on the spread of the disease. We estimate that the average net benefit of reducing the diseased leaf threshold is only likely to be $1.4million per year over the next 30 years, expressed as the annualised present value of tightened regulation. This result varies substantially when the timeframe of the analysis is changed, with shorter time frames indicating poorer net returns from the change in protocols. Overall, the benefit of the regulation change is likely to be minor. info:eu-repo/semantics/altIdentifier/eissn/1314-2488 info:eu-repo/semantics/altIdentifier/pissn/1619-0033 info:eu-repo/semantics/openAccess CC BY 3.0 Pensoft Publishers 2013 Research Article text/html info:doi:10.3897/neobiota.18.3863 https://doi.org/10.3897/neobiota.18.3863 https://neobiota.pensoft.net/article/1254/ https://neobiota.pensoft.net/article/1254/download/pdf/ en

10.3897/neobiota.18.4042 2013-09-13 neobiota

Prioritizing the risk of plant pests by clustering methods; self-organising maps, k-means and hierarchical clustering Worner,Susan Gevrey,Muriel Eschen,René Kenis,Marc Paini,Dean Singh,Sunil Watts,Michael Suiter,Karl Invasive pest assemblages prioritisation self-organising maps hierarchical clustering k-means multi-criteria analysis plant pathogens NeoBiota 18: 83-102 For greater preparedness, pest risk assessors are required to prioritise long lists of pest species with potential to establish and cause significant impact in an endangered area. Such prioritization is often qualitative, subjective, and sometimes biased, relying mostly on expert and stakeholder consultation. In recent years, cluster based analyses have been used to investigate regional pest species assemblages or pest profiles to indicate the risk of new organism establishment. Such an approach is based on the premise that the co-occurrence of well-known global invasive pest species in a region is not random, and that the pest species profile or assemblage integrates complex functional relationships that are difficult to tease apart. In other words, the assemblage can help identify and prioritise species that pose a threat in a target region. A computational intelligence method called a Kohonen self-organizing map (SOM), a type of artificial neural network, was the first clustering method applied to analyse assemblages of invasive pests. The SOM is a well known dimension reduction and visualization method especially useful for high dimensional data that more conventional clustering methods may not analyse suitably. Like all clustering algorithms, the SOM can give details of clusters that identify regions with similar pest assemblages, possible donor and recipient regions. More important, however SOM connection weights that result from the analysis can be used to rank the strength of association of each species within each regional assemblage. Species with high weights that are not already established in the target region are identified as high risk. However, the SOM analysis is only the first step in a process to assess risk to be used alongside or incorporated within other measures. Here we illustrate the application of SOM analyses in a range of contexts in invasive species risk assessment, and discuss other clustering methods such as k-means, hierarchical clustering and the incorporation of the SOM analysis into criteria based approaches to assess pest risk. info:eu-repo/semantics/altIdentifier/eissn/1314-2488 info:eu-repo/semantics/altIdentifier/pissn/1619-0033 info:eu-repo/semantics/openAccess CC BY 3.0 Pensoft Publishers 2013 Research Article text/html info:doi:10.3897/neobiota.18.4042 https://doi.org/10.3897/neobiota.18.4042 https://neobiota.pensoft.net/article/1253/ https://neobiota.pensoft.net/article/1253/download/pdf/ en

10.3897/neobiota.18.4019 2013-09-13 neobiota

Understanding trade pathways to target biosecurity surveillance Colunga-Garcia,Manuel Haack,Robert Magarey,Roger Borchert,Daniel Global trade invasive species pest risk analysis early detection invasion pressure ecosystem invasibility propagule pressure agricultural ecosystems forest ecosystems NeoBiota 18: 103-118 Increasing trends in global trade make it extremely difficult to prevent the entry of all potential invasive species (IS). Establishing early detection strategies thus becomes an important part of the continuum used to reduce the introduction of invasive species. One part necessary to ensure the success of these strategies is the determination of priority survey areas based on invasion pressure. We used a pathway-centred conceptual model of pest invasion to address these questions: what role does global trade play in invasion pressure of plant ecosystems and how could an understanding of this role be used to enhance early detection strategies? We concluded that the relative level of invasion pressure for destination ecosystems can be influenced by the intensity of pathway usage (import volume and frequency), the number and type of pathways with a similar destination, and the number of different ecological regions that serve as the source for imports to the same destination. As these factors increase, pressure typically intensifies because of increasing a) propagule pressure, b) likelihood of transporting pests with higher intrinsic invasion potential, and c) likelihood of transporting pests into ecosystems with higher invasibility. We used maritime containerized imports of live plants into the contiguous U.S. as a case study to illustrate the practical implications of the model to determine hotspot areas of relative invasion pressure for agricultural and forest ecosystems (two ecosystems with high potential invasibility). Our results illustrated the importance of how a pathway-centred model could be used to highlight potential target areas for early detection strategies for IS. Many of the hotspots in agricultural and forest ecosystems were within major U.S. metropolitan areas. Invasion ecologists can utilize pathway-centred conceptual models to a) better understand the role of human-mediated pathways in pest establishment, b) enhance current methodologies for IS risk analysis, and c) develop strategies for IS early detection-rapid response programs. info:eu-repo/semantics/altIdentifier/eissn/1314-2488 info:eu-repo/semantics/altIdentifier/pissn/1619-0033 info:eu-repo/semantics/openAccess CC BY 3.0 Pensoft Publishers 2013 Research Article text/html info:doi:10.3897/neobiota.18.4019 https://doi.org/10.3897/neobiota.18.4019 https://neobiota.pensoft.net/article/1252/ https://neobiota.pensoft.net/article/1252/download/pdf/ en

10.3897/neobiota.18.4017 2013-09-13 neobiota

Improving pest risk assessment and management through the aid of geospatial information technology standards Rafoss,Trond Skahjem,Jarle Johansen,John Atle Johannessen,Ståle Nagothu,Udaya Sekhar Fløistad,Inger S. Sletten,Arild Pest risk mapping mobile GPS geospatial standards NeoBiota 18: 119-130 Delivery of geospatial information over the Internet for the management of risks from invasive alien species is an increasingly important service. The evolution of information technology standards for geospatial data is a key factor to simplify network publishing and exchange of maps and data. The World Wide Web Consortium (W3C)-geolocation specification is a recent addition that may prove useful for pest risk management. In this article we implement the W3C-geolocation specification and Open Geospatial Consortium (OGC) mapping standards in a Web browser application for smartphones and tablet computers to improve field surveys for alien invasive species. We report our first season field experiences using this tool for online mapping of plant disease outbreaks and host plant occurrence. It is expected that the improved field data collection tools will result in increased data availability and thereby new opportunities for risk assessment, because data-needs and availability are crucial for species distribution modelling and model-based forecasts of pest establishment potential. Finally, we close with a comment on the future potential of geospatial information standards to enhance the translation from data to decisions regarding pest risks, which should enable earlier detection of emerging risks as well as more robust projections of pest risks in novel areas. The forthcoming standard for processing of geospatial information, the Web Processing Standard (WPS), should open new technological capabilities both for automatic initiation and updating of risk assessment models based on new incoming data, and subsequent early warning. info:eu-repo/semantics/altIdentifier/eissn/1314-2488 info:eu-repo/semantics/altIdentifier/pissn/1619-0033 info:eu-repo/semantics/openAccess CC BY 3.0 Pensoft Publishers 2013 Research Article text/html info:doi:10.3897/neobiota.18.4017 https://doi.org/10.3897/neobiota.18.4017 https://neobiota.pensoft.net/article/1251/ https://neobiota.pensoft.net/article/1251/download/pdf/ en

10.3897/neobiota.18.4047 2013-09-13 neobiota

Incorporating climate change into pest risk models for forest pathogens: a role for cold stress in an era of global warming? Venette,Robert C. Sudden oak death red band needle blight hemlock dwarf mistletoe CLIMEX alien invasive pathogens exotic species NeoBiota 18: 131-150 Climate change may alter the distribution and activity of native and alien pathogens that infect trees and, in severe cases, cause tree death. In this study, potential future changes in climate suitability are investigated for three forest pathogens that occur in western North America: the native Arceuthobium tsugense subsp tsugense, hemlock dwarf mistletoe, and two alien invasive species, Dothistroma septosporum, the cause of red band needle blight or Dothistroma needle blight, and Phytophthora ramorum, the cause of sudden oak death or ramorum blight. Specifically, the software CLIMEX is used to calculate Cold-Stress, Heat-Stress, and Dry-Stress indices for each pathogen in 98,224 grid cells in North America. Downscaled climate projections from the general circulation models CGCM1, CSIROMk2, and HadCM3 drive forecasts for 2020, 2050 and 2080. These climate projections are then analyzed to forecast shifts in the geographic extent of abiotic stresses that are severe enough to directly kill pathogen propagules and prevent year-round establishment of these pathogens. Cold stress currently has a major impact on climate suitability for all three pathogens; heat stress is likely to become more significant in the future. I forecast that the geographic extent of cold stress will decline from its current levels by a constant 5% (± 1%) of all grid cells in each 30-yr projection horizon for all three pathogens. Forecasts suggest the extent of heat stress will increase concurrently by 4% (± 1%) in each 30-yr projection horizon. Drought stress shows no consistent trend over time. No disproportionate effect of climate change on the two alien invasive pathogens over the native is forecasted. These results suggest that forecasts of future climate suitability for pathogens based on historical climate normals are accurate for less than 30 yrs. Adaptive management strategies in forestry will be needed to respond as these changes unfold. info:eu-repo/semantics/altIdentifier/eissn/1314-2488 info:eu-repo/semantics/altIdentifier/pissn/1619-0033 info:eu-repo/semantics/openAccess CC BY 3.0 Pensoft Publishers 2013 Research Article text/html info:doi:10.3897/neobiota.18.4047 https://doi.org/10.3897/neobiota.18.4047 https://neobiota.pensoft.net/article/1250/ https://neobiota.pensoft.net/article/1250/download/pdf/ en

10.3897/neobiota.18.5288 2013-09-13 neobiota

Could natural selection change the geographic range limits of light brown apple moth (Lepidoptera, Tortricidae) in North America? Morey,Amy Venette,Robert C. Hutchison,William Epiphyas postvittana cold hardiness freeze tolerance NAPPFAST pest risk maps NeoBiota 18: 151-156 We artificially selected for increased freeze tolerance in the invasive light brown apple moth. Our results suggest that, by not accounting for adaptation to cold, current models of potential geographic distributions could underestimate the areas at risk of exposure to this species. info:eu-repo/semantics/altIdentifier/eissn/1314-2488 info:eu-repo/semantics/altIdentifier/pissn/1619-0033 info:eu-repo/semantics/openAccess CC BY 3.0 Pensoft Publishers 2013 Short Communication text/html info:doi:10.3897/neobiota.18.5288 https://doi.org/10.3897/neobiota.18.5288 https://neobiota.pensoft.net/article/1249/ https://neobiota.pensoft.net/article/1249/download/pdf/ en

10.3897/neobiota.18.3993 2013-09-13 neobiota

Uncertainty and sensitivity analysis in quantitative pest risk assessments; practical rules for risk assessors Makowski,David Model Pest risk assessment Sensitivity Uncertainty NeoBiota 18: 157-171 Quantitative models have several advantages compared to qualitative methods for pest risk assessments (PRA). Quantitative models do not require the definition of categorical ratings and can be used to compute numerical probabilities of entry and establishment, and to quantify spread and impact. These models are powerful tools, but they include several sources of uncertainty that need to be taken into account by risk assessors and communicated to decision makers. Uncertainty analysis (UA) and sensitivity analysis (SA) are useful for analyzing uncertainty in models used in PRA, and are becoming more popular. However, these techniques should be applied with caution because several factors may influence their results. In this paper, a brief overview of methods of UA and SA are given. As well, a series of practical rules are defined that can be followed by risk assessors to improve the reliability of UA and SA results. These rules are illustrated in a case study based on the infection model of Magarey et al. (2005) where the results of UA and SA are shown to be highly dependent on the assumptions made on the probability distribution of the model inputs. info:eu-repo/semantics/altIdentifier/eissn/1314-2488 info:eu-repo/semantics/altIdentifier/pissn/1619-0033 info:eu-repo/semantics/openAccess CC BY 3.0 Pensoft Publishers 2013 Research Article text/html info:doi:10.3897/neobiota.18.3993 https://doi.org/10.3897/neobiota.18.3993 https://neobiota.pensoft.net/article/1248/ https://neobiota.pensoft.net/article/1248/download/pdf/ en

10.3897/neobiota.18.4016 2013-09-13 neobiota

Representing uncertainty in a spatial invasion model that incorporates human-mediated dispersal Koch,Frank Yemshanov,Denys Haack,Robert Human-mediated dispersal firewood forest pests pest risk mapping network modelling uncertainty NeoBiota 18: 173-191 Most modes of human-mediated dispersal of invasive species are directional and vector-based. Classical spatial spread models usually depend on probabilistic dispersal kernels that emphasize distance over direction and have limited ability to depict rare but influential long-distance dispersal events. These aspects are problematic if such models are used to estimate invasion risk. Alternatively, a geographic network model may be better at estimating the typically low likelihoods associated with human-mediated dispersal events, but it should also provide a reasonable account of uncertainties that could affect perception of its risk estimates. We developed a network model that assesses the likelihood of dispersal of invasive forest pests in camper-transported firewood in North America. We built the model using data from the U.S. National Recreation Reservation Service, which document visitor travel between populated places and federal campgrounds across the U.S. and Canada. The study area is depicted as a set of coarse-resolution map units. Based on repeated simulations, the model estimates the probability that each unit is a possible origin and destination for firewood-facilitated forest pest invasions. We generated output maps that summarise, for each U.S. state and Canadian province, where (outside the state or province) a camper-transported forest pest likely originated. Treating these output maps as a set of baseline scenarios, we explored the sensitivity of these “origin risk” estimates to additive and multiplicative errors in the probabilities of pest transmission between locations, as well as random changes in the structure of the underlying travel network. We found the patterns of change in the origin risk estimates due to these alterations to be consistent across all states and provinces. This indicates that the network model behaves predictably in the presence of uncertainties, allowing future work to focus on closing knowledge gaps or more sophisticated treatments of the impact of uncertainty on model outputs. info:eu-repo/semantics/altIdentifier/eissn/1314-2488 info:eu-repo/semantics/altIdentifier/pissn/1619-0033 info:eu-repo/semantics/openAccess CC BY 3.0 Pensoft Publishers 2013 Research Article text/html info:doi:10.3897/neobiota.18.4016 https://doi.org/10.3897/neobiota.18.4016 https://neobiota.pensoft.net/article/1247/ https://neobiota.pensoft.net/article/1247/download/pdf/ en

10.3897/neobiota.18.4002 2013-09-13 neobiota

Quantifying uncertainty in pest risk maps and assessments: adopting a risk-averse decision maker’s perspective Yemshanov,Denys Koch,Frank Ducey,Mark Haack,Robert Siltanen,Marty Wilson,Kirsty Risk aversion stochastic dominance decision-making under uncertainty pest risk mapping firewood movement pathway invasion model NeoBiota 18: 193-218 Pest risk maps are important decision support tools when devising strategies to minimize introductions of invasive organisms and mitigate their impacts. When possible management responses to an invader include costly or socially sensitive activities, decision-makers tend to follow a more certain (i.e., risk-averse) course of action. We presented a new mapping technique that assesses pest invasion risk from the perspective of a risk-averse decision maker.We demonstrated the method by evaluating the likelihood that an invasive forest pest will be transported to one of the U.S. states or Canadian provinces in infested firewood by visitors to U.S. federal campgrounds. We tested the impact of the risk aversion assumption using distributions of plausible pest arrival scenarios generated with a geographically explicit model developed from data documenting camper travel across the study area. Next, we prioritized regions of high and low pest arrival risk via application of two stochastic ordering techniques that employed, respectively, first- and second-degree stochastic dominance rules, the latter of which incorporated the notion of risk aversion. We then identified regions in the study area where the pest risk value changed considerably after incorporating risk aversion.While both methods identified similar areas of highest and lowest risk, they differed in how they demarcated moderate-risk areas. In general, the second-order stochastic dominance method assigned lower risk rankings to moderate-risk areas. Overall, this new method offers a better strategy to deal with the uncertainty typically associated with risk assessments and provides a tractable way to incorporate decision-making preferences into final risk estimates, and thus helps to better align these estimates with particular decision-making scenarios about a pest organism of concern. Incorporation of risk aversion also helps prioritize the set of locations to target for inspections and outreach activities, which can be costly. Our results are especially important and useful given the huge number of camping trips that occur each year in the United States and Canada. info:eu-repo/semantics/altIdentifier/eissn/1314-2488 info:eu-repo/semantics/altIdentifier/pissn/1619-0033 info:eu-repo/semantics/openAccess CC BY 3.0 Pensoft Publishers 2013 Research Article text/html info:doi:10.3897/neobiota.18.4002 https://doi.org/10.3897/neobiota.18.4002 https://neobiota.pensoft.net/article/1246/ https://neobiota.pensoft.net/article/1246/download/pdf/ en

10.3897/neobiota.19.4839 2013-10-11 neobiota

Predators vs. alien: differential biotic resistance to an invasive species by two resident predators MacNeil,Calum T.A. Dick,Jaimie Alexander,Mhairi Dodd,Jennifer Ricciardi,Anthony Amphipod biotic resistance functional response invader predation NeoBiota 19: 1-19 The success of invading species can be restricted by interspecific interactions such as competition and predation (i.e. biotic resistance) from resident species, which may be natives or previous invaders. Whilst there are myriad examples of resident species preying on invaders, simply showing that such an interaction exists does not demonstrate that predation limits invader establishment, abundance or spread. Support for this conclusion requires evidence of negative associations between invaders and resident predators in the field and, further, that the predator-prey interaction is likely to strongly regulate or potentially de-stabilise the introduced prey population. Moreover, it must be considered that different resident predator species may have different abilities to restrict invaders. In this study, we show from analysis of field data that two European predatory freshwater amphipods, Gammarus pulex and G. duebeni celticus, have strong negative field associations with their prey, the invasive North American amphipod Crangonyx pseudogracilis. This negative field association is significantly stronger with G. pulex, a previous and now resident invader in the study sites, than with the native G. d. celticus. These field patterns were consistent with our experimental findings that both resident predators display potentially population de-stabilising Type II functional responses towards the invasive prey, with a significantly greater magnitude of response exhibited by G. pulex than by G. d. celticus. Further, these Type II functional responses were consistent across homo- and heterogeneous environments, contrary to the expectation that heterogeneity facilitates more stabilising Type III functional responses through the provision of prey refugia. Our experimental approach confirms correlative field surveys and thus supports the hypothesis that resident predatory invertebrates are differentially limiting the distribution and abundance of an introduced invertebrate. We discuss how the comparative functional response approach not only enhances understanding of the success or failure of invasions in the face of various resident predators, but potentially also allows prediction of population- and community-level outcomes of species introductions. info:eu-repo/semantics/altIdentifier/eissn/1314-2488 info:eu-repo/semantics/altIdentifier/pissn/1619-0033 info:eu-repo/semantics/openAccess CC BY 3.0 Pensoft Publishers 2013 Research Article text/html info:doi:10.3897/neobiota.19.4839 https://doi.org/10.3897/neobiota.19.4839 https://neobiota.pensoft.net/article/1263/ https://neobiota.pensoft.net/article/1263/download/pdf/ en

10.3897/neobiota.19.5123 2013-10-11 neobiota

The effect of insect herbivory on the growth and fitness of introduced Verbascum thapsus L Wilbur,Hannah Alba,Christina Norton,Andrew Hufbauer,Ruth Biotic resistance competition common mullein performance seed set insecticide NeoBiota 19: 21-44 A majority of the plant species that are introduced into new ranges either do not become established, or become naturalized yet do not attain high densities and are thus considered ecologically and economically unproblematic. The factors that limit these relatively “benign” species are not well studied. The biotic resistance hypothesis predicts that herbivores, pathogens and competition reduce growth and reproduction of individual plants and so suppress population growth of non-native species. We explored the effect of insect herbivory and surrounding vegetation on growth and fitness of the non-native biennial plant Verbascum thapsus (common mullein) in Colorado, USA. Mullein is widespread in its introduced North American range, yet is infrequently considered a management concern because populations are often ephemeral and restricted to disturbed sites. To evaluate the impact of insect herbivores on mullein performance, we reduced herbivory using an insecticide treatment and compared sprayed plants to those exposed to ambient levels of herbivory. Reducing herbivory increased survival from rosette to reproduction by 7%, from 70–77%. Of plants that survived, reducing herbivory increased plant area in the first year and plant height, the length of the reproductive spike, and seed set during the second year. Reducing herbivory also had a marked effect on plant fitness, increasing seed set by 50%, from about 48,000 seeds per plant under ambient herbivory to about 98,000 per plant under reduced herbivory. Our findings also highlight that the relationship between herbivory and performance is complex. Among plants exposed to ambient herbivory, we observed a positive relationship between damage and performance, suggesting that, as predicted by the plant vigor hypothesis, insect herbivores choose the largest plants for feeding when their choice is not restricted by insecticide treatment. In contrast to the strong effects of experimentally reduced herbivory, we found that cover of other plants surrounding our focal plants explained relatively little variation in performance outcomes. Overall, we found that herbivore-induced impacts on individual plant performance and seed set are substantial, and thus may help prevent this naturalized species from becoming dominant in undisturbed recipient communities. info:eu-repo/semantics/altIdentifier/eissn/1314-2488 info:eu-repo/semantics/altIdentifier/pissn/1619-0033 info:eu-repo/semantics/openAccess CC BY 3.0 Pensoft Publishers 2013 Research Article text/html info:doi:10.3897/neobiota.19.5123 https://doi.org/10.3897/neobiota.19.5123 https://neobiota.pensoft.net/article/1262/ https://neobiota.pensoft.net/article/1262/download/pdf/ en

10.3897/neobiota.19.5279 2013-10-11 neobiota

The ecology, biogeography, history and future of two globally important weeds: Cardiospermum halicacabum Linn. and C. grandiflorum Sw Gildenhuys,Enelge Ellis,Allan Carroll,Scott Le Roux,Johannes Balloon vines biological invasion C. corindum management phylogeny species distribution modelling NeoBiota 19: 45-65 Members of the balloon vine genus, Cardiospermum, have been extensively moved around the globe as medicinal and horticultural species, two of which are now widespread invasive species; C. grandiflorum and C. halicacabum. A third species, C. corindum, may also have significant invasion potential. However, in some regions the native status of these species is not clear, hampering management. For example, in South Africa it is unknown whether C. halicacabum and C. corindum are native, and this is a major constraint to on-going biological control programmes against invasive C. grandiflorum. We review the geography, biology and ecology of selected members of the genus with an emphasis on the two most widespread invaders, C. halicacabum and C. grandiflorum. Specifically, we use molecular data to reconstruct a phylogeny of the group in order to shed light on the native ranges of C. halicacabum and C. corindum in southern Africa. Phylogenetic analyses indicate that southern African accessions of these species are closely related to South American taxa indicating human-mediated introduction and/or natural long distance dispersal. Then, on a global scale we use species distribution modelling to predict potential suitable climate regions where these species are currently absent. Native range data were used to test the accuracy with which bioclimatic modelling can identify the known invasive ranges of these species. Results show that Cardiospermum species have potential to spread further in already invaded or introduced regions in Australia, Africa and Asia, underlining the importance of resolving taxonomic uncertainties for future management efforts. Bioclimatic modelling predicts Australia to have highly favourable environmental conditions for C. corindum and therefore vigilance against this species should be high. Species distribution modelling showed that native range data over fit predicted suitable ranges, and that factors other than climate influence establishment potential. This review opens the door to better understand the global biogeography of the genus Cardiospermum, with direct implications for management, while also highlighting gaps in current research. info:eu-repo/semantics/altIdentifier/eissn/1314-2488 info:eu-repo/semantics/altIdentifier/pissn/1619-0033 info:eu-repo/semantics/openAccess CC BY 3.0 Pensoft Publishers 2013 Review Article text/html info:doi:10.3897/neobiota.19.5279 https://doi.org/10.3897/neobiota.19.5279 https://neobiota.pensoft.net/article/1261/ https://neobiota.pensoft.net/article/1261/download/pdf/ en

10.3897/neobiota.19.4897 2013-10-11 neobiota

A perceived gap between invasive species research and stakeholder priorities Bayliss,Helen Stewart,Gavin Wilcox,Andrew Randall,Nicola Alien species biological invasions knowledge transfer research evaluation science policy NeoBiota 19: 67-82 Information from research has an important role to play in shaping policy and management responses to biological invasions but concern has been raised that research focuses more on furthering knowledge than on delivering practical solutions. We collated 449 priority areas for science and management from 160 stakeholders including practitioners, researchers and policy makers or advisors working with invasive species, and then compared them to the topics of 789 papers published in eight journals over the same time period (2009–2010). Whilst research papers addressed most of the priority areas identified by stakeholders, there was a difference in geographic and biological scales between the two, with individual studies addressing multiple priority areas but focusing on specific species and locations. We hypothesise that this difference in focal scales, combined with a lack of literature relating directly to management, contributes to the perception that invasive species research is not sufficiently geared towards delivering practical solutions. By emphasising the practical applications of applied research, and ensuring that pure research is translated or synthesised so that the implications are better understood, both the management of invasive species and the theoretical science of invasion biology can be enhanced. info:eu-repo/semantics/altIdentifier/eissn/1314-2488 info:eu-repo/semantics/altIdentifier/pissn/1619-0033 info:eu-repo/semantics/openAccess CC BY 3.0 Pensoft Publishers 2013 Research Article text/html info:doi:10.3897/neobiota.19.4897 https://doi.org/10.3897/neobiota.19.4897 https://neobiota.pensoft.net/article/1260/ https://neobiota.pensoft.net/article/1260/download/pdf/ en

10.3897/neobiota.19.4848 2013-10-11 neobiota

Communicating research with the public: evaluation of an invasive earthworm education program Cameron,Erin Yuckin,Sarah Bayne,Erin angler bait behavior evaluation invasive species non-native public education NeoBiota 19: 83-97 Ecologists are increasingly encouraged by funding agencies and professional societies to communicate their research with the public. However, most receive relatively little training in how to do this effectively. Furthermore, evaluation of whether such an investment by ecologists actually achieves conservation objectives is rare. We created an education program, involving print, television, radio, and internet media, to increase awareness about earthworm invasions and to discourage anglers from dumping earthworm bait. Using pre- and post-surveys, we evaluated our program’s success in reaching its target audience and in changing knowledge and behavior. Few participants (4.1%) recalled seeing the program material and knowledge of the fact that earthworms are non-native in Alberta remained low (15.8% before, 15.1% after). Further, after being told about the negative effects of earthworms in forests, 46.7% of the anglers surveyed stated they would not change their bait disposal behavior in the future, with many commenting that they did not believe earthworms could be harmful. These results highlight the importance of evaluating education programs, rather than assuming they are successful. Given many participants’ doubts that earthworms have negative effects, both regulations and education may be needed to reduce earthworm introductions. info:eu-repo/semantics/altIdentifier/eissn/1314-2488 info:eu-repo/semantics/altIdentifier/pissn/1619-0033 info:eu-repo/semantics/openAccess CC BY 3.0 Pensoft Publishers 2013 Research Article text/html info:doi:10.3897/neobiota.19.4848 https://doi.org/10.3897/neobiota.19.4848 https://neobiota.pensoft.net/article/1259/ https://neobiota.pensoft.net/article/1259/download/pdf/ en

10.3897/neobiota.20.6043 2014-01-24 neobiota

Understanding misunderstandings in invasion science: why experts don’t agree on common concepts and risk assessments Humair,Franziska Edwards,Peter J. Siegrist,Michael Kueffer,Christoph Alien biosecurity concept conservation exotic expertise invasion impact management native non-native uncertainty risk stakeholder valuation NeoBiota 20: 1-30 Understanding the diverging opinions of academic experts, stakeholders and the public is important for effective conservation management. This is especially so when a consensus is needed for action to minimize future risks but the knowledge upon which to base this action is uncertain or missing. How to manage non-native, invasive species (NIS) is an interesting case in point: the issue has long been controversial among stakeholders, but publicly visible, major disagreement among experts is recent.To characterize the multitude of experts’ understanding and valuation of non-native, NIS we performed structured qualitative interviews with 26 academic experts, 13 of whom were invasion biologists and 13 landscape experts. Within both groups, thinking varied widely, not only about basic concepts (e.g., non-native, invasive) but also about their valuation of effects of NIS. The divergent opinions among experts, regarding both the overall severity of the problem in Europe and its importance for ecosystem services, contrasted strongly with the apparent consensus that emerges from scientific synthesis articles and policy documents. We postulate that the observed heterogeneity of expert judgments is related to three major factors: (1) diverging conceptual understandings, (2) lack of empirical information and high scientific uncertainties due to complexities and contingencies of invasion processes, and (3) missing deliberation of values. Based on theory from science studies, we interpret the notion of an NIS as a boundary object, i.e., concepts that have a similar but not identical meaning to different groups of experts and stakeholders. This interpretative flexibility of a concept can facilitate interaction across diverse groups but bears the risk of introducing misunderstandings. An alternative to seeking consensus on exact definitions and risk assessments would be for invasive species experts to acknowledge uncertainties and engage transparently with stakeholders and the public in deliberations about conflicting opinions, taking the role of honest brokers of policy alternatives rather than of issue advocates. info:eu-repo/semantics/altIdentifier/eissn/1314-2488 info:eu-repo/semantics/altIdentifier/pissn/1619-0033 info:eu-repo/semantics/openAccess CC BY 4.0 Pensoft Publishers 2014 Research Article text/html info:doi:10.3897/neobiota.20.6043 https://doi.org/10.3897/neobiota.20.6043 https://neobiota.pensoft.net/article/1267/ https://neobiota.pensoft.net/article/1267/download/pdf/ en

10.3897/neobiota.20.5778 2014-01-24 neobiota

Forestry trial data can be used to evaluate climate-based species distribution models in predicting tree invasions Motloung,Rethabile Robertson,Mark Rouget,Mathieu Wilson,John Ross Species distribution models model evaluation Australian acacias classification tree forestry alien trees invasions Southern African Plant Invaders Atlas NeoBiota 20: 31-48 Climate is frequently used to predict the outcome of species introductions based on the results from species distribution models (SDMs). However, despite the widespread use of SDMs for pre- and post-border risk assessments, data that can be used to validate predictions is often not available until after an invasion has occurred. Here we explore the potential for using historical forestry trials to assess the performance of climate-based SDMs. SDMs were parameterized based on the native range distribution of 36 Australian acacias, and predictions were compared against both the results of 150 years of government forestry trials, and current invasive distribution in southern Africa using true skill statistic, sensitivity and specificity. Classification tree analysis was used to evaluate why some Australian acacias failed in trials while others were successful. Predicted suitability was significantly related to the invaded range (sensitivity = 0.87) and success in forestry trials (sensitivity = 0.80), but forestry trial failures were under-predicted (specificity = 0.35). Notably, for forestry trials, the success in trials was greater for species invasive somewhere in the world. SDM predictions also indicate a considerable invasion potential of eight species that are currently naturalized but not yet widespread. Forestry trial data clearly provides a useful additional source of data to validate and refine SDMs in the context of risk assessment. Our study identified the climatic factors required for successful invasion of acacias, and accentuates the importance of integration of status elsewhere for risk assessment. info:eu-repo/semantics/altIdentifier/eissn/1314-2488 info:eu-repo/semantics/altIdentifier/pissn/1619-0033 info:eu-repo/semantics/openAccess CC BY 4.0 Pensoft Publishers 2014 Research Article text/html info:doi:10.3897/neobiota.20.5778 https://doi.org/10.3897/neobiota.20.5778 https://neobiota.pensoft.net/article/1266/ https://neobiota.pensoft.net/article/1266/download/pdf/ en

10.3897/neobiota.20.5062 2014-01-24 neobiota

Condition and morphometric changes in tilapia (Oreochromis sp.) after an eradication attempt in Southern Louisiana Lorenz,Otto Smith,Patrick Coghill,Lyndon Ivasive tilapia morphology eradication cichlid NeoBiota 20: 49-59 A hybrid form of tilapia was introduced into Port Sulphur, Louisiana and was subsequently managed by treatment with rotenone and stocking of native predatory fishes. Measurements of tilapia from before this management event were compared to measurements of tilapia in the two years after the treatment. Post-management tilapia were consistently deeper in body and had greater weight per unit length (condition) when compared to pre-management fish. Procrustes generalized least squares data supported this by consistently finding post-management tilapia to be consistently deeper in body and head shape than pre-management fish. Although this could indicate the effectiveness of stocking native predators, several other factors, including two cold winters, seasonal effects, and less competition, may have contributed to this result. info:eu-repo/semantics/altIdentifier/eissn/1314-2488 info:eu-repo/semantics/altIdentifier/pissn/1619-0033 info:eu-repo/semantics/openAccess CC BY 4.0 Pensoft Publishers 2014 Research Article text/html info:doi:10.3897/neobiota.20.5062 https://doi.org/10.3897/neobiota.20.5062 https://neobiota.pensoft.net/article/1265/ https://neobiota.pensoft.net/article/1265/download/pdf/ en

10.3897/neobiota.20.6163 2014-01-24 neobiota

The reproductive biology of Saccharum spontaneum L.: implications for management of this invasive weed in Panama Bonnett,Graham Kushner,Josef Saltonstall,Kristin Invasive species seed germination asexual reproduction microsatellite NeoBiota 20: 61-79 Saccharum spontaneum L. is an invasive grass that has spread extensively in disturbed areas throughout the Panama Canal watershed (PCW), where it has created a fire hazard and inhibited reforestation efforts. Currently physical removal of aboveground biomass is the primary means of controlling this weed, which is largely ineffective and does little to inhibit spread of the species. Little is known about reproduction of this species, although it is both rhizomatous and produces abundant seed. Here we report a series of studies looking at some of the basic reproductive mechanisms and strategies utilised by S. spontaneum to provide information to support development of better targeted management strategies.We found that seed produced between September and November was germinable both in the lab and in situ. Genetic diversity of mature stands was assessed using microsatellite markers and found to be high, even at small scales. Studies of vegetative reproduction showed that buds on stems that had been dried for up to six weeks were still capable of sprouting. Separate experiments showed that stem fragments could sprout when left on the surface or buried shallowly and that larger pieces sprouted more readily than smaller pieces.Collectively these results demonstrate that S. spontaneum in the PCW has the capability to produce many propagules that can successfully recruit and it is likely that seed dispersal drives the spread of the species. Timing of management actions to reduce flowering would significantly reduce the seed load into the environment and help to prevent spread to new sites. Similarly, where biomass is cut, cutting stems into smaller pieces will allow the stems to dry out and reduce the ability of buds to sprout. Additionally, attention should be paid to prevent accidental transport to new sites on machinery. info:eu-repo/semantics/altIdentifier/eissn/1314-2488 info:eu-repo/semantics/altIdentifier/pissn/1619-0033 info:eu-repo/semantics/openAccess CC BY 4.0 Pensoft Publishers 2014 Research Article text/html info:doi:10.3897/neobiota.20.6163 https://doi.org/10.3897/neobiota.20.6163 https://neobiota.pensoft.net/article/1264/ https://neobiota.pensoft.net/article/1264/download/pdf/ en

10.3897/neobiota.21.7289 2014-04-17 neobiota

Halting Biological Invasions in Europe: from Data to Decisions. A message from NEOBIOTA 2012 Zilletti,Bernardo Capdevila-Argüelles,Laura Biological invasions NEOBIOTA 2012 NeoBiota 21: 1-5 /none/ info:eu-repo/semantics/altIdentifier/eissn/1314-2488 info:eu-repo/semantics/altIdentifier/pissn/1619-0033 info:eu-repo/semantics/openAccess CC BY 4.0 Pensoft Publishers 2014 Editorial text/html info:doi:10.3897/neobiota.21.7289 https://doi.org/10.3897/neobiota.21.7289 https://neobiota.pensoft.net/article/1272/ https://neobiota.pensoft.net/article/1272/download/pdf/ en

10.3897/neobiota.21.5310 2014-04-17 neobiota

Quantifying the invasiveness of species Colautti,Robert Parker,John D. Cadotte,Marc W. Pyšek,Petr Brown,Cynthia S. Sax,Dov Richardson,David Biogeographical comparisons biological invasions preadaptation functional traits increased vigour invasion success intrinsic vs extrinsic factors NeoBiota 21: 7-27 The success of invasive species has been explained by two contrasting but non-exclusive views: (i) intrinsic factors make some species inherently good invaders; (ii) species become invasive as a result of extrinsic ecological and genetic influences such as release from natural enemies, hybridization or other novel ecological and evolutionary interactions. These viewpoints are rarely distinguished but hinge on distinct mechanisms leading to different management scenarios. To improve tests of these hypotheses of invasion success we introduce a simple mathematical framework to quantify the invasiveness of species along two axes: (i) interspecific differences in performance among native and introduced species within a region, and (ii) intraspecific differences between populations of a species in its native and introduced ranges. Applying these equations to a sample dataset of occurrences of 1,416 plant species across Europe, Argentina, and South Africa, we found that many species are common in their native range but become rare following introduction; only a few introduced species become more common. Biogeographical factors limiting spread (e.g. biotic resistance, time of invasion) therefore appear more common than those promoting invasion (e.g. enemy release). Invasiveness, as measured by occurrence data, is better explained by inter-specific variation in invasion potential than biogeographical changes in performance. We discuss how applying these comparisons to more detailed performance data would improve hypothesis testing in invasion biology and potentially lead to more efficient management strategies. info:eu-repo/semantics/altIdentifier/eissn/1314-2488 info:eu-repo/semantics/altIdentifier/pissn/1619-0033 info:eu-repo/semantics/openAccess CC BY 4.0 Pensoft Publishers 2014 Review Article text/html info:doi:10.3897/neobiota.21.5310 https://doi.org/10.3897/neobiota.21.5310 https://neobiota.pensoft.net/article/1271/ https://neobiota.pensoft.net/article/1271/download/pdf/ en

10.3897/neobiota.21.5242 2014-04-17 neobiota

The Global Garlic Mustard Field Survey (GGMFS): challenges and opportunities of a unique, large-scale collaboration for invasion biology Colautti,Robert Franks,Steven J. Hufbauer,Ruth Kotanen,Peter M. Torchin,Mark Byers,James E. Pyšek,Petr Bossdorf,Oliver Alliaria petiolata citizen science model system plant invasion research network NeoBiota 21: 29-47 To understand what makes some species successful invaders, it is critical to quantify performance differences between native and introduced regions, and among populations occupying a broad range of environmental conditions within each region. However, these data are not available even for the world’s most notorious invasive species. Here we introduce the Global Garlic Mustard Field Survey, a coordinated distributed field survey to collect performance data and germplasm from a single invasive species: garlic mustard (Alliaria petiolata) across its entire distribution using minimal resources. We chose this species for its ecological impacts, prominence in ecological studies of invasion success, simple life history, and several genetic and life history attributes that make it amenable to experimental study. We developed a standardised field survey protocol to estimate population size (area) and density, age structure, plant size and fecundity, as well as damage by herbivores and pathogens in each population, and to collect representative seed samples. Across four years and with contributions from 164 academic and non-academic participants from 16 countries in North America and Europe thus far, we have collected 45,788 measurements and counts of 137,811 plants from 383 populations and seeds from over 5,000 plants. All field data and seed resources will be curated for release to the scientific community. Our goal is to establish A. petiolata as a model species for plant invasion biology and to encourage large collaborative studies of other invasive species. info:eu-repo/semantics/altIdentifier/eissn/1314-2488 info:eu-repo/semantics/altIdentifier/pissn/1619-0033 info:eu-repo/semantics/openAccess CC BY 4.0 Pensoft Publishers 2014 Research Article text/html info:doi:10.3897/neobiota.21.5242 https://doi.org/10.3897/neobiota.21.5242 https://neobiota.pensoft.net/article/1270/ https://neobiota.pensoft.net/article/1270/download/pdf/ en

10.3897/neobiota.21.4966 2014-04-17 neobiota

Colonization of Brazil by the cattle egret (Bubulcus ibis) revealed by mitochondrial DNA Moralez-Silva,Emmanuel Nassif Del Lama,Sílvia cattle egret colonization control region dispersal diversity NeoBiota 21: 49-63 The cattle egret (Bubulcus ibis) has recently colonized Brazil. This process offers an excellent opportunity for the study of colonization and dispersal patterns across extensive areas by non-native birds. The aims of the present investigation were a) to determine the genetic diversity of the cattle egret in Brazil and Africa, b) evaluate genetic differentiation between populations in different regions of Brazil and Africa, and c) detect genetic signs of demographic expansion in these two areas. Mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) Control Region (CR) sequences were obtained from 112 cattle egrets in four Brazilian and four African (Kenya, Ghana and Nigeria) populations. Genetic diversity (H, h, θs) and population structure (AMOVA, Fst) were assessed and the populations were tested for signs of recent demographic expansion. A total of 35 haplotypes were found: 22 exclusive to Africa, 10 exclusive to Brazil and three shared by both samples. The degree of genetic diversity, determined by mtDNA analysis, was similar between Brazil and Africa, demonstrating that the successful colonization of the non-native area occurred with no significant loss of diversity. The pairwise Fst values among the Brazilian and African populations were all significantly different. The population in southern Brazilian exhibited the lowest degree of differentiation with respect to the African population, followed by the southeastern and northeastern populations of the country. The genetic differentiation data suggest that the colonization of Brazil by the cattle egret began in the southern region and expanded to the southeastern and northeastern regions of the country. This genetic differentiation pattern is in accordance with the higher number of cattle per grazing area in southern Brazil, which may have favored the onset of the successful establishment of the species. The findings indicate that mtDNA genetic diversity was retained during the colonization process and colonization began in the southern region of the country. Moreover, signs of demographic expansion were detected in the African sample. info:eu-repo/semantics/altIdentifier/eissn/1314-2488 info:eu-repo/semantics/altIdentifier/pissn/1619-0033 info:eu-repo/semantics/openAccess CC BY 4.0 Pensoft Publishers 2014 Research Article text/html info:doi:10.3897/neobiota.21.4966 https://doi.org/10.3897/neobiota.21.4966 https://neobiota.pensoft.net/article/1269/ https://neobiota.pensoft.net/article/1269/download/pdf/ en

10.3897/neobiota.21.4963 2014-04-17 neobiota

Wrack burial reduces germination and establishment of the invasive cordgrass Spartina densiflora Abbas,Ahmed Rubio-Casal,Alfredo de Cires,Alfonso Figueroa,Enrique Nieva,Javier Castillo,Jesús Coastal marshes physiological dormancy plant debris seedling Spartina densiflora NeoBiota 21: 65-79 Germination and emergence of halophytes may decrease significantly by seed burial in dead plant material, or wrack, which is common and abundant in tidal marshes. The effects of plant debris (wrack) burial on seed germination and seedling establishment of Spartina densiflora, an invasive cordgrass, were studied under greenhouse conditions and compared with field observations. Five wrack burial depths were applied: control without wrack, 1 cm (1235 ± 92 g DW wrack m-2), 2 cm (3266 ± 13 g DW m-2), 4 cm (4213 ± 277 g DW m-2), and 8 cm (6138 ± 227 g DW m-2). Sediment pH, electrical conductivity, redox potential and temperature were recorded. Quiescence increased with wrack load up to ~20% at 8 cm deep. Germination decreased with wrack load from 96% to 14%, which could be related with anoxic conditions under the debris since sediment redox potential was as low as -83 ± 7 mV at 8 cm. Germination percentage increased and quiescent and dormant percentages decreased at higher daily sediment temperatures and with higher daily temperature fluctuations, conditions that were recorded without or under low loads of wrack. Spartina densiflora did not show primary dormancy, but its seeds entered into a non-deep physiological dormancy below 1 cm deep in plant debris. The establishment of S. densiflora seedlings was also greatly reduced by wrack burial since only 6 seedlings (11 ± 5 % of germinated seeds) emerged above plant debris from 1 cm and all seedlings died from deeper than 1 cm. S. densiflora seedling development was also reduced by wrack burial. The inverse relationship between germination and emergence of S. densiflora with wrack burial recorded in our study is useful to predict its invasion dynamics and to plan the management of invaded marshes. info:eu-repo/semantics/altIdentifier/eissn/1314-2488 info:eu-repo/semantics/altIdentifier/pissn/1619-0033 info:eu-repo/semantics/openAccess CC BY 4.0 Pensoft Publishers 2014 Research Article text/html info:doi:10.3897/neobiota.21.4963 https://doi.org/10.3897/neobiota.21.4963 https://neobiota.pensoft.net/article/1268/ https://neobiota.pensoft.net/article/1268/download/pdf/ en

10.3897/neobiota.22.6224 2014-06-26 neobiota

Forty years of experiments on aquatic invasive species: are study biases limiting our understanding of impacts? Thomsen,Mads Wernberg,Thomas Olden,Julian Byers,James E. Bruno,John Silliman,Brian Schiel,David Biotic homogenization alien species exotic species review NeoBiota 22: 1-22 Invasions by non-native species are a threat to biodiversity because invaders can impact native populations, communities and entire ecosystems. To manage this threat, it is necessary to have a strong mechanistic understanding of how non-native species affect local species and communities. We reviewed 259 published papers (1972–2012) that described field experiments quantifying the impact of aquatic non-native species, to examine whether various types of study biases are limiting this understanding. Our review revealed that invasion impacts had been experimentally quantified for 101 aquatic non-native species, in all major freshwater and marine habitats, on all continents except Antarctica and for most higher taxonomic groupings. Over one-quarter (26%) of studies included tests for impacts on local biodiversity. However, despite this extensive research effort, certain taxa, habitats and regions remain poorly studied. For example, of the over one hundred species examined in previous studies, only one was a marine fish and only six were herbivores. Furthermore, over half (53%) the studies were from the USA and two-thirds (66%) were from experiments conducted in temperate latitudes. By contrast, only 3% of studies were from Africa and <2% from high latitudes. We also found that one-fifth (20%) of studies were conducted in estuaries, but only 1% from coral reefs. Finally, we note that the standard procedure of pooling or not reporting non-significant treatments and responses is likely to limit future synthetic advancement by biasing meta-analysis and severely limiting our ability to identify non-native species with none or negligible ecological impacts. In conclusion, a future focus on poorly-studied taxa, habitats and regions, and enhanced reporting of results, should improve our understanding and management of impacts associated with aquatic non-native species. info:eu-repo/semantics/altIdentifier/eissn/1314-2488 info:eu-repo/semantics/altIdentifier/pissn/1619-0033 info:eu-repo/semantics/openAccess CC BY 4.0 Pensoft Publishers 2014 Review Article text/html info:doi:10.3897/neobiota.22.6224 https://doi.org/10.3897/neobiota.22.6224 https://neobiota.pensoft.net/article/1276/ https://neobiota.pensoft.net/article/1276/download/pdf/ en

10.3897/neobiota.22.6620 2014-06-26 neobiota

Environmental and economic impact of alien terrestrial arthropods in Europe Vaes-Petignat,Sibylle Nentwig,Wolfgang Invasive terrestrial arthropods non-native generic impact scoring system prioritization NeoBiota 22: 23-42 In the last decades abundance and importance of invasive alien species has grown continuously due to the undiminished growth of global trade. In most cases, arthropod introductions were unintended and occurred as hitchhikers or contaminants. Alien arthropods can have significant environmental impacts and can be economically costly. To measure these impacts, we expand the generic impact scoring system initially developed for mammals and birds, and applied it to terrestrial arthropods. The scoring of the 77 most widely distributed arthropod species alien to Europe revealed the mite Varroa destructor as the most harmful species, followed by the Chinese longhorn beetle Anoplophora chinensis and the Argentine ant Linepithema humile. The highest environmental impact is through herbivory, disease transmission, and ecosystem impacts. The highest economic impact is on agriculture and human infrastructure. The generic impact scoring system allows comparing impact scores of vertebrates and arthropods, thus serving as a background for decision making processes of policies and stakeholders. info:eu-repo/semantics/altIdentifier/eissn/1314-2488 info:eu-repo/semantics/altIdentifier/pissn/1619-0033 info:eu-repo/semantics/openAccess CC BY 4.0 Pensoft Publishers 2014 Research Article text/html info:doi:10.3897/neobiota.22.6620 https://doi.org/10.3897/neobiota.22.6620 https://neobiota.pensoft.net/article/1275/ https://neobiota.pensoft.net/article/1275/download/pdf/ en

10.3897/neobiota.22.6634 2014-06-26 neobiota

Invasion of yellow crazy ant Anoplolepis gracilipes in a Seychelles UNESCO palm forest Kaiser-Bunbury,Christopher Cuthbert,Harrieth Fox,Rebeckah Birch,Darryl Bunbury,Nancy Endemic arboreal species coco de mer palm geckos invasive alien species islands molluscs World Heritage Site Western Indian Ocean NeoBiota 22: 43-57 The mature palm forest of the Vallée de Mai, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, on the Seychelles island of Praslin, is a unique ecosystem containing many endemic species, including the iconic coco de mer palm Lodoicea maldivica. In 2009, the invasive yellow crazy ant Anoplolepis gracilipes was recorded for the first time within the palm forest, raising concern about its potential impacts on the endemic fauna. This research aimed: (1) to assess the current distribution and spread of A. gracilipes within the palm forest; (2) to identify environmental variables that are linked to A. gracilipes distribution; and (3) to compare endemic species richness and abundance in A. gracilipes invaded and uninvaded areas. Anoplolepis gracilipes was confined to the north-east of the site and remained almost stationary between April 2010 and December 2012, with isolated outbreaks into the forest. Infested areas had significantly higher temperature and humidity and lower canopy cover. Abundance and species richness of the endemic arboreal fauna were lower in the A. gracilipes invaded area. Molluscs were absent from the invaded area. The current restricted distribution of A. gracilipes in this ecosystem, combined with lower abundance of endemic fauna in the invaded area, highlight the need for further research to assess control measures and the possible role of biotic resistance to the invasion of the palm forest by A. gracilipes. info:eu-repo/semantics/altIdentifier/eissn/1314-2488 info:eu-repo/semantics/altIdentifier/pissn/1619-0033 info:eu-repo/semantics/openAccess CC BY 4.0 Pensoft Publishers 2014 Research Article text/html info:doi:10.3897/neobiota.22.6634 https://doi.org/10.3897/neobiota.22.6634 https://neobiota.pensoft.net/article/1274/ https://neobiota.pensoft.net/article/1274/download/pdf/ en

10.3897/neobiota.22.6791 2014-06-26 neobiota

Aztec introduction of the great-tailed grackle in ancient Mesoamerica: Formal defense of the Sahaguntine historical account Haemig,Paul Ahuitzotl alien birds archeobiota cryptogenic birds exotic birds great-tailed grackle introduced birds invasive alien species IAS invasive birds Mexico non-native birds Quiscalus mexicanus translocated birds NeoBiota 22: 59-75 The historical account of Aztec Emperor Auitztol’s introduction of the great-tailed grackle Quiscalus mexicanus into the Valley of Mexico (1486-1502) is significant because it documents human translocation of wild birds in Mexico over 500 years ago, before the Spanish Conquest of that land. In the present paper, which defends the account from writings that dispute it, I first review the evidence of how the account was obtained and show that its many details are consistent with what is known from other sources about both the great-tailed grackle and the Aztecs (Nahuas). I then review and examine all published criticisms of the account and explain in detail why they are wrong. The critics have to date presented no persuasive evidence to support their speculation that the Aztecs confused, or might have confused, a natural invasion for an introduction. In contrast to these critics, Bernardino de Sahagún’s research group in the 1500s presented a highly credible, peer reviewed historical account that documented Aztec introduction of the great-tailed grackle. The pioneering work of these renaissance Mexican scholars continues to stand as one of the most important records of invasive alien species introduction in ancient times. info:eu-repo/semantics/altIdentifier/eissn/1314-2488 info:eu-repo/semantics/altIdentifier/pissn/1619-0033 info:eu-repo/semantics/openAccess CC BY 4.0 Pensoft Publishers 2014 Review Article text/html info:doi:10.3897/neobiota.22.6791 https://doi.org/10.3897/neobiota.22.6791 https://neobiota.pensoft.net/article/1273/ https://neobiota.pensoft.net/article/1273/download/pdf/ en

10.3897/neobiota.23.7800 2014-09-02 neobiota

Mapping the extent and spread of multiple plant invasions can help prioritise management in Galapagos National Park Trueman,Mandy Standish,Rachel Orellana,Daniel Cabrera,Wilson Invasion extent invasion lag phase invasive species protected area rate of spread remote sensing data satellite images vegetation map NeoBiota 23: 1-16 Mapping is an important tool for the management of plant invasions. If landscapes are mapped in an appropriate way, results can help managers decide when and where to prioritize their efforts. We mapped vegetation with the aim of providing key information for managers on the extent, density and rates of spread of multiple invasive species across the landscape. Our case study focused on an area of Galapagos National Park that is faced with the challenge of managing multiple plant invasions. We used satellite imagery to produce a spatially-explicit database of plant species densities in the canopy, finding that 92% of the humid highlands had some degree of invasion and 41% of the canopy was comprised of invasive plants. We also calculated the rate of spread of eight invasive species using known introduction dates, finding that species with the most limited dispersal ability had the slowest spread rates while those able to disperse long distances had a range of spread rates. Our results on spread rate fall at the lower end of the range of published spread rates of invasive plants. This is probably because most studies are based on the entire geographic extent, whereas our estimates took plant density into account. A spatial database of plant species densities, such as the one developed in our case study, can be used by managers to decide where to apply management actions and thereby help curtail the spread of current plant invasions. For example, it can be used to identify sites containing several invasive plant species, to find the density of a particular species across the landscape or to locate where native species make up the majority of the canopy. Similar databases could be developed elsewhere to help inform the management of multiple plant invasions over the landscape. info:eu-repo/semantics/altIdentifier/eissn/1314-2488 info:eu-repo/semantics/altIdentifier/pissn/1619-0033 info:eu-repo/semantics/openAccess CC BY 4.0 Pensoft Publishers 2014 Research Article text/html info:doi:10.3897/neobiota.23.7800 https://doi.org/10.3897/neobiota.23.7800 https://neobiota.pensoft.net/article/4005/ https://neobiota.pensoft.net/article/4005/download/pdf/ en

10.3897/neobiota.23.7745 2014-09-02 neobiota

A biography of an invasive terrestrial slug: the spread, distribution and habitat of Deroceras invadens Hutchinson,John Reise,Heike Robinson,David Biological invasion pest slug Pulmonata Agriolimacidae Deroceras panormitanum NeoBiota 23: 17-64 The article reviews distribution records of Deroceras invadens (previously called D. panormitanum and D. caruanae), adding significant unpublished records from the authors’ own collecting, museum samples, and interceptions on goods arriving in the U.S.A. By 1940 D. invadens had already arrived in Britain, Denmark, California, Australia and probably New Zealand; it has turned up in many further places since, including remote oceanic islands, but scarcely around the eastern Mediterranean (Egypt and Crete are the exceptions), nor in Asia. Throughout much of the Americas its presence seems to have been previously overlooked, probably often being mistaken for D. laeve. New national records include Mexico, Costa Rica, and Ecuador, with evidence from interceptions of its presence in Panama, Peru, and Kenya. The range appears limited by cold winters and dry summers; this would explain why its intrusion into eastern Europe and southern Spain has been rather slow and incomplete. At a finer geographic scale, the occurrence of the congener D. reticulatum provides a convenient comparison to control for sampling effort; D. invadens is often about half as frequently encountered and sometimes predominates. Deroceras invadens is most commonly found in synanthropic habitats, particularly gardens and under rubbish, but also in greenhouses, and sometimes arable land and pasture. It may spread into natural habitats, as in Britain, South Africa, Australia and Tenerife. Many identifications have been checked in the light of recent taxonomic revision, revealing that the sibling species D. panormitanum s.s. has spread much less extensively. A number of published or online records, especially in Australia, have turned out to be misidentifications of D. laeve. info:eu-repo/semantics/altIdentifier/eissn/1314-2488 info:eu-repo/semantics/altIdentifier/pissn/1619-0033 info:eu-repo/semantics/openAccess CC BY 4.0 Pensoft Publishers 2014 Research Article text/html info:doi:10.3897/neobiota.23.7745 https://doi.org/10.3897/neobiota.23.7745 https://neobiota.pensoft.net/article/4006/ https://neobiota.pensoft.net/article/4006/download/pdf/ en

10.3897/neobiota.23.5665 2014-09-02 neobiota

Registry of non-native species in the Two Seas region countries (Great Britain, France, Belgium and the Netherlands) Zieritz,Alexandra Gallardo,Belinda Aldridge,David Belgium English Channel exotic species France Great Britain invasive species Netherlands NeoBiota 23: 65-80 This dataset represents a registry of species that are not native but recorded to live in the wild of at least one of the four countries that comprise the Two Seas Area, i.e. Great Britain, France, Belgium and the Netherlands. For each of the 6,661 species, subspecies and hybrids listed, we provide detailed information on its status in each country, taxonomic affiliation and environment inhabited. The data were collected by review of 36 web- and print-based sources over an eight-month period. Further systematic scanning of three of the most relevant scientific journals, i.e. Neobiota, Aquatic Invasions and BioInvasions Records, recovered 19 additional relevant publications from which information was included in the registry. As a result, the registry will serve as a basis for developing effective, cross-boundary strategies to manage and control non-native species, which can have severe ecological and economic impacts. The registry can further be used as a general reference for both scientists and practitioners, as well as a tool to assess reliability and comprehensiveness of other well-known databases such as the DAISIE portal. info:eu-repo/semantics/altIdentifier/eissn/1314-2488 info:eu-repo/semantics/altIdentifier/pissn/1619-0033 info:eu-repo/semantics/openAccess CC BY 4.0 Pensoft Publishers 2014 Data Paper text/html info:doi:10.3897/neobiota.23.5665 https://doi.org/10.3897/neobiota.23.5665 https://neobiota.pensoft.net/article/4007/ https://neobiota.pensoft.net/article/4007/download/pdf/ en

10.3897/neobiota.23.7496 2014-09-02 neobiota

Taxonomic uncertainty in pest risks or modelling artefacts? Implications for biosecurity policy and practice Kriticos,Darren Morin,Louise Webber,Bruce Biosecurity eucalyptus rust extrapolation guava rust MaxEnt methods myrtle rust niche modelling Puccinia psidii species distribution modelling Uredo rangelii NeoBiota 23: 81-93 Various aspects of uncertainty have become topical in pest risk modelling discussions. A recent contribution to the literature sought to explore the effect of taxonomic uncertainty on modelled pest risk. The case study involved a high profile plant pathogen Puccinia psidii, which causes a major disease of plants within the Myrtaceae family. Consequently, the results and recommendations may attract a wide range of interest in the biosecurity and pest risk modelling communities. We found the study by Elith et al. (2013) included a number of methodological issues that limit some of the specific and general conclusions reached in the paper. We discuss these issues and the ensuing implications for biosecurity management. We also draw attention to the need for pest risk modellers and biosecurity managers to find ways to communicate more effectively. We urge modellers and managers alike to develop a better understanding of the challenges and limitations of modelling species potential distributions across novel climates, and to be able to appreciate the meanings and limitations of models framed in different ways. info:eu-repo/semantics/altIdentifier/eissn/1314-2488 info:eu-repo/semantics/altIdentifier/pissn/1619-0033 info:eu-repo/semantics/openAccess CC BY 4.0 Pensoft Publishers 2014 Commentary text/html info:doi:10.3897/neobiota.23.7496 https://doi.org/10.3897/neobiota.23.7496 https://neobiota.pensoft.net/article/4010/ https://neobiota.pensoft.net/article/4010/download/pdf/ en

10.3897/neobiota.23.7939 2014-09-02 neobiota

Response to Kriticos et al. Elith,Jane A. Burgman,Mark taxonomic uncertainty species distribution models NeoBiota 23: 95-99 info:eu-repo/semantics/altIdentifier/eissn/1314-2488 info:eu-repo/semantics/altIdentifier/pissn/1619-0033 info:eu-repo/semantics/openAccess CC BY 4.0 Pensoft Publishers 2014 Commentary text/html info:doi:10.3897/neobiota.23.7939 https://doi.org/10.3897/neobiota.23.7939 https://neobiota.pensoft.net/article/4008/ https://neobiota.pensoft.net/article/4008/download/pdf/ en

10.3897/neobiota.24.8611 2015-01-16 neobiota

How the Yellowhammer became a Kiwi: the history of an alien bird invasion revealed Pipek,Pavel Pyšek,Petr Blackburn,Tim Bird invasion establishment introduction invasion history native range New Zealand propagule pressure release shipping NeoBiota 24: 1-31 New Zealand harbours a considerable number of alien plants and animals, and is often used as a model region for studies on factors determining the outcome of introductions. Alien birds have been a particular focus of research attention, especially to understand the effect of propagule pressure, as records exist for the numbers of birds introduced to New Zealand. However, studies have relied on compilations of bird numbers, rather than on primary data. Here, we present a case study of the alien yellowhammer (Emberiza citrinella) introduced from the UK to New Zealand, to demonstrate how recourse to the primary literature highlights significant data gaps and misinterpretations in these compilations. We show that the history of the introduction, establishment and spread of the yellowhammer in New Zealand can be reconstructed with surprising precision, including details of the ships importing yellowhammers, their survival rates on board, the numbers and locations of release, and the development of public perception of the species. We demonstrate that not all birds imported were released, as some died or were re-transported to Australia, and that some birds thought to be introductions were in fact translocations of individuals captured in one region of New Zealand for liberation in another. Our study confirms the potential of precise historical reconstructions that, if done for all species, would address criticisms of historical data in the evidence base for the effect of propagule pressure on establishment success for alien populations. info:eu-repo/semantics/altIdentifier/eissn/1314-2488 info:eu-repo/semantics/altIdentifier/pissn/1619-0033 info:eu-repo/semantics/openAccess CC BY 4.0 Pensoft Publishers 2015 Research Article text/html info:doi:10.3897/neobiota.24.8611 https://doi.org/10.3897/neobiota.24.8611 https://neobiota.pensoft.net/article/4522/ https://neobiota.pensoft.net/article/4522/download/pdf/ en

10.3897/neobiota.24.8433 2015-01-16 neobiota

Modeling the distribution of Norway rats (Rattus norvegicus) on offshore islands in the Falkland Islands Tabak,Michael Poncet,Sally Passfield,Ken Martinez del Rio,Carlos Invasive species eradication Rattus norvegicus metapopulation NeoBiota 24: 33-48 Non-native rats (Rattus spp.) threaten native island species worldwide. Efforts to eradicate them from islands have increased in frequency and become more ambitious in recent years. However, the long-term success of some eradication efforts has been compromised by the ability of rats, particularly Norway rats (Rattus norvegicus) which are good swimmers, to recolonize islands following eradications. In the Falkland Islands, an archipelago in the South Atlantic Ocean, the distance of 250 m between islands (once suggested as the minimum separation distance for an effective barrier to recolonization) has shown to be insufficient. Norway rats are present on about half of the 503 islands in the Falklands. Bird diversity is lower on islands with rats and two vulnerable passerine species, Troglodytes cobbi (the only endemic Falkland Islands passerine) and Cinclodes antarcticus, have greatly reduced abundances and/or are absent on islands with rats. We used logistic regression models to investigate the potential factors that may determine the presence of Norway rats on 158 islands in the Falkland Islands. Our models included island area, distance to the nearest rat-infested island, island location, and the history of island use by humans as driving variables. Models best supported by data included only distance to the nearest potential source of rats and island area, but the relative magnitude of the effect of distance and area on the presence of rats varied depending on whether islands were in the eastern or western sector of the archipelago. The human use of an island was not a significant parameter in any models. A very large fraction (72%) of islands within 500 m of the nearest potential rat source had rats, but 97% of islands farther than 1,000 m away from potential rat sources were free of rats. info:eu-repo/semantics/altIdentifier/eissn/1314-2488 info:eu-repo/semantics/altIdentifier/pissn/1619-0033 info:eu-repo/semantics/openAccess CC BY 4.0 Pensoft Publishers 2015 Research Article text/html info:doi:10.3897/neobiota.24.8433 https://doi.org/10.3897/neobiota.24.8433 https://neobiota.pensoft.net/article/4524/ https://neobiota.pensoft.net/article/4524/download/pdf/ en

10.3897/neobiota.24.4526 2015-01-16 neobiota

A subcontinental view of forest plant invasions Oswalt,Christopher Fei,Songlin Guo,Qinfeng Iannone,Basil Oswalt,Sonja Pijanowski,Bryan Potter,Kevin Invasive plants forest ecosystems macroscale spatiotemporal patterns NeoBiota 24: 49-54 Over the last few decades, considerable attention has focused on small-scale studies of invasive plants and invaded systems. Unfortunately, small scale studies rarely provide comprehensive insight into the complexities of biological invasions at macroscales. Systematic and repeated monitoring of biological invasions at broad scales are rare. In this report, we highlight a unique invasive plant database from the national Forest Inventory and Analysis (FIA) program of the United States Forest Service. We demonstrate the importance and capability of this subcontinental-wide database by showcasing several critical macroscale invasion patterns that have emerged from its initial analysis: (1) large portion of the forests systems (39%) in the United States are impacted by invasive plants, (2) forests in the eastern United States harbor more invasive species than the western regions, (3) human land-use legacies at regional to national scales may drive large-scale invasion patterns. This accumulated dataset, which continues to grow in temporal richness with repeated measurements, will allow the understanding of invasion patterns and processes at multi-spatial and temporal scales. Such insights are not possible from smaller-scale studies, illustrating the benefit that can be gained by investing in the development of regional to continental-wide invasion monitoring programs elsewhere. info:eu-repo/semantics/altIdentifier/eissn/1314-2488 info:eu-repo/semantics/altIdentifier/pissn/1619-0033 info:eu-repo/semantics/openAccess CC BY 4.0 Pensoft Publishers 2015 Research Article text/html info:doi:10.3897/neobiota.24.4526 https://doi.org/10.3897/neobiota.24.4526 https://neobiota.pensoft.net/article/4526/ https://neobiota.pensoft.net/article/4526/download/pdf/ en

10.3897/neobiota.24.7772 2015-01-16 neobiota

Aliens in Transylvania: risk maps of invasive alien plant species in Central Romania Zimmermann,Heike Loos,Jacqueline von Wehrden,Henrik Fischer,Joern Erigeron annuus MAXENT Robinia pseudoacacia Romania Solidago canadensis Xanthium strumarium NeoBiota 24: 55-65 Using the MAXENT algorithm, we developed risk maps for eight invasive plant species in southern Transylvania, Romania, a region undergoing drastic land-use changes. Our findings show that invasion risk increased with landscape heterogeneity. Roads and agricultural areas were most prone to invasion, whereas forests were least at risk. info:eu-repo/semantics/altIdentifier/eissn/1314-2488 info:eu-repo/semantics/altIdentifier/pissn/1619-0033 info:eu-repo/semantics/openAccess CC BY 4.0 Pensoft Publishers 2015 Short Communication text/html info:doi:10.3897/neobiota.24.7772 https://doi.org/10.3897/neobiota.24.7772 https://neobiota.pensoft.net/article/4527/ https://neobiota.pensoft.net/article/4527/download/pdf/ en

10.3897/neobiota.25.8316 2015-04-14 neobiota

Comparing functional similarity between a native and an alien slug in temperate rain forests of British Columbia Rodriguez-Cabal,Mariano Gibbons,Taylor Schulte,Patricia Barrios-Garcia,M. Noelia Crutsinger,Gregory European black slug Gastropoda generalist herbivores invasive species Pacific banana slug metabolic rate NeoBiota 25: 1-14 The impacts of invasive alien species are greatest when they become dominant members of a community, introduce novel traits, and displace native species. Invasions by alien mollusks represent a novel context by which to compare trait differences between generalist native and introduced herbivores in terrestrial ecosystems. Here, we determined the abundance, habitat, feeding preferences, as well as the metabolic rate of the native Pacific banana slug (Ariolimax columbianus) and the alien black slug (Arion rufus) in the coastal forests of British Columbia, Canada. Through a series of observational and experimental studies, we found that alien slugs are more abundant, differ in their habitat preferences, and consumed more fungi (mushrooms) than native banana slugs. Conversely, in an enclosures experiment we found that herbivory damage by native slugs was higher compared to enclosures with alien only and control enclosures. Finally, metabolic rates were similar for both slug species. These results suggest that alien black slugs possess a suite of traits that make them functionally different from native banana slugs. info:eu-repo/semantics/altIdentifier/eissn/1314-2488 info:eu-repo/semantics/altIdentifier/pissn/1619-0033 info:eu-repo/semantics/openAccess CC BY 4.0 Pensoft Publishers 2015 Research Article text/html info:doi:10.3897/neobiota.25.8316 https://doi.org/10.3897/neobiota.25.8316 https://neobiota.pensoft.net/article/5095/ https://neobiota.pensoft.net/article/5095/download/pdf/ en

10.3897/neobiota.25.8205 2015-04-14 neobiota

Lantana camara L. (sensu lato): an enigmatic complex Goyal,Neha Sharma,Gyan Control genetics invasive species complex taxonomy NeoBiota 25: 15-26 Lantana camara L., considered among the world’s worst invaders is in identity crisis and contentiously referred as Lantana camara L. (sensu lato). Taxonomic ambiguity in L. camara L. (sensu lato), a species complex is one of the grim caveats behind incompetence of its management efforts. Recognizing the extent of variability within the complex, we aim to highlight the need to circumscribe its composition to bring effective management and control efforts into practice. There is a need for clear terminology to examine weedy, naturalized and/or invasive complex constituents that have been placed under the contentious umbrella of ‘L. camara L. (sensu lato)’. The time is ripe for invasion ecologists, cytogeneticists and conservationists to collaboratively focus on disentangling the complex and integrate their knowledge and expertise into management and control programs. info:eu-repo/semantics/altIdentifier/eissn/1314-2488 info:eu-repo/semantics/altIdentifier/pissn/1619-0033 info:eu-repo/semantics/openAccess CC BY 4.0 Pensoft Publishers 2015 Research Article text/html info:doi:10.3897/neobiota.25.8205 https://doi.org/10.3897/neobiota.25.8205 https://neobiota.pensoft.net/article/5061/ https://neobiota.pensoft.net/article/5061/download/pdf/ en

10.3897/neobiota.25.8354 2015-04-14 neobiota

Factors influencing the local scale colonisation and change in density of a widespread invasive plant species, Lantana camara, in South India Sundaram,Bharath Hiremath,Ankila Krishnaswamy,Jagdish Tropical dry forest disturbance propagule pressure forest fire NeoBiota 25: 27-46 Identifying factors that underlie invasive species colonisation and change in density could provide valuable insights into the mechanisms of biological invasions and for invasive species management. We examined a suite of factors potentially influencing the landscape-level invasion of Lantana camara L., one of the most ubiquitous invasive species in South Asia. These factors included disturbance factors like forest fires, historical habitat modification, and edge effects, in addition to factors like propagule pressure and habitat suitability. We examined the relative importance of these factors on the colonisation and change in density of L. camara in the Biligiri Rangaswamy Temple Tiger Reserve, Western Ghats, India. We used extensive (1997–2008) datasets tracking the presence and abundance of L. camara and combined these with corresponding data on disturbances, propagule pressure, and habitat suitability. We used an information-theoretic model selection approach to determine the relative importance of each factor on the colonisation and change in density of L. camara. Colonisation was mainly a function of proximity to already established populations (i.e. propagule pressure), whereas increase in L. camara density appeared to be constrained by high fire frequency. Research and management efforts need to recognize the multi-dimensional nature of mechanisms underlying L. camara’s success during different invasion phases when strategizing interventions to mitigate its effects. info:eu-repo/semantics/altIdentifier/eissn/1314-2488 info:eu-repo/semantics/altIdentifier/pissn/1619-0033 info:eu-repo/semantics/openAccess CC BY 4.0 Pensoft Publishers 2015 Research Article text/html info:doi:10.3897/neobiota.25.8354 https://doi.org/10.3897/neobiota.25.8354 https://neobiota.pensoft.net/article/5064/ https://neobiota.pensoft.net/article/5064/download/pdf/ en

10.3897/neobiota.25.8613 2015-04-14 neobiota

The thin green line: sustainable bioenergy feedstocks or invaders in waiting Smith,Larissa L. Allen,Damian J. Barney,Jacob Biofuel giant miscanthus habitat susceptibility invasibility NeoBiota 25: 47-71 Numerous fast growing and highly competitive exotic crops are being selected for production of renewable bioenergy. Tolerance of poor growing conditions with minimal inputs are ideal characteristics for bioenergy feedstocks, but have attracted concern for their potential to become invasive. Miscanthus × giganteus is one of the most promising bioenergy crops in the US, but grower adoption is hindered by high establishment costs due to sterility. Newly developed fertile tetraploid M. × giganteus may streamline cultivation while reducing establishment costs. However, fertile seed dramatically increases the potential propagule pressure, and thus probability of off-site plant establishment. To empirically evaluate the invasive potential of fertile M. × giganteus in the Southeastern US, we compared fitness and spread potential relative to ten grass species comprising 19 accessions under both high and low levels of competition and disturbance. We chose species known to be invasive in the US (positive controls: Arundo donax, naturalized M. sinensis, M. sacchariflorus, Phalaris arundinacea, Sorghum halepense) and non-invasive (negative controls; Andropogon gerardii, ornamental M. sinensis, Panicum virgatum, Sorghum bicolor, Saccharum spp.). This novel design allows us to make relative comparisons of risk among species with varying invasiveness. After three years of establishment and growth in Blacksburg, Virginia, neither aboveground disturbance nor interspecific weed competition influenced fitness for fertile M. × giganteus or our positive and negative control groups. Fertile M. × giganteus produced 346% and 283% greater aboveground biomass than our positive and negative species, respectively. However, fertile M. × giganteus produced 74% fewer inflorescences m-2 than our positive controls and 7% and 51% fewer spikelets inflorescence-1 than the positive and negative control species. After 18 months of growth, we observed the vegetative and seedling spread of three of our positive control species (S. halepense, P. arundinacea, and M. sacchariflorus) outside the cultivated plot into receiving areas of both high and low competition. After 24 months of growth, numerous species were observed outside the cultivated plot including fertile M. × giganteus and 50% of negative control species. Notably, in three years sterile M. × giganteus ‘Illinois’ and Arundo donax never moved from the cultivated plot. The addition of fertile seed appears to increase the potential for offsite movement, but within the geographic confines of our empirical evaluation, fertile M. × giganteus seedlings are more similar to native P. virgatum and were not nearly as fast growing or as competitive as our positive control S. halepense. The use of numerous species providing relative comparisons allow us to draw important conclusions which may help prepare for widespread commercialization, while providing novel methodology for ecological risk assessment of new species. info:eu-repo/semantics/altIdentifier/eissn/1314-2488 info:eu-repo/semantics/altIdentifier/pissn/1619-0033 info:eu-repo/semantics/openAccess CC BY 4.0 Pensoft Publishers 2015 Research Article text/html info:doi:10.3897/neobiota.25.8613 https://doi.org/10.3897/neobiota.25.8613 https://neobiota.pensoft.net/article/5066/ https://neobiota.pensoft.net/article/5066/download/pdf/ en

10.3897/neobiota.25.8921 2015-04-14 neobiota

Missing the bandwagon: Nonnative species impacts still concern managers Kuebbing,Sara Simberloff,Daniel New conservation science nonnative species nonnative invasive species management NeoBiota 25: 73-86 Recent critics of invasion biology advocate reduced efforts against nonnative species, arguing that attempts to manage invasions are often costly and futile and that managers are indiscriminately managing species regardless of their impact. Whether this criticism has affected ground-level operations is unknown. A survey of land stewards of a major conservation NGO reveals that this plea has not been heeded; in fact, managers report that they would increase nonnative species management if more resources were available. While respondents overwhelmingly listed nonnative, invasive species as their highest priority for management, we found little evidence supporting the criticism that practitioners focus on nonnative species with minimal ecological impact. Additionally, we found that more conservation practitioners reported managing problematic “weedy” native species over nonnative species that are not invasive. Our results indicate that these managers are selective rather than profligate, targeting species that are having a demonstrable impact or are likely to do so. They feel hamstrung by resource shortages despite their rigorous target selection. Why the increasing literature calling for changed treatment of nonnatives has not led to changed operations is uncertain. Possible reasons are that the critics are not prescriptive or unified about management prioritization, or that these managers simply reject the proposed new paradigm. info:eu-repo/semantics/altIdentifier/eissn/1314-2488 info:eu-repo/semantics/altIdentifier/pissn/1619-0033 info:eu-repo/semantics/openAccess CC BY 4.0 Pensoft Publishers 2015 Research Article text/html info:doi:10.3897/neobiota.25.8921 https://doi.org/10.3897/neobiota.25.8921 https://neobiota.pensoft.net/article/5068/ https://neobiota.pensoft.net/article/5068/download/pdf/ en

10.3897/neobiota.26.8947 2015-07-23 neobiota

Trade patterns of the tree nursery industry in Europe and changes following findings of citrus longhorn beetle, Anoplophora chinensis Forster Eschen,René Grégoire,Jean-Claude Hengeveld,Geerten de Hoop,Bram Rigaux,Ludovic Potting,Roel Citrus longhorn beetle (Anoplophora chinensis Forster) International trade Invasive alien insects Japanese maple (Acer palmatum Thunb.) Plants for planting NeoBiota 26: 1-20 The trade in plants for planting is a major pathway for the introduction and further spread of alien plants, pests and diseases. Information about the structure of plant trade networks is not generally available, but it is valuable for better assessing the potential risks associated with the trade in live plants and the development of prevention and mitigation measures and policy. The discovery of two larvae of Anoplophora chinensis (citrus longhorn beetle – CLB) in 2009, at a nursery importing Acer palmatum from China in one of the major Dutch tree nursery areas, has resulted in the creation of a detailed dataset on the intra-European Union trade in its potential hosts. This study describes European imports of the primary host of A. chinensis, Acer spp., into the Netherlands (1998-2012) and the effects of the finding in a tree nursery area. In addition, shipments of Acer spp. from 138 producers in the nursery area in 2009 were analysed in a one-off analysis of intra-EU trade. The volume of Acer spp. imports from Asia was stable early during the studied period, and declined to 5% of the initial imports after a period of interceptions, illustrating the effect of regulations. The number of notifications of A. chinensis infestations in imported consignments of Acer spp. increased sharply in the years up to 2007, then declined as imports also reduced. Although plants were shipped to destinations throughout Europe, each producer shipped plants only to few destinations in few countries. Most of the plants were shipped to nurseries in EU countries. These patterns could make it easier to target these high risk destinations for control measures. The lack of transaction records makes it difficult to trace the destination of plants. More systematic electronic record keeping by traders and growers and the data being collated in a database that can be made available to regulatory authorities, together with further studies of plant trade data using network approaches, would be beneficial for improving trace-back and trace-forward and provide better safeguards for plant health and quality. info:eu-repo/semantics/altIdentifier/eissn/1314-2488 info:eu-repo/semantics/altIdentifier/pissn/1619-0033 info:eu-repo/semantics/openAccess CC BY 4.0 Pensoft Publishers 2015 Research Article text/html info:doi:10.3897/neobiota.26.8947 https://doi.org/10.3897/neobiota.26.8947 https://neobiota.pensoft.net/article/5721/ https://neobiota.pensoft.net/article/5721/download/pdf/ en

10.3897/neobiota.26.8837 2015-07-23 neobiota

Research on mutualisms between native and non-native partners can contribute critical ecological insights Aslan,Clare Sikes,Benjamin Gedan,Keryn Positive interactions marine belowground biological invasions non-native species novel mutualisms NeoBiota 26: 39-54 Mutualisms are important structuring forces in ecological communities, influencing ecosystem functions, diversity, and evolutionary trajectories. New interactions, particularly between native and non-native species, are globally increasing in biotic communities as species introductions accelerate. Positive interactions such as novel mutualisms can affect the fitness of organisms in invaded communities. Non-natives can augment native mutualism networks, replace extinct native partners, or disrupt native mutualisms. Because they are actively forming or newly formed, novel mutualisms offer a unique opportunity to examine in real time the factors governing early mutualism formation and stability, including frequency-dependent processes and those relying on specific traits or functions. These central ecological questions have been inferred from long-formed mutualisms, but novel mutualisms may allow a glimpse of successes and failures in ecological time with insights into the relative importance of these factors as ecological systems shift. To this end, this commentary addresses how novel mutualisms inform our understanding of mutualism formation, stability, the importance of functional traits, and niche vs. neutral processes, using examples across multiple systems. Novel mutualism research thus far has been largely limited in both questions and ecosystems, but if more broadly applied could benefit both theoretical and applied ecology. info:eu-repo/semantics/altIdentifier/eissn/1314-2488 info:eu-repo/semantics/altIdentifier/pissn/1619-0033 info:eu-repo/semantics/openAccess CC BY 4.0 Pensoft Publishers 2015 Commentary text/html info:doi:10.3897/neobiota.26.8837 https://doi.org/10.3897/neobiota.26.8837 https://neobiota.pensoft.net/article/5722/ https://neobiota.pensoft.net/article/5722/download/pdf/ en

10.3897/neobiota.26.8278 2015-07-23 neobiota

First record of Aequorea macrodactyla (Cnidaria, Hydrozoa) from the Israeli coast of the eastern Mediterranean Sea, an alien species indicating invasive pathways Mizrahi,Gur Shemesh,Eli van Ofwegen,Leen Tchernov,Dan Aequorea macrodactyla hydromedusa gelatinous fauna phylogenetic markers migration of jellyfish Lessepsian migration anthropogenic changes NeoBiota 26: 55-70 The species of Aequorea attract much scientific interest as they contain the unique Green Fluorescent Protein (GFP). In this work we describe for the first time the discovery of a hydrozoan jellyfish belonging to the genus Aequorea from the Israeli eastern Mediterranean that contains and exhibits fluorescent protein. Finding Aequorea macrodactyla (Brandt, 1835) in the eastern Mediterranean indicates that changes are occurring in the gelatinous fauna of this area. This hydromedusa is known in the seas adjoining the Mediterranean though most of its records are more than four decades old. We examined and identified the newly discovered Israeli Aequorea species by combining two phylogenetic systems, traditional morphological phylogeny and molecular phylogenetics. The molecular identification determined that the species is A. macrodactyla but with minor genetic differences in the mtDNA 16S gene marker. A 1% difference between the Israeli and the Japanese A. macrodactyla was demonstrated, which suggests that the genetic difference between the Israeli and the Japanese population is small but existent. Invasive pathways for this jellyfish were examined by phylogenetic and taxonomic relationships with similar Cnidaria. The results indicate introduction from the Indo-Pacific as invasive pathway, probably by human transportation, and the discovery of A. macrodactyla in the eastern Mediterranean Sea could be interpreted as part of the changes in marine biota as a result of cumulative effects of anthropogenic and global changes that affect the eastern Mediterranean basin. info:eu-repo/semantics/altIdentifier/eissn/1314-2488 info:eu-repo/semantics/altIdentifier/pissn/1619-0033 info:eu-repo/semantics/openAccess CC BY 4.0 Pensoft Publishers 2015 Research Article text/html info:doi:10.3897/neobiota.26.8278 https://doi.org/10.3897/neobiota.26.8278 https://neobiota.pensoft.net/article/5724/ https://neobiota.pensoft.net/article/5724/download/pdf/ en

10.3897/neobiota.26.4405 2015-07-23 neobiota

Effects of UV-B radiation on germination characteristics in invasive plants in New Zealand Hock,Maria Beckmann,Michael Hofmann,Rainer Bruelheide,Helge Erfmeier,Alexandra Congeneric species pairs Echium invasive vs. non-invasive species local adaptation native vs. exotic origins pre-adaptation Verbascum NeoBiota 26: 21-37 UV-B radiation represents a potentially selective, yet little studied environmental factor for plant invasions, especially with respect to germination characteristics and seedling establishment in areas of high UV-B exposure such as New Zealand. To explain invasive potential of plant species pre-adaptation and local adaptation to selection factors in the invaded range are two frequently consulted concepts. To test for the relevance of these mechanisms, it is necessary to compare both invasive and non-invasive species, as well as native and exotic origins of invasive species. In the present study, germination success of two congeneric species pairs of the genera Verbascum (Scrophulariaceae) and Echium (Boraginaceae) were investigated under high UV-B intensities. Each genus comprised one species that has successfully invaded New Zealand grasslands and one species that was introduced but has not been invasive in New Zealand. In an among-species approach, pre-adaptation was tested by comparing germination success of native (European) origins of all four species in relation to their different invasive success in New Zealand. In a within-species comparison, native (European) and exotic (New Zealand) origins of the two invasive species were compared to test for local adaptation to UV-B in the invaded range. In both approaches, UV-B radiation inhibited the germination success of all study species. However, the comparison of invasive and non-invasive species of the two genera showed no UV-B-specific pre-adaptation of invasive species to high UV-B intensities. Higher germination success of invasive species probably led to an establishment advantage during colonization of the invaded range. Although local adaptation of exotic populations to UV-B could not be demonstrated in the within-species approach, a genetic shift in germination velocity between native and exotic origins was found. These differences may be ascribed to other relevant environmental factors, e.g. overall irradiation and drought, inducing similar plant responses as under UV-B radiation. info:eu-repo/semantics/altIdentifier/eissn/1314-2488 info:eu-repo/semantics/altIdentifier/pissn/1619-0033 info:eu-repo/semantics/openAccess CC BY 4.0 Pensoft Publishers 2015 Research Article text/html info:doi:10.3897/neobiota.26.4405 https://doi.org/10.3897/neobiota.26.4405 https://neobiota.pensoft.net/article/4405/ https://neobiota.pensoft.net/article/4405/download/pdf/ en

10.3897/neobiota.27.5437 2015-09-15 neobiota

On the origin of South American populations of the common house gecko (Gekkonidae: Hemidactylus frenatus) Torres-Carvajal,Omar Galápagos Gekkonidae Hemidactylus invasive species South America NeoBiota 27: 69-79 Hemidactylus frenatus is an Asian gecko species that has invaded many tropical regions to become one of the most widespread lizards worldwide. This species has dispersed across the Pacific Ocean to reach Hawaii and subsequently Mexico and other Central American countries. More recently, it has been reported from northwestern South America. Using 12S and cytb mitochondrial DNA sequences I found that South American and Galápagos haplotypes are identical to those from Hawaii and Papua New Guinea, suggesting a common Melanesian origin for both Hawaii and South America. Literature records suggest that H. frenatus arrived in Colombia around the mid-‘90s, dispersed south into Ecuador in less than five years, and arrived in the Galápagos about one decade later. info:eu-repo/semantics/altIdentifier/eissn/1314-2488 info:eu-repo/semantics/altIdentifier/pissn/1619-0033 info:eu-repo/semantics/openAccess CC BY 4.0 Pensoft Publishers 2015 Research Article text/html info:doi:10.3897/neobiota.27.5437 https://doi.org/10.3897/neobiota.27.5437 https://neobiota.pensoft.net/article/5437/ https://neobiota.pensoft.net/article/5437/download/pdf/ en

10.3897/neobiota.27.5007 2015-09-15 neobiota

Alien species and public health impacts in Europe: a literature review Schindler,Stefan Staska,Bernadette Adam,Mildren Rabitsch,Wolfgang Essl,Franz Aedes Ambrosia climate change human health management vector NeoBiota 27: 1-23 Impacts of alien species on human health have recently become a major issue in medical research and invasion ecology, but comprehensive assessments of this subject are largely lacking. Here, we provide a literature review of alien species with public health impacts in Europe based on a systematic search in the Thomson Reuters Web of Science. We detected 77 relevant articles, of which 21 were reviews and 56 were original research articles. The taxonomic focus was on vascular plants (n=31 articles) and dipterans (n=25 articles). The original research articles mainly covered the spread of the study species, while early invasion stages (introduction, establishment) as well as impact and management were less investigated. Alien species of health concern in Europe are mostly introduced as contaminants, and mostly originate from climatically similar regions of the Northern Hemisphere. In those cases (36% of all articles) when information on the trend in range and abundance was provided, this trend was mostly increasing. We detected little information on the severity of the impacts (two articles) and the interaction with climate change (three articles). In 15 original articles (28%) specific management measures were suggested, in only one article the socioeconomic costs were assessed. We conclude that European research on human health impacts of alien species is biased towards few species, and that several important aspects such as early invasion stages, severity of impact and its temporal trends, and the scale of the socioeconomic costs caused are poorly understood. Interdisciplinary projects bridging gaps between ecologists medical researchers, socioeconomists and public health authorities are required to link alien species to severity and trends of impacts, which is a crucial requisite for risk assessment and decision making. info:eu-repo/semantics/altIdentifier/eissn/1314-2488 info:eu-repo/semantics/altIdentifier/pissn/1619-0033 info:eu-repo/semantics/openAccess CC BY 4.0 Pensoft Publishers 2015 Research Article text/html info:doi:10.3897/neobiota.27.5007 https://doi.org/10.3897/neobiota.27.5007 https://neobiota.pensoft.net/article/5007/ https://neobiota.pensoft.net/article/5007/download/pdf/ en

10.3897/neobiota.27.5177 2015-09-15 neobiota

Site-specific temporal and spatial validation of a generic plant pest forecast system with observations of Bactrocera dorsalis (oriental fruit fly) Hong,Seung Cheon Magarey,Roger Borchert,Daniel Vargs,Roger Souder,Steven Risk analysis invasive species modeling climate NeoBiota 27: 37-67 This study introduces a simple generic model, the Generic Pest Forecast System (GPFS), for simulating the relative populations of non-indigenous arthropod pests in space and time. The model was designed to calculate the population index or relative population using hourly weather data as influenced by developmental rate, high and low temperature mortalities and wet soil moisture mortality. Each module contains biological parameters derived from controlled experiments. The hourly weather data used for the model inputs were obtained from the National Center of Environmental Prediction Climate Forecast System Reanalysis (NCEP-CFSR) at a 38 km spatial resolution. A combination of spatial and site-specific temporal data was used to validate the GPFS models. The oriental fruit fly, Bactrocera dorsalis (Hendel), was selected as a case study for this research because it is climatically driven and a major pest of fruit production. Results from the GPFS model were compared with field B. dorsalis survey data in three locations: 1) Bangalore, India; 2) Hawaii, USA; and 3) Wuhan, China. The GPFS captured the initial outbreaks and major population peaks of B. dorsalis reasonably well, although agreement varied between sites. An index of agreement test indicated that GPFS model simulations matched with field B. dorsalis observation data with a range between 0.50 and 0.94 (1.0 as a perfect match). Of the three locations, Wuhan showed the highest match between the observed and simulated B. dorsalis populations, with indices of agreement of 0.85. The site-specific temporal comparisons implied that the GPFS model is informative for prediction of relative abundance. Spatial results from the GPFS model were also compared with 161 published observations of B. dorsalis distribution, mostly from East Asia. Since parameters for pupal overwintering and survival were unknown from the literature, these were inferred from the distribution data. The study showed that GPFS has promise for estimating suitable areas for B. dorsalis establishment and potentially other non-indigenous pests. It is concluded that calibrating prediction models with both spatial and site-specific temporal data may provide more robust and reliable results than validations with either data set alone. info:eu-repo/semantics/altIdentifier/eissn/1314-2488 info:eu-repo/semantics/altIdentifier/pissn/1619-0033 info:eu-repo/semantics/openAccess CC BY 4.0 Pensoft Publishers 2015 Research Article text/html info:doi:10.3897/neobiota.27.5177 https://doi.org/10.3897/neobiota.27.5177 https://neobiota.pensoft.net/article/5177/ https://neobiota.pensoft.net/article/5177/download/pdf/ en

10.3897/neobiota.27.4919 2015-09-15 neobiota

Assessing the flexibility of the Analytic Hierarchy Process for prioritization of invasive plant management Nielsen,Abraham Fei,Songlin Analytic Hierarchy Process modeling invasive plant management NeoBiota 27: 25-36 Decision tools have been advocated to assist the prioritization of management areas for preventing and mitigating exotic invasions into native ecosystems. Currently, most tools have been created for specific invaders/regions and are thus often not sufficient to address the complex range of invasion scenarios that managers encounter. As exotic invasions continue to be a major issue, science-based, information-driven tools are pressingly needed. In this study, we explore the potential of utilizing the Analytic Hierarchy Process (AHP), one of the information-driven tools, to flexibly prioritize various invasion scenarios by incorporating a broad spectrum of management data. We tested the flexibility of the AHP management tool with two distinct invasion-stage-specific prioritizations for Amur honeysuckle (Lonicera maackii). The AHP tool successfully created two management prioritizations from contrasting invasion scenarios of established Amur honeysuckle invasion versus a hypothetical scenario of newly invading populations. The flexibility of AHP allowed users to alter input based on the stage of invasion in each scenario. In the established scenario, management priority was assigned to removing Amur honeysuckle from the most ecologically significant areas. For the new invasion scenario, priority was shifted to removing the invader from areas of most recent invasions. The two contrasting prioritizations demonstrate the flexibility of AHP as a management tool. We conclude that the flexible AHP tool could be useful for prioritizing management of exotic plant invasions. info:eu-repo/semantics/altIdentifier/eissn/1314-2488 info:eu-repo/semantics/altIdentifier/pissn/1619-0033 info:eu-repo/semantics/openAccess CC BY 4.0 Pensoft Publishers 2015 Research Article text/html info:doi:10.3897/neobiota.27.4919 https://doi.org/10.3897/neobiota.27.4919 https://neobiota.pensoft.net/article/4919/ https://neobiota.pensoft.net/article/4919/download/pdf/ en

10.3897/neobiota.28.5503 2016-01-08 neobiota

Distribution and abundance of exotic earthworms within a boreal forest system in southcentral Alaska Saltmarsh,Deanna Bowser,Matthew Morton,John Lang,Shirley Shain,Daniel Dial,Roman Lumbricidae earthworm invasion taiga bait abandonment non-native species NeoBiota 28: 67-86 Little is known about exotic earthworms (Oligochaeta: Lumbricidae) in Alaska outside its southeastern panhandle. This study documents the distribution of exotic earthworms in the relatively undisturbed Kenai National Wildlife Refuge (KNWR), a large, primarily wilderness refuge in southcentral Alaska. We sampled 69 sites near boat launches, along road corridors, and in low human impact areas > 5 km from the road, finding three species of earthworms (Dendrobaena octaedra, Dendrodrilus rubidus, and Lumbricus terrestris). Most road sites (90%) and boat launches (80%) contained earthworms; half (50%) of low human impact sites contained earthworms. Distance to roads was the only significant factor in predicting earthworm occurrence; soil pH, soil moisture, leaf litter depth, and vegetation cover were not. The disparate distributions of these three species suggest that within the KNWR road construction and vehicle traffic played a role in dispersal of the widespread, abundant Dendrobaena octaedra and uncommon Dendrodrilus rubidus; bait abandonment appeared to be the primary method of introduction of Lumbricus terrestris. While the distribution of harmful anecic earthworms in KNWR is currently limited, the prohibition of Lumbricus spp. as bait within conservation units in Alaska may be warranted. info:eu-repo/semantics/altIdentifier/eissn/1314-2488 info:eu-repo/semantics/altIdentifier/pissn/1619-0033 info:eu-repo/semantics/openAccess CC BY 4.0 Pensoft Publishers 2016 Research Article text/html info:doi:10.3897/neobiota.28.5503 https://doi.org/10.3897/neobiota.28.5503 https://neobiota.pensoft.net/article/5503/ https://neobiota.pensoft.net/article/5503/download/pdf/ en

10.3897/neobiota.28.4824 2016-01-08 neobiota

Black, Grey and Watch Lists of alien species in the Czech Republic based on environmental impacts and management strategy Pergl,Jan Sádlo,Jiří Petrusek,Adam Lastuvka,Zdenek Musil,Jiří Perglová,Irena Šanda,Radek Sefrova,Hana Šíma,Jan Vohralík,Vladimír Pyšek,Petr Alien species Black list Czech Republic impact legislative tools management NeoBiota 28: 1-37 As legislation, research and management of invasive alien species (IAS) are not fully coordinated across countries or different stakeholder groups, one approach leading to more or less standardized activities is based on producing lists of prominent IAS that attain high level of concern and are a subject of priority monitoring and management. These so-called Black, Grey and Watch (alert) Lists represent a convenient starting point for setting priorities in prevention, early warning and management systems. It is important that these lists be based on transparent and robust criteria so as to accommodate interests and perception of impacts by groups of concerned authorities and stakeholders representing sectors as diverse as, e.g. forestry, horticulture, aquaculture, hunting, and nature conservation, and to justify possible trade restrictions. The principles for blacklisting need to be general enough to accommodate differences among taxonomic groups (plants, invertebrates, vertebrates) and invaded environments (e.g. aquatic, terrestrial, urban, suburban, seminatural), and must take into account invasion dynamics, the impact the IAS pose, and management strategies suitable for each particular invader. With these assumptions in mind, we synthesize available information to present Black, Grey and Watch Lists of alien species for the Czech Republic, with recommended categorized management measures for land managers, policy makers and other stakeholders. We took into account differences in the listed species’ distribution, invasion status, known or estimated environmental impact, as well as possible management options, and apply these criteria to both plants and animals. Species with lower impact, but for which some level of management and regulation is desirable, are included on the Grey List. Some potentially dangerous species occurring in European countries with comparable climatic conditions, as well as those introduced in the past but without presently known wild populations in the Czech Republic, are listed on the Watch list. In total, there are 78 plant and 39 animal species on the Black List, 47 and 16 on the Grey List, and 25 and 27, respectively, on the Watch List. The multilayered approach to the classification of alien species, combining their impacts, population status and relevant management, can serve as a model for other countries that are in process of developing their Black Lists. info:eu-repo/semantics/altIdentifier/eissn/1314-2488 info:eu-repo/semantics/altIdentifier/pissn/1619-0033 info:eu-repo/semantics/openAccess CC BY 4.0 Pensoft Publishers 2016 Research Article text/html info:doi:10.3897/neobiota.28.4824 https://doi.org/10.3897/neobiota.28.4824 https://neobiota.pensoft.net/article/4824/ https://neobiota.pensoft.net/article/4824/download/pdf/ en

10.3897/neobiota.28.5259 2016-01-08 neobiota

Small but tough: What can ecophysiology of croaking gourami Trichopsis vittata (Cuvier, 1831) tell us about invasiveness of non-native fishes in Florida? Schofield,Pamela Schulte,Jessica Trichopsis ecophysiology low-temperature tolerance salinity tolerance invasiveness NeoBiota 28: 51-65 Trichopsis vittata (Cuvier, 1831) is a small, freshwater gourami (Fam: Osphronemidae) native to southeast Asia. It was first detected in Florida in the 1970s and seems to have persisted for decades in a small area. In this study, we documented T. vittata’s ecophysiological tolerances (salinity and low-temperature) and qualitatively compared them to published values for other sympatric non-native species that have successfully invaded much of the Florida peninsula. Trichopsis vittata survived acute salinity shifts to 16 psu and was able to survive up to 20 psu when salinity was raised more slowly (5 psu per week). In a cold-tolerance experiment, temperature was lowered from 24 °C at 1 °C hr-1 until fish died. Mean temperature at death (i.e., lower lethal limit) was 7.2 °C. Trichopsis vittata seems as tolerant or more tolerant than many other sympatric non-native fishes for the variables we examined. However, T. vittata is the only species that has not dispersed since its introduction. Species other than T. vittata have broadly invaded ranges, many of which include the entire lower third of the Florida peninsula. It is possible that tolerance to environmental parameters serves as a filter for establishment, wherein candidate species must possess the ability to survive abiotic extremes as a first step. However, a species’ ability to expand its geographic range may ultimately rely on a secondary set of criteria including biotic interactions and life-history variables. info:eu-repo/semantics/altIdentifier/eissn/1314-2488 info:eu-repo/semantics/altIdentifier/pissn/1619-0033 info:eu-repo/semantics/openAccess CC BY 4.0 Pensoft Publishers 2016 Research Article text/html info:doi:10.3897/neobiota.28.5259 https://doi.org/10.3897/neobiota.28.5259 https://neobiota.pensoft.net/article/5259/ https://neobiota.pensoft.net/article/5259/download/pdf/ en

10.3897/neobiota.28.6838 2016-01-08 neobiota

The influence of mowing regime on the soil seed bank of the invasive plant Ambrosia artemisiifolia L. Milakovic,Ivana Karrer,Gerhard Common ragweed invasive plant management mowing roadside vegetation seed bank neophyte NeoBiota 28: 39-49 Ambrosia artemisiifolia is an invasive annual herb infamous for the high allergenicity of its pollen, which is related to increasing medical costs. Additionally, it can cause serious yield losses as agricultural weed. Common ragweed seeds accumulate in the soil and can remain therein viable for decades, which poses a problem for the sustainable management of these populations. A long term management should thus target a reduction of the soil seed bank. We observed the influence of four different mowing regimes on the ragweed soil seed bank at six roadside populations in eastern Austria. The mowing regimes were based on methods from common roadside management practice and specifically adapted to reduce seed production. After three years of application, the soil seed bank was indeed reduced by 45 to 80 percent through three of the four mowing regimes tested. Therefore, we suggest that the best mowing regime for the most effective reduction of the size of the soil seed bank is the one consisting of one cut just after the beginning of female flowering (around the 3rd week of August in Eastern Central Europe), followed by a second cut 2–3 weeks later. info:eu-repo/semantics/altIdentifier/eissn/1314-2488 info:eu-repo/semantics/altIdentifier/pissn/1619-0033 info:eu-repo/semantics/openAccess CC BY 4.0 Pensoft Publishers 2016 Research Article text/html info:doi:10.3897/neobiota.28.6838 https://doi.org/10.3897/neobiota.28.6838 https://neobiota.pensoft.net/article/6838/ https://neobiota.pensoft.net/article/6838/download/pdf/ en

10.3897/neobiota.29.6959 2016-03-16 neobiota

Biological invasions and natural colonisations: are they that different? Hoffmann,Benjamin Courchamp,Franck Alien biological invasion colonisation dispersal exotic invasion introduction NeoBiota 29: 1-14 We argue that human-mediated invasions are part of the spectrum of species movements, not a unique phenomenon, because species self-dispersing into novel environments are subject to the same barriers of survival, reproduction, dispersal and further range expansion as those assisted by people. Species changing their distributions by human-mediated and non-human mediated modes should be of identical scientific interest to invasion ecology and ecology. Distinctions between human-mediated invasions and natural colonisations are very valid for management and policy, but we argue that these are value-laden distinctions and not necessarily an appropriate division for science, which instead should focus on distinctions based on processes and mechanisms. We propose an all-encompassing framework of species range expansion. This does not detract from the importance of invasion biology as a discipline, but instead will help bring together research being conducted on multiple taxa, and by multiple disciplines, including epidemiology, that are often focused on an identical phenomenon: colonisation. info:eu-repo/semantics/altIdentifier/eissn/1314-2488 info:eu-repo/semantics/altIdentifier/pissn/1619-0033 info:eu-repo/semantics/openAccess CC BY 4.0 Pensoft Publishers 2016 Discussion Paper text/html info:doi:10.3897/neobiota.29.6959 https://doi.org/10.3897/neobiota.29.6959 https://neobiota.pensoft.net/article/6959/ https://neobiota.pensoft.net/article/6959/download/pdf/ en

10.3897/neobiota.29.7230 2016-03-16 neobiota

Invasive Acacia mearnsii De Wilde in Kunming, Yunnan Province, China: a new biogeographic distribution that Threatens Airport Safety Liu,Min Yang,Mingyu Song,Ding Zhang,Zhiming Ou,Xiaokun Acacia mearnsii plant invasion new distribution birdstrike prevention management strategy NeoBiota 29: 53-62 Acacia mearnsii De Wilde is on the top 100 of the world’s most invasive alien species and has successfully invaded many areas around the world. However, its distribution and expansion is seldom reported in China. This study for the first time conducted a survey on the new distribution of A. mearnsii at the Kunming Changshui Airport (Yunnan Province, China), through monitoring on population characteristics (number, density, height and ground diameter) and spatial distribution (spread distance). Our survey results show that A. mearnsii has spread rapidly across the airport. This study discusses three factors of environmental factors, human disturbance and weed characteristics behind this successful invasion. The species invasion has a strong potential to change the local vegetation structure, enhances the probability of bird strikes at the airport, and is vulnerable to invade new biogeographic regions if it is not controlled. Currently, eradication combined with mechanical control is considered to be the best option for control. Our study helps improve awareness about the potential risk of A. mearnsii invasion in other airports around China and the world. info:eu-repo/semantics/altIdentifier/eissn/1314-2488 info:eu-repo/semantics/altIdentifier/pissn/1619-0033 info:eu-repo/semantics/openAccess CC BY 4.0 Pensoft Publishers 2016 Short Communication text/html info:doi:10.3897/neobiota.29.7230 https://doi.org/10.3897/neobiota.29.7230 https://neobiota.pensoft.net/article/7230/ https://neobiota.pensoft.net/article/7230/download/pdf/ en cGFnZT0xJnNldD1uZW9iaW90YSZmcm9tPSZ1bnRpbD0mbWV0YWRhdGFfcHJlZml4PW9haV9kYw==