The invasion of the Argentine ant Linepithema humile in Mediterranean ecosystems: impacts and efficacy of winter aggregations extirpation as a control methods

• Autores: Martha Lucía Enríquez Lenis
• Directores de la Tesis: Sílvia Abril (dir. tes.), Crisanto Gómez López (dir. tes.)
• Lectura: En la Universitat de Girona ( España ) en 2012
• Idioma: inglés
• Tribunal Calificador de la Tesis: Xavier Espadaler Gelabert (presid.), Núria Roura-Pascual (secret.), Joaquin Cerda Sureda (voc.)
• Materias:
  • Ciencias de la vida
    • Biología animal (zoología)
      • Ecología animal
    • Antropología (física)
      • Biología de poblaciones
• Enlaces
  • Tesis en acceso abierto en: TDX
• Resumen

  • We studied the characteristics and effects of the Argentine ant invasion on the native ants and other arthropods. Moreover, we assessed the effects of L. humile winter nest aggregations extirpation on its population dynamics. We measured the spread of its invasion and evaluated its nest-site preferences. Artificial nests used as a control tool were also assessed. Results indicate that the invasion causes important changes in the native ant community structure. The invasion spread is influenced by air temperature, and habitat perturbations could be favouring a faster expansion. The extirpation diminished the abundance of this ant and disturbed its population dynamics. In order to make this method more efficient, extirpation should be made in the edge of the invasion, and should focus on nests under larger rocks where mature nests are more likely to be found. Finally, this method is proposed mainly for controlling its invasion in closed or isolated areas.