Differences in exploitation and interference ability between two dominant ants: the invasive Argentine ant (<i>Linepithema humile</i>) and<i>Tapinoma magnum</i>

Leonetti, Daniele; Centorame, Massimiliano; Fanfani, Alberto

doi:10.1080/03949370.2019.1620341

Cited by 6 publications

(7 citation statements)

References 44 publications

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“…For instance, T. magnum Mayr has shown considerable potential as an invasive species in Northern Europe, where it thrives in many urban areas and is considered a pest [ 42 ]. A recent study showed that T. magnum was systematically excluded by L. humile from resources and underwent a visible reduction in activity [ 43 ]. The foraging activity of L. humile was nevertheless reduced in the presence of T. magnum due to an increased worker commitment, both in the arena fights and directly in the colony of the competitor.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…niger was not excluded from the arena by L. humile , and its presence also resulted in a reduced foraging activity of L. humile due to an increased worker commitment in the arena fights. Moreover, Leonetti et al [ 43 ] suggested that the nest of the opponent could have been perceived as a new potential threat or resource and, therefore, a more valid target for recruitment than the trophic resource. However, this result could differ for other food contents, such as carbohydrate food that could be more attractive than protein sources [ 44 ].…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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The Native Ant Lasius niger Can Limit the Access to Resources of the Invasive Argentine Ant

Cordonnier

Blight

Angulo

et al. 2020

Animals

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Within ant communities, the biotic resistance of native species against invasive ones is expected to be rare, because invasive species are often highly dominant competitors. The invasive Argentine ant (Linepithema humile (Mayr)) often demonstrated numerical dominance against its opponents, increased aggressiveness, and ability to quickly recruit to food. The present study aimed to assess the behavioral mechanisms involved in the interspecific competition between L. humile, facing either an invasive species (Lasius neglectus Van Loon, Boomsma and Andrásfalvy) or a native dominant species (Lasius niger (Linnaeus)). The resource exploitation by the Argentine ant was investigated during one-hour competitive interactions using 10 dead Drosophila flies as prey. When facing La. niger, L. humile exploratory behavior was strongly inhibited, it brought very few prey resources, and killed few opponents. Conversely, La. neglectus had a low impact on L. humile. Contrarily to expectations, the invasive La. neglectus lacked the ability to hinder L. humile resource exploitation, whereas the native La. niger did. These results suggest that La. niger could impact invasive populations of L. humile by interference competition, perhaps better so than some invasive species. While L. humile has become invasive in Southern Europe, the invasion process could be slowed down in the northern latitudes by such native dominant species.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

The Native Ant Lasius niger Can Limit the Access to Resources of the Invasive Argentine Ant

Cordonnier

Blight

Angulo

et al. 2020

Animals

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“…2017; Leonetti et al . 2019; Masoni et al . 2020), and its impact on biodiversity has been documented over a lengthy period (Holway et al .…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…2010; but see Neumann & Pinter‐Wollman 2022); other species, such as T. sessile and T. magnum , are instead outcompeted by L. humile when the whole colonies are involved (Buczkowski & Bennett 2008; Leonetti et al . 2019). Finally, L. neglectus showed a superior fighting ability in laboratory group fighting tests versus T. nigerrimum (Frizzi et al .…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…We used these three species because of their worldwide distribution and ecological importance. The Argentine ant has spread within Europe as far as Southern Italy (Centorame et al 2017;Leonetti et al 2019;Masoni et al 2020), and its impact on biodiversity has been documented over a lengthy period (Holway et al 2002;Carpintero & Reyes-L opez 2008;Blight et al 2014;Alvarez-Blanco et al 2017). In contrast, L. neglectus is a more recent invader (Ugelvig et al 2008).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Effects of starvation on the fighting ability of invasive and autochthonous ants

Frizzi

Balzani

Wendt

et al. 2022

Entomological Science

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Ants are widespread in all terrestrial habitats, and competitive interactions between species are common. Although redistribution of food within a colony may buffer the negative effects of temporary resource shortages, colony functionality can be compromised when famine is prolonged. One of the possible effects of famine is impairment of the fighting ability of species, with cascade effects on community. Here, we investigated whether food shortage alters the fighting ability of workers of three dominant species in the Mediterranean area: the invasive alien species, Lasius neglectus and Linepithema humile, and one highly polydomous autochthonous species belonging to the Tapinoma nigerrimum complex. We performed laboratory tests of interspecific one-on-one aggression and pairwise group contests between species, with all possible combinations of artificially satiated and starved groups. Results showed that starvation had a scarce effect on the individual aggressiveness in all three species. Similarly, the outcomes of the group fights were only lightly affected, but with an important exception. The positions of species in the fighting hierarchies were in most cases clear and linear, with L. neglectus at the top. However, we found that L. humile and L. neglectus showed equal mortality when one of the two species was starved and the other satiated. Although we investigated only one aspect of competition, that is, fighting ability, our results provide a piece of the complex jigsaw of competitive interactions of ants, and suggest that food deprivation can be a determinant that alters the relationships between ants and promotes or hampers the coexistence of dominant species.

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Coexistence of similar species: evidence of a resource and microhabitat sharing in two intertidal hermit crab species

2022

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Differences in exploitation and interference ability between two dominant ants: the invasive Argentine ant (Linepithema humile) andTapinoma magnum

Abstract: Recruitment on bait GLMM results. (A) Comparisons between species in the foraging assay. (B)Comparisons between species in the resource competition assay. (C) Comparisons between assays within T. magnum. (D) Comparisons between assays within L. humile.

Cited by 6 publications

References 44 publications

The Native Ant Lasius niger Can Limit the Access to Resources of the Invasive Argentine Ant

The Native Ant Lasius niger Can Limit the Access to Resources of the Invasive Argentine Ant

Effects of starvation on the fighting ability of invasive and autochthonous ants

Coexistence of similar species: evidence of a resource and microhabitat sharing in two intertidal hermit crab species

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