Differential invasion success among biotypes: case of Bemisia tabaci

Abstract

Studies on success or failures of biological invasions by different insect biotypes are scarce and could provide interesting insights into the traits that determine greater or lower ability to invade. Life history traits of invasive whiteflies Bemisia tabaci of the B biotype (known as a worldwide invasive biotype) and of the indigenous biotype Ms (not known as an invader anywhere in the world), both from the island of La Réunion (Indian Ocean), were compared for this purpose. In our study we demonstrated that within a cultivated host plant (tomato), the B biotype differs from the Ms by a combination of several life-history traits. This combination gives the invasive biotype an advantage over the resident both in terms of rapid demographic growth (increased intrinsic rate of increase and associated traits such as short developmental times and high fecundity) and in terms of competition (large adult and offspring sizes), without any recorded trade off. However, in the field the resident biotype remains dominant on non-cultivated hosts (weeds) and in a particular climate (high humidity). This suggests that invasive biotypes are characterized by physiological, morphological and biological adaptations to a disturbed environment created by anthropic activities at different places in the world, while resident biotypes may persist in less altered habitats.

Traits related to biological invasion: A note on the applicability of risk assessment tools across taxa

“…Growth rate Invasive insects have rapid growth rates compared to natives (Labrie et al 2006, Ward andMasters 2007) A, O Preimaginal (pre-adult) development time Invasive insects have shorter preimaginal development time than natives (Cervo et al 2000, Gamboa et al 2004, Boman et al 2008, Delatte et al 2009); Invasive insects have a longer preimaginal development time than natives (Bonato et al 2007) A, E, O…”

“…Short generation times increase colonization success (Yan et al 2005) A, E Intrinsic rate of increase Invasive insects have higher intrinsic rate of increase than natives (Crawley 1987, Duyck et al 2007, Delatte et al 2009, Orledge et al 2010 A, C, E, O Intrinsic death rate Invasive insects have lower intrinsic death rate than natives (Duyck et al 2007, Foucaud et al 2013 A, E, O…”

“…Temperature tolerance Invasive insects have lower temperature tolerance than natives (Wuellner and Saunder 2003, Bonato et al 2007, Peacock and Worner 2008, Delatte et al 2009, McGrannachan and Lester 2013, Parkash et al 2014;…”

“…Invasive insects have higher temperature tolerance than natives (Michaud 2002, Wuellner and Saunder 2003, Bonato et al 2007, Delatte et al 2009, Ju et al 2013 Invasive insects have a higher lower developmental threshold than native insects (Jarošík et al 2015) C, E, O Overwintering behaviour Aggregate overwintering Invasive insects overwinter in aggregate, whereas natives do not (Cottrell and Shapiro-Ilan 2003) E, O Overwintering site Invasive insects overwinter in sheltered habitat, whereas natives do not (Yan et al 2005) A Winter survival Invasive insects have higher winter survival than natives (Inoue 2011, Raak-van den Berg et al 2012 E, O…”

“…Body size Invasive insects are smaller than natives (Crawley 1987, McGlynn 1999b, Gamboa et al 2004, Ness et al 2004, Cremer et al 2006, Mondor et al 2006, Cremer et al 2008, Wilson-Rich and Starks 2010, Abril et al 2013; Small insects more likely to establish than large insects (Lawton et al 1986, Lester 2005; Invasive insects are larger than natives (Ings et al 2006, Delatte et al 2009, Kajita and Evans 2010a, Kajita and Evans 2010b; Large body size may promote invasion success (Moller 1996) A, C, E, O (Facon et al 2011); High progeny production increases colonization success (Yan et al 2005) A, E Egg laying behaviour Insects that lay eggs in batches less likely to become invasive (Crawley 1987) Egg size Invasive insects lay larger eggs than natives (Duyck et al 2007, Delatte et al 2009);…”