Javascript must be enabled to continue!
Veni, vidi, vici? Future spread and ecological impacts of a rapidly-expanding invasive predator population
View through CrossRef
Abstract
Economic and ecological consequences of invasive species make biological invasions an influential driver of global change. Monitoring the spread and impacts of non-native species is essential, but often difficult, especially during the initial stages of invasion. The Joro spider,
Trichonephila clavata
(L. Koch, 1878, Araneae: Araneidae), is a large-bodied orb weaver native to Asia, likely introduced to northern Georgia, U.S. around 2010. We investigated the nascent invasion of
T. clavata
by constructing species distribution models (SDMs) from crowdsourced data to compare the climate
T. clavata
experiences in its native range to its introduced range. We found evidence that the climate of
T. clavata
’s native range differs significantly from its introduced range and that the most similar climate in North America to its native range is to the north of its current introduced range. We then compared the SDM predictions to current observations of spread. Consistent with predictions,
T. clavata
appears to be spreading faster to the north than to the south. Lastly, we conducted surveys to investigate potential ecological impacts of
T. clavata
on the diversity of native orb weaving spiders. Importantly,
Trichonephila clavata
was the most common and abundant species observed in the survey, and was numerically dominant at half of the sites it was present in. Our models also suggest that there is lower native orb weaver species richness and diversity closer to where
T. clavata
was initially found and where it has been established the longest, though human population density complicates this finding. This early study is the first to forecast how widely this spider may spread in its introduced range and explore potential ecological impacts of
T. clavata
, and we call for continued investigation of this invasion’s effects.
Title: Veni, vidi, vici? Future spread and ecological impacts of a rapidly-expanding invasive predator population
Description:
Abstract
Economic and ecological consequences of invasive species make biological invasions an influential driver of global change.
Monitoring the spread and impacts of non-native species is essential, but often difficult, especially during the initial stages of invasion.
The Joro spider,
Trichonephila clavata
(L.
Koch, 1878, Araneae: Araneidae), is a large-bodied orb weaver native to Asia, likely introduced to northern Georgia, U.
S.
around 2010.
We investigated the nascent invasion of
T.
clavata
by constructing species distribution models (SDMs) from crowdsourced data to compare the climate
T.
clavata
experiences in its native range to its introduced range.
We found evidence that the climate of
T.
clavata
’s native range differs significantly from its introduced range and that the most similar climate in North America to its native range is to the north of its current introduced range.
We then compared the SDM predictions to current observations of spread.
Consistent with predictions,
T.
clavata
appears to be spreading faster to the north than to the south.
Lastly, we conducted surveys to investigate potential ecological impacts of
T.
clavata
on the diversity of native orb weaving spiders.
Importantly,
Trichonephila clavata
was the most common and abundant species observed in the survey, and was numerically dominant at half of the sites it was present in.
Our models also suggest that there is lower native orb weaver species richness and diversity closer to where
T.
clavata
was initially found and where it has been established the longest, though human population density complicates this finding.
This early study is the first to forecast how widely this spider may spread in its introduced range and explore potential ecological impacts of
T.
clavata
, and we call for continued investigation of this invasion’s effects.
Related Results
Physiological and behavioral stress responses to predators are altered by prior predator experience in juvenile qingbo (Spinibarbus sinensis)
Physiological and behavioral stress responses to predators are altered by prior predator experience in juvenile qingbo (Spinibarbus sinensis)
All vertebrates exhibit physiological responses to predator stress, and these responses are the basis of appropriate behavioral adaptation. We aimed to identify the physiological a...
Interspecific carnivore competition and ungulate predation correlate with predator species richness
Interspecific carnivore competition and ungulate predation correlate with predator species richness
Abstract
Competition for resources underlies the development of ecological community structure and function. Niche compression occurs when sp...
Assessment of Invasive Species Severity along the Nature Trail at the Doi Chiang Dao Biosphere Reserve, Chiang Mai Province
Assessment of Invasive Species Severity along the Nature Trail at the Doi Chiang Dao Biosphere Reserve, Chiang Mai Province
Background and Objectives: Doi Chiang Dao Biosphere Reserve has been officially declared as the fifth Biosphere Reserve of Thailand, representing a critically important terrestrial...
Identifying the most effective behavioural assays and predator cues for quantifying anti-predator responses in mammals: a systematic review
Identifying the most effective behavioural assays and predator cues for quantifying anti-predator responses in mammals: a systematic review
Abstract
Background
Mammals, globally, are facing population declines. Protecting and breeding threatened populations inside predator-free havens an...
From Constitutional Comparison to Life in the Biosphere
From Constitutional Comparison to Life in the Biosphere
From Constitutional Comparison to Life in the Biosphere is a monograph that argues for a fundamental reorientation of constitutional law around the realities of biospheric interdep...
Estimating the impact of 'Predator Free' Wellington on Wellington tree wētā (Hemideina crassidens)
Estimating the impact of 'Predator Free' Wellington on Wellington tree wētā (Hemideina crassidens)
<p><strong>The Wellington tree wētā (Hemideina crassidens) is a large-bodied nocturnal insect native to Aotearoa New Zealand. H. crassidens can inhabit environments wit...
Estimating the impact of 'Predator Free' Wellington on Wellington tree wētā (Hemideina crassidens)
Estimating the impact of 'Predator Free' Wellington on Wellington tree wētā (Hemideina crassidens)
<p><strong>The Wellington tree wētā (Hemideina crassidens) is a large-bodied nocturnal insect native to Aotearoa New Zealand. H. crassidens can inhabit environments wit...
Hierarchical response to kairomones of predator based on experience acquired through learning
Hierarchical response to kairomones of predator based on experience acquired through learning
This study investigated how prior experience modulates the anti-predator behavioral responses of Duttaphrynus melanostictus tadpoles to kairomones from the predatory tadpole Hoplob...

