Coexistence of native ants with the red imported fire ant, Solenopsisinvicta.

摘要

Since introduction of the red imported fire ant, Solenopsis invicta, into the United States, it has expanded its range across the southeastern states, where it is now often a dominant ant species (Vinson, 1997). The negative impacts of S. invicta on human activities are far-reaching and generally well known, affecting health, recreation, and agriculture (Vinson, 1997). They also are known to have negative impacts on vertebrate wildlife (Ridlehuber, 1982; Sikes and Arnold, 1986); however, their effects may be most important on invertebrate communities (Porter and Savignano, 1990; Vinson, 1994). Significant changes in those communities could have cascading effects that change structure and function of ecosystems (Paine, 1966; Parrish and Saila, 1970). Studies of the impact of establishment of S. invicta on native ants show that S. invicta locally, and sometimes regionally, displaces those native species most closely related and ecologically similar, Solenopsis geminata and Solenopsis xyloni (Wilson and Brown, 1958; Hung and Vinson, 1978; Porter et al., 1988; Tschinkel, 1988). Other species also might be extirpated or occur at depressed frequencies (Porter et al., 1988; Stein and Thorvilson, 1989; Camilo and Phillips, 1990; Hook and Porter, 1990; Porter and Savignano, 1990; Justino-Atresino and Phillips, 1994). However, few studies address the persistence of native ant communities well after S. invicta establishment. To assess whether substantial populations of native ants may coexist with S. invicta over the long term, we have studied the ant community in a meadow habitat in east Texas where S. invicta has occurred for more than 10 years.