Invasion success of a widespread invasive predator may be explained by a high predatory efficacy but may be influenced by pathogen infection

Fincham, William N.W.; Dunn, Alison M.; Brown, Lee E.; Hesketh, Helen ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-1794-7658; Roy, Helen E. ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-6050-679X. 2019 Invasion success of a widespread invasive predator may be explained by a high predatory efficacy but may be influenced by pathogen infection. Biological Invasions, 21 (12). 3545-3560. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10530-019-02067-w

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Official URL: http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/s10530-019-02067-w

Abstract/Summary

Invasive alien species (IAS) can drive community change through ecological interactions. Parasites and pathogens can play an important role in community function including mitigating or enhancing IAS impacts. Despite this, the degree to which pathogen pressure influences IAS impacts remains poorly understood. We quantified the predatory behaviour of the highly invasive alien harlequin ladybird (Harmonia axyridis) and two UK native species, the 7-spot (Coccinella septempunctata) and 2-spot (Adalia bipunctata) ladybirds, using comparative functional response experiments. We investigated the impacts of pathogen infection on the predatory ability of the ladybirds by exposing individuals to Beauveria bassiana, a widespread entomopathogen. Invasive H. axyridis was a more efficient predator than both the native A. bipunctata and C. septempunctata, often having higher attack and/or lower prey handling time coefficients, whereas native A. bipunctata were the least efficient predators. These differences were found in both adult and larval life-stages. Beauveria bassiana infection significantly altered the predatory efficiency of adult and larval ladybird predators. The effects of pathogenic infection differed between species and life-stage but in many cases infection resulted in a reduced predatory ability. We suggest that the interactions between IAS and pathogens are integral to determining invasion success and impact.

Item Type:	Publication - Article
Digital Object Identifier (DOI):	https://doi.org/10.1007/s10530-019-02067-w
UKCEH and CEH Sections/Science Areas:	Biodiversity (Science Area 2017-)
ISSN:	1387-3547
Additional Information. Not used in RCUK Gateway to Research.:	Open Access paper - full text available via Official URL link.
Additional Keywords:	Beauveria bassiana, functional response, Harmonia axyridis, invasive alien species, parasite, predator
NORA Subject Terms:	Ecology and Environment
Date made live:	24 Oct 2019 10:04 +0 (UTC)
URI:	https://nora.nerc.ac.uk/id/eprint/525602

Item Type:

Publication - Article

Digital Object Identifier (DOI):

https://doi.org/10.1007/s10530-019-02067-w

UKCEH and CEH Sections/Science Areas:

Biodiversity (Science Area 2017-)

ISSN:

1387-3547

Additional Information. Not used in RCUK Gateway to Research.:

Open Access paper - full text available via Official URL link.

Additional Keywords:

Beauveria bassiana, functional response, Harmonia axyridis, invasive alien species, parasite, predator