Anoplolepis gracilipes invasion of the Samoan Archipelago: Can mutualisms with native species amplify ecological consequences?

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dc.contributor.advisorRudgers, Jennifer A.en_US
dc.contributor.advisorWhitney, Kenneth D.en_US
dc.creatorSavage, Amy Marieen_US
dc.date.accessioned2013-03-08T00:38:37Zen_US
dc.date.available2013-03-08T00:38:37Zen_US
dc.date.issued2011en_US
dc.description.abstractIntegrating mutualism into the study of ecological communities is likely to be critical to understanding community dynamics and to predict the consequences of anthropogenic changes to ecosystems. Invasive species are among the greatest of these threats to global biodiversity. Throughout the Pacific, the invasive ant Anoplolepis gracilipes associates mutualistically with Morinda citrifolia , a native plant with extrafloral nectaries (EFN). I tested the hypothesis that these interactions can mediate invader impacts Anoplolepis gracilipes abundances were positively correlated with the dominance of EFN-bearing plants per site and negatively correlated with the species richness of native ants. Additionally, A. gracilipes displayed a higher magnitude of responses to nectar than other dominant ants. Mutualisms also had significant impacts on the structure of arthropod communities. These effects were strongest when A. gracilipes dominated local ant assemblages. These results suggest that novel mutualisms between invasive and native species can facilitate the impacts of invasions on communities.en_US
dc.format.extent166 p.en_US
dc.format.mimetypeapplication/pdfen_US
dc.identifier.callnoTHESIS ECOL. 2011 SAVAGEen_US
dc.identifier.citationSavage, Amy Marie. "Anoplolepis gracilipes invasion of the Samoan Archipelago: Can mutualisms with native species amplify ecological consequences?." (2011) Diss., Rice University. <a href="https://hdl.handle.net/1911/70431">https://hdl.handle.net/1911/70431</a>.en_US
dc.identifier.digitalSavageAen_US
dc.identifier.urihttps://hdl.handle.net/1911/70431en_US
dc.language.isoengen_US
dc.rightsCopyright is held by the author, unless otherwise indicated. Permission to reuse, publish, or reproduce the work beyond the bounds of fair use or other exemptions to copyright law must be obtained from the copyright holder.en_US
dc.subjectBiological sciencesen_US
dc.subjectExtrafloral nectaren_US
dc.subjectInvasive speciesen_US
dc.subjectAnoplolepis gracilipesen_US
dc.subjectEcologyen_US
dc.titleAnoplolepis gracilipes invasion of the Samoan Archipelago: Can mutualisms with native species amplify ecological consequences?en_US
dc.typeThesisen_US
dc.type.materialTexten_US
thesis.degree.departmentEcology and Evolutionary Biologyen_US
thesis.degree.disciplineNatural Sciencesen_US
thesis.degree.grantorRice Universityen_US
thesis.degree.levelDoctoralen_US
thesis.degree.nameDoctor of Philosophyen_US
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