Biotic Resistance What can stop invasive species? Liz Schultheis April 21, 2011
Do you know of any invasive species?
Why do some invaders succeed? Open habitat – places to grow Available food/resources Can grow better than native species Nothing eats them! No enemies
Why do some invaders fail? Diversity – lots of competition – no space or resources left Enemies – diseases, predators, herbivores
Native Blue Crab Likes soft sandy areas Lives in shallow water Prefers ocean water that’s not too salty Invasive Green Crab Introduced from Europe Likes the same areas that the Blue Crab likes Catherine E. deRivera & others 2005
Native Blue Crab Range Invasive Green Crab Range
SOUTH NORTH LOCATIONS # Blue Crabs # Green Crabs SOUTH NORTH
Winner!
N N N N N N N N N N N N N N N N N N N N N N N N N N N N N N N N N N N N = invader resource
N N N N N N N N N N N N N N N N N N N N N N N N N N N N N N N N N N N P P P P P P PP P P P P P P P P PP P P P P P P P P PP P P P P P P P P PP P P P P P P P P PP P P N = invader resource P = native species resource
N N N N N N N P P P P P P PP P P N N N N N N N P P P P P P PP P P N N N N N N N P P P P P P PP P P N N N N N N N P P P P P P PP P P N N N N N N N P P P P P P PP P P Diversity = 1 N = invader resource P = native species resource
N N N P P P P N N N N N N N P P P P P P PP P P N N N N N N N P P P P P P PP P P N N N N N N N P P P P P P PP P P N N N N N N N P P P P P P PP P P Diversity = 3 P P P N N N = invader resource P = native species resource
N N N N N N N P P P P P P PP P P N N N N N N N P P P P P P PP P P N N N N N N N P P P P P P PP P P N N N N N N N P P P P P P PP P P N N N N N N N P P P P P P PP P P Diversity = 3, Fertilized N = invader resource P = native species resource
N N N N N N N P P P P P P PP P P N N N N N N N P P P P P P PP P P N N N N N N N P P P P P P PP P P N N N N N N N P P P P P P PP P P N N N N N N N P P P P P P PP P P Diversity = 3, Disturbance N = invader resource P = native species resource