Term Paper Hint Search CSA using the species name –Check the ecology box Search CSA using the genus only

Outline Community Ecology –Indirect effects, Keystone species, Invasive species –Biodiversity: importance and evaluation –The new paradigm in ecology: communities in flux –Conservation of species interactions Ecosystem Ecology –Ecosystem services –Biodiversity and ecosystem services –Ecosystems of special concern (Marine and Tropical)

Invasive Species Invasions are typically unsuccessful –Successes are obvious, failures generally go unnoticed –Based on information from planned introductions, a success rate of 10-40% is common among a variety of animal taxa (Meffe and Carroll). –Allee effect / Detection threshold / Demographic stochasticity

Invasion of the House Sparrows 1851: 16 birds 1852: ca. 50 birds, same location 1853: ca. 50 birds, same location

Asian Long-Horned Beetle

Invasive Species Invasions are typically benign –Of the approximately 4,000 exotic plant species and 2,300 non-native animal species in the United States, most cause few problems Unfortunately, malignant, successful invasions can have serious negative consequences –Of 6,300 invasive spp., 79 of them have cost the U.S. economy $97 billion.

Animation of spreading distribution $5 billion in costs by 1999

Invasive Species: Ecological Effects According to IUCN, invasive species are a “significant direct threat” to: –30% Birds –15% Plants –10% Mammals –Third most important threat for vertebrates

Invasive Species: Lake Victoria Cichlids 300+ spp. cichlids Grazers RunoffPrimary productivity

Invasive Species: Complex Effects 300+ spp. cichlids Decrease in grazers RunoffPrimary productivity Nile perch Increase in Organic material Decrease in O2 Invasion by water hyacinth

Invasive Species Characteristics of successful invaders –High r –High dispersal / Human commensal / Hitch-hiker –Generalist (Habitat / Diet / Range) –Good colonizer (Genetic variability / Single parent reproduction / Clonal or vegetative reproduction Characteristics of malignant invaders –Ecological release: absence of evolutionary history or analogous evolutionary partners in new community.

Fire Ants and Phorid Flies

Indirect Effects Other ants Fire ants Phorid fly Butterfly Myrmica ants Rabbits INTERACTION CHAININTERACTION MODIFIER

Biological Control root feeders leaf feeders floral feeders