Details of Award
NERC Reference : NE/K007076/1
Assessing current and future impacts of invasive ants on ecosystem services
Training Grant Award
- Lead Supervisor:
- Professor S Sumner, University of Bristol, Biological Sciences
- Grant held at:
- University of Bristol, Biological Sciences
- Science Area:
- Terrestrial
- Overall Classification:
- Terrestrial
- ENRIs:
- Biodiversity
- Environmental Risks and Hazards
- Global Change
- Natural Resource Management
- Science Topics:
- None
- Abstract:
- Invasive species are considered one of the most significant threats to global biodiversity, disrupting ecosystem services with detrimental affects on the natural environment. There is an urgent need for improved ability to accurately predict: a) the likelihood of future invasions to new regions, and b) the expected impact of these invasions on native communities and the ecosystem services they provide. Ants (Hymenoptera: Formicidae) are one of the most ecologically important organisms on the planet, forming up to 15-20% of the terrestrial animal biomass, and providing a range of important ecosystem services. One such service is seed dispersal. There is some evidence that invasive ants differ in their seed dispersal preferences and efficiency, and this may have a significant effect on community structure and function. Yet, studies to date have largely focused either on a single ant species or a single plant species and so we lack a general, macro-level understanding of how invasive ants may impact this important ecosystem function, and the resulting impact on habitats. This may be especially important in vulnerable, endemic-rich biomes such as the South African Fynbos. This studentship has two clear aims: 1. Determine the impact of some of the world's most invasive ant species on the habitat composition of ant-dependent plant communities within current invasion zones (Objectives 1 & 2). 2. Use these data to make projections about the risk, certainty and scale of impact of potential future invasions by these species in vulnerable habitats (Objectives 3 & 4). Objective 1: Determine the value of invasive and native ants as providers of seed-dispersal services, for both native and non-native plant species. Invasive ants may be less efficient at dispersing native plant seeds than the native ants. The student will quantify differences in seed handling preferences and behaviours of invasive ants and their dominant sympatric native counter-parts. This will allow the student to determine how seed phenotypic traits influence which seeds ants (invasive and native) choose to disperse, and how effective they are in doing so. Objective 2: Determine the potential impact of current ant invasions on habitat composition. The student will: A) construct a generic database of ant-seed compatibilities using data from Objective 1, extrapolating ant-seed preferences to other plant species using (and expanding) the Millennium Seed Bank database. B) generate plant distribution maps of current distributions of native and non-native seed types, to make projections of changes in abundance of ant-dependent plant species in the event of invasion by the different ant species. Objective 3: Assess projected future range expansions of the focal invasive ant species, globally. The student will generate maps predicting regions at risk of future ant invasions, using existing projections, and species distribution modelling. These analyses will allow the student to address questions such as which regions (including the UK) are most at risk of invasion by which invasive ant(s). Objective 4: Assess the potential impact of successful ant invaders on habitat composition. Using data parameterised from Objectives 1, 2 & 3 the student will generate predictive models to assess how ant-dependent plant communities may change after a successful invasion. Wider Significance This study will provide the scientific basis to help mitigate the societal and economic impact of these invasive species on native ecosystems, including that of the UK with the recent invasion of L. neglectus. It will provide essential data for CASE partner Kew and other conservation organisations in prioritising restoration projects and conservation efforts e.g. by identifying habitats that are particularly vulnerable to disruption of seed-dispersal by invasive ant species, and enacting appropriate level of response depending on the risk posed by the invading species.
- NERC Reference:
- NE/K007076/1
- Grant Stage:
- Completed
- Scheme:
- DTG - directed
- Grant Status:
- Closed
- Programme:
- Open CASE
This training grant award has a total value of £77,850
FDAB - Financial Details (Award breakdown by headings)
| Total - Fees | Total - RTSG | Total - Student Stipend |
|---|---|---|
| £13,978 | £14,679 | £49,194 |
If you need further help, please read the user guide.