Indirect facilitation of an anuran invasion by non-native fishes
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Abstract
Positive interactions among non-native species could greatly exacerbate the problem of invasions, but are poorly studied and our knowledge of their occurrence is mostly limited to plant-pollinator and dispersal interactions. We found that invasion of bullfrogs is facilitated by the presence of co-evolved non-native fish, which increase tadpole survival by reducing predatory macroinvertebrate densities. Native dragonfly nymphs in Oregon, USA caused zero survival of bullfrog tadpoles in a replicated field experiment unless a non-native sunfish was present to reduce dragonfly density. This pattern was also evident in pond surveys where the best predictors of bullfrog abundance were the presence of non-native fish and bathymetry. This is the first experimental evidence of facilitation between two non-native vertebrates and supports the invasional meltdown hypothesis. Such positive interactions among non-native species have the potential to disrupt ecosystems by amplifying invasions, and our study shows they can occur via indirect mechanisms.
| Publication type | Article |
|---|---|
| Publication Subtype | Journal Article |
| Title | Indirect facilitation of an anuran invasion by non-native fishes |
| Series title | Ecology Letters |
| DOI | 10.1046/j.1461-0248.2003.00435.x |
| Volume | 6 |
| Issue | 4 |
| Year Published | 2003 |
| Language | English |
| Publisher | Wiley |
| Contributing office(s) | Forest and Rangeland Ecosystem Science Center |
| Description | 9 p. |
| First page | 343 |
| Last page | 351 |
| Google Analytic Metrics | Metrics page |