Introduction of no native bumblebees (Bombus): causes, ecological consequences and perspectives
The invasion of non native pollinators might have considerable impacts on native pollinators, native and introduced plants. In this article I analyze the causes of introduction of bumblebees (Bombus), the factors favoring the invasion and the distribution of introduced species. I also review the studies about their ecological impact, discussing the limitations of those studies, and the main gaps in knowledge. Five bumblebee species are established outside their native ranges, as a consequence of intentional releases and the trade of colonies. Introduced bumblebees are highly polylecthic and could acquire high abundances in invaded areas, dominating in some cases the anthophyllous communities. In general, they gather resources more efficiently than natives, and despite a substantial overlap in the use of floral resources, in general both groups mutually exclude in time and space, suggesting the potential for competition; nevertheless no study has experimentally tested this hypothesis. The introduction of bumblebees could favor the introduction and transmission of pathogens. Non native bumblebees are less efficient pollinators of some native plants than natives and, in general, they prefer non native plant species, contributing to the pollination of important weeds, although their influence on weed invasion process has not been tested. Under experimental conditions some species of non native bumblebees can mate with native congeners; nevertheless no hybridization has been reported in the wild. The evidence of the impact of non native bumblebees on native ecosystems is scarce, fragmented and preliminary. In spite of them, considering the overall available evidence I strongly recommend the application of the precautionary principle to analyze potential future introductions.
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Asociación Argentina de Ecología
2007
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Morales, Carolina L. |
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Morales, Carolina L. Introduction of no native bumblebees (Bombus): causes, ecological consequences and perspectives |
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Morales, Carolina L. |
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Morales, Carolina L. |
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Introduction of no native bumblebees (Bombus): causes, ecological consequences and perspectives |
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Introduction of no native bumblebees (Bombus): causes, ecological consequences and perspectives |
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Introduction of no native bumblebees (Bombus): causes, ecological consequences and perspectives |
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Introduction of no native bumblebees (Bombus): causes, ecological consequences and perspectives |
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Introduction of no native bumblebees (Bombus): causes, ecological consequences and perspectives |
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introduction of no native bumblebees (bombus): causes, ecological consequences and perspectives |
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The invasion of non native pollinators might have considerable impacts on native pollinators, native and introduced plants. In this article I analyze the causes of introduction of bumblebees (Bombus), the factors favoring the invasion and the distribution of introduced species. I also review the studies about their ecological impact, discussing the limitations of those studies, and the main gaps in knowledge. Five bumblebee species are established outside their native ranges, as a consequence of intentional releases and the trade of colonies. Introduced bumblebees are highly polylecthic and could acquire high abundances in invaded areas, dominating in some cases the anthophyllous communities. In general, they gather resources more efficiently than natives, and despite a substantial overlap in the use of floral resources, in general both groups mutually exclude in time and space, suggesting the potential for competition; nevertheless no study has experimentally tested this hypothesis. The introduction of bumblebees could favor the introduction and transmission of pathogens. Non native bumblebees are less efficient pollinators of some native plants than natives and, in general, they prefer non native plant species, contributing to the pollination of important weeds, although their influence on weed invasion process has not been tested. Under experimental conditions some species of non native bumblebees can mate with native congeners; nevertheless no hybridization has been reported in the wild. The evidence of the impact of non native bumblebees on native ecosystems is scarce, fragmented and preliminary. In spite of them, considering the overall available evidence I strongly recommend the application of the precautionary principle to analyze potential future introductions. |
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Asociación Argentina de Ecología |
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2007 |
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https://ojs.ecologiaaustral.com.ar/index.php/Ecologia_Austral/article/view/1422 |
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AT moralescarolinal introductionofnonativebumblebeesbombuscausesecologicalconsequencesandperspectives AT moralescarolinal introducciondeabejorrosbombusnonativoscausasconsecuenciasecologicasyperspectivas |
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rev-ecoaus-article-14222020-11-10T15:55:43Z Introduction of no native bumblebees (Bombus): causes, ecological consequences and perspectives Introducción de abejorros (Bombus) no nativos: causas, consecuencias ecológicas y perspectivas Morales, Carolina L. biological invasions commercial rearing of bumblebees competitive displacement crop pollination exotic species hybridization pathogens cría comercial de abejorros hibridación desplazamiento competitivo especies exóticas invasiones biológicas patógenos polinización de cultivos The invasion of non native pollinators might have considerable impacts on native pollinators, native and introduced plants. In this article I analyze the causes of introduction of bumblebees (Bombus), the factors favoring the invasion and the distribution of introduced species. I also review the studies about their ecological impact, discussing the limitations of those studies, and the main gaps in knowledge. Five bumblebee species are established outside their native ranges, as a consequence of intentional releases and the trade of colonies. Introduced bumblebees are highly polylecthic and could acquire high abundances in invaded areas, dominating in some cases the anthophyllous communities. In general, they gather resources more efficiently than natives, and despite a substantial overlap in the use of floral resources, in general both groups mutually exclude in time and space, suggesting the potential for competition; nevertheless no study has experimentally tested this hypothesis. The introduction of bumblebees could favor the introduction and transmission of pathogens. Non native bumblebees are less efficient pollinators of some native plants than natives and, in general, they prefer non native plant species, contributing to the pollination of important weeds, although their influence on weed invasion process has not been tested. Under experimental conditions some species of non native bumblebees can mate with native congeners; nevertheless no hybridization has been reported in the wild. The evidence of the impact of non native bumblebees on native ecosystems is scarce, fragmented and preliminary. In spite of them, considering the overall available evidence I strongly recommend the application of the precautionary principle to analyze potential future introductions. La invasión de polinizadores no nativos puede afectar considerablemente a los polinizadores nativos y a las plantas, nativas e introducidas. En este trabajo analizo las causas de la introducción de abejorros (Bombus) polinizadores, los factores que favorecen su invasión y la distribución de las especies introducidas; reviso los estudios sobre sus impactos ecológicos; las limitaciones y de los principales vacíos de conocimiento. Existen cinco especies de abejorros establecidas fuera de sus áreas de distribución natural, producto de la liberación intencional y del comercio de colonias. Los abejorros introducidos son altamente polilécticos, pueden alcanzar altas abundancias en las áreas invadidas y, en algunos casos, dominar las comunidades antófilas. En general, adquieren recursos de manera más eficiente que las especies nativas y, a pesar de un sustancial solapamiento en el uso de flores, se excluyen mutuamente tanto espacial como temporalmente, lo que sugiere una potencial competencia con especies nativas, aún no documentada experimentalmente. La introducción de abejorros podría favorecer la introducción y transmisión de patógenos. Son polinizadores menos eficientes de algunas plantas nativas que sus congéneres nativos. En general, prefieren especies de plantas no nativas lo que contribuye sustancialmente a la polinización de importantes malezas, si bien su efecto sobre la capacidad de invasión de las mismas no ha sido evaluado. Algunas especies de abejorros no nativos pueden cruzarse con congéneres nativos en condiciones experimentales, si bien no se han documentado hibridaciones en la naturaleza. La evidencia del impacto de abejorros introducidos sobre ecosistemas nativos es escasa, fragmentada y preliminar. No obstante, sugiere que la aplicación del principio precautorio al momento de analizar la viabilidad de futuras introducciones sería altamente recomendable. Asociación Argentina de Ecología 2007-06-01 info:eu-repo/semantics/article info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersion application/pdf https://ojs.ecologiaaustral.com.ar/index.php/Ecologia_Austral/article/view/1422 Ecología Austral; Vol. 17 No. 1 (2007); 051-065 Ecología Austral; Vol. 17 Núm. 1 (2007); 051-065 0327-5477 1667-7838 spa https://ojs.ecologiaaustral.com.ar/index.php/Ecologia_Austral/article/view/1422/783 Derechos de autor 2020 Ecología Austral |