Modelling enemy release during range expansion of Ilex aquifolium with a two-component GLMM.

Abstract Plant species ranges are expected to shift in response to climate change, however, it is unclear how species interactions will affect range shifts. Because of the potential for enemy release of invasive nonnative plant species from species-specific soil pathogens, invasive plants may be able to shift ranges more readily than native plant species. Additionally, changing climatic conditions may alter soil microbial functioning, affecting plant–microbe interactions. We evaluated the effects of site, plant–soil microbe interactions, altered climate, and their interactions on the growth and germination of three congeneric shrub species, two native to southern and central Florida (Eugenia foetida and E. axillaris), and one nonnative invasive from south America (E. uniflora). We measured germination and biomass for these plant species in growth chambers grown under live and sterile soils from two sites within their current range, and one site in their expected range, simulating current (2010) and predicted future (2050) spring growing season temperatures in the new range. Soil microbes (microscopic bacteria, fungi, viruses and other organisms) had a net negative effect on the invasive plant, E. uniflora, across all sites and temperature treatments. This negative response to soil microbes suggests that E. uniflora’s invasive success and potential for range expansion are due to other contributing factors, e.g. higher germination and growth relative to native Eugenia. The effect of soil microbes on the native species depended on the geographic provenance of the microbes, and this may influence range expansion of these native species.

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Enemy release promotes range expansion in a host plant

Oecologia ◽

10.1007/s00442-012-2555-x ◽

2012 ◽

Vol 172 (4) ◽

pp. 1203-1212 ◽

Cited By ~ 14

Author(s):

Poppy Lakeman-Fraser ◽

Robert M. Ewers

Keyword(s):

Host Plant ◽

Range Expansion ◽

Enemy Release

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Generalized mycorrhizal interactions and fungal enemy release drive range expansion of orchids in southern Florida

Ecosphere ◽

10.1002/ecs2.3228 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 11 (8) ◽

Author(s):

Jason L. Downing ◽

Hong Liu ◽

Melissa K. McCormick ◽

Jay Arce ◽

Dailen Alonso ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Range Expansion ◽

Enemy Release ◽

Mycorrhizal Interactions ◽

Southern Florida

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No Evidence for Enemy Release During Range Expansion of an Evergreen Tree in Northern Europe

Environmental Entomology ◽

10.1603/en11063 ◽

2011 ◽

Vol 40 (5) ◽

pp. 1183-1191 ◽

Cited By ~ 6

Author(s):

Anne-Marie T. Skou ◽

Bo Markussen ◽

Lene Sigsgaard ◽

Johannes Kollmann

Keyword(s):

Range Expansion ◽

Northern Europe ◽

Enemy Release ◽

Evergreen Tree

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Top-down and bottom-up controls on an herbivore on a native and introduced plant in a tropical agricultural landscape

PeerJ ◽

10.7717/peerj.8782 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 8 ◽

pp. e8782

Author(s):

Emma Despland ◽

Paola G. Santacruz

Keyword(s):

Host Range ◽

Host Plant ◽

Range Expansion ◽

Plant Defenses ◽

Enemy Release ◽

Top Down ◽

Bottom Up ◽

Host Range Expansion ◽

Physical Defenses ◽

Exotic Host

The recent introduction in a tropical agricultural environment of a weedy open-habitat plant (Solanum myriacanthum) and subsequent host range expansion of a common forest-edge butterfly (Mechanitis menapis) onto that plant provides an opportunity to examine reconfiguration of tritrophic networks in human-impacted landscapes. The objectives of this study were (1) determine if the caterpillars on the exotic host are more or less limited by plant defenses (bottom-up forces) and if they experience enemy release (decrease of top-down pressure) and (2) define how anthropic open pasture habitat influences the herbivore’s tritrophic niche. Field and laboratory monitoring of larval survival and performance on a native (Solanum acerifolium) host plant and the exotic (S. myriacanthum) host plant were conducted in the Mindo Valley, Ecuador. Plant physical defenses were also measured. Results showed that larval mortality was mostly top-down on S. acerifolium, linked to parasitism, but mostly bottom-up on S. myriacanthum, possibly linked to observed increased plant defenses. Thus, in the absence of co-evolved relationships, herbivores on the exotic host experienced little top-down regulation, but stronger bottom-up pressures from plant defenses. These findings provide a rare empirical example of enemy-free space as a mechanism underlying host-range expansion. S. myriacanthum was less colonized in open pastures than in semi-shaded habitats (forest edges, thickets): fewer eggs were found, suggesting limited dispersal of adult butterflies into the harsh open environments, and the survival rate of first instar larvae was lower than on semi-shaded plants, likely linked to the stronger defenses of sun-grown leaves. These findings show how environmental conditions modulate the rewiring of trophic networks in heavily impacted landscapes, and limit a biocontrol by a native herbivore on an invasive plant in open habitats.

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Spectroscopic Observations of Visual Double Stars

International Astronomical Union Colloquium ◽

10.1017/s0252921100027536 ◽

1965 ◽

Vol 5 ◽

pp. 109-111

Author(s):

Frederick R. West

Keyword(s):

Radial Velocity ◽

High Dispersion ◽

Velocity Difference ◽

Spectrograph Slit ◽

Spectroscopic Observations ◽

Double Stars ◽

Visual Double Stars ◽

Relative Orbit ◽

Two Component ◽

Star Images

There are certain visual double stars which, when close to a node of their relative orbit, should have enough radial velocity difference (10-20 km/s) that the spectra of the two component stars will appear resolved on high-dispersion spectrograms (5 Å/mm or less) obtainable by use of modern coudé and solar spectrographs on bright stars. Both star images are then recorded simultaneously on the spectrograph slit, so that two stellar components will appear on each spectrogram.

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A technique for protecting delicate specimens during processing

Proceedings, annual meeting, Electron Microscopy Society of America ◽

10.1017/s0424820100156894 ◽

1989 ◽

Vol 47 ◽

pp. 982-983

Author(s):

R.J. Mount ◽

R.V. Harrison

Keyword(s):

Basilar Membrane ◽

Low Cost ◽

Organ Of Corti ◽

Region Of Interest ◽

Sensory Epithelium ◽

Physical Damage ◽

Air Drying ◽

Specimen Handling ◽

Two Component

The sensory end organ of the ear, the organ of Corti, rests on a thin basilar membrane which lies between the bone of the central modiolus and the bony wall of the cochlea. In vivo, the organ of Corti is protected by the bony wall which totally surrounds it. In order to examine the sensory epithelium by scanning electron microscopy it is necessary to dissect away the protective bone and expose the region of interest (Fig. 1). This leaves the fragile organ of Corti susceptible to physical damage during subsequent handling. In our laboratory cochlear specimens, after dissection, are routinely prepared by the O-T- O-T-O technique, critical point dried and then lightly sputter coated with gold. This processing involves considerable specimen handling including several hours on a rotator during which the organ of Corti is at risk of being physically damaged. The following procedure uses low cost, readily available materials to hold the specimen during processing ,preventing physical damage while allowing an unhindered exchange of fluids.Following fixation, the cochlea is dehydrated to 70% ethanol then dissected under ethanol to prevent air drying. The holder is prepared by punching a hole in the flexible snap cap of a Wheaton vial with a paper hole punch. A small amount of two component epoxy putty is well mixed then pushed through the hole in the cap. The putty on the inner cap is formed into a “cup” to hold the specimen (Fig. 2), the putty on the outside is smoothed into a “button” to give good attachment even when the cap is flexed during handling (Fig. 3). The cap is submerged in the 70% ethanol, the bone at the base of the cochlea is seated into the cup and the sides of the cup squeezed with forceps to grip it (Fig.4). Several types of epoxy putty have been tried, most are either soluble in ethanol to some degree or do not set in ethanol. The only putty we find successful is “DUROtm MASTERMENDtm Epoxy Extra Strength Ribbon” (Loctite Corp., Cleveland, Ohio), this is a blue and yellow ribbon which is kneaded to form a green putty, it is available at many hardware stores.

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