No Reproductive Interference from an Alien to a Native Species in Cerastium (Caryophyllaceae) at the Stage of Seed Production

Reproductive interference, adverse interspecific interaction during the mating process, has been regarded as a powerful driver of species displacement between species. Recent empirical reports have described its importance in biological invasions. This study was undertaken to test whether a rare herbaceous plant species indigenous to Japan suffered reproductive interference from an alien species of the genus Cerastium. Field observations and a transplanting experiment were conducted to ascertain the effects of coexistence with an alien species on the seed production of the native species. Results show that coexistence with the alien species did not significantly decrease seed numbers, but it significantly affected the seed weight only in field observations. In this study, the reproductive process of the native species was examined only at or before the seed production stage. Because the interspecific pollen transfer might produce hybrids with low viability or fertility, reproductive interference cannot be denied in this study. To test reproductive interference at such latter stages, additional studies should be conducted. Consequently, detection of reproductive interference demands high costs in some species. Based on these results and suggestions, the necessity of narrowing down the target species for testing of reproductive interference is discussed to elucidate the universality of reproductive interference.

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FIRST RECORDS OF AZALEA SAWFLY NEMATUS LIPOVSKY SMITH, 1974 (HYMENOPTERA: TENTHREDINIDAE) IN LATVIA

10.32008/geolinks2021/b2/v3/11 ◽

2021 ◽

Author(s):

Inga Apine ◽

Uģis Piterāns

Keyword(s):

Climate Change ◽

Czech Republic ◽

Alien Species ◽

Native Species ◽

Host Plants ◽

Field Observations ◽

The Czech Republic ◽

Sawfly Larvae ◽

The Usa ◽

First Time

Invasive non-native insect species are well-known threat to both local and introduced plant species in Europe. With increasing global trade and effects of climate change it is expected these alien species will continue to expand their distribution areas. One such non-native species is azalea sawfly Nematus lipovskyi Smith, 1974 (Hymenoptera: Tenthredinidae) that feeds on deciduous Rhododendron spp. This species is known to occur in the USA and was found in the Czech Republic for the first time in Europe in 2010. We report the first findings of this species in Latvia that were made based of field observations in the period of 2018-2020. The current known status of the species in Latvia is presented. Our observations of damage caused by sawfly larvae are summarized. Host plants used by sawfly larvae are listed – we note Rhododendron albrechtii as a host plant of this species for the first time. The possible pathways of its introduction and the overall importance of our findings in context with other non-native species expansions are briefly discussed.

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Phytoremediation Potential of Native Herbaceous Plant Species Growing on a Paradigmatic Brownfield Site

Water Air & Soil Pollution ◽

10.1007/s11270-021-05234-9 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 232 (7) ◽

Author(s):

N. Matanzas ◽

E. Afif ◽

T. E. Díaz ◽

J. R. Gallego

Keyword(s):

Plant Species ◽

Contaminated Soils ◽

Native Species ◽

Low Cost ◽

Plantago Lanceolata ◽

Herbaceous Plant ◽

Plant Interactions ◽

Aerial Parts ◽

Medicago Lupulina ◽

Icp Ms

AbstractPhytomanagement techniques using native species allow the recovery of contaminated soils at low cost and circumvent the ecological risks associated with the use of non-native species. In this context, a paradigmatic brownfield megasite highly contaminated by As and Pb was sampled in order to analyze soil–plant interactions and identify plant species with phytoremediation potential. A survey was first carried out in a 20-ha area to obtain an inventory of species growing spontaneously throughout the site. We then performed another survey in the most polluted sub-area (1 ha) within the site. Pseudototal concentrations of contaminants in the soil, aerial parts of the plants, and roots were measured by ICP-MS. A detailed habitat classification was done, and a specific index of coverage was applied by means of a 1-year quadrat study in various sampling stations. Results converged in the selection of six herbaceous species (Dysphania botrys, Lotus corniculatus, Lotus hispidus, Plantago lanceolata, Trifolium repens, Medicago lupulina). All of these plants are fast-growing, thereby making them suitable for use in phytostabilization strategies. Furthermore, they are all easy to grow and propagate and are generally self-sustaining. All six plants showed accumulation factors below 1, thus revealing them as pseudomethallophytes and excluders. However, L. hispidus and M. lupulina showed translocation capacity and are considered worthy of further study.

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Potential impacts of poison baiting for introduced house mice on native animals on islands in Jurien Bay, Western Australia

Wildlife Research ◽

10.1071/wr15126 ◽

2016 ◽

Vol 43 (1) ◽

pp. 61 ◽

Cited By ~ 1

Author(s):

Clifford Bennison ◽

J. Anthony Friend ◽

Timothy Button ◽

Harriet Mills ◽

Cathy Lambert ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Western Australia ◽

Rhodamine B ◽

Native Species ◽

House Mice ◽

Mus Domesticus ◽

Target Species ◽

Island Populations ◽

Delivery Technique ◽

Poison Baiting ◽

Competition For Resources

Context House mice (Mus domesticus) are present on Boullanger and Whitlock islands, Western Australia, and could potentially threaten populations of the dibbler (Parantechinus apicalis) and grey-bellied dunnart (Sminthopsis griseoventer) through competition for resources. A workshop in 2007 recommended a study to assess the feasibility of eradicating house mice from the islands by using poison baits and of the risk posed to non-target native species. Aim We aimed to assess the risk to non-target native species if poison baiting was used to eradicate house mice on Boullanger and Whitlock islands. Methods Non-toxic baits containing the bait marker rhodamine B were distributed on Boullanger Island and on the mouse free Escape Island to determine the potential for primary poisoning. Acceptance of baits by mammals was measured through sampling and analysis of whiskers, and by reptiles through observations of dye in faeces. To determine the potential for secondary exposure to poison, the response of dibblers to mouse carcasses was observed using motion-activated cameras. Bait acceptance was compared using two methods of delivery, namely, scattering in the open and delivery in polyvinyl chloride (PVC) tubes. A cafeteria experiment of bait consumption by dibblers was also undertaken using captive animals held at the Perth Zoo. Ten dibblers were offered non-toxic baits containing rhodamine B in addition to their normal meals; consumption of bait and the presence of dye in whiskers were measured. Key results Bait acceptance on the islands was high for house mice (92% of individuals) and dibblers (48%) and it was independent of bait-delivery technique. There was no evidence of bait acceptance by grey-bellied dunnarts. Dibblers may consume mice carcasses if available; however, no direct consumption of mice carcasses was observed with movement sensor cameras but one dibbler was observed removing a mouse carcass and taking it away. During the cafeteria experiment, 9 of 10 captive dibblers consumed baits. Conclusions This investigation demonstrated that dibblers consume baits readily and island populations would experience high mortality if exposed to poison baits. Poison baiting could effectively eradicate mice from Boullanger and Whitlock islands but not without mortality for dibblers. Implications Toxic baits could be used to eradicate mice from Boullanger and Whitlock islands, provided that non-target species such as dibblers were temporarily removed from the islands before the application of baits.

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A Rapid Pipeline for Pollen- and Anther-Specific Gene Discovery Based on Transcriptome Profiling Analysis of Maize Tissues

International Journal of Molecular Sciences ◽

10.3390/ijms22136877 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 22 (13) ◽

pp. 6877

Author(s):

Yannan Shi ◽

Yao Li ◽

Yongchao Guo ◽

Eli James Borrego ◽

Zhengyi Wei ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Seed Production ◽

Late Stage ◽

Mature Pollen ◽

Hybrid Breeding ◽

Large Set ◽

Male Sterile ◽

Reproductive Process ◽

Maize Pollen ◽

Cis Element ◽

Mature Anther

Recently, crop breeders have widely adopted a new biotechnology-based process, termed Seed Production Technology (SPT), to produce hybrid varieties. The SPT does not produce nuclear male-sterile lines, and instead utilizes transgenic SPT maintainer lines to pollinate male-sterile plants for propagation of nuclear-recessive male-sterile lines. A late-stage pollen-specific promoter is an essential component of the pollen-inactivating cassette used by the SPT maintainers. While a number of plant pollen-specific promoters have been reported so far, their usefulness in SPT has remained limited. To increase the repertoire of pollen-specific promoters for the maize community, we conducted a comprehensive comparative analysis of transcriptome profiles of mature pollen and mature anthers against other tissue types. We found that maize pollen has much less expressed genes (>1 FPKM) than other tissue types, but the pollen grain has a large set of distinct genes, called pollen-specific genes, which are exclusively or much higher (100 folds) expressed in pollen than other tissue types. Utilizing transcript abundance and correlation coefficient analysis, 1215 mature pollen-specific (MPS) genes and 1009 mature anther-specific (MAS) genes were identified in B73 transcriptome. These two gene sets had similar GO term and KEGG pathway enrichment patterns, indicating that their members share similar functions in the maize reproductive process. Of the genes, 623 were shared between the two sets, called mature anther- and pollen-specific (MAPS) genes, which represent the late-stage pollen-specific genes of the maize genome. Functional annotation analysis of MAPS showed that 447 MAPS genes (71.7% of MAPS) belonged to genes encoding pollen allergen protein. Their 2-kb promoters were analyzed for cis-element enrichment and six well-known pollen-specific cis-elements (AGAAA, TCCACCA, TGTGGTT, [TA]AAAG, AAATGA, and TTTCT) were found highly enriched in the promoters of MAPS. Interestingly, JA-responsive cis-element GCC box (GCCGCC) and ABA-responsive cis-element-coupling element1 (ABRE-CE1, CCACC) were also found enriched in the MAPS promoters, indicating that JA and ABA signaling likely regulate pollen-specific MAPS expression. This study describes a robust and straightforward pipeline to discover pollen-specific promotes from publicly available data while providing maize breeders and the maize industry a number of late-stage (mature) pollen-specific promoters for use in SPT for hybrid breeding and seed production.

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An eco-evolutionary rationale to distinguish alien and native status: why the dingo is a native species on mainland Australia

Australian Zoologist ◽

10.7882/az.2021.039 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 41 (3) ◽

pp. 358-366

Author(s):

Peter B. Banks

Keyword(s):

Alien Species ◽

Introduced Species ◽

Native Species ◽

Genetic Basis ◽

Evolutionary Approach ◽

Range Transport ◽

The Status ◽

Local Species ◽

Natural Range ◽

Native Status

Distinguishing between whether a species is alien or native can be problematic, especially for introduced species that are long-established in new areas outside of their natural range. Transport by humans is the criterion for alien status used by many definitions, whereas arbitrary time since arrival to a location is often used to define native status. Here I propose an eco-evolutionary approach to distinguish between alien and native status and use this to resolve uncertainty in the status of the dingo in Australia. Dingoes were transported to mainland Australia by humans, but more than 4000 years ago, and dingoes now interbreed with feral domestic dogs. Legally, this mix of events has the dingo classified as native in some jurisdictions and alien in others. I suggest that native status for introduced species should be based on (1) whether the species has evolved in their new environment; (2) whether local species recognise and respond to them as they do towards deep endemic native species, and; (3) whether their impacts benchmark against those of a native species or are exaggerated like those of other alien species. Dingoes are behaviourally, reproductively and morphologically different to close ancestors from south-east Asia, and this difference has a genetic basis indicative of evolution in Australia. There is abundant evidence that native prey species on mainland Australia recognise and respond to them as a dangerous predator, which they are. But there is strong evidence that dingo impacts on prey are not exaggerated, with effect sizes from mensurative experiments similar to those of experiments on native predators rather than alien predators. These three lines of evidence suggest dingoes should be considered native to mainland Australia. I suggest this eco-evolutionary approach to defining native status can be helpful in resolving the often-heated debates about when an alien species becomes native.

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Unilateral incompatibility and the effects of interspecific pollination for Erythronium americanum and Erythronium albidum (Liliaceae)

Canadian Journal of Botany ◽

10.1139/b93-038 ◽

1993 ◽

Vol 71 (2) ◽

pp. 353-358 ◽

Cited By ~ 41

Author(s):

Lawrence D. Harder ◽

Mitchell B. Cruzan ◽

James D. Thomson

Keyword(s):

Seed Production ◽

Pollen Tubes ◽

The Self ◽

Pollen Transfer ◽

Interspecific Incompatibility ◽

Unilateral Incompatibility ◽

Heterospecific Pollen ◽

Interspecific Pollen Transfer ◽

Erythronium Americanum ◽

Incompatibility Reaction

To determine whether interspecific pollen transfer could reduce seed production by two sympatric lilies, Erythronium albidum and Erythronium americanum, we hand-pollinated flowers with mixtures of conspecific and heterospecific pollen. These species exhibited typical unilateral interspecific incompatibility, i.e., pollen tubes from the self-infertile species (E. americanum) grew apparently unimpeded in styles of the self-fertile species (E. albidum), whereas the reverse cross resulted in an incompatibility reaction. Because of this asymmetrical relation and faster growth by heterospecific pollen tubes in E. albidum stigmas than by conspecific tubes, pollination with abundant heterospecific pollen reduced fruit and seed production by E. albidum, but not by E. americanum, as long as the stigma also received some conspecific pollen. Unilateral incompatibility could benefit self-infertile species in reproductive interactions with closely related self-fertile species; however, this benefit remains to be demonstrated for naturally pollinated plants. Key words: Erythronium albidum, Erythronium americanum, interspecific pollen transfer, pollination, unilateral incompatibility.

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Priority Treatment Leaves Grassland Restoration Vulnerable to Invasion

Diversity ◽

10.3390/d12020071 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 12 (2) ◽

pp. 71 ◽

Cited By ~ 1

Author(s):

Katharine L. Stuble ◽

Truman P. Young

Keyword(s):

Native Species ◽

Priority Effects ◽

Native Grasses ◽

Target Species ◽

California Grasslands ◽

Early Arrival ◽

Regional Species Pool ◽

Conservation Concern ◽

Indirect Impacts ◽

One Year

Priority effects can be used to promote target species during restoration. Early planting can provide an advantage over later-arriving species, increasing abundance of these early-arrivers in restored communities. However, we have limited knowledge of the indirect impacts of priority effects in restoration. In particular, we do not understand how priority effects impact non-target species. Of particular conservation concern is how these priority effects influence establishment by non-native species. We use a field-based mesocosm experiment to explore the impacts of priority effects on both target and non-target species in California grasslands. Specifically, we seeded native grasses and forbs, manipulating order of arrival by planting them at the same time, planting forbs one year before grasses, planting grasses one year before forbs, or planting each functional group alone. While our study plots were tilled and weeded for the first year, the regional species pool was heavily invaded. We found that, while early-arrival of native grasses did not promote establishment of non-native species, giving priority to native forbs ultimately left our restoration mesocosms vulnerable to invasion by non-native species. This suggests that, in some cases, establishment of non-native species may be an unintended consequence of using priority treatments as a restoration tool.

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Alien Species vs. Native Species: From Community Ecology to Eco-Evolutionary Dynamics

10.20944/preprints201904.0189.v1 ◽

2019 ◽

Author(s):

Andersonn Silveira Prestes

Keyword(s):

Alien Species ◽

Exotic Species ◽

Native Species ◽

Evolutionary Dynamics ◽

Evolutionary Processes ◽

Native Communities ◽

Individualized Approach ◽

History Of ◽

Relationship Of ◽

The Relationship

The establishment and spread of exotic species is a contemporary major concern. Alien species may become invasive in their new habitat, leading to both/either environmental and/or economic impacts. I briefly reviewed the literature in the last decade about the relationship of exotic species and native communities. I identified that professionals usually approach the subject in two main points of view: (1) researchers tend to point out the impacts of alien species on entire communities, evaluating if the relationship is positive, negative or neutral; (2) they focus on the eco-evolutionary processes involved in the introductions, the dynamics of invasion, and individual study cases. When evaluating the response of introductions to entire communities, evidence seems to be ambiguous and may support positive, negative or neutral relationship, especially depending on the scale approached. The unique eco-evolutionary pathways of each introduction may be a great shortcoming in the searching for generalities. On the other hand, advances have been made in understanding the dynamics of invasion on different lineages through a more selective/individualized approach. I suggest that the dynamics of invasion might be studied through a perspective in which different eco-evolutionary processes, levels of organization (from gene to entire communities), the history of the organism(s) and time are taken into account. Individual cases might be compared in attempt to understand how the relationship exotic and native works and in the search for generalities.

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Golden jackal, a natural disperser or an invasive alien species in Slovakia? A summary within European context

Folia Oecologica ◽

10.2478/foecol-2020-0011 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 47 (2) ◽

pp. 89-99

Author(s):

Peter Urban ◽

Nuno Guimarães ◽

Jozef Bučko

Keyword(s):

Alien Species ◽

Native Species ◽

Central And Eastern Europe ◽

Invasive Alien Species ◽

European Population ◽

Golden Jackal ◽

Game Species ◽

Fast Adaptation ◽

Natural Expansion ◽

Fast Increase

AbstractThis summary provides an overview of the golden jackal (Canis aureus) categorization in Europe with particular focus on its presence in Slovakia. The distribution range of this species in Europe has been expanding in recent decades. Currently, European population is in constant and fast increase, widening their ranges towards Central and Eastern Europe and more recently in some western countries. All over Europe, the categorization of the golden jackal status is discussed with some controversial. A recent genetic study helped to determine that golden jackals do not meet the established three criteria, which categorize a species as an invasive alien species. In Slovakia, golden jackals’ numbers grown considerably in the last decade and with an increasing of their distribution through the country it became a permanent species of the Slovak fauna. The only internal status is the hunting Act no. 274/2009, which classifies it as, game species. The fast adaptation and dispersion through Slovakia can be considered similar to the behaviour of an invasive species, as suggested in previous studies in Hungary. Based on widely accepted definitions, agreed under international legal instruments, it is quite clear that the term ‘Invasive Alien Species’ only encompasses non-native species specifically introduced by humans (intentionally or accidentally). Following this Invasive Alien Species terminology, golden jackals cannot be categorized as such in Slovakia. The natural expansion, the growing ranges, and the increase in numbers of the golden jackal in Slovakia in the last decades points to a need to improve the knowledge of the species.

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Population survey of Milicia excelsa, Pouteria adolfi-fridercii, Antiaris toxicaria and Prunus africana in south and south-western Ethiopia: implications for domesticating and establishing Seed Production Areas

MOJ Ecology & Environmental Sciences ◽

10.15406/mojes.2020.05.00188 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 5 (4) ◽

pp. 153-162

Author(s):

Mohammed Adefa Seid ◽

Yigardu Mulatu ◽

Agena Anjulo ◽

Semaigzer Ayalew ◽

Hailu Belay ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Seed Production ◽

Forest Ecosystems ◽

Natural Forest ◽

Target Species ◽

Stem Height ◽

Prunus Africana ◽

Milicia Excelsa ◽

Western Ethiopia ◽

Tree Stem

The population dynamics and genetic qualities of stem height and dbh of the populations of Milicia excelsa, Pouteria adolfi-fridercii, Antiaris toxicaria and Prunus africana were assessed and studied in 14 forest ecosystems in south and south-western Ethiopia. A systematic random quadrat sampling technique was employed to identify potential habitat area for selected timber species in south and south-western Ethiopia. So, a total of 10 parallel transect lines were set out across each forest habitat. Milicia excelsa was assessed in four forest ecosystems; Bebeka -Duduka natural forest (45 tree stem ha-1) and Yayu coffee mixed forest (40 tree stem ha-1) appeared to have relatively denser population of M. excelsa compared to the other pilot forests. Similarly, statistically larger stem height (m) is observed in Bebeka-Duduka natural forest (x̅=29.5, SD=4.2) and larger dbh size (cm) in Bebeka 1 coffee mixed forest (x̅=48.5, SD=25.2) at p<0.05. Hence, Bebeka-Duduka natural forest and Bebeka 1 coffee mixed forests are identified for in-situ SPA establishment project of the target species. Pouteria adolfi-fridercii was assessed in eight forest ecosystems; Masha-Gora shewi forest appeared to have dense population of P. adolfi-fridercii (150 tree stem ha-1) followed by Bebeka-Kebereta (80 tree stem ha-1) as compared to the remaining pilot forests. However, statistically larger stem height (m) is scored in Bebeka 2 natural forest (x̅=30.6, SD=2.98) and Bebeka-kebereta forest (x̅=30.0, SD=4.4) and larger dbh size (cm) in Bebeka 2 natural forest (x̅=96.5, SD=19.9) at p<0.05. So, Bebeka 2 natural forest and Bebeka-kebereta forest are identified for SPA establishment project of the target species. Antiaris toxicaria was assessed in two forest ecosystems where both forest habitats appeared to have the same density of Antiaris toxicaria in hectare. Moreover, analyses of mean stem height (cm) of Bebeka 1 forest (x̅=21.4, SD=5.2) and Bebeka-kebereta forest (x̅=22.4, SD=2.7), and mean dbh size (cm) of Bebeka 1 forest (x̅=48, SD=16.4) and Bebeka-kebereta forest (x̅=48, SD=8.2) appeared to have not significantly different at p<0.05. Prunus africana was assessed in five forest ecosystems; Masha-Gora shewi forest appeared to have dense population of Prunus africana (150 tree stem ha-1) followed by Kaho-shemeta forest (130 tree stem ha-1) as compared to the remaining pilot forests. However, statistically larger stem height (m) is scored in Kaho-shemeta natural forest (x̅=31, SD=7.6) and larger dbh (cm) in Masha-Gora shewi forest (x̅=64.7, SD=28.2) at p<0.05. As the result, Kaho-shemeta natural forest and Bonga-Teja-adela forest are identified for establishment of seed production area of the target species in-situ. Hence, while implementing the project of domestication and seed production area establishment in south and south-western Ethiopia, in-situ and ex-situ areas must be selected and delineated in accordance with this preliminary information of the population dynamics and genetic qualities of stem height and diameter at breast height. The survey data generated in this study would bridge the research gap in relation to the population status of the target tree species in the designated area.

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