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  1. Article ; Online: Expanding the invasion toolbox: including stable isotope analysis in risk assessment

    Balzani, Paride / Haubrock, Phillip J.

    NeoBiota. 2022 Oct. 03, v. 76 p.191-210

    2022  

    Abstract: AbstractSpecies introductions are a major concern for ecosystem functioning, socio-economic wealth, and human well-being. Preventing introductions proved to be the most effective management strategy, and various tools such as species distribution models ...

    Abstract AbstractSpecies introductions are a major concern for ecosystem functioning, socio-economic wealth, and human well-being. Preventing introductions proved to be the most effective management strategy, and various tools such as species distribution models and risk assessment protocols have been developed or applied to this purpose. These approaches use information on a species to predict its potential invasiveness and impact in the case of its introduction into a new area. At the same time, much biodiversity has been lost due to multiple drivers. Ways to determine the potential for successful reintroductions of once native but now extinct species as well as assisted migrations are yet missing. Stable isotope analyses are commonly used to reconstruct a species’ feeding ecology and trophic interactions within communities. Recently, this method has been used to predict potentially arising trophic interactions in the absence of the target species. Here we propose the implementation of stable isotope analysis as an approach for assessment schemes to increase the accuracy in predicting invader impacts as well as the success of reintroductions and assisted migrations. We review and discuss possibilities and limitations of this methods usage, suggesting promising and useful applications for scientists and managers.
    Keywords biodiversity ; ecosystems ; extinct species ; geographical distribution ; risk assessment ; social welfare ; socioeconomics ; stable isotopes ; Impacts ; mixing models ; modelling ; prediction ; screening ; stable isotope analysis
    Language English
    Dates of publication 2022-1003
    Size p. 191-210.
    Publishing place Pensoft Publishers
    Document type Article ; Online
    ZDB-ID 2628537-X
    ISSN 1314-2488 ; 1619-0033
    ISSN (online) 1314-2488
    ISSN 1619-0033
    DOI 10.3897/neobiota.76.77944
    Database NAL-Catalogue (AGRICOLA)

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  2. Article ; Online: Assessing the potential phytosanitary threat of the house cricket Acheta domesticus.

    Kulessa, Anna K / Balzani, Paride / Soto, Ismael / Toutain, Mathieu / Haubrock, Phillip J / Kouba, Antonín

    The Science of the total environment

    2024  Volume 917, Page(s) 170376

    Abstract: Phytosanitary threats can pose substantial risks to global agriculture and ecological systems, affecting biodiversity, human well-being, and food security. Meanwhile, global warming is projected to exacerbate these threats in the future. One in Europe ... ...

    Abstract Phytosanitary threats can pose substantial risks to global agriculture and ecological systems, affecting biodiversity, human well-being, and food security. Meanwhile, global warming is projected to exacerbate these threats in the future. One in Europe already widely distributed potential phytosanitary threat that may benefit from global warming is the house cricket Acheta domesticus. This study explored the potential of A. domesticus as a relevant non-native phytosanitary threat under changing climatic conditions by conducting a series of functional response experiments across a temperature gradient (20, 25, and 30 °C). Acheta domesticus exhibited comparable patterns of seed consumption and functional responses. Seed type (millet seeds, wheat grains) and temperature increase influenced the damage inflicted on seeds, with softer and smaller seeds being more susceptible to damage, further amplified by warmer temperatures. The study's outcomes underline the phytosanitary threat that A. domesticus may pose. Considering the species' established presence and adaptable nature in urban environments exacerbates the potential for A. domesticus to transition to rural and agricultural areas. Its increasing production as a food item, paired with the here-identified potential to damage seeds, emphasizes the need for proactive and science-based strategies to address emerging phytosanitary threats driven by non-native species under changing climatic conditions. As global temperatures continue to rise, the assessment and management of potential pest species like A. domesticus will be crucial for safeguarding agriculture productivity and ecological balance.
    MeSH term(s) Animals ; Humans ; Gryllidae ; Temperature ; Food ; Europe
    Language English
    Publishing date 2024-01-27
    Publishing country Netherlands
    Document type Journal Article
    ZDB-ID 121506-1
    ISSN 1879-1026 ; 0048-9697
    ISSN (online) 1879-1026
    ISSN 0048-9697
    DOI 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2024.170376
    Database MEDical Literature Analysis and Retrieval System OnLINE

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  3. Article ; Online: Interannual variability in the trophic niche of young‐of‐year fish belonging to four piscivorous species coexisting in a natural lake

    Westrelin, Samuel / Balzani, Paride / Haubrock, Phillip Joschka / Santoul, Frédéric

    Freshwater Biology. 2023 Mar., v. 68, no. 3 p.487-501

    2023  

    Abstract: Predatory fish species play a key role in aquatic ecosystems by exerting top‐down control on the food web. Also, their intra‐guild trophic interactions (i.e. competition) are crucial for the stability of the community. However, most studies focus on ... ...

    Abstract Predatory fish species play a key role in aquatic ecosystems by exerting top‐down control on the food web. Also, their intra‐guild trophic interactions (i.e. competition) are crucial for the stability of the community. However, most studies focus on adult stages, while juveniles remain poorly studied, although their recruitment is the basis for the maintenance of predator populations. We analysed carbon and nitrogen stable isotopes ratios of the young‐of‐year of four coexisting widespread predatory fish species (northern pike Esox lucius, European perch Perca fluviatilis, pikeperch Sander lucioperca, and European catfish Silurus glanis), sampled over 3 years in a shallow natural lake. We found that the hierarchy in trophic position between species was consistent across years and similar to that known for adults, but with large variations around a general pattern: pike and pikeperch tended to occupy the highest trophic positions while perch occupied the lowest, and catfish had very varying positions. Species partitioned their niches to decrease interspecific competition, but with some occasional overlaps, contributing to preserving their body condition. Depending on density, which was particularly impacted by harsh environmental conditions, niche overlap fluctuated across years, leading to niche enlargement of densely populated species, except for catfish. These mechanisms enabled species coexistence, allowing the co‐occurrence of alien and native predators within the same ecosystem. This work advocates for time‐integrated studies of trophic webs because they capture the variability of their dynamics better than a static picture. This is particularly true for juveniles whose survival strongly depends on their capacity to cope with competition. Information from trophic mid‐term studies of juveniles provides valuable guidance for optimised management of species.
    Keywords Esox lucius ; Perca fluviatilis ; Sander lucioperca ; Silurus glanis ; adults ; body condition ; carbon ; catfish ; ecosystems ; food webs ; interspecific competition ; lakes ; limnology ; nitrogen ; perch ; pike ; piscivores ; predatory fish ; young of the year
    Language English
    Dates of publication 2023-03
    Size p. 487-501.
    Publishing place John Wiley & Sons, Ltd
    Document type Article ; Online
    Note JOURNAL ARTICLE
    ZDB-ID 121180-8
    ISSN 0046-5070
    ISSN 0046-5070
    DOI 10.1111/fwb.14041
    Database NAL-Catalogue (AGRICOLA)

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  4. Article: Comparative Analysis of Facial Coloration between Introduced and Source Populations of the Red Wood Ant

    Frizzi, Filippo / Buonafede, Laura / Masoni, Alberto / Balzani, Paride / Santini, Giacomo

    Insects

    2022  Volume 13, Issue 12

    Abstract: The variation in the typical black-reddish color of red wood ants (Formica rufa group) has been recently suggested as a good indicator of habitat quality, being dependent on environmental conditions. However, the relative contribution of external factors ...

    Abstract The variation in the typical black-reddish color of red wood ants (Formica rufa group) has been recently suggested as a good indicator of habitat quality, being dependent on environmental conditions. However, the relative contribution of external factors and heritability in shaping this trait is poorly investigated. In this study, we compared the facial coloration of workers from four introduced populations of Formica paralugubris with those of the two Alpine populations from which they had been taken. We used a Relative Warp Analysis to describe the variations in the shape of this trait. We expected each introduced population to be more similar to its population of origin if the color pattern was predominantly genetically determined. On the contrary, due to the considerable differences in habitat type and climate between the Alps and the Apennines, we expected to observe differences between the introduced population and their origin population if the coloration was mostly environmentally determined. With one exception that we discuss, the results showed that ants from the two source populations had different phenotypes, and that the introduced populations had a shape similar to the population of origin, suggesting a stable genetic background. Surprisingly, the habitat type seems to have a less clear effect, even if within-population differences suggest the influence of very localized environmental factors. Finally, we found that the facial coloration shape is affected by the ant’s size, a result in line with previous studies.
    Language English
    Publishing date 2022-12-09
    Publishing country Switzerland
    Document type Journal Article
    ZDB-ID 2662247-6
    ISSN 2075-4450
    ISSN 2075-4450
    DOI 10.3390/insects13121137
    Database MEDical Literature Analysis and Retrieval System OnLINE

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  5. Article ; Online: Sigmoidal curves reflect impacts and dynamics of aquatic invasive species.

    Soto, Ismael / Ahmed, Danish A / Balzani, Paride / Cuthbert, Ross N / Haubrock, Phillip J

    The Science of the total environment

    2023  Volume 872, Page(s) 161818

    Abstract: Identifying general patterns and trends underlying the impacts and dynamics of biological invasions has proven elusive for scientists. Recently, the impact curve was proposed as a means to predict temporal impacts of invasive alien species, characterised ...

    Abstract Identifying general patterns and trends underlying the impacts and dynamics of biological invasions has proven elusive for scientists. Recently, the impact curve was proposed as a means to predict temporal impacts of invasive alien species, characterised by a sigmoidal growth pattern with an initial exponential increase, followed by a subsequent rate of decline and approaching a saturation level in the long-term where impact is maximised. While the impact curve has been empirically demonstrated with monitoring data of a single invasive alien species (the New Zealand mud snail, Potamopyrgus antipodarum), broadscale applicability remains to be tested for other taxa. Here, we examined whether the impact curve can adequately describe the invasion dynamics of 13 other aquatic species (within Amphipoda, Bivalvia, Gastropoda, Hirudinea, Isopoda, Mysida, and Platyhelminthes) at the European level, employing multi-decadal time series of macroinvertebrate cumulative abundances from regular benthic monitoring efforts. For all except one tested species (the killer shrimp, Dikerogammarus villosus), the sigmoidal impact curve was strongly supported (R
    MeSH term(s) Animals ; Introduced Species ; Ecosystem ; Population Dynamics ; Amphipoda ; Gastropoda
    Language English
    Publishing date 2023-02-16
    Publishing country Netherlands
    Document type Journal Article
    ZDB-ID 121506-1
    ISSN 1879-1026 ; 0048-9697
    ISSN (online) 1879-1026
    ISSN 0048-9697
    DOI 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2023.161818
    Database MEDical Literature Analysis and Retrieval System OnLINE

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  6. Article ; Online: Keep Your Eggs Away: Ant Presence Reduces Ceratitis capitata Oviposition Behaviour through Trait-Mediated Indirect Interactions

    Smargiassi, Stefania / Masoni, Alberto / Frizzi, Filippo / Balzani, Paride / Desiato, Elisa / Benelli, Giovanni / Canale, Angelo / Santini, Giacomo

    Insects. 2023 June 07, v. 14, no. 6

    2023  

    Abstract: Alternative methods to achieve sustainable agricultural production while reducing the use of chemical pesticides, such as biological control, are increasingly needed. The exploitation of trait-mediated indirect interactions (TMIIs), in which pests modify ...

    Abstract Alternative methods to achieve sustainable agricultural production while reducing the use of chemical pesticides, such as biological control, are increasingly needed. The exploitation of trait-mediated indirect interactions (TMIIs), in which pests modify their behavior in response to some cues (e.g., pheromones and other semiochemicals) to avoid predation risk, may be a possible strategy. In this study, we tested the effect of TMIIs of two Mediterranean ant species, Crematogaster scutellaris and Tapinoma nigerrimum, on the oviposition behaviour of Ceratitis capitata (Diptera: Tephritidae), one of the world’s most economically damaging pests, which attacks fruits. For each ant species, we performed choice experiments using ant-scented and control plums, counting the time spent by medflies on fruits and the number of pupae emerging from them. Results of both ant species tests showed a significantly shorter time spent by ovipositing medflies on ant-exposed plums and a lower number of pupae, when compared to the control group. Our findings highlighted that the semiochemicals released by ants on plums triggered an avoidance behaviour by medfly females, leading to lower oviposition rates. This study contributes to the understanding of indirect ant–pest interactions in Mediterranean agricultural settings and points out the potential of utilising ant-borne semiochemicals in sustainable IPM strategies.
    Keywords Ceratitis capitata ; Crematogaster scutellaris ; Tapinoma ; avoidance behavior ; biological control ; oviposition ; predation ; risk ; semiochemicals ; sustainable agriculture
    Language English
    Dates of publication 2023-0607
    Publishing place Multidisciplinary Digital Publishing Institute
    Document type Article ; Online
    ZDB-ID 2662247-6
    ISSN 2075-4450
    ISSN 2075-4450
    DOI 10.3390/insects14060532
    Database NAL-Catalogue (AGRICOLA)

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  7. Article ; Online: Effects of starvation on the fighting ability of invasive and autochthonous ants

    Frizzi, Filippo / Balzani, Paride / Frasconi Wendt, Clara / Masoni, Alberto / Carta, Elisa / Innocenti, Maria Rita / Santini, Giacomo

    Entomological Science. 2023 Mar., v. 26, no. 1 p.e12531-

    2023  

    Abstract: Ants are widespread in all terrestrial habitats, and competitive interactions between species are common. Although redistribution of food within a colony may buffer the negative effects of temporary resource shortages, colony functionality can be ... ...

    Abstract Ants are widespread in all terrestrial habitats, and competitive interactions between species are common. Although redistribution of food within a colony may buffer the negative effects of temporary resource shortages, colony functionality can be compromised when famine is prolonged. One of the possible effects of famine is impairment of the fighting ability of species, with cascade effects on community. Here, we investigated whether food shortage alters the fighting ability of workers of three dominant species in the Mediterranean area: the invasive alien species, Lasius neglectus and Linepithema humile, and one highly polydomous autochthonous species belonging to the Tapinoma nigerrimum complex. We performed laboratory tests of interspecific one‐on‐one aggression and pairwise group contests between species, with all possible combinations of artificially satiated and starved groups. Results showed that starvation had a scarce effect on the individual aggressiveness in all three species. Similarly, the outcomes of the group fights were only lightly affected, but with an important exception. The positions of species in the fighting hierarchies were in most cases clear and linear, with L. neglectus at the top. However, we found that L. humile and L. neglectus showed equal mortality when one of the two species was starved and the other satiated. Although we investigated only one aspect of competition, that is, fighting ability, our results provide a piece of the complex jigsaw of competitive interactions of ants, and suggest that food deprivation can be a determinant that alters the relationships between ants and promotes or hampers the coexistence of dominant species.
    Keywords Lasius neglectus ; Linepithema humile ; aggression ; dominant species ; famine ; food deprivation ; food shortages ; indigenous species ; invasive species ; mortality ; starvation ; Mediterranean region
    Language English
    Dates of publication 2023-03
    Publishing place John Wiley & Sons Australia, Ltd
    Document type Article ; Online
    Note JOURNAL ARTICLE
    ZDB-ID 2105599-3
    ISSN 1479-8298 ; 1343-8786
    ISSN (online) 1479-8298
    ISSN 1343-8786
    DOI 10.1111/ens.12531
    Database NAL-Catalogue (AGRICOLA)

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  8. Article ; Online: Sub-lethal doses of imidacloprid alter food selection in the invasive garden ant Lasius neglectus

    Frizzi, Filippo / Balzani, Paride / Masoni, Alberto / Frasconi Wendt, Clara / Marconi, Matilde / Rossi, Asia / Santini, Giacomo

    Environ Sci Pollut Res. 2023 Feb., v. 30, no. 10 p.27501-27509

    2023  

    Abstract: Despite several restrictions to their use, neonicotinoid insecticides are still widely employed worldwide. Residual sub-lethal amounts of these chemicals can have detrimental effects on the behavior of non-target insects. Toxic effects on economically ... ...

    Abstract Despite several restrictions to their use, neonicotinoid insecticides are still widely employed worldwide. Residual sub-lethal amounts of these chemicals can have detrimental effects on the behavior of non-target insects. Toxic effects on economically important species such as bees have been widely documented, but less is known about their toxic action on other social insects, such as ants. In this study, we assessed the effect of different sub-lethal doses of the neonicotinoid imidacloprid on the ability of colonies of the invasive ant Lasius neglectus to select the most profitable resource. We used Y-shaped mazes having an imidacloprid-polluted or an unpolluted sucrose solution on the two branches. Two sucrose (0.1 M, 0.5 M) and two imidacloprid (1 μg/ml, 10 μg/ml) concentrations were used. In parallel, we evaluated the marking activity of foragers who fed on the same solutions. We found that the 0.1 M sugar solution polluted with 1 μg/ml imidacloprid was significantly more frequently selected in binary choices experiments than the unpolluted resource. Moreover, the ingestion of the same combination of sugar and imidacloprid significantly increased the marking rate of foragers. The higher concentration of the pollutant had lower effects, probably because of the hormesis phenomenon. Results suggest that the lower sub-lethal dose of imidacloprid can lead ants to select again the polluted resource. This “active” selection of the pollutant may magnify the negative effects on the colonies. Due to their ecological role, any impairment of ant survival or behavior may have detrimental cascade effects on the whole ecosystem.
    Keywords Lasius neglectus ; ecosystems ; food choices ; hormesis ; imidacloprid ; ingestion ; pollutants ; sucrose ; toxicity
    Language English
    Dates of publication 2023-02
    Size p. 27501-27509.
    Publishing place Springer Berlin Heidelberg
    Document type Article ; Online
    ZDB-ID 1178791-0
    ISSN 1614-7499 ; 0944-1344
    ISSN (online) 1614-7499
    ISSN 0944-1344
    DOI 10.1007/s11356-022-24100-7
    Database NAL-Catalogue (AGRICOLA)

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  9. Article: Metal accumulation in relation to size and body condition in an all-alien species community

    Balzani, Paride / Kouba, Antonín / Tricarico, Elena / Kourantidou, Melina / Haubrock, Phillip J.

    Environmental science and pollution research. 2022 Apr., v. 29, no. 17

    2022  

    Abstract: Metal pollution is one of the main environmental threats in freshwater ecosystems. Aquatic animals can accumulate these substances and transfer them across the food web, posing risks for both predators and humans. Accumulation patterns strongly vary ... ...

    Abstract Metal pollution is one of the main environmental threats in freshwater ecosystems. Aquatic animals can accumulate these substances and transfer them across the food web, posing risks for both predators and humans. Accumulation patterns strongly vary depending on the location, species, and size (which in fish and crayfish is related to age) of individuals. Moreover, high metal concentrations can negatively affect animals’ health. To assess the intraspecific relationship between metal accumulation and size and health (proxied by the body condition) of individuals, the concentration of 14 metals (Al, As, Cd, Co, Cr, Cu, Fe, Hg, Mg, Mn, Ni, Pb, Se, Zn) was analyzed in six alien species from the highly anthropogenically altered Arno River (Central Italy): five fish (Alburnus alburnus, Pseudorasbora parva, Lepomis gibbosus, Ictalurus punctatus, and Silurus glanis) and one crayfish (Procambarus clarkii). We found that in P. clarkii, Cu was negatively related to size, as well as Al in L. gibbosus and Mg for adult I. punctatus. Positive size-dependent relationships were found for Hg in L. gibbosus, Fe in S. glanis, and Cr in juvenile I. punctatus. Only Co and Mg in S. glanis were found to negatively correlate with individual health. Since metal concentrations in animal tissue depend on trade-offs between uptake and excretion, the few significant results suggest different types of trade-offs across different species and age classes. However, only predatory fish species (L. gibbosus, I. punctatus, and S. glanis) presented significant relationships, suggesting that feeding habits are one of the primary drivers of metal accumulation.
    Keywords Alburnus alburnus ; Ictalurus punctatus ; Lepomis gibbosus ; Procambarus clarkii ; Pseudorasbora parva ; Silurus glanis ; adults ; animal tissues ; body condition ; crayfish ; excretion ; food webs ; freshwater ; introduced species ; juveniles ; pollution ; predatory fish ; research ; rivers ; Italy
    Language English
    Dates of publication 2022-04
    Size p. 25848-25857.
    Publishing place Springer Berlin Heidelberg
    Document type Article
    ZDB-ID 1178791-0
    ISSN 1614-7499 ; 0944-1344
    ISSN (online) 1614-7499
    ISSN 0944-1344
    DOI 10.1007/s11356-021-17621-0
    Database NAL-Catalogue (AGRICOLA)

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  10. Article: Acute and chronic ingestion of polyethylene (PE) microplastics has mild effects on honey bee health and cognition

    Balzani, Paride / Galeotti, Giorgia / Scheggi, Sara / Masoni, Alberto / Santini, Giacomo / Baracchi, David

    Environmental pollution. 2022 July 15, v. 305

    2022  

    Abstract: The massive use of plastic has contributed to huge quantities of hazardous refuse at a global scale and represents one of the most prominent issues of the Anthropocene. Microplastics (MPs) have been detected in almost all environments and pose a ... ...

    Abstract The massive use of plastic has contributed to huge quantities of hazardous refuse at a global scale and represents one of the most prominent issues of the Anthropocene. Microplastics (MPs) have been detected in almost all environments and pose a potential threat to a variety of plant and animal species. Many studies have reported a variety of effects, from negligible to detrimental, of MPs to aquatic organisms. Conversely, much less is known about their effect on terrestrial biota, and particularly on animal behavior and cognition. We assessed the oral toxicity of polyethylene (PE) MPs at three different concentrations (0.5, 5, and 50 mg L⁻¹), and at different timescales (1 day and 7 days of exposure) and tested for their effects on survival, food intake, sucrose responsiveness, habituation to sucrose and appetitive olfactory learning and memory in the honey bee Apis mellifera. We found that workers were not completely unaffected by acute and prolonged ingestion of this polymer. A significant effect of PE on bee mortality was found for the highest concentration but not for lower ones. PE affected feeding behavior in a concentration-dependent manner, with bees consuming more food than controls when exposed to low concentration PE. Regarding our behavioral and cognitive experiments, the high concentration PE was found to affect only bees’ ability to respond consistently to sucrose but not sucrose sensitivity, habituation to sucrose or learning and memory abilities, even for prolonged exposure to PE. While these last results may look somewhat encouraging, we discussed why caution is warranted before ruling out the possibility that PE particles at environmental concentrations are harmful to honey bees.
    Keywords Anthropocene epoch ; Apis mellifera ; animal behavior ; animals ; cognition ; food intake ; habituation ; microplastics ; mortality ; pollution ; polyethylene ; solid wastes ; sucrose ; toxicity
    Language English
    Dates of publication 2022-0715
    Publishing place Elsevier Ltd
    Document type Article
    ZDB-ID 280652-6
    ISSN 1873-6424 ; 0013-9327 ; 0269-7491
    ISSN (online) 1873-6424
    ISSN 0013-9327 ; 0269-7491
    DOI 10.1016/j.envpol.2022.119318
    Database NAL-Catalogue (AGRICOLA)

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