dc.contributor.advisor |
Jacqueline Beggs |
en |
dc.contributor.advisor |
Mick Clout |
en |
dc.contributor.advisor |
Richard Harris |
en |
dc.contributor.author |
Ward, Darren Francis |
en |
dc.date.accessioned |
2008-04-23T22:29:19Z |
en |
dc.date.available |
2008-04-23T22:29:19Z |
en |
dc.date.issued |
2007 |
en |
dc.identifier.citation |
Thesis (PhD--Biological Sciences)--University of Auckland, 2007. |
en |
dc.identifier.uri |
http://hdl.handle.net/2292/2495 |
en |
dc.description.abstract |
Invasive ant species represent a major threat to biodiversity through their detrimental impacts on
native ecosystems. An important step to managing invasive ant species is determining the factors
responsible for their current and potential distribution. This thesis examines the spatial distribution of
invasive ant species at a range of scales.
The focus is on the Pacific region, specifically Fiji and New Zealand, which have a relatively high
number of invasive ant species. Taxonomic checklists of the ant fauna of Fiji and New Zealand are
presented.
Climate variables were used to model the distribution of, and predict suitable areas for, particular
invasive ant species. In general, models had high evaluation success, especially for models that were
built and tested within a region. However, the utility of models was far less when transferred and
tested in new regions. A better understanding of how climate variables directly and indirectly affect a
species is needed to improve the utility of species distribution modeling.
On a finer spatial scale, habitat partitioning was evident at Colo-i-Suva Park in Fiji, where distinct ant
communities were sampled from litter and canopy habitats. Results suggested that body size, habitat
and resource utilisation interact to create opportunities for invasion, and influence the susceptibility of
different habitats. Habitat also shaped the assembly of ant communities and mediated inter-specific
competition in the Yasawa Islands, Fiji. Similarly, habitat was important in partitioning ant
communities in New Zealand; endemic ant species were in forest, and invasive species in scrub and
urban habitats. However, there was no evidence that inter-specific competition influenced community
composition or the distribution of invasive ant species at regional or local scales in New Zealand.
The extent and diversity of exotic ant species arriving at the New Zealand border was also
investigated. A high proportion (>64%) of intercepted ants originated from the Pacific. The
effectiveness of detecting exotic ant species at the New Zealand border ranged from 48-78% for
different pathways, indicating a number of species remain undetected. Future work on invasive ants
should focus on species-specific tolerances, and how the physical environment and small scale
abiotic conditions influence distribution. |
en |
dc.language.iso |
en |
en |
dc.publisher |
ResearchSpace@Auckland |
en |
dc.relation.ispartof |
PhD Thesis - University of Auckland |
en |
dc.relation.isreferencedby |
UoA1793022 |
en |
dc.rights |
Items in ResearchSpace are protected by copyright, with all rights reserved, unless otherwise indicated. |
en |
dc.rights.uri |
https://researchspace.auckland.ac.nz/docs/uoa-docs/rights.htm |
en |
dc.rights.uri |
http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-sa/3.0/nz/ |
en |
dc.title |
The distribution and ecology of invasive ant species in the Pacific region |
en |
dc.type |
Thesis |
en |
thesis.degree.discipline |
Biological Sciences |
en |
thesis.degree.grantor |
The University of Auckland |
en |
thesis.degree.level |
Doctoral |
en |
thesis.degree.name |
PhD |
en |
dc.subject.marsden |
Fields of Research::270000 Biological Sciences::270500 Zoology::270505 Entomology |
en |
dc.rights.holder |
Copyright: The author |
en |
pubs.local.anzsrc |
06 - Biological Sciences |
en |
pubs.org-id |
Faculty of Science |
en |
dc.identifier.wikidata |
Q112191412 |
|