Invading predatory crustacean Dikerogammarus villosus eliminates both native and exotic species
Dick, J.T.A.; Platvoet, D. (2000). Invading predatory crustacean Dikerogammarus villosus eliminates both native and exotic species. Proc. - Royal Soc., Biol. Sci. 267(1447): 977-983. http://dx.doi.org/10.1098/rspb.2000.1099
In: Proceedings of the Royal Society of London. Series B. The Royal Society: London. ISSN 0962-8452; e-ISSN 1471-2954, more
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| Keywords |
Biodiversity
Indigenous species
Interspecific relationships
Interspecific relationships > Predation
Microcosms
Taxa > Species > Endemic species
Taxa > Species > Introduced species
Gammarus duebeni Lilljeborg, 1852 [WoRMS]; Gammarus tigrinus Sexton, 1939 [WoRMS]
Brackish water; Fresh water |
| Author keywords |
amphipods; interspecific interactions; invasions; microcosms; predation |
| Authors | | Top |
- Dick, J.T.A.
- Platvoet, D., more
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| Abstract |
As the tempo of biological invasions increases, explanations and predictions of their impacts become more crucial. Particularly with regard to biodiversity, we require elucidation of interspecific behavioural interactions among invaders and natives. In freshwaters in The Netherlands, we show that the invasive Ponto–Caspian crustacean amphipod Dikerogammarus villosus is rapidly eliminating Gammarus duebeni, a native European amphipod, and Gammarus tigrinus , until now a spectacularly successful invader from North America. In the laboratory, survival of single (unguarded) female G. duebeni was significantly lower when male D. villosus were free to roam as compared with isolated within microcosms. In addition, survival of paired (guarded) female G. duebeni was significantly lower when male D. villosus as compared with male G. duebeni were present. D. villosus killed and consumed both recently moulted and, unusually, intermoult victims. Survival of G. tigrinus was significantly lower when D. villosus were free to roam as compared with isolated within microcosms and, again, both moulted and intermoult victims were preyed upon. Male D. villosus were significantly more predatory than were females, while female G. tigrinus were significantly more often preyed upon than were males. Predation by D. villosus on both species occurred over a range of water conductivities, an environmental feature previously shown to promote amphipod coexistence. This predatory invader is predicted to reduce further the amphipod diversity in a range of freshwater habitats in Europe and North America. |
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