Distribución Y Abundancia De La Hormiga Colorada Solenopsis Invicta En Argentina: Sus Interacciones Con Hormigas Competidoras Y Moscas Parasitoides (Pseudacteon SPP.)

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Distribución Y Abundancia De La Hormiga Colorada Solenopsis Invicta En Argentina: Sus Interacciones Con Hormigas Competidoras Y Moscas Parasitoides (Pseudacteon SPP.) Tesis Doctoral Distribución y abundancia de la hormiga colorada Solenopsis invicta en Argentina: sus interacciones con hormigas competidoras y moscas parasitoides (Pseudacteon SPP.) Calcaterra, Luis Alberto 2010 Este documento forma parte de la colección de tesis doctorales y de maestría de la Biblioteca Central Dr. Luis Federico Leloir, disponible en digital.bl.fcen.uba.ar. Su utilización debe ser acompañada por la cita bibliográfica con reconocimiento de la fuente. This document is part of the doctoral theses collection of the Central Library Dr. Luis Federico Leloir, available in digital.bl.fcen.uba.ar. It should be used accompanied by the corresponding citation acknowledging the source. Cita tipo APA: Calcaterra, Luis Alberto. (2010). Distribución y abundancia de la hormiga colorada Solenopsis invicta en Argentina: sus interacciones con hormigas competidoras y moscas parasitoides (Pseudacteon SPP.). Facultad de Ciencias Exactas y Naturales. Universidad de Buenos Aires. Cita tipo Chicago: Calcaterra, Luis Alberto. "Distribución y abundancia de la hormiga colorada Solenopsis invicta en Argentina: sus interacciones con hormigas competidoras y moscas parasitoides (Pseudacteon SPP.)". Facultad de Ciencias Exactas y Naturales. Universidad de Buenos Aires. 2010. Dirección: Biblioteca Central Dr. Luis F. Leloir, Facultad de Ciencias Exactas y Naturales, Universidad de Buenos Aires. Contacto: [email protected] Intendente Güiraldes 2160 - C1428EGA - Tel. (++54 +11) 4789-9293 UNIVERSIDAD DE BUENOS AIRES Facultad de Ciencias Exactas y Naturales Departamento de Ecología, Genética y Evolución DISTRIBUCIÓN Y ABUNDANCIA DE LA HORMIGA COLORADA SOLENOPSIS INVICTA EN ARGENTINA: SUS INTERACCIONES CON HORMIGAS COMPETIDORAS Y MOSCAS PARASITOIDES (PSEUDACTEON SPP.) Tesis presentada para optar al título de Doctor de la Universidad de Buenos Aires en el área de Ciencias Biológicas Luis Alberto Calcaterra Director de tesis: Juan A. Briano Consejero de estudios: Ricardo E. Gürtler Lugar de trabajo: Laboratorio Sudamericano de Control Biológico (SABCL), ARS-USDA Bolívar 1559 (B1686EFA), Hurlingham, Buenos Aires, Argentina Buenos Aires, Febrero 2010 DISTRIBUCIÓN Y ABUNDANCIA DE LA HORMIGA COLORADA SOLENOPSIS INVICTA EN ARGENTINA: SUS INTERACCIONES CON HORMIGAS COMPETIDORAS Y MOSCAS PARASITOIDES (PSEUDACTEON SPP.) ii DISTRIBUCIÓN Y ABUNDANCIA DE LA HORMIGA COLORADA SOLENOPSIS INVICTA EN ARGENTINA: SUS INTERACCIONES CON HORMIGAS COMPETIDORAS Y MOSCAS PARASITOIDES (PSEUDACTEON SPP.) RESUMEN - Se estudiaron la distribución y abundancia de la hormiga colorada Solenopsis invicta y sus interacciones ecológicas con hormigas competidoras y moscas parasitoides en el extremo sur de su área nativa en Sudamérica. Solenopsis invicta se distribuyó a través de diversos hábitats y climas en Brasil, Paraguay, Uruguay y en Argentina hasta los 33° 41´ latitud sur, los 64° 52´ longitud oeste y los 1.100 m de altitud. Sorpresivamente, no se encontró S. invicta en Bolivia. Diez especies de fóridos estuvieron asociadas a S. invicta en su área nativa, nueve en un solo sitio. El clima determinó la presencia y abundancia de la mayoría de las especies, excepto P. litoralis y P. nocens. Pseudacteon obtusus (grande) mostró la distribución más austral y occidental (este es el primer registro de moscas en Chile) y fue registrada a la mayor altitud (2.280 m); P. curvatus fue la más abundante y una de las más ampliamente distribuidas y P. cultellatus fue encontrada por primera vez atacando a S. invicta. Una especie de mosca nueva para la ciencia, P. calderensis, fue descubierta y descripta en este trabajo. La tasa general de parasitismo natural registrada por primera vez en esta tesis fue muy baja (0,24%), aunque el porcentaje alcanzó al 2,81% de las colonias en un sitio. Los presencia de fóridos afectó la capacidad de forrajeo de S. invicta, pero no su jerarquía de dominancia. Solenopsis invicta fue espacial (64-82%) y numéricamente (23-27%) dominante en todos los ensambles, sin mostrar la mayor biomasa y sin excluir a otras especies. Al menos 8-10 especies de hormigas fueron muy comunes en la mayoría de ensambles; el 60% correspondió al grupo funcional Myrmicinae generalizado que interactuó frecuentemente con S. invicta. A pesar de no ser una buena descubridora de recursos, S. invicta ganó el 78% de las interacciones principalmente con P. obscurithorax y dominó ecológicamente a sus competidoras usando cuatro mecanismos: (1) alto número de individuos, (2) sistema de reclutamiento muy desarrollado, (3) comportamiento agresivo y (4) actividad de forrajeo continua. Fue mejor descubridora y dominadora en hábitats más simples y pobres en especies. La situación en Argentina contrasta fuertemente con lo observado en Norte América. El fuerte ambiente competitivo en los ensambles de hormigas en Argentina sería el factor más importante (seguido por los enemigos naturales) que limita el éxito de S. invicta. La introducción de un gran número de especies de moscas parasitoides desde Sudamérica debería reducir la habilidad competitiva y la abundancia de S. invicta en los Estados Unidos. Las especies elegidas deberían provenir de la región de origen de las poblaciones invasoras en los Estados Unidos. El conocimiento de la relación plaga-enemigo natural-ambiente en su área nativa es de suma utilidad para proyectos de control biológico en los Estados Unidos y otras regiones invadidas por S. invicta. Palabras clave: riqueza de hormigas, diversidad, ensambles de hormigas, fenología, tasas de parasitismo, biogeografía, disturbio, mecanismos competitivos, jerarquías de dominancia, control biológico, Sudamérica, invasiones biológicas iii DISTRIBUTION AND ABUNDANCE OF THE FIRE ANT SOLENOPSIS INVICTA IN ARGENTINA: ITS INTERACTIONS WITH COMPETITOR ANTS AND PARASITOID FLIES (PSEUDACTEON SPP.) ABSTRACT- The distribution and abundance of the fire ant, Solenopsis invicta, and its ecological interactions with competitor ants and parasitoid flies were studied in its native land in southern South America. Solenopsis invicta was distributed in diverse habitats and climates in Brazil, Paraguay, Uruguay, and in Argentina up to 33° 41´ S, 64° 52´ W and 1100 m of altitude. Surprisingly, S. invicta was not found in Bolivia. Ten phorid species were associated with S. invicta in its native land and up to nine in the same site. Climate determined the presence and abundance of most species except P. litoralis and P. nocens. Pseudacteon obtusus (big) showed the southernmost and westernmost (it is the first record for Chile) distribution and was recorded at the highest altitude (2280 m); P. curvatus was the most abundant and one of the most widely distributed and P. cultellatus was found for the first time attacking S. invicta. A fly species new for science, P. calderensis, was discovered and described in this work. The overall natural parasitism rate, recorded for the first time in this thesis, was very low (0.24%), although the rate reached 2.81% of the colonies at one site. The presence of phorids affected the foraging capacity of S. invicta but not its hierarchy of dominance. Solenopsis invicta was spatially (64-82%) and numerically (23-27%) dominant in all ensembles without showing the highest biomass and not excluding other species. At least 8-10 ant species were very common in most ensembles; 60% corresponded to the Generalized Myrmicinae functional group, which frequently interacted with S. invicta. Despite not being a good discoverer of resources, S. invicta won 78% of the interactions mainly with P. obscurithorax, and ecologically dominated its competitors using four mechanisms: (1) large numbers of individuals, (2) well developed recruitment system, (3) aggressive behavior, and (4) not-interrupted-foraging activity. It was a better discoverer and dominant in simpler and poorer habitats. The situation in Argentina strongly contrasts with that observed in North America. The strong competitive environment in the ant ensembles in Argentina would be the most important factor (followed by natural enemies) limiting the success of S. invicta. The introduction of a large number of parasitoid fly species from South America should decrease the competitive ability and abundance of S. invicta in the United States. The species chosen should come from the region of origin of the invasive populations in the United States. The knowledge of the relationship pest-natural enemy-environment in its native land is greatly useful for biological control projects in the United States and other regions invaded by S. invicta. Keywords: ant richness, diversity, ant ensembles, phenology, parasitism rates, biogeography, disturbance, competitive mechanisms, hierarchies of dominance, biological control, South America, biological invasions iv AGRADECIMIENTOS Agradezco principalmente a mi director de tesis, por sus valiosos aportes que le dieron claridad y calidad al trabajo, por la confianza que depositó en mí, por su enorme paciencia y comprensión en los momentos difíciles y principalmente por la libertad con la que me dejó trabajar durante todos estos años. También por su disposición y ayuda durante la escritura de esta tesis. Gracias por reconocer mi trabajo en el laboratorio y darme la confianza y el entusiasmo para encarar todos los proyectos en los que hemos trabajado juntos. Por su capacidad, dedicación, honestidad e imparcialidad, arriesgo a decir, el mejor director que ha tenido nuestro laboratorio. En segundo lugar, agradezco a Sanford Porter (CMAVE, ARS-USDA), quien aunque desde lejos, estuvo siempre presente y sus consejos
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