Putative source and niche shift pattern of a new alien ant species (Odontomachus troglodytes) in Taiwan
Journal
PeerJ
Journal Volume
11
Date Issued
2023
Author(s)
Abstract
Alien species may pose substantial impacts on biodiversity around the globe through international trade and travel. A niche shift hypothesis was proposed to explain the adaptive change of alien or invasive species in new habitats. However, whether niche shifts occur in alien species likely depends on both characteristics inherent to the species itself and its original distribution. Here we identified a newly exotic trap-jaw ant (Odontomachus troglodytes) in Taiwan by morphological and phylogenetic analyses. The possible distribution range and the niche shift pattern were evaluated using ecological niche modelling. The results indicated that exotic O. troglodytes in the newly distributed area displayed a significant niche shift with low niche overlap and high niche expansion. This study reveals a long-distance invasive event from central Africa to Southeast Asia (more than 10,000 km) and predicts the potential distribution range of this new alien species in Taiwan.
Subjects
Environmental niche models; Exotic species; Niche expansion; Phylogenetic relationship; Trap-jaw ant
SDGs
Publisher
PEERJ INC
Type
journal article