{"title":"Urban colonization of invasive species on islands: Mus musculus and Rattus rattus genetics of establishment on Cozumel Island","authors":"Gabriela Borja-Martínez, Ella Vázquez-Domínguez","doi":"10.1007/s10530-024-03343-0","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1007/s10530-024-03343-0","url":null,"abstract":"<p>Humans and wildlife experience complex interactions in urban ecosystems, favoring the presence of commensal species, among which invasive species are particularly successful. Rodents are the main vertebrate group introduced to oceanic islands, where the invasion process and dispersal patterns strongly influence their evolutionary and genetic patterns. We evaluated the house mouse <i>Mus musculus</i> and the black rat <i>Rattus rattus</i> on Cozumel Island, Mexico. We assessed genetic diversity and structure, connectivity, gene flow, relatedness and bottleneck signals based on microsatellite loci. Our genetic findings suggest that introduction of individuals of different geographic sources to the island promotes high allelic diversity and the effective establishment of migrants. We identified a clear genetic structure and low connectivity for the two species, tightly linked with anthropogenic and urban features. Notably, we found that the genetic structure of the house mouse sampled within the city of San Miguel Cozumel is associated with the historical human population growth pulses accompanying the urbanization of the city. At the fine-scale genetic level, the main urban drivers of connectivity of the house mouse were both the impervious land surfaces, i.e. the urban landscape, and the informal commerce across the city (a proxy of resources availability). Chances of a secondary invasion to natural environments have been relatively low, which is crucial for the endemic taxa of the island. Nonetheless, improving urban planning to regulate future expansions of San Miguel Cozumel is of the outmost importance to prevent these invasive species to disperse further.</p>","PeriodicalId":9202,"journal":{"name":"Biological Invasions","volume":"19 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":2.9,"publicationDate":"2024-05-29","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"141170404","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"环境科学与生态学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Maude Vernet, Amanda E. Trask, Caitlin E. Andrews, John G. Ewen, Suzanne Medina, Axel Moehrenschlager, Stefano Canessa
{"title":"Assessing invasion risks using EICAT-based expert elicitation: application to a conservation translocation","authors":"Maude Vernet, Amanda E. Trask, Caitlin E. Andrews, John G. Ewen, Suzanne Medina, Axel Moehrenschlager, Stefano Canessa","doi":"10.1007/s10530-024-03341-2","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1007/s10530-024-03341-2","url":null,"abstract":"<p>Conservation translocations are widely used to recover threatened species, but can pose risks to recipient ecosystems, particularly in the case of conservation introductions. Because of limited data and uncertainty, risk assessments for such projects often rely on extrapolated evidence and expert opinion, further complicating decision making. The Environmental Impact Classification for Alien Taxa (EICAT) serves to classify the realised impacts of invasive species. We developed a protocol combining EICAT and formal expert elicitation to predict these impacts. We applied our protocol to the extinct-in-the-wild sihek (Guam kingfisher; <i>Todiramphus cinnamominus</i>), for which introduction outside the known historical range is being considered. We elicited from multiple experts probability estimates of impact levels across four impact mechanisms and five candidate release sites. We aggregated estimates using simulation-based and Bayesian approaches, with and without accounting for expert confidence. Experts generally agreed that sihek introduction might impact the recipient ecosystem through predation, competition, and disease, although they disagreed about the likely impact levels. Releases to Palmyra Atoll were considered to pose the lowest risk across candidate sites, so this site was selected for further detailed ecological assessments and risk mitigation efforts. EICAT, with its standardized impact mechanisms and definitions, helped reduce the linguistic uncertainty and subjectivity common to expert-based assessments. Expressing judgments as probabilities allowed us to evaluate uncertainty transparently and to assess the weight of expert confidence on the overall risk estimation. Formal quantitative elicitation and aggregation then allowed a transparent evaluation of results, facilitating communication with stakeholders and decision-makers.</p>","PeriodicalId":9202,"journal":{"name":"Biological Invasions","volume":"47 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":2.9,"publicationDate":"2024-05-29","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"141170405","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"环境科学与生态学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Samantha M. Kennett, Bernard Seifert, Robert R. Dunn, Todd W. Pierson, Clint A. Penick
{"title":"The ManhattAnt: identification, distribution, and colony structure of a new pest in New York City, Lasius emarginatus","authors":"Samantha M. Kennett, Bernard Seifert, Robert R. Dunn, Todd W. Pierson, Clint A. Penick","doi":"10.1007/s10530-024-03344-z","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1007/s10530-024-03344-z","url":null,"abstract":"<p>An unidentified ant species was discovered in the heart of New York City in 2011, which garnered national headlines and created the memorable nickname “ManhattAnt.” New York City is one of the oldest and largest cities in North America and has been the site of introduction for some of North America’s most damaging invasive pests. Nevertheless, there has been little follow up research on the ManhattAnt since its discovery, and it has yet to be formally identified. Here we use genetic and morphological approaches to confirm the identity of the ManhattAnt and characterize its introduced range and colony structure. Results from genetic analyses placed the ManhattAnt within the <i>Lasius emarginatus</i> species complex, and morphological comparisons ruled out closely related species to identify the ManhattAnt as the European ant <i>L. emarginatus</i> with 93–99% certainty depending on the nest sample. Since its initial discovery in the region, the ManhattAnt has become one of the most common ants in New York City and has spread at a rate of 2 km/yr into New Jersey and onto Long Island. Based on the climate it inhabits within its native range, <i>L. emarginatus</i> could expand to cover much of the eastern United states from Massachusetts to Georgia. Although many successful invasive ants display supercoloniality with little aggression between neighboring nests, we found no evidence that <i>L. emarginatus</i> colonies in New York City are supercolonial. Continued monitoring of <i>L. emarginatus</i> is warranted, as it has been increasingly reported as an indoor pest and is known to form mutualisms with honeydew producing pests of street trees.</p>","PeriodicalId":9202,"journal":{"name":"Biological Invasions","volume":"29 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":2.9,"publicationDate":"2024-05-28","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"141170399","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"环境科学与生态学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Steven M. Mussmann, Doug Duncan, Kent R. Mosher, William T. Stewart, Peter N. Reinthal, Wade D. Wilson
{"title":"Genetic detection and population structure of a non-native hybridogenic Poeciliopsis species in the Santa Cruz River of Arizona, USA","authors":"Steven M. Mussmann, Doug Duncan, Kent R. Mosher, William T. Stewart, Peter N. Reinthal, Wade D. Wilson","doi":"10.1007/s10530-024-03333-2","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1007/s10530-024-03333-2","url":null,"abstract":"<p>The Gila topminnow (<i>Poeciliopsis occidentalis</i>) has undergone population recovery actions since being extirpated from much of its historical range in the United States of America (USA) prior to the 1970s. However, it returned to the Santa Cruz River in 2015 independently of these actions, which prompted concerns that a non-native <i>Poeciliopsis</i> lineage had been introduced from Mexico. Some Gila topminnow populations in Mexico are sympatric with <i>P. monacha-occidentalis</i>, which is an exclusively female taxon that originated from historical hybridization between <i>P. occidentalis</i> and headwater livebearer (<i>P. monacha</i>). This hybrid taxon reproduces through hybridogenesis, which is a unique mode of sexual reproduction in which half of one parent’s genome is inherited without recombination. This unique property was leveraged to identify hybridogens among 868 individuals from Arizona, USA using common genetic markers (i.e., nuclear microsatellite and mitochondrial sequence data). We described methods for <i>P. monacha-occidentalis</i> identification and conducted population genetic analysis of Santa Cruz River <i>P. occidentalis</i> populations to infer their possible origins. We concluded that human-mediated introduction was the most probable explanation for the current Santa Cruz River <i>P. occidentalis</i> and <i>P. monacha-occidentalis</i> presence. Contemporary diversity may be explained by four introduction events. Population ancestry estimates indicate that <i>P. monacha-occidentalis</i> may have hybridized with two <i>P. occidentalis</i> lineages in the Santa Cruz River. Variable prevalence of <i>P. monacha-occidentalis</i> was noted in two river sections, but the conservation implications of this hybridization are unclear. Public education, targeted removal of <i>P. monacha-occidentalis</i>, and genetic monitoring could mitigate future introductions and potential negative impacts.</p>","PeriodicalId":9202,"journal":{"name":"Biological Invasions","volume":"6 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":2.9,"publicationDate":"2024-05-27","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"141170270","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"环境科学与生态学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Csaba Tölgyesi, Viktória Tóth, Alida Anna Hábenczyus, Kata Frei, Benedek Tóth, László Erdős, Péter Török, Zoltán Bátori
{"title":"Suppressing the invasive common milkweed (Asclepias syriaca L.) saves soil moisture reserves","authors":"Csaba Tölgyesi, Viktória Tóth, Alida Anna Hábenczyus, Kata Frei, Benedek Tóth, László Erdős, Péter Török, Zoltán Bátori","doi":"10.1007/s10530-024-03346-x","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1007/s10530-024-03346-x","url":null,"abstract":"<p>Common milkweed (<i>Asclepias syriaca</i> L.) is a widespread invasive alien forb in dry sandy habitats of Central Europe. It adversely affects native plant and animal communities, but its ecosystem-level effects, particularly on hydrology, are little known. Since milkweed has an extensive, deep root system and large, broad leaves, we assumed a negative effect on the soil moisture content of the hosting ecosystem. Following the before-after control-impact protocol, we first compared the soil moisture content of the top 120 cm of the soil under seven milkweed stands to that of non-invaded reference sites. We then treated half of the stands by mechanically removing all aboveground milkweed biomass and repeated the comparative soil moisture measurements. We found that milkweed stands had significantly drier soils than reference grasslands during the growing season, but the soil under milkweed stands recharged to the level of the references in autumn and winter. However, the amount of moisture needed for this recharge was lost from deeper percolation to groundwater. Milkweed treatment prevented the depletion of moisture during the growing season, saving 21.6 l m<sup>−2</sup> of water on average. Treatment did not affect non-milkweed plant biomass, thus, moisture patterns could fully be attributed to the milkweed stands. Our results reinforce the importance of milkweed suppression in invaded grasslands, as, besides enabling the recovery of the native grassland ecosystem, it promotes groundwater recharge, which is particularly important in the dry regions of Central Europe, currently facing severe aridification due to climate change and unfavourable land use trends.</p>","PeriodicalId":9202,"journal":{"name":"Biological Invasions","volume":"34 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":2.9,"publicationDate":"2024-05-27","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"141170396","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"环境科学与生态学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"The role and synthesis mechanism of anthocyanins in Sphagneticola trilobata stems under low temperature","authors":"Minling Cai, Jundong Huang, Minghao Chen, Lihua Chen, Xiaowen Zhang, Manting Chen, Jirong Wu, Yanru Pan, Changlian Peng","doi":"10.1007/s10530-024-03348-9","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1007/s10530-024-03348-9","url":null,"abstract":"<p><i>Sphagneticola trilobata</i>, originally from the tropical regions of the Americas, has successfully invaded the subtropical regions of southern China and displays a tendency to spread towards colder northern regions. The accumulation of anthocyanins in stems under low temperature conditions exhibits strong cold tolerance, and therefore may be one mechanism supporting the northward spread of the species. However, the role and synthesis mechanism of anthocyanins in the stems of <i>S. trilobata</i> when confronted with low temperature stress are still unclear. Field experiments have shown that compared to in summer, the stems of <i>S. trilobata</i> significantly accumulated anthocyanins to cope with winter. Further short-term low-temperature treatments (0 °C) were conducted on red and green stems of <i>S. trilobata</i>, and the results showed that the red stems exhibited lower levels of reactive oxygen species, membrane damage, and chlorophyll fluorescence changes compared to the green stems. In an indoor low-temperature control experiment, it was observed that <i>S. trilobata</i> exhibited significant accumulation of callus in the periderm of its stems compared to <i>S. calendulacea</i>, which subsequently resulted in increased levels of sucrose, glucose, and fructose contents. Furthermore, there was a significantly induced higher levels of abscisic acid and cytokinin in <i>S. trilobata</i> stems under low temperatures. Under the joint regulation of these carbohydrates and hormones, the key structural genes associated with anthocyanins synthesis pathway in <i>S. trilobata</i> stems were more strongly induced compared to <i>S. calendulacea</i>. The upregulation of <i>CHS</i>, <i>CHI</i>, <i>F3H</i>, and <i>DFR</i> gene expression levels in <i>S. trilobata</i> was higher than that of native species, which directly leads to the accumulation of more anthocyanins in the epidermis of the stem of <i>S. trilobata</i>, thereby reducing the degree of oxidative stress and maintaining normal growth under low temperature. In summary, anthocyanins play an important light filtering role in the response of <i>S. trilobatas</i> stem to low temperature stress, which is one of the important mechanisms for its successful invasion into southern China. In the context of global climate change, we need to increase our vigilance against further invasion of <i>S. trilobata</i> into colder inland regions such as temperate regions. This research holds significant theoretical and practical implications for the prevention and control of <i>S. trilobata</i> invasion.</p>","PeriodicalId":9202,"journal":{"name":"Biological Invasions","volume":"72 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":2.9,"publicationDate":"2024-05-27","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"141173246","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"环境科学与生态学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"The influence of shelter on abundance of the invasive dandelion, Taraxacum officinale, at its northern range limit","authors":"Francine D. B. Da Silva, Peter M. Kotanen","doi":"10.1007/s10530-024-03339-w","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1007/s10530-024-03339-w","url":null,"abstract":"<p>Invasive species represent a threat to many ecosystems but are nearly absent from arctic and subarctic Canada. The treeline town of Churchill, Manitoba, has an unusually high number of invasive species due to the presence of a grain port and railway, but few of these species have spread to the surrounding tundra; for instance, common dandelion (<i>Taraxacum officinale</i>) currently is restricted primarily to town, in contrast with its native congener, <i>Taraxacum lacerum</i>. To investigate whether the distribution of <i>T. officinale</i> is affected by the tendency of buildings to create warm, sheltered microenvironments, we surveyed the abundance of both dandelion species relative to existing structures in town. We established transects extending up to 5 m from each side of 23 buildings, and recorded the number of plants in 50 cm × 50 cm quadrats along each transect. We found that <i>T. officinale</i> performed better on the south sides of buildings, that flowering decreased away from buildings, and that these effects were stronger for <i>T. officinale</i> than the native <i>T. lacerum</i>. Soil temperatures were warmer on the south rather than on the north-facing sides, providing a possible explanation. Our results show that the distribution of <i>T. officinale</i> currently is more influenced by human-created microclimate compared to the abundance of its native relative. However, <i>T. officinale</i> may spread beyond these refuges as the climate continues to warm.</p>","PeriodicalId":9202,"journal":{"name":"Biological Invasions","volume":"66 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":2.9,"publicationDate":"2024-05-18","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"141061218","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"环境科学与生态学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Thomas F. Carlin, Thomas S. H. Paul, Jan H. Dudenhoeffer, Carol Rolando, Max Novoselov, Ryan S. Vorster, Casey R. Springford, Matthew B. Scott
{"title":"The enemy of my enemy… Exotic mammals present biotic resistance against invasive alien conifers","authors":"Thomas F. Carlin, Thomas S. H. Paul, Jan H. Dudenhoeffer, Carol Rolando, Max Novoselov, Ryan S. Vorster, Casey R. Springford, Matthew B. Scott","doi":"10.1007/s10530-024-03336-z","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1007/s10530-024-03336-z","url":null,"abstract":"<p>Plant invasions are a widespread and recurring phenomenon that cause significant economic and environmental damage. Invasive alien conifers are weeds that are not only costly to manage, but consistently reinvade after management efforts. Understanding how many seeds survive to germinate is a key part in understanding the weed life cycle puzzle. Here we investigated the contribution that seed predators have on reducing invasive alien conifer seed survival across both invaded and uninvaded habitats in Aotearoa New Zealand. We combined quantitative and qualitative experiments to measure seed predation across invaded and uninvaded habitats, as well as to identify which fauna are the most prolific seed predators. We utilised ex-situ empirical evidence with in-situ observations to provide realistic impacts from different seed predator species. We found that introduced mammals, particularly rodents, were the primary seed predators of invasive conifers. Seed predation pressure was highest in herbicide treated invasive alien conifer forests, indigenous beech forests, and managed pasture containing grazing livestock. Indigenous tussock areas support fewer vertebrate seed predators and as a result are particularly vulnerable to conifer invasion. The majority of seed predation occurs within the first two weeks post-dispersal. These results suggest that introduced mammal control operations, which are essential to protect endemic New Zealand species, will likely result in increasing invasive conifer populations by reducing seed predation pressure. Seed predation varies greatly between habitats, suggesting invasion and reinvasion rates are higher in ungrazed areas of lower forest density that support fewer introduced mammals.</p>","PeriodicalId":9202,"journal":{"name":"Biological Invasions","volume":"24 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":2.9,"publicationDate":"2024-05-14","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"140936681","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"环境科学与生态学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Matthias Winfried Kleespies, Dorian D. Dörge, Norbert Peter, Anna V. Schantz, Ajdin Skaljic, Viktoria Feucht, Anna Lena Burger-Schulz, Paul Wilhelm Dierkes, Sven Klimpel
{"title":"Identifying opportunities for invasive species management: an empirical study of stakeholder perceptions and interest in invasive species","authors":"Matthias Winfried Kleespies, Dorian D. Dörge, Norbert Peter, Anna V. Schantz, Ajdin Skaljic, Viktoria Feucht, Anna Lena Burger-Schulz, Paul Wilhelm Dierkes, Sven Klimpel","doi":"10.1007/s10530-024-03328-z","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1007/s10530-024-03328-z","url":null,"abstract":"<p>Invasive species are one of the main reasons for the decline in global biodiversity. When it comes to the management of invasive species, stakeholders who are directly involved with this issue play a particularly important role, as they are directly engaged in management and can also influence the public’s perception. This study therefore investigates how different stakeholder groups in Germany perceive invasive species. In total, more than 2200 people were surveyed, belonging to nine different stakeholder groups that are in contact with invasive species (hunters and members in hunting associations, farmers, members of environmental and conservation organizations, members in allotment garden clubs, animal welfare supporters, divers, employees in zoological gardens, administrative employees in the regulatory authority, speleologists). It was found that the number of invasive animal and plant species in Germany was roughly correctly estimated in all groups, but the economic damage caused by invasive species was substantially underestimated. When invasive species were mentioned, mainly conspicuous mammals or plants were listed (e.g. <i>Procyon lotor</i> or <i>Impatiens glandulifera</i>). In all surveyed groups, there was a notable level of interest in invasive species, and they were commonly regarded as environmental issues. While these results offer valuable insights into stakeholders’ perspectives on invasive species, they also highlight the need for improvement. In particular, there is a need for greater education of stakeholders about inconspicuous invasive species, the spread of invasive species and the damage caused by them.</p>","PeriodicalId":9202,"journal":{"name":"Biological Invasions","volume":"103 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":2.9,"publicationDate":"2024-05-14","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"140936609","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"环境科学与生态学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"On the occurrence of the neogregarine Apicystis bombi (Apicomplexa) in South America: an unassembled puzzle","authors":"Santiago Plischuk, Carlos E. Lange","doi":"10.1007/s10530-024-03312-7","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1007/s10530-024-03312-7","url":null,"abstract":"<p>Worldwide declines in critical hymenopteran pollinators, such as bumble bees and honey bees, in recent decades have sparked a surge in research aimed at identifying the factors behind these declines. Among the suspected contributors, infectious diseases have garnered significant attention. In this context, we conduct a comprehensive review of the potential impact of naturalized Palearctic exotic bumble bee species, specifically <i>Bombus terrestris</i> and <i>Bombus ruderatus</i>, on the occurrence of <i>Apicystis bombi</i> in southern South America. <i>Apicystis bombi</i> is a unique apicomplexan protist that belongs to the neogregarines, which as a group exhibit relatively high virulence towards a range of insects. Our review encompasses the available information on its morphology, molecular characteristics, pathology, host range, and geographic distribution. Additionally, we explore three plausible hypotheses, each not necessarily exclusive of the others, in an effort to shed light on the occurrence of <i>A. bombi</i> in South America. These hypotheses include the two classically accepted, but less supported in view of current data (entry via <i>B. terrestris</i>, entry via <i>B. ruderatus</i>), and one postulated for the first time here with arguably better support (pre-existing presence before the introduction of <i>B. terrestris</i> and <i>B. ruderatus</i>, plus the possibility of multiple <i>Apicystis</i> species coexisting). We aim for this review to stimulate interest in this relatively obscure parasitic microbe that affects crucial insect pollinators.</p>","PeriodicalId":9202,"journal":{"name":"Biological Invasions","volume":"123 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":2.9,"publicationDate":"2024-05-10","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"140942372","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"环境科学与生态学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}