Patterns of spread in biological invasions dominated by long-distance jump dispersal: Insights from Argentine ants.

ABSTRACT: Invading organisms may spread through local movements (giving rise to a diffusion-like process) and by long-distance jumps, which are often human-mediated. The local spread of invading organisms has been fit with varying success to models that couple local population growth with diffusive spread, but to date no quantitative estimates exist for the relative importance of local dispersal relative to human-mediated long-distance jumps. Using a combination of literature review, museum records, and personal surveys, we reconstruct the invasion history of the Argentine ant (Linepithema humile), a widespread invasive species, at three spatial scales. Although the inherent dispersal abilities of Argentine ants are limited, in the last century, human-mediated dispersal has resulted in the establish

SUBMITTER: Suarez AV 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC14714 | biostudies-literature | 2001 Jan

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature