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Invasional meltdown: an experimental test and a framework to distinguish synergistic, additive, and antagonistic effects

  • TRENDS IN AQUATIC ECOLOGY III
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Abstract

The potential role of positive interactions among co-invaders is at the core of the invasional meltdown hypothesis. The interaction of non-native species could result in an exacerbation of each other’s effects. Thus, the resulting effect of multiple non-native species on ecosystems can be greater than the sum of their individual effects. We designed an analytical framework and a set of mesocosm experiments to assess the potential synergistic effects of three non-native species (Limnoperna fortunei, Astronotus crassipinnis, and Hydrilla verticillata) in a highly invaded floodplain in southern Brazil. We analyzed ecosystem, community, and population attributes in scenarios with non-natives. Our hypothesis of a synergistic effect was not supported. Even though effects of the invasive species were detected for all ecological levels, evidence indicated that these effects were additive. In addition to adding to the statement that origin (i.e., native vs. non-native status) does matter, we provide a tool to differentiate additive, synergistic, and antagonistic effects in situations with multiple invasions, and experimentally demonstrate additive effects of non-native species at different ecological levels.

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Acknowledgements

This research was partially supported by CAPES (Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior), an Organ of the Brazilian Government for training of human resources. CAPES provided scholarships to R.R. Braga, V. M. Ribeiro, I. P. Affonso, J. Wojciechowski, L. G.S. Ribas, and V. Tiburcio. E. R. Cunha was supported by Grant of the Parque tecnológico ITAIPU. J. R. S. Vitule, A. A. Padial, and S. M. Thomaz acknowledge the Brazilian Council of Research (CNPq) for Research Grants associated with several scientific projects. We would also like to thank R. D. Zenni, M. S. Dechoum, K. M. Campião, L. C. Gomes, and V. Abilhoa for helpful suggestions on the manuscript. We thank James A. Nienow for providing English writing revision. Field work would not be possible without the support of F. A. Frehse, V. S. Daga, S. Pereto, E. Silva, F. Ceschin, P. Dall’ Agnol, S. Rodrigues, A. S. Silva, and V. F. Souza, therefore we are thankful.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Programa de Pós-Graduação em Ecologia e Conservação, Universidade Federal do Paraná, Curitiba, Brazil

    Raul Rennó Braga, Vanessa Maria Ribeiro, André Andrian Padial, Juliana Wojciechowski & Jean Ricardo Simões Vitule

  2. Laboratório de Ecologia e Conservação, Depto de Engenharia Ambiental, Setor de Tecnologia, Universidade Federal do Paraná, Curitiba, Paraná, Brazil

    Raul Rennó Braga, Vanessa Maria Ribeiro & Jean Ricardo Simões Vitule

  3. Programa de Pos-Graduacão em Engenharia Ambiental, Universidade Federal do Parana, Curitiba, Brazil

    Raul Rennó Braga & Jean Ricardo Simões Vitule

  4. Laboratório de Análise e Síntese em Biodiversidade, Depto de Botânica, Setor de Ciências Biológicas, Universidade Federal do Paraná, Curitiba, Paraná, Brazil

    André Andrian Padial & Juliana Wojciechowski

  5. Departamento de Biologia, Universidade Estadual de Maringá, Maringá, Paraná, Brazil

    Sidinei Magela Thomaz, Eduardo Ribeiro Cunha & Vanessa Graciele Tiburcio

  6. Departamento de Ciências Biológicas, Universidade Tecnológica Federal do Paraná, Campus Ponta Grossa. Av. Monteiro Lobato, Km 04, Ponta Grossa, Paraná, Brazil

    Igor de Paiva Affonso

  7. Laboratório de Ecologia Teórica e Síntese, Instituto de Ciências Biológicas, Programa de Pós-Graduação em Ecologia e Evolução, Universidade Federal de Goiás, Goiânia, Goiás, Brazil

    Luiz Guilherme dos Santos Ribas

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  1. Raul Rennó Braga
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Braga, R.R., Ribeiro, V.M., Padial, A.A. et al. Invasional meltdown: an experimental test and a framework to distinguish synergistic, additive, and antagonistic effects. Hydrobiologia 847, 1603–1618 (2020). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10750-019-04107-x

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