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Encounters of old foes on a new battle ground for an invasive tree, Albizia julibrissin Durazz (Fabaceae)

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Abstract

Studies of invasive species often demonstrate that exotic or invasive plants have reduced levels of predation when first introduced into novel geographic areas. In some systems, native predators may subsequently be introduced and the plant-predator association is re-established. In this study, we analyzed a recent reassociation between the introduced tree, Albizia julibrissin, and its native seed predator, Bruchidius terrenus, which has also been introduced, in the vicinity of Athens, GA, USA. We documented a rapid increase in the levels of bruchid beetle predation on seeds of A. julibrissin from 2001 to 2002 and substantial predation in the following 5 years. From a six-year survey, we found that relative susceptibility to beetle predation among individual trees remained consistent over time. Furthermore, we found that phenology had significant effects on beetle predation on fruits and seeds, with fruits developed from early flowers having higher levels of beetle attacks than ones developed from later flowers in the season. Finally, seeds and fruits attacked by beetles were more likely to be attacked by a Fusarium fungus, probably due to coinfestation of the two predators. Host-predator reassociation that causes substantial loss of fertility or shows a relationship with reproductive phenology may have population level demographic effects or evolutionary consequences and deserve further research attention.

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Acknowledgments

We thank Amanda Gladys, Cecile Deen and students in the 2003 Plant Reproductive Ecology (PBIO8120) course who helped collect beetle and fungal damage data. David Porter identified the fungus found on the fruits, Midori Tuda identified the beetles and Jerry Davis provided advice on statistical analyses. Field surveys were supported in part by USDA NRICGP-2000-00882 to J.L. Hamrick and M.J.W. Godt. We thank Hong Liu and two anonymous reviewers for comments that improved this manuscript.

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  1. Eva Gonzales & Eleanor Pardini

    Present address: Biology Department, Appalachian State University, Boone, NC, 28606, USA

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Plant Biology, University of Georgia, Athens, GA, 30602, USA

    Shu-Mei Chang, Eva Gonzales, Eleanor Pardini & J. L. Hamrick

  2. Biology Department, Washington University in St. Louis, St. Louis, MO, 63130, USA

    Eleanor Pardini

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  1. Shu-Mei Chang
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Correspondence to Shu-Mei Chang.

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Chang, SM., Gonzales, E., Pardini, E. et al. Encounters of old foes on a new battle ground for an invasive tree, Albizia julibrissin Durazz (Fabaceae). Biol Invasions 13, 1043–1053 (2011). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10530-010-9888-3

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