Advancing impact prediction and hypothesis testing in invasion ecology using a comparative functional response approach

• DOI: 10.1007/s10530-013-0550-8
• Publication Date: 2013-09-25T16:43:33Z
• Authors: Jaimie T. A. Dick; Mhairi E. Alexander; Jonathan M. Jeschke; Anthony Ricciardi; Hugh J. MacIsaac; Tamara B. Robinson; Sabrina Kumschick; Olaf L. F. Weyl; Alison M. Dunn; Melanie J. Hatcher; Rachel A. Paterson; Keith D. Farnsworth; David M. Richardson
• Keywords: 0106 biological sciences; Ecology; Evolution; Life Sciences; 15. Life on land; /dk/atira/pure/subjectarea/asjc/1100/1105; name=Ecology, Evolution, Behavior and Systematics; 01 natural sciences; Behavior and Systematics; 13. Climate action; /dk/atira/pure/subjectarea/asjc/2300/2303; name=Ecology; 14. Life underwater; /dk/atira/pure/subjectarea/asjc/2300/2303; /dk/atira/pure/subjectarea/asjc/1100/1105; Biology; Ecology, Evolution, Behavior and Systematics

Abstract Invasion ecology urgently requires predictive methodologies that can forecast the ecological impacts of existing, emerging and potential invasive species. We argue many ecologically damaging invaders are characterised by their more efficient use resources. Consequently, comparison classical ‘functional response’ (relationship between resource availability) trophically analogous native species may allow prediction invader impact. review utility trait comparisons history context functional responses in invasion ecology, then present our framework for comparative responses. show response analyses, describing over a range availabilities, avoids pitfalls ‘snapshot’ assessments use. Our demonstrates how responses, within Type II III testing likely population-level outcomes invasions affected Furthermore, we describe recent studies support capacity this method; example, ‘bloody red shrimp’ Hemimysis anomala shows higher than mysids corroborates, could have predicted, actual field. The method also be used to examine differences impact two or invaders, populations same invader, abiotic (e.g. temperature) biotic parasitism) context-dependencies impacts. address previous lack rigour major hypotheses such as ‘enemy release’ ‘biotic resistance’ hypotheses, approach explicitly considers demographic consequences impacted resources, prey identify challenges application ecology. These include incorporation numerical multiple predator effects trait-mediated indirect interactions, replacement versus non-replacement study designs inclusion risk assessment frameworks. In future, generation sufficient case meta-analysis test overall hypothesis indeed predict