POPFIME · Population dynamics of invasive forest seed insects
FP6 — Marie Curie Actions (Human Resources and Mobility)
- Duration
- 2005-03-01 → 2007-02-28
- EU contribution
- €78,074
- Participants
- 1
- Scheme
- IRG
Lines connect the coordinator with its partners.
Results in brief
Final Activity Report Summary - POPFIME (Population dynamics of invasive forest seed insects)
The project was concerned with the competition between invasive and naturalised species of seed insects in a Mediterranean forest ecosystem. The entomofauna exploiting seeds of true cedar, i.e. cedrus spp., constituted an interesting model of invading seed insects even though it had received little attention in the past. Cedar stands, mainly c. atlantica, were extensively planted since the 19th century on the northern side of the Mediterranean Sea, especially in southern France. An exhaustive inventory of cone and seed pests in French stands revealed the widespread presence of megastigmus pinsapinis, with pest having probably been introduced from North Africa, along along with c. atlantica seeds, at the time of introduction of this species for reforestation programs. M. pinsapinis was now widespread in the cedar stands of southern France where it could infest up to 80 of the observed seeds, and could be considered nowadays as being a naturalised species. A few specimens of another exotic seed insect, m. schimitscheki, were unexpectedly observed in 1995 in southern France in c. atlantica seeds. Earlier seed insect surveys indicated that m. schimitscheki was not present in southern France before 1994. The analysis of annual seed insect surveys showed the extension of m. schimitscheki from a putative point of introduction to surrounding cedar stands. The colonisation by m. schimitscheki was accompanied by a noticeable decrease of infestation by m. pinsapinis, potentially indicating that the former had a competitive advantage over the latter. Differences in emergence phenology and reproductive systems could explain this competitive advantage.
Data: CORDIS, © European Union
Project objective
The increasing international trade of tree seeds for national planting programs and ornamental purposes has considerably increased the risk of introduction of exotic seed insect pests inside the seeds. Despite this risk, European legislation does not impose systematic control of imported seed lots. This project aims at studying the mechanisms underlying the invasion, the establishment and the colonisation of new areas by seed insects. The genus Megastigmus is the largest group of forest seed insects. It is estimated that at least 52 Megastigmus species could potentially invade Europe through seed shipment. In its natural range, each Megastigmus species is generally found in a limited number of host species. However, it has been found that, when introduced in new areas, most Megastigmus species can infest local tree species if they are taxonomically close to the original host. Often, the absence of natural enemies and/or competitors in the area of introduction lead to an optimal use of the seed-resource, which can have considerable economic and ecological impacts. This 40-months project will study the population dynamics of 2 species of Megastigmus on true cedar in Southeastern France and the impact of these insects on the natural regeneration of cedar stands. Although both species of Megastigmus have been introduced in the study area, M. pinsapinis has been introduced more than 100 years ago and can been considered as naturalized, whereas M. schimitscheki has been introduced recently and is still invading new territories. The project will use competencies in forest entomology, forest ecology and population dynamics modelling to study the dynamics of both species at various spatial scales and the impact of these species on the natural regeneration of cedar stands. The project aims at understanding the processes involved in the invasion of the introduced species and in providing methodological tools transposable to other invasive seed insects.
Original text from CORDIS.
Participants
- INSTITUT NATIONAL DE LA RECHERCHE AGRONOMIQUE · PARISCoordinatorFrance
Links
Data: CORDIS, © European Union