Presentation Details
| Cold Hardening as an Invasive Mechanism Between Species of Pholcids Alexander D Berry1, Sam Cooney2, Ann Rypstra3. 1Buena Vista University, Storm Lake, Iowa, USA.2Norton Healthcare, Louisville, Kentucky, USA.3Miami University, Oxford, Ohio |
Abstract
Invasive species pose a threat to global ecosystems and native species. Invasive competitors can displace a native by a variety of pathways, including better tolerating harsh conditions. For temperate Arthropods, the freezing temperature of winter poses a major threat, and species better able to survive cold are at a competitive advantage. We test the hypothesis that cold tolerance and cold hardening could be mechanisms of invasion using Pholcus phalangioides and the invasive Pholcus manueli as models. Both species were exposed to an acute and a chronic cold treatment to test for cold tolerance, and then individuals from the chronic cold treatment were exposed to the acute cold to test for cold hardening. Pholcus manueli showed greater resistance to both the acute and the chronic cold than P. phalangioides, with P. phalangioides taking longer to return to normal behavior. Pholcus manueli showed evidence of cold hardening, with individuals initially exposed to chronic cold tolerating the acute cold better. Pholcus phalangioides showed no evidence of cold hardening. These results suggest that P. manueli may be able to displace P. phalangioides by better surviving cold winters.
No part of this publication may be reproduced, distributed, or transmitted in any form or by any means, including photocopying, recording, or other electronic or mechanical methods, without the prior written permission of the author.
No part of this publication may be reproduced, distributed, or transmitted in any form or by any means, including photocopying, recording, or other electronic or mechanical methods, without the prior written permission of the author.
Content Locked. Log into a registered attendee account to access this presentation.