Research

Risk mapping, uncertainty, and human assisted dispersion of invasive pests through long distances.

Uncertainty has been widely recognized as one of the most critical issues in predicting the expansion of ecological invasions. The uncertainty associated with the introduction and spread of invasive organisms influences how pest management decision makers respond to expanding incursions. We present a model-based approach to map risk of ecological invasions that combines two potentially conflicting goals: (1) estimating the likelihood of a new organism being established at a given locale and (2) quantifying the uncertainty of that prediction. (more...)

Predicted establishment rates of alien-invasive forest insects in urban areas.

International trade is widely acknowledged as a conduit for movement of invasive species, but few studies have directly quantified the invasion risk confronting individual locations of interest. This study presents estimates of the likelihood of successful entry for alien forest insect species at more than 3,000 urban areas in the contiguous United States (US). (more...)

Urban gradient and invasions in forest and agricultural systems.

Urban areas are hubs of international transport, serving as both the origin and destination of most domestic freight movement (Colunga-Garcia et al. 2009). If entry of exotic pests occurs predominantly in urban areas, then agricultural and forest ecosystems near urban areas must be at higher risk for exotic pest introductions. An urban gradient perspective (McDonnell and Hahs 2008) could provide insight into the ecological processes involved in exotic pest introductions and their subsequent dispersion. (more...)

Interaction between propagule pressure and urban tree cover in the establishment of exotic pests.

High propagule pressure reduces the number of factors involved in the establishment of exotic species (Lockwood et al. 2005). These factors include: host resource availability and diet breadth (Cassey et al. 2004, Lockwood et al. 2005, Colautti et al. 2006). We modeled the establishment of a hypothetical generalist pest (i.e., a pest with wide diet breadth) on six urban areas that are common destinations for large amounts of imported products that could harbor exotic forest pests. (more ...)

Incidence of Bark- and Wood-Boring Insects in Firewood.

Firewood is a major pathway for the inadvertent movement of bark- and wood-infesting insects. After discovery of Agrilus planipennis Fairmaire (Coleoptera: Buprestidae) in southeastern Michigan in 2002, quarantines were enacted including prohibition of transporting Þrewood across the Mackinac Bridge between Michigan's Lower and Upper peninsulas. Drivers are required to surrender firewood before crossing the bridge. We surveyed recently surrendered firewood in April, July, and September 2008. (more...)

The worldwide airline network and the dispersal of exotic species.

International transport networks and hubs provide movement routes and gateways into new regions for exotic organisms (Drake and Lodge 2004, Tatem et al. 2006a, Tatem et al. 2006c). The establishment new routes, as well as how often and how many individuals are transported represent significant correlates of invasion success (Levine and D’Antonio 2003, Drake and Lodge 2004, Lockwood et al. 2005). Moreover, these networks, by connecting distant regions with differing histories but similar climates, increase survival opportunities for exotic organisms carried on such routes. (more...)

Freight transportation and invasive species in urban and peri-urban forests.

The role of port inspections is to detect and stop the entry of exotic pests (Magarey et al. 2009). However, given the enourmous amount of cargo arriving in the U.S., there is a high potential that some infested cargo will be missed at the ports of entry and be transported to the cargo’s final destination (NRC 2002). Therefore, it is important to identify the final destinations of imports that are commonly associated with exotic insects to aid in regional risk assessments and detection surveys. (more..).

Climatic similarity and biological exchange in the worldwide airline network

Substantial research/resources have focused on the spread of exotic species, and the characterization and identification of potentially invasive species and vulnerable ecosystems (Kolar & Lodge 2001, Gewin 2005). However, the actual routes over which climate sensitive organisms might initially be dispersed, and survive after arrival, have received less attention (Puth & Post 2005). With the worldwide airline network expanding and continued trade liberalization, multidisciplinary approaches are required to identify routes and times of year when the long distance movement of organisms is most likely to occur. (more...)

Questions about this web site? Contact Manuel Colunga-Garcia

[ Last updated: Feb 20, 2012 ]