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Climatic suitability and compatibility of the invasive Iris pseudacorus L. (Iridaceae) in the Southern Hemisphere: Considerations for biocontrol
Tijdschriftbijdrage - Tijdschriftartikel
A B S T R A C T
Iris pseudacorus L. (Iridaceae) is an emergent macrophyte native to Europe, North Africa and western Asia.
Considered invasive in wetland habitats around the world, this species is now the target of a biocontrol pro-
gramme in the Southern Hemisphere. Native range surveys of the weed led to the selection of the flea beetle,
Aphthona nonstriata Goeze (Coleoptera: Chrysomelidae), as a candidate biocontrol agent. An important aspect to
consider in weed biocontrol is the ability of an agent to establish and thrive in the environment where it is
released. Climatic incompatibility between source and intended release sites can in fact limit the success of a
biocontrol programme. In the current study, the potential climatic niche of I. pseudacorus and A. nonstriata in the
Southern Hemisphere was analysed. The ecological niche modelling software MaxEnt was used to map the cli-
matic suitability of both organisms across invaded regions in South America, southern Africa and Australasia.
Furthermore, occurrence records from each invaded range were used independently to model the climatic
compatibility of I. pseudacorus in Europe, in order to prioritize areas of the native range to explore during future
surveys for potential biocontrol agents. The models identified areas at high risk of invasion by I. pseudacorus in
northern Argentina, Uruguay, southern Brazil and central Chile, as well as numerous provinces of eastern South
Africa, Lesotho, southern Australia and New Zealand. Accordingly, the highest climatic suitability for
A. nonstriata was predicted across the humid temperate climates of north-east Argentina, Uruguay, southern
Brazil, southern South Africa, south-east Australia and New Zealand. These results can eventually be used in
future release plans to prioritize areas where establishment and survival of the agent is expected to be highest. At
the same time, it may be useful to search the native range of the weed for biological control agents showing high
climatic adaptation towards the intended release sites of each invaded range. In this regards, our climatic
compatibility models identified high-priority areas across the Mediterranean regions of Italy and southern
France, as well as the temperate regions of central and western Europe. Altogether, the current study provides
useful new information to tackle the invasion and advance the biocontrol programme of I. pseudacorus in the
Southern Hemisphere
Iris pseudacorus L. (Iridaceae) is an emergent macrophyte native to Europe, North Africa and western Asia.
Considered invasive in wetland habitats around the world, this species is now the target of a biocontrol pro-
gramme in the Southern Hemisphere. Native range surveys of the weed led to the selection of the flea beetle,
Aphthona nonstriata Goeze (Coleoptera: Chrysomelidae), as a candidate biocontrol agent. An important aspect to
consider in weed biocontrol is the ability of an agent to establish and thrive in the environment where it is
released. Climatic incompatibility between source and intended release sites can in fact limit the success of a
biocontrol programme. In the current study, the potential climatic niche of I. pseudacorus and A. nonstriata in the
Southern Hemisphere was analysed. The ecological niche modelling software MaxEnt was used to map the cli-
matic suitability of both organisms across invaded regions in South America, southern Africa and Australasia.
Furthermore, occurrence records from each invaded range were used independently to model the climatic
compatibility of I. pseudacorus in Europe, in order to prioritize areas of the native range to explore during future
surveys for potential biocontrol agents. The models identified areas at high risk of invasion by I. pseudacorus in
northern Argentina, Uruguay, southern Brazil and central Chile, as well as numerous provinces of eastern South
Africa, Lesotho, southern Australia and New Zealand. Accordingly, the highest climatic suitability for
A. nonstriata was predicted across the humid temperate climates of north-east Argentina, Uruguay, southern
Brazil, southern South Africa, south-east Australia and New Zealand. These results can eventually be used in
future release plans to prioritize areas where establishment and survival of the agent is expected to be highest. At
the same time, it may be useful to search the native range of the weed for biological control agents showing high
climatic adaptation towards the intended release sites of each invaded range. In this regards, our climatic
compatibility models identified high-priority areas across the Mediterranean regions of Italy and southern
France, as well as the temperate regions of central and western Europe. Altogether, the current study provides
useful new information to tackle the invasion and advance the biocontrol programme of I. pseudacorus in the
Southern Hemisphere
Tijdschrift: Biological Control
ISSN: 1049-9644
Issue: 2022
Volume: 169
Pagina's: 1-9
Jaar van publicatie:2022
Trefwoorden:Yellow flag iris, Iris flea beetle, Aphthona nonstriata, Ecological niche modelling, MaxEnt
Toegankelijkheid:Open