Invasive Species Ecology and Management: A Graduate Seminar, spring 2008
Instructors: Jen Lau (Plant Biology) and Rob Ahern (Entomology)

Affiliated Faculty: Doug Schemske (PLB), Jean Tsao (Fisheries & Wildlife), Michael Wagner (FW),
Frank Lupi (FW)

 

We meet weekly to discuss papers on ecology and management of invasive species. Usually, one paper is selected for each week and guests are invited that are either authors on the discussed paper, or have substantial expertise in the field.

We are cross-listed as ENT 812, ZOO 895, and PLB 802, but everyone is welcome.
Please join us for our weekly meeting on Wednesdays at 2:00 in room 001 Natural Resources Bldg.

 
If you'd like to join our mailing list, please contact Rob Ahern (rga@msu.edu), 2-5282

 

Part 1: What are invasive species and what makes them different?
Week
 Topic Key points Reading
1
Informational meeting,
background and planning

 Schedule the semester    
2
What is an "invasive" species?

 When is control necessary?   Kolar & Lodge (2001) TREE 16: 199-204.
3
 Are invasive species ecologically different than natives or non-invasive species? Which ecological hypotheses are most relevant to invasive species?   Callaway & Maron (2006) TREE 21: 369-374 and Saltonstall (2002) 99: 2445-2449.
4
 Are invasive species evolutionarily different than natives or non-invasive species?
 The role of genetic variation and hybridization on invasion success
   Lavergne & Molofsky (2007) PNAS 104: 3883-3888 and Wolfe et al. (2007) Biological Invasions 9: 515-521.
Part 2: Case studies- what facilitates invasion?
5
 Novel weapons hypothesis
 Adaptations that facilitate invasion and persistence in new habitats
   Callaway & Ridenour (2004) Frontiers in Ecology and Evolution 2: 436-443.
6
 Empty niches and competitive release
 How do natural enemies respond to invasive species?
   Strauss et al. (2006) PNAS 103: 5841-5845 and Ricciardi & Atkinson (2004) Ecology Letters 7: 781-784. 
7
 Enemy release and EICA How do invasive species respond to novel natural enemy communities?
   Parker et al. (2006) Science 311: 1459-1461. 
8
 Phenotypic plasticity and phylogenetic constraint
 Rapid adaptation versus general purpose genotypes
   Bossdorf et al. (2005) Oecologia 144: 1-11 and Montague et al. (2007) Journal of Evolutionary Biology 21: 234-245.
9
 Community Attributes
 Do community traits facilitate invasions?
   van Ruijven et al. (2003) Ecology Letters 6: 910-918 and Theoharides & Dukes (2007) New Phytologist 176: 256-273.  
Part 3: Case studies- what happens after an invasive species arrives?
10

Integration into native
communities

 Do invasive species ever become an integrated part of a native community?   Siemann et al. (2006) Proceedings of the Royal Society B 273: 2763-2769.
11
 Indirect effects How do indirect effects mediate invasion success?
   Malmstrom et al. (2006) Journal of Ecology 94: 264-275.
12
 Biological control How can natural enemies be used to manage invasive species?   Guest- Mary Gardiner
13
 Interspecific interactions Lyme disease, vectors, and humans
   Guest- Ned Walker
14
 Human health implications Emerging infectious disease
   Guest- Jean Tsao
15
 Continuing and subsequent introductions Non-indigenous species in MI   MSU Invasive Species Initiative