Predicting the potential distribution of the Pheidole megacephala in light of present and future climate variations

Author:

Ke Zengyuan1ORCID,Mao Mengfei1,Steve Bamisile Bamisope1,Li Zhiqiang2,Xu Yijuan1ORCID

Affiliation:

1. Guangdong Laboratory for Lingnan Modern Agriculture, Department of Entomology, South China Agricultural University , Guangzhou 510642 , China

2. Shenzhen Agricultural Science and Technology Promotion Center, Shenzhen Administration for Market Regulation , Shenzhen 518057 , China

Abstract

Abstract The big-headed ant, Pheidole megacephala (Fabricius), has a widespread distribution across numerous regions globally. The International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) has identified it as one of the 100 worst invasive alien species worldwide, given the severe ecological and economic harm it causes in invaded areas. In this study, we predicted the present and future global distribution of P. megacephala, taking into account known distribution points and bioclimatic factors. Our results indicated that temperature is the primary factor affecting the distribution of P. megacephala, with potential suitable areas currently found mainly in South America, Southern North America, Western Europe, Coastal areas of the Mediterranean and Red Seas, Southern Africa, Southern Asia, Islands in Southeast Asia, and coastal regions of Australia. The total suitable area spans 3,352.48 × 104 km2. In China, the potential suitable area for P. megacephala is 109.02 × 104 km2, representing 11.36% of China’s land area. In the future, based on different climatic conditions, the suitable area of P. megacephala generally showed a declining trend, but some newly added suitable areas showed that it had a tendency to expand to higher latitudes. Relevant agencies should implement effective measures to control P. megacephala populations to mitigate damage in invaded areas and slow down or prevent the spread of big-headed ants into noninvaded regions.

Funder

National Key Research and Development Program of China

Project of Shenzhen Agricultural Science and Technology Promotion Center

Publisher

Oxford University Press (OUP)

Subject

Insect Science,Ecology,General Medicine

Reference89 articles.

1. Spatial dynamics of nesting behavior: lizards shift microhabitats to construct nests with beneficial thermal properties;Angilletta,2009

2. Economic costs of invasive alien ants worldwide;Angulo,2022

3. Abiotic factors affecting the foraging activity and potential displacement of native ants by the invasive African big-headed ant Pheidole megacephala (FABRICIUS, 1793) (Hymenoptera: Formicidae);Asfiya;Myrmecol News,2016

4. Use of maximum entropy modeling in wildlife research;Baldwin,2009

5. Insects and low temperatures: from molecular biology to distributions and abundance;Bale;Philos Trans R Soc London Ser B,2002

同舟云学术

1.学者识别学者识别

2.学术分析学术分析

3.人才评估人才评估

"同舟云学术"是以全球学者为主线,采集、加工和组织学术论文而形成的新型学术文献查询和分析系统,可以对全球学者进行文献检索和人才价值评估。用户可以通过关注某些学科领域的顶尖人物而持续追踪该领域的学科进展和研究前沿。经过近期的数据扩容,当前同舟云学术共收录了国内外主流学术期刊6万余种,收集的期刊论文及会议论文总量共计约1.5亿篇,并以每天添加12000余篇中外论文的速度递增。我们也可以为用户提供个性化、定制化的学者数据。欢迎来电咨询!咨询电话:010-8811{复制后删除}0370

www.globalauthorid.com

TOP

Copyright © 2019-2024 北京同舟云网络信息技术有限公司
京公网安备11010802033243号  京ICP备18003416号-3