Climate change Welcomes the Asian Needle Ant into its ecosystem

The Asian needle ant is a native species of ant which has begun vastly spreading throughout the ecosystem; eliminating various native ant species and therefore corrupting how the ecosystem functions. The six-legged, brown-red insect appears to have an almost identical appearance to the Fire ant and Argentine ant; as well as 30 other species of ants. The Asian needle ant has already rapidly migrated from Asia, and can already be found in forests in 9 different states around North East America. It is not uncommon for ants to establish populations outside of their native habitat; with over 200 ant species already discovered in other habitats, with the international transportation and tourism trading system said to be the main cause. Guénard, Benoît, (2009) Formicidae. But what causes the Asian needle ants to invade new habitats and eliminate other ant species? Ants and their survival are greatly affected by changes in temperature and humidity. Therefore, climate change causes the colonisation of ant species in colder climates that are more suitable. Studies and experiments based on the distribution of the Argentine ant have proven that the major factor responsible for their numbers increasing Worldwide is due to climate change. The invasion of the Asian needle ant has had a large range of negative impacts on the ecosystem and its natural ecological functioning. The species is one of the most difficult to rid once it has invaded a new habitat, with management attempts having potential to create even higher environmental impact. The species is inclusive of the 100 that are known to be the worst species in the World, based on invasion levels and their impact on biodiversity, making the attempt to rid them a continuous battle.

To determine potential distributions of the rapidly growing species an experiment was conducted by environmental science researchers Cleo Bertelsmeier, Benoît Guénard and Franck Courchamp. The experiment involved collecting data from 219 habitats in North America and 64 habitats in Asia. The data used to conduct the experiment with the invasive ant itself, which was physically collected and identified by the scientific researchers. Much to their dismay, the ant species resembled multiple other species of ant, but was identified successfully with the help of literature and museum records, which also assisted in the findings of their precise localities. “75% of the species collected for research turned out to be the Needle ant, which already demonstrates how the species is rapidly spreading. They Needle ant is unable to climb vertical surfaces such as tree’s or the inside of a jar, which is what made it distinguishable from the rest.” Said Ms Bertelsmeier, who is also studying Doctor of Philosophy. A variety of species distribution models were used in the research, presented in graph format to help predict future Climate change. The graphs contained a large range of climate condition possibilities suitable for the Asian Needle ant’s survival, showing temperature and humidity differences within the environment that is known to affect various ant species. The predicting data was based on the temperature of the warmest and coldest months, and annual rainfall. All of these factors effect the survival, foraging rates and structure of Asian Needle ant communities. Bertelsmeier, Cleo, Franck Courchamp, and Benoît Guénard. (2013), PLOS Collections.

After much research, a result was finally drawn from the models. The graphs showed that the Needle ant species has an extremely large potential for invasion within several continents around the World. The invasion is predicted to increase by 74% within America, and based on suitable climate conditions will spread to the South East area of the country. There is also potential likelihood of invasion within Europe and Asia, with further expansion possibilities within America and Asia. CB FC BG. (2014), PLOS Collections. “Because the structure of an ant community is temperature dependent, climate changes means that there is a high chance of inhabitancy and dominance of a new ant species within an existing ant community.” Said Ms Bertelsmeier. A significant example of this can be recognised within an Argentine ant community. The Needle ant, a species that seems to reportedly lack any behavioural dominance, has been found to establish nests within the Argentine ant community. The establishment occurs earliest in the season when the temperatures are lowest; with its population already expanding before the Argentine ant’s population could grow. This has even resulted in local extinction of the Argentine ant, which oddly enough has been identified to be the more aggressive and dominant species of ant. Recent research conducted by the ‘School of Ants project’ CB FC BG. (2014) discovered the Needle ant species in Washington D.C, surviving in unsuitable climate conditions. This could signify evolutionary adaptions for the species, which could ultimately cause numbers to multiply. With a number of native species found to suffer from climate change, this could allow for even further risk of invasion.

So what implications can the invasive species have in the near future? Apart from eliminating biodiversity within the ant species amongst the ecosystem, the Needle ant can also create great ecological impacts. By increasing their numbers, they are eliminating other species of ant, such as essential predators and competitors; and they are doing it within a short amount of time. By eliminating other ant species, it is ultimately effecting seed dispersal, dispersal of soil microbes to small mammals (conducted by other ant species) and causing major damage to agro-ecosystems. CB FC BG. (2014).“The mature temperate forests of the US, specifically North Georgia and South Massachusetts, have already begun to suffer the consequences of the invasive species.” Said Ms Bertelsmeier. Not only have the species already shown damage within the forests of the US, they have also begun affecting the everyday lives of some. The fast expansion of the species has managed to become a nuisance to human beings, infesting estates and therefore causing financial and economic losses. CB FC BG. (2014). The potent sting of the Needle ant species has also now allowed it to become identifiable as a public health threat and in some intermittent cases it can also be deadly. Guenard, Dunn, (2010). The species are most effective invading in forests where diversity is relatively low, but further investigation of the Needle ant needs to be undertaken to research any other potential damages. “It could potentially cause a takeover of carbohydrate resources,” said Ms Bertelsmeier. “If a super-colonization occurs, it will become a major disturbance although there is still much uncertainty if this will be the outcome.”

Ultimately, the research conducted on Needle Ant species so far supports the idea that climate change can dramatically trigger the invasion of ant species over time. Being subjectively sensitive to temperature, change in climate forces the illusive ant to colonise in areas that sustain a more suitable temperature with a colder climate. Climate change and species invasion are two very important environmental threats; and when combined, could cause major implications within the consistent functioning of an ecosystem. Further examination of the species needs to be carried out in order to prevent numbers increasing. The Asian Needle ant has been discovered to dominate the aggressive species, adapt to unsuitable climate conditions and disrupt natural ecosystem functioning. Given these factors, a solution should be considered in order to regain biodiversity, which could potentially result in ridding species populations. This can present as an extremely difficult and close to impossible outcome, but can be helped with detecting small populations at an early stage. Many uncertainties still remain in regards to just how damaging the invasion will be in the long-term and what approach will be taken to manage the species in the future.