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Don't panic: The animal's guide to hitchhiking

Date:
October 20, 2011
Source:
Monash University
Summary:
New research suggests that hitchhiking, once believed to be the exclusive domain of beat poets and wanderers, is in fact an activity that daring members of the animal kingdom engage in. And it may lead to a serious ecological problem.
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New research suggests that hitch-hiking, once believed to be the exclusive domain of beat poets and wanderers, is in fact an activity that daring members of the animal kingdom engage in. And it may lead to a serious ecological problem.

Dr David Chapple, Dr Bob Wong and Sarah Simmonds from Monash University's School of Biological Sciences, have published two complementary studies on invasive species, which are taking the opportunity to jump on board freight and cargo transports to explore, and settle, new lands.

The researchers found that particular personality traits may equip animals to become successful, if unintentional, invaders.

Dr Chapple said the process of moving to new territory was difficult and only naturally bold species were able to do this successfully.

"Not only do animals need to be in the right place at the right time in order to be inadvertently transported by humans, but they also need to be able to survive the often harsh and lengthy journey inside consignments of freight.

"When they arrive at the new destination, the stowaways have to contend with being strangers in a strange land and successfully adapt to new environments. In the face of these challenges, the new colonists must also thrive and reproduce before spreading out across the landscape," Dr Chapple said.

Dr Wong said it was the ability to overcome these significant hurdles that makes successful invaders a formidable threat to native wildlife.

"The incidence and impact of unintentional invasion is increasing with globalisation -- as we encroach further and further into the natural environment, animals have had more opportunities to jump on board our various transports. Given this increase, and the potential impact on biodiversity, it's important that we understand this phenomenon better.

"Personality and behavioural traits are an important and, to date, unexplored component of the success of these species' invasions," Dr Wong said.

Ms Simmonds said the researchers examined whether personality differences between two species of garden skinks in eastern Australia could explain why one of the species has managed to spread overseas and the other has not.

"Our research found that the successful skink invader was bolder and tended to be more exploratory, thereby increasing its chances of entering cargo ships.

"Once on board, the lizards' tendency to hide probably helps them evade biosecurity checks and reach their destination undetected," Ms Simmonds said.

The researchers emphasised that factors besides behavioural and personality traits, including diet and the suitability of the new habitat, affect the success of biological invasion; however, these factors did not tell the whole story.


Story Source:

Materials provided by Monash University. Note: Content may be edited for style and length.


Journal References:

  1. David G. Chapple, Sarah M. Simmonds, Bob B.M. Wong. Know when to run, know when to hide: can behavioral differences explain the divergent invasion success of two sympatric lizards? Ecology and Evolution, 2011; DOI: 10.1002/ece3.22
  2. David G. Chapple, Sarah M. Simmonds, Bob B.M. Wong. Can behavioral and personality traits influence the success of unintentional species introductions? Trends in Ecology & Evolution, 2011; DOI: 10.1016/j.tree.2011.09.010

Cite This Page:

Monash University. "Don't panic: The animal's guide to hitchhiking." ScienceDaily. ScienceDaily, 20 October 2011. <www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2011/10/111020105756.htm>.
Monash University. (2011, October 20). Don't panic: The animal's guide to hitchhiking. ScienceDaily. Retrieved March 28, 2024 from www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2011/10/111020105756.htm
Monash University. "Don't panic: The animal's guide to hitchhiking." ScienceDaily. www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2011/10/111020105756.htm (accessed March 28, 2024).

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