牛蛙入侵对云南两栖动物群落结构和功能同质化的影响

Biological invasion is one major cause of biotic homogenization which is often mentioned as the process of the replacement of native species by widespread exotic species. Biotic homogenization occurs when non-native species has successfully established feral populations in those invaded areas and can increase the species compositional and functional similarity among these areas, which is considered as a global environmental catastrophe. Amphibian species are the most threatened vertebrate taxon on earth and invasive species is widely regarded as one of the principle drivers of the global decline of amphibians. The American bullfrog (Lithobates catesbeianus; hereafter referred to as the bullfrog) are among the most successful vertebrate invaders and are considered by the IUCN Invasive Species Specialist Group to be among the 100 worst invaders in the world. Native to eastern North America, bullfrogs have been introduced into many countries, and they appear to have caused the decline or extinction of some native amphibians in many regions and countries including China. Yunnan is situated at the convergence of the Indo-Burma (Myanmar) and South-Central China biodiversity hotspots, is a region of global conservation priority with high amphibian diversity. Previous studies have found that the introduced bullfrogs have successfully established feral breeding populations in Yunnan and have a potential great impact on native amphibian species. Although there have been multiple efforts on exploring factors relate to the bullfrog establishment and their impacts on native amphibians, however, at the community level, there is still lack of knowledge on the mechanisms of the biotic homogenization impact caused by invasive bullfrogs on structure and function of amphibian communities. We apply for this program to try to integrate field surveys, mesocosm studies, laboratory experiments and mathematical models to enhance our understanding of the effects of invasive bullfrogs on homogenization of amphibian community structures and functions.

外来物种入侵会导致当地生物群落的结构和功能发生趋同化倾向即生物同质化效应，给当地生态系统带来严重的生态和进化灾难，是近年来入侵生态学和保护生物学的一类研究前沿和热点问题。近二三十年来，两栖动物正面临着全球性的快速下降和物种灭绝，而外来入侵种被认为是导致全球两栖动物下降的重要元凶。牛蛙是全球范围内最成功的外来入侵脊椎动物之一，已造成了包括我国在内的全球多个地区的两栖动物下降和灭绝，虽然国内外围绕牛蛙的入侵格局和危害机理做了大量的工作，但在群落水平上，牛蛙入侵对两栖动物群落结构和功能的同质化危害还未见研究和报道。我国云南省是全球两栖动物最丰富的保护热点地区之一，牛蛙已在云南多处成功入侵，对当地两栖动物构成了具大的威胁。本项目将野外研究、人工控制实验、实验室工作和统计模型相结合，探讨牛蛙入侵对我国云南两栖动物保护热点地区群落结构和功能同质化的影响，为我国两栖动物保护和牛蛙防控提供科学依据。

外来物种入侵会导致当地生物群落的结构和功能发生趋同化倾向即生物同质化效应，给当地生态系统带来严重的生态和进化灾难，是近年来入侵生态学和保护生物学的一类研究前沿和热点问题。近二三十年来，两栖动物正面临着全球性的快速下降和物种灭绝，而外来入侵种被认为是导致全球两栖动物下降的重要元凶。牛蛙是全球范围内最成功的外来入侵脊椎动物之一，可以通过捕食、繁殖干扰、疾病传播等多种途径对两栖动物造成危害。我国云南省是全球两栖动物最丰富的保护热点地区之一，牛蛙已在云南多处成功入侵，对当地两栖动物构成了具大的威胁。本项目将野外研究、人工控制实验和统计模型相结合，探讨牛蛙入侵对我国云南两栖动物保护热点地区群落结构和功能同质化的影响，为我国两栖动物保护和牛蛙防控提供科学依据。