Biological Sciences Friday Seminar: Dr. Moni Berg-Binder St. Mary's University of Minnesota

Friday, April 8, 2022
2:00 PM - 3:00 PM
CSB 112

Exploring Mutualism in Biological Invasions: Consequences of Interactions between Native Ants and an Invasive Plant

Moni Berg-Binder, Ph.D.

Associate Professor, Biology Department and Associate Dean, John C. Parmer School of the Sciences. Saint Mary'sUniversity of Minnesota

Biological invasions establish novel species interactions in ecological communities. Studies exploring these novel interactions often focus on antagonistic interactions, yet positive interactions, such as mutualism, play an important role in communities. Ant-plant mutualisms are ubiquitous in nature and provide opportunities to explore novel interactions as a result of biological invasions. Native ant interactions with a notorious plant invader (leafy spurge, Euphorbia esula) were explored to understand the consequences of these interactions on both the ant and plant in sand oak savanna habitat. Ant mounds were found to be a favorable microhabitat for leafy spurge growth.