Abstract

Links between ecosystem collapse and biological invasions have been scarcely documented with empirical field measurements. In Chile the recent collapse of Aculeo lake, which was the largest natural freshwater body of the Central zone of Chile, produced a serious socio-environmental crisis in the local population. Here, we aim to report the concerning densities of the highly invasive Bagrada hilaris in this recently collapsed ecosystem. Densities of B. hilaris in plots combined with mapping of the area covered by infested plants allowed us to estimate the size of the B. hilaris population. Densities of B. hilaris in the dried lake reached 628.88 ± 95.28 ind/m² and the infested area amounted to 310 ha, representing 26% of the total lake area. The population of B. hilaris in the dried Aculeo Lake reached 1948.9 ± 295.3 million individuals. Here we highlight the need for control actions to avoid a potential invasion over important nearby crops and protected areas, and the link between freshwater ecosystem collapse with the rapid colonization of invasive species.

摘要

生态系统崩溃和生物入侵之间的联系几乎没有通过实地测量进行记录。在智利，智利中部地区最大的天然淡水水体阿库莱奥湖最近溃决，给当地居民带来了严重的社会环境危机。在这里，我们的目标是报告这个最近崩溃的生态系统中高度侵入性的巴格拉达海拉里斯的密度。地块中B. hilaris的密度与受感染植物覆盖区域的绘图相结合，使我们能够估计B. hilaris种群的规模。干湖中B. hilaris的密度达到628.88 ± 95.28 ind/m ²受侵染面积达310公顷，占湖泊总面积的26%。干涸的 Aculeo 湖中的B. hilaris数量达到 1948.9±2.953 亿个体。在这里，我们强调需要采取控制行动，以避免对附近重要作物和保护区的潜在入侵，以及淡水生态系统崩溃与入侵物种快速殖民之间的联系。