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SUMMARY:The dynamics of predators in a novel world - Robert Fletcher\, Uni
 versity of Florida
DTSTART:20221018T120000Z
DTEND:20221018T130000Z
UID:TALK178823@talks.cam.ac.uk
CONTACT:Stephen Pates
DESCRIPTION:Non-native species are spreading rapidly throughout the planet
 . These species can have widespread impacts on biodiversity\, particularly
  in situations where non-native species have novel traits that are unfamil
 iar to native species. Yet impacts of novel prey on the behavior\, ecology
 \, and evolution of predators remain poorly known. I will discuss long-ter
 m research on the dynamics of an endangered predator\, the snail kite (Ros
 trhamus sociabilis)\, across its North American range with the invasion of
  a novel prey\, the island apple snail (Pomacea maculata)\, a much larger 
 congener of the kite's native prey that is considered one of the world’s
  ‘top 100 worst invaders’. This invasion has led to sweeping\, rapid c
 hanges in the behavior\, ecology\, and evolution of this predator. This in
 vasive prey is challenging to consume for kites and yet it occurs in high 
 densities in a landscape where native prey is rare. Kites have responded b
 y increasing reproductive effort\, including striking changes in breeding 
 phenology\, where breeding season length is now 18 weeks longer than prior
  to invasion. Both juvenile and adult survival have increased\, and social
  behavior of this semi-colonial species has been rewired. Snail kite morph
 ology has changed rapidly\, where beak sizes have increased over time\, wh
 ich is driven by viability and sexual selection\, as well as phenotypic pl
 asticity. Ultimately\, this invasion has saved the snail kite from imminen
 t extinction in the short term\, yet the future remains highly uncertain. 
 These results provide insight on the remarkable consequences of novel spec
 ies for long-lived predators.
LOCATION:Main Lecture Theatre\, Department of Zoolgy
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