title: No evidence of enemy release in pathogen and microbial communities of common wasps (Vespula vulgaris) in their native and introduced range.
abstract: When invasive species move to new environments they typically experience population bottlenecks that limit the probability that pathogens and parasites are also moved. The invasive species may thus be released from biotic interactions that can be a major source of density-dependent mortality, referred to as enemy release. We examined for evidence of enemy release in populations of the common wasp (Vespula vulgaris), which attains high densities and represents a major threat to biodiversity in its invaded range. Mass spectrometry proteomic methods were used to compare the microbial communities in wasp populations in the native (Belgium and England) and invaded range (Argentina and New Zealand). We found no evidence of enemy release, as the number of microbial taxa was similar in both the introduced and native range. However, some evidence of distinctiveness in the microbial communities was observed between countries. The pathogens observed were similar to a variety of taxa observed in honey bees. These taxa included Nosema, Paenibacillus, and Yersina spp. Genomic methods confirmed a diversity of Nosema spp., Actinobacteria, and the Deformed wing and Kashmir bee viruses. We also analysed published records of bacteria, viruses, nematodes and fungi from both V. vulgaris and the related invader V. germanica. Thirty-three different microorganism taxa have been associated with wasps including Kashmir bee virus and entomophagous fungi such as Aspergillus flavus. There was no evidence that the presence or absence of these microorganisms was dependent on region of wasp samples (i.e. their native or invaded range). Given the similarity of the wasp pathogen fauna to that from honey bees, the lack of enemy release in wasp populations is probably related to spill-over or spill-back from bees and other social insects. Social insects appear to form a reservoir of generalist parasites and pathogens, which makes the management of wasp and bee disease difficult.
authors: Centre for Biodiversity and Restoration Ecology, Victoria University of Wellington, Wellington, New Zealand.
authors: Philip J
authors: PJ
authors: Lester
authors: Centre for Biodiscovery, Victoria University of Wellington, Wellington, New Zealand; Department of Biology, University of Iowa, Iowa City, Iowa, United States of America.
authors: Peter J
authors: PJ
authors: Bosch
authors: Centre for Biodiversity and Restoration Ecology, Victoria University of Wellington, Wellington, New Zealand.
authors: Monica A M
authors: MA
authors: Gruber
authors: Walter and Eliza Hall Institute of Medical Research and University of Melbourne, Melbourne, Australia.
authors: Eugene A
authors: EA
authors: Kapp
authors: Centre for Biodiscovery, Victoria University of Wellington, Wellington, New Zealand.
authors: Lifeng
authors: L
authors: Peng
authors: Centre for Biodiversity and Restoration Ecology, Victoria University of Wellington, Wellington, New Zealand.
authors: Evan C
authors: EC
authors: Brenton-Rule
authors: Centre for Biodiversity and Restoration Ecology, Victoria University of Wellington, Wellington, New Zealand.
authors: Joe
authors: J
authors: Buchanan
authors: Investigation and Diagnostic Centre-Wallaceville, Ministry for Primary Industries, Upper Hutt, New Zealand.
authors: Wlodek L
authors: WL
authors: Stanislawek
authors: York St. John University, Lord Mayor's Walk, York, England.
authors: Michael
authors: M
authors: Archer
authors: CONICET and Grupo de Ecologia de Poblaciones de Insectos, INTA EEA Bariloche, Argentina.
authors: Juan C
authors: JC
authors: Corley
authors: CONICET and Grupo de Ecologia de Poblaciones de Insectos, INTA EEA Bariloche, Argentina.
authors: Maitè
authors: M
authors: Masciocchi
authors: Laboratory of Socio-Ecology and Social Evolution, University of Leuven, Leuven, Belgium.
authors: Annette
authors: A
authors: Van Oystaeyen
authors: Laboratory of Socio-Ecology and Social Evolution, University of Leuven, Leuven, Belgium.
authors: Tom
authors: T
authors: Wenseleers
mesh_terms: D063147:Animal Distribution; D000818:Animals; D017753:Ecosystem; D058865:Introduced Species; D064307:Microbiota; D014863:Wasps / Q000382:microbiology* / Q000502:physiology