title: Do Hybrid Trees Inherit Invasive Characteristics? Fruits of Corymbia torelliana X C. citriodora Hybrids and Potential for Seed Dispersal by Bees.
abstract: Tree invasions have substantial impacts on biodiversity and ecosystem functioning, and trees that are dispersed by animals are more likely to become invasive. In addition, hybridisation between plants is well documented as a source of new weeds, as hybrids gain new characteristics that allow them to become invasive. Corymbia torelliana is an invasive tree with an unusual animal dispersal mechanism: seed dispersal by stingless bees, that hybridizes readily with other species. We examined hybrids between C. torelliana and C. citriodora subsp. citriodora to determine whether hybrids have inherited the seed dispersal characteristics of C. torelliana that allow bee dispersal. Some hybrid fruits displayed the characteristic hollowness, resin production and resin chemistry associated with seed dispersal by bees. However, we did not observe bees foraging on any hybrid fruits until they had been damaged. We conclude that C. torelliana and C. citriodora subsp. citriodora hybrids can inherit some fruit characters that are associated with dispersal by bees, but we did not find a hybrid with the complete set of characters that would enable bee dispersal. However, around 20,000 hybrids have been planted in Australia, and ongoing monitoring is necessary to identify any hybrids that may become invasive.
authors.affiliation: Genecology Research Centre, Faculty of Science, Health, Education and Engineering, University of the Sunshine Coast, Maroochydore DC 4558, Australia.
authors.forename: Helen Margaret
authors.initials: HM
authors.lastname: Wallace
authors.affiliation: Department of Animal Ecology and Tropical Biology, University of Würzburg, 97074, Würzburg, Germany.
authors.forename: Sara Diana
authors.initials: SD
authors.lastname: Leonhardt
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001315:Australia; D001516:Bees / Q000502:physiology*; D044822:Biodiversity; D002678:Chimera / Q000235:genetics / Q000254:growth & development*; D017753:Ecosystem; D005052:Eucalyptus / Q000033:anatomy & histology / Q000737:chemistry / Q000235:genetics*; D005247:Feeding Behavior; D005638:Fruit / Q000033:anatomy & histology; D006824:Hybridization, Genetic / Q000235:genetics; D058865:Introduced Species; D012116:Resins, Plant / Q000737:chemistry*; D058614:Seed Dispersal / Q000502:physiology*; D012639:Seeds / Q000737:chemistry
chemical_list: D012116:Resins, Plant