Temporary lecturer (full-time "ATER") - Sept 2021-March 2023

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• Department of Biology and Ecology, University of Montpellier

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• CNRS - CEFE - Taxonomie et biogéographie des interactions team

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Collaborations: Rumsaïs Blatrix, Alan Vergnes & Bernard Kaufmann

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Biological invasions in urban areas often have adverse consequences for both human activities and local biodiversity, which is already heavily impacted by urbanization. Ants have are among the invasive species with the worst environmental impact but also the highest economic cost worldwide.
Two species of invasive ants have been known for several decades in southern France, particularly in urban areas where they cause significant damage: Lasius neglectus and Linepithema humile, also known as the Argentine ant. Recently, two other species of ants belonging to the Tapinoma nigerrimum group have been identified as invasive on a European scale, and in particular in the Mediterranean region: Tapinoma darioi and Tapinoma magnum. They belong to a complex of closely related species, recognized as distinct only in 2017, which highlights the lack of knowledge we have of this critical group. Both species form "super-colonies," i.e., numerous highly populated and interconnected nests hosting hundreds of queens, and have been introduced into several major European cities where they proliferate. The relative density of these two species varies according to the area: T. darioi is much more frequent than T. magnum in the Metropolis of Montpellier and surroundings, whereas in other European cities, the other species, T. magnum, is predominant.
In the vicinity of Montpellier, the invasive species T. darioi and T. magnum are found in areas of intermediate urbanization (urban green spaces, residential areas and business parks) and the coastal dunes. In recent years, the nuisance associated with these two species has become a concern.

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This research project aims to increase our knowledge of the two invasive Tapinoma species present in Montpellier, T. darioi and T. magnum. A first experiment carried out in the winter of 2021-2022 allowed us to better understand the mechanisms that explain the greater presence of T. darioi compared to T. magnum in the Montpellier and its surroundings, by linking their foraging activity with the temperature in the soil and on its surface, and by comparing the range of activity temperatures of the two species. The second objective of this project is to highlight (i) the entry points of the two species and (ii) the area(s) of origin of these species using a population genetics approach. The results obtained will make it possible to implement appropriate management measures in order to limit the frequency of their introduction and therefore the extent of the invasion.

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Read the publications :

• https://doi.org/10.1111/een.13339

• https://hal.science/hal-04617939

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