Biogeographic and Taxonomic Patterns of Introduced Ants

Predicting which species will invade and which areas will be invaded are primary goals of the study of biological invasions. Moving beyond the single species approach and investigating patterns of ant species movement into new areas, biogeographic patterns of invasion, and systematic perspectives on the evolutionary correlates of success will bring us closer to achieving these goals. Ants are poor long-distance dispersers and have adaptations that facilitate human-mediated dispersal. Biogeographically, most invasive ants originate in South America, and oceanic islands appear to be most susceptible to invasion by ants. Very little is known about taxonomic or phylogenetic patterns in the origin of invasiveness, but it appears that establishment probability is proportional to subfamily species richness. Our ability to predict and prevent future invasions will be strengthened by both biogeographic and phylogenetic approaches.