Invasion dynamics of exotic decapods in insular environments: phenotypic plasticity, interspecific competition, and an integrative approach to conservation
Biological invasions are a major threat to biodiversity, particularly in island ecosystems, where native species are often vulnerable to exotic competitors. This PhD project aims to understand the establishment success and identify the invasive potential of exotic decapods in the study area of Réunion Island, where species have been introduced (e.g. Neocaridina davidi, Macrobrachium rosenbergii) into rivers inhabited by native species (e.g. Atyoida serrata, Caridina typus, Macrobrachium australe).
The project combines ecophysiology, ethology, transcriptomics and modelling, with the following objectives:
- Characterize interspecific competition through behavioural experiments and diet analyses in order to assess the impact of exotic species on native populations.
- Study the phenotypic and transcriptomic plasticity of exotic species in response to environmental stressors, in order to identify their adaptation mechanisms.
- Explore the larval development of exotic species to understand their reproductive success.
- Model the expansion of exotic populations as a function of environmental factors and climate scenarios.
This project, which falls within the framework of island ecosystem conservation, should make it possible to develop predictive models of the expansion of invasive populations, helping to target at-risk areas and guide management and conservation strategies in the face of climate change impacts.
