Boston University. University Professors Program Senior theses. / PLEASE NOTE: Boston University Libraries did not receive an Authorization To Manage form for this thesis. It is therefore not openly accessible, though it may be available by request. If you are the author or principal advisor of this work and would like to request open access for it, please contact us at open-help@bu.edu. Thank you. / 2031-01-02

Vertebrados exóticos são introduzidos intencionalmente como recurso, como uma alternativa para fins econômicos ou de lazer. Aqueles que se tornam capazes de expandir espontaneamente as novas populações em áreas naturais são conhecidas como invasores e frequentemente estão implicados em efeitos indesejados em populações, comunidades e ecossistemas autóctones. Uma destas espécies é o cervo axis Axis axis, introduzido mundialmente para a caça. Apesar da sua ampla distribuição e utilização, pouco se sabe sobre seus efeitos nas áreas invadidas e em quais regiões esta espécie pode se tornar invasora. Isto dificulta as tomadas de decisão, pois avaliar os efeitos da introdução e prever as áreas em risco de invasão são tarefas fundamentais para estratégias de prevenção, priorização e ações de controle. Assim, esse trabalho teve como objetivos revisar os efeitos do cervo axis em áreas invadidas, utilizando um protocolo de revisão sistemática, e modelar a possível distribuição mundial e regional desta espécie, utilizando variáveis bioclimáticas. Realizamos buscas por estudos sobre efeitos em áreas alóctones em três bancos de dados, utilizando três conjuntos de palavras chaves. Classificamos os estudos que atenderam aos critérios do protocolo segundo o nível de inferência sobre os efeitos em Efeito Demonstrado e Efeito Sugerido. Extraímos os tipos de efeitos relatados e a região de ocorrência. Para a modelagem de distribuição, utilizamos o algoritmo Maxent e variáveis preditoras bioclimáticas. Os pontos de ocorrência utilizados incluem sua distribuição original e três regiões onde a espécie é invasora e das quais foi possível obter ou estimar coordenadas. A revisão sistemática resultou em apenas quatro trabalhos classificados em Efeito Demonstrado, os quais apontam a competição com espécies nativas, alteração da composição florística e faunística e facilitação da entrada de outras espécies invasoras. Os efeitos sugeridos incluem seis trabalhos mostrando a ocorrência de parasitas, um caso de hibridização com outra espécie de cervídeo em cativeiro e um estudo mostrando a degradação das áreas de florestas causada pelo cervo axis em conjunto com outras espécies invasoras. O modelo de distribuição demonstra que amplas extensões da América do Sul, África Central e Sudeste Asiático são suscetíveis à invasão, portanto, nestas áreas deve-se evitar a introdução e controlar a expansão. O sul do Brasil, Uruguai, norte da Argentina e Paraguai são possíveis áreas de ocorrência segundo os modelos bioclimáticos. / Alien vertebrates are intentionally introduced for leisure and economic purposes. Those who become able to expand their populations in the new areas are known as invasive and are often involved in undesirable effects in indigenous populations, communities and ecosystems. The axis deer was introduced worldwide for hunting. Despite its wide distribution and use, little is known about its effects on the invaded areas and regions in which this species can become invasive. This complicates the decision-making because assessing the effects of the introduction and predict areas at risk of invasion are key tasks for prevention strategies, prioritization and control actions. Like this. So, this study aimed to summarize the effects of the axis deer in invaded areas using a systematic review protocol and to model the potential distribution of this species globally and in South America using bioclimatic variables. To summarized the effects we conducted searches for studies on non-native areas in three databases, using three sets of key-words and classified the studies that met the criteria of the protocol according to the level of inference about the effects they investigated. We extracted the types mentioned effects and occurrence region. To model the potential distribution based on bioclimatic variables we used the program Maxent. We used occurrences from the original distribution and three regions where the species is invasive about which geographical coordinates could be obtained or estimated. Four studies demonstrated effects of the axis deer due to competition with native species, changes in the floristic and faunistic composition and facilitation of other invasion processes. Six studies speculated the occurrence of disease transmition, hybridization with other species and difuse degradation of forest areas in combination with other invasive species. The distribution model demonstrated that large extensions of South America, Central Africa and Southeast Asia are susceptible to invasion. In the southern cone of South America Brazil, Uruguay, northern Argentina and Paraguay include extensive areas prone to invasion based on the bioclamatic models.

Orientador: Ana Eugênia de Carvalho Campos / Banca: Odair Correa Bueno / Banca: André Rodrigues / Banca: Luis Garrigós Leite / Banca: José Eduardo Marcondes de Almeida / Resumo: Algumas espécies de formigas proporcionam impacto severo nas comunidades que invadem. Quando entram em contato com áreas urbanizadas e com o homem seus prejuízos podem ser ainda maiores. A exemplo pode-se citar: Solenopsis spp.; Linepithema humile; Wasmannia auropunctata; Pheidole megacephala e Paratrechina spp.. Muitas são as tentativas de controlar essas espécies, no entanto nem sempre se obtém sucesso. O controle biológico é uma alternativa para o controle químico e vem ganhando grande destaque em pesquisas. Os principais organismos utilizados no controle biológico de insetos são os fungos e os nematóides. Esse trabalho teve como objetivo esclarecer algumas das frequentes dúvidas no que diz respeito ao controle biológico de formigas, como avaliar a presença de entomopatógenos em colônias de formigas invasoras em áreas onde suas populações estão em equilíbrio e nas áreas infestadas; aplicar entomopatógenos em colônias de Monomorium floricola em condições de laboratório para avaliar a eficiência destes agentes no controle de espécies urbanas bem como observar o comportamento destas formigas frente a esses microrganismos. Foram isolados os nematóides entomopatogênicos Heterorhabditis sp. e Steinernema sp. e os fungos Beauveria bassiana Metarhizium anisopliae e Paecilomyces sp. Estes microrganismos estão presentes em colônias de formigas invasoras em áreas onde suas populações estão em equilíbrio e nas áreas infestadas. As colônias que receberam a aplicação de Steinernema sp. e Heterorhabditis sp. tiveram uma mortalidade de operárias maior que as do controle. O fungo Beauveria bassiana apresentou maior mortalidade de operárias da espécie M. floricola. Porém, não houve redução nem eliminação das colônias em nenhum dos tratamentos. Os comportamentos de defesa das formigas, a exemplo do comportamento de limpeza e o comportamento de fuga dos ninhos... (Resumo completo, clicar acesso eletrônico abaixo) / Abstract: Some ant species provide severe impact on the communities they invade. When they come into contact with urban areas and man its losses may be even greater. The ants Solenopsis spp.; Linepithema humile; Wasmannia auropunctata, Pheidole megacephala, Paratrechina spp. can be cited. There are many attempts to control such species, although not always succeed. Biological control is an alternative to chemical control and has gained great prominence in research. The main organisms used in biological control of insects are fungi and nematodes. This study aimed to clarify some questions regarding the biological control of ants. Invasive ant species occurring in some regions of Brazil, in areas where their populations are in balance and in infested areas, were evaluated for the presence of entomopathogenic in their colonies. Moreover, entomopathogenic were applied in colonies of Monomorium floricola under laboratory conditions to evaluate the effectiveness of these agents on the control of urban species. The behavior of the controlled ants was evaluated. The entomopathogenic nematodes Heterorhabditis sp. and Steinernema sp. and the fungi Beauveria bassiana, Metarhizium anisopliae and Paecilomyces sp. were isolated. These microorganisms are present in colonies of invasive ants in areas where their populations are in balance and in infested areas. The colonies that received the application of Steinernema sp. and Heterorhabditis sp. showed a higher mortality of workers than control. The fungus Beauveria bassiana showed higher mortality of M. floricola workers. However, no colony reduction or elimination were observed in any treatments. The defensive behaviors of ants, such as grooming behavior and nest escape must be considered for the use of fungi and nematodes as a form of biological control. / Doutor

Vertebrados exóticos são introduzidos intencionalmente como recurso, como uma alternativa para fins econômicos ou de lazer. Aqueles que se tornam capazes de expandir espontaneamente as novas populações em áreas naturais são conhecidas como invasores e frequentemente estão implicados em efeitos indesejados em populações, comunidades e ecossistemas autóctones. Uma destas espécies é o cervo axis Axis axis, introduzido mundialmente para a caça. Apesar da sua ampla distribuição e utilização, pouco se sabe sobre seus efeitos nas áreas invadidas e em quais regiões esta espécie pode se tornar invasora. Isto dificulta as tomadas de decisão, pois avaliar os efeitos da introdução e prever as áreas em risco de invasão são tarefas fundamentais para estratégias de prevenção, priorização e ações de controle. Assim, esse trabalho teve como objetivos revisar os efeitos do cervo axis em áreas invadidas, utilizando um protocolo de revisão sistemática, e modelar a possível distribuição mundial e regional desta espécie, utilizando variáveis bioclimáticas. Realizamos buscas por estudos sobre efeitos em áreas alóctones em três bancos de dados, utilizando três conjuntos de palavras chaves. Classificamos os estudos que atenderam aos critérios do protocolo segundo o nível de inferência sobre os efeitos em Efeito Demonstrado e Efeito Sugerido. Extraímos os tipos de efeitos relatados e a região de ocorrência. Para a modelagem de distribuição, utilizamos o algoritmo Maxent e variáveis preditoras bioclimáticas. Os pontos de ocorrência utilizados incluem sua distribuição original e três regiões onde a espécie é invasora e das quais foi possível obter ou estimar coordenadas. A revisão sistemática resultou em apenas quatro trabalhos classificados em Efeito Demonstrado, os quais apontam a competição com espécies nativas, alteração da composição florística e faunística e facilitação da entrada de outras espécies invasoras. Os efeitos sugeridos incluem seis trabalhos mostrando a ocorrência de parasitas, um caso de hibridização com outra espécie de cervídeo em cativeiro e um estudo mostrando a degradação das áreas de florestas causada pelo cervo axis em conjunto com outras espécies invasoras. O modelo de distribuição demonstra que amplas extensões da América do Sul, África Central e Sudeste Asiático são suscetíveis à invasão, portanto, nestas áreas deve-se evitar a introdução e controlar a expansão. O sul do Brasil, Uruguai, norte da Argentina e Paraguai são possíveis áreas de ocorrência segundo os modelos bioclimáticos. / Alien vertebrates are intentionally introduced for leisure and economic purposes. Those who become able to expand their populations in the new areas are known as invasive and are often involved in undesirable effects in indigenous populations, communities and ecosystems. The axis deer was introduced worldwide for hunting. Despite its wide distribution and use, little is known about its effects on the invaded areas and regions in which this species can become invasive. This complicates the decision-making because assessing the effects of the introduction and predict areas at risk of invasion are key tasks for prevention strategies, prioritization and control actions. Like this. So, this study aimed to summarize the effects of the axis deer in invaded areas using a systematic review protocol and to model the potential distribution of this species globally and in South America using bioclimatic variables. To summarized the effects we conducted searches for studies on non-native areas in three databases, using three sets of key-words and classified the studies that met the criteria of the protocol according to the level of inference about the effects they investigated. We extracted the types mentioned effects and occurrence region. To model the potential distribution based on bioclimatic variables we used the program Maxent. We used occurrences from the original distribution and three regions where the species is invasive about which geographical coordinates could be obtained or estimated. Four studies demonstrated effects of the axis deer due to competition with native species, changes in the floristic and faunistic composition and facilitation of other invasion processes. Six studies speculated the occurrence of disease transmition, hybridization with other species and difuse degradation of forest areas in combination with other invasive species. The distribution model demonstrated that large extensions of South America, Central Africa and Southeast Asia are susceptible to invasion. In the southern cone of South America Brazil, Uruguay, northern Argentina and Paraguay include extensive areas prone to invasion based on the bioclamatic models.

Orientadores: Luiz Francisco Lembo Duarte, Vera Nisaka Solferini / Dissertação (mestrado) - Universidade Estadual de Campinas, Instituto de Biologia / Made available in DSpace on 2018-08-15T12:02:47Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 Aranha_TiagoPorto_M.pdf: 851406 bytes, checksum: 8a0e698a85700d7b59721c4e8167d63f (MD5) Previous issue date: 2010 / Resumo: A quantidade de espécies envolvidas, a amplitude geográfica e a freqüência de ocorrência das invasões biológicas não conhecem precedentes. Atualmente as invasões são consideradas um processo composto de múltiplos estágios, dinâmico no espaço e no tempo. As populações invasoras podem estacionar em determinados estágios e até regredir a estágios anteriores antes de atingir a fase de clímax. As invasões são consideradas uma das grandes causas da extinção de espécies no planeta, desta forma, a compreensão dos mecanismos e fatores que influenciam o sucesso das invasões e o entendimento de seus efeitos em comunidades nativas é fundamental. O objeto de estudo do presente trabalho é o bivalve invasor Isognomon bicolor em costões rochosos do sudeste do Brasil. No capítulo I, padrões de distribuição e dominância de populações localizadas no litoral norte de São Paulo foram documentados. A situação atual da invasão de I. bicolor foi avaliada frente às populações de organismos nativos da área. No capítulo II, padrões de variabilidade e estruturação genética de populações de I. bicolor no litoral sudeste foram descritos e comparados com aqueles para populações do bivalve nativo Brachidontes solisianus. A combinação dessas duas abordagens permitiu uma maior compreensão do processo de invasão de I. bicolor e das conseqüências dessa invasão sobre as espécies nativas. Atualmente I. bicolor apresenta-se amplamente distribuído no litoral norte de São Paulo, entretanto, ao contrário de estudos anteriores, suas populações apresentam baixas porcentagens de cobertura nos costões onde ocorre. Tal fato deve-se a um evento de mortaliade em massa pelo qual a espécie passou recentemente. A alta variabilidade e baixa estruturação genética observada, semelhante à encontrada para o bivalve nativo B. solisianus, são indícios de um processo de invasão costituido por múltiplos episódios de introdução e da grande capacidade de dispersão do invasor. Esses resultados são preocupantes pois sugerem que as populações de I. bicolor estão relativamente estáveis e conectadas entre si, tornando sua exitinção na costa sudeste do Brasil improvável, mesmo após a ocorrência do evento de mortalidade em massa / Abstract: The species number, geographic scale and frequency of biological invasions are unparalleled. Currently, invasions are considered as a several stages process, dynamic in space and time. The invasive populations can remain at some stage or return to earlier stages before reaching the invasion climax. Invasions are considered one of the major causes of species extinction on the planet and thus. Understanding mechanisms and factors that influence invasion success and its effects on native communities is of primary imporatance. The present work studied the invasive Isognomon bicolor populations along the southeastern coast of Brazil. In Chapter I, the distribution and the dominance patterns of I. bicolor were documented along the northern coast of São Paulo. The population attributes of the invasive species I. bicolor were evaluated and compared to the population attributes of native organisms in the sampled area. In Chapter II, the genetic variability and the structure patterns of four I. bicolor populations on southeastern Brazilian Coast were analyzed and compared with those of the native Brachidontes solisianus populations. The combination of these two approaches has enabled a better understanding of I. bicolor invasion process and its consequences for native species. Currently, I. bicolor has become widely distributed in the northern coast of São Paulo, however, unlike previous studies, I.bicolor is not dominant in the rocky shores. This fact may be caused by a recent mass mortality event. The high variability and low genetic structure observed, similar to the genetic attibutes of the native bivalve B. solisianus populations, are evidences of an invasion process with multiple introduction events and of the large invader dispersal ability. These results are concerning as they suggest that I.bicolor populations are relatively stable and connected to each other, making its extinction in the southeastern coast of Brazil unlikely, even after the occurrence of a mass mortality event / Mestrado / Ecologia / Mestre em Ecologia

Colonisation theory relative to introduced populations was examined with a view to determining the usefulness of theoretical concepts in the prediction of the success of an invasion by a species. To this end, the Great Fish River, with reference to species introduced by the Orange/Fish Tunnel, was used as a case history. It was concluded that theoretical descriptions of population growth, control and decline are useful only when considering individual ecosystems or species. The highly variable nature of species and environments nullifies attempts to simplify behavioural characteristics into a predictive framework. There is an abundance of terminology associated with introduced organisms and frequently many of these terms are used synonymously. Eleven terms have been defined in this thesis with a view to standardising terminology. Characteristics of species and environments which enhance their susceptibility to invasions by exotic ichthyofauna were discussed and summarised. Distribution data concerning exotic fish introduced into the Great Fish River by the Orange/Fish Tunnel has demonstrated that, with the exception of Clarias gariepinus, all remaining exotics have restricted distributions. Only Barbus aeneus appears to be extending its range down the drainage. Age, Growth, reproduction and condition data support the conclusion that, excluding B. aeneus and C. gariepinus, invasive species in the drainage are not performing well. Of the five invasive species (B. aeneus, Labeo capensis, L. umbratus, Gephyroglanis sclateri and Cyprinus carpio), only two have established populations (B. aeneus· and C. gariepinus). Labeo umbratus and C. carpio were present on the Great Fish River prior to the construction of the tunnel and populations of the species could not be distinguished. It was concluded that there is no evidence to suggest that exotic species introduced into the Great Fish River are having a deleterious effect on indigenous, endangered ichthyofauna. Monitoring of the drainage should be continued to ensure that a danger to indigenous species does not develop.

La variabilité au sein des populations naturelles est un facteur primordial de maintien de la diversité fonctionnelle dans les communautés et les écosystèmes. Présente dans une aire géographique restreinte, la truite marbrée (Salmo marmoratus) est une espèce aujourd'hui menacée par les effets du changement climatique (augmentation de la fréquence et de l'intensité des crues) et par les invasions biologiques. Seules quelques populations persistent dans le bassin adriatique. Les objectifs de cette thèse sont de quantifier la variabilité trophique de cette espèce dans des populations naturelles de l'échelle populationnelle à l'échelle individuelle et d'en identifier les mécanismes. Le régime alimentaire de 1523 individus issus des sept populations du bassin de la Soca (Slovénie) échantillonnées entre 2011 et 2013 a été analysé à l'aide des isotopes stables (d15N et d13C). Les résultats mettent en évidence une forte variabilité trophique entre les individus et au sein des individus au cours de leur ontogénie. Cette variabilité trophique également observée à l'échelle populationnelle, dépend d'une part de la structure en taille des populations et d'autre part des effets des variables environnementales à la fois sur la physiologie des organismes et sur la disponibilité des ressources alimentaires. Les résultats indiquent un fort taux de cannibalisme chez cette espèce (de 6 à 32 % à l'échelle de la population) survenant par opportunisme et favorisé par la densité des proies. Le cannibalisme est un comportement permanent qui va affecter la dynamique des populations. L'étude des interactions trophiques entre la truite marbrée et une truite exotique (la truite arc-en-ciel, Oncorhynchus mykiss) montre que la compétition entre ces deux Salmonidés engendre un déplacement de niches trophiques de l'espèce native. Cependant, nos résultats suggèrent que le comportement piscivore de la truite marbrée, rarement observé chez des Salmonidés de rivière, confère à l'espèce une résistance biologique face aux invasions biologiques. L'ensemble des résultats démontre la forte plasticité trophique, à la fois individuelle et populationnelle, de ce prédateur aquatique, qui pourrait constituer un avantage adaptatif dans un contexte de changement climatique. / Variability within natural populations plays a major role in maintaining functional diversity in communities and ecosystems. The marble trout (Salmo marmoratus) is a species of great conservation concern given its restricted geographical area. Few populations persist in the Adriatic basin, threatened by the impacts of global change (increase of the frequency and intensity of flood events) and by biological invasions. In this thesis, we aimed to quantify trophic variability of this species both at the population and individual levels and to understand the underlying mechanisms. The diet of 1523 marble trout from the seven remnant populations persisting in the Soca River basin (Slovenia) were sampled between 2011 and 2013 and were analyzed with stable isotopes (d15N and d13C). Our results show strong variability through ontogeny within as well as between individuals. This intraspecific variation was observed at the population level and was determined by both environmental variables and size-structured demography effects on fish physiology and ecological opportunities. Results indicate a high rate of opportunistic cannibalism (from 6 to 32 % in populations) promoted by prey densities. This permanent behavior may lead to modification of the populations' size structures and dynamics. Studying trophic interactions between the marble trout and an invasive salmonid species (rainbow trout, Oncorhynchus mykiss), we showed that trophic niches of the native trout shifted because of interspecific competition. However, our results suggest that the piscivorous behavior of the marble trout, rare for stream-dwelling salmonids, would be a strong advantage for biotic resistance against biological invaders. This thesis demonstrates the high trophic plasticity, both at the individual and population levels, in this freshwater predator that could be an adaptative advantage in a global change context.

The study of biological invasions is not only essential to regulate their vast potential for ecological and economical harm, they offer a unique opportunity to study adaptive evolution in the context of recent range expansions into novel environments. The North American invasion of the gypsy moth, Lymantria dispar L., since its introduction in 1869 to Massachusetts, has expanded westward to Minnesota, northward to Canada, and southward to North Carolina. Fluctuating range dynamics at the southern invasive edge are heavily influenced by heat exposure over their optimal (supraoptimal) during the larval stage of development. We coupled genomic sequencing with reciprocal transplant and laboratory-rearing experiments to examine the interactions of phenotypic, genetic, and environmental variation under selective supraoptimal regimes. We demonstrate that while there is no evidence to support local adaptation in the fitness-related physiological traits we measured, there are clear genomic patterns of adaptation due to differential survival in higher temperatures. Mapping of loci identified as contributing to local adaptation in a selective environment and those associated with phenotypic variation highlighted that variation in larval development time is partly driven by pleiotropic loci also affecting survival. Overall, I highlight the necessity and inferential power gained through replicating environmental conditions using both phenotypic and genome-wide analyses.

L’empreinte humaine sur Terre est si profonde qu’elle entraine des changements environnementaux qui affectent et modifient le fonctionnement des écosystèmes. Parmi tous les biotopes, les écosystèmes aquatiques continentaux sont des habitats remarquables qui abritent une grande biodiversité, mais qui sont aussi les plus menacés par les activitéshumaines. Les principales causes de la perte de qualité de l'eau et de la perturbation des ces écosystèmes comprennent la pollution des eaux et l'introduction d'espèces exotiques. La partie première partie de ce travail de thèse a montré des invasions parasitaires sur les populations de tortues d'eau douce indigènes, transmis par des espèces de tortues introduites. De plus, la nécessité d'étudier et de décrire les nouvelles espèces de parasites invasives avec des techniques plus performantes a été soulignée. La deuxième partie de cette thèse a consisté en l'élaboration d'un outil pour évaluer l'état de la santé des populations de tortues d'eau douce sauvages, ce qui reflète également le niveau de contamination des cours d'eau. / Human imprint on Earth is actually so profound leading global environmental changes that affects and modifies the functioning of ecosystems. Among the natural biomes, freshwater ecosystems are remarkable habitats that comprise great species biodiversity but are also the most threatened by human activities. The main causes of the loss of water quality anddisruption of freshwater ecosystems includes water pollution and the introduction of alien species. The fisrt part of this thesis showed invasion of parasites on native freshwater turtle populations, carried by introduced turtle species. Furthermore, it highlighted the necessary to study and describe the new invasive parasite species with more performant technics. The second part of this thesis consisted in the development of a tool to evaluate the status of thehealth of wild freshwater turtle populations, allowed also the level of contamination of the watercourses.

Le commerce mondial et les mouvements humains accroissent les probabilités de transport à longue distance de propagules, et leur introduction dans de nouvelles aires géographiques. Dans certains cas, des espèces récemment établies peuvent devenir dominantes dans la communauté envahie. Malgré les menaces sur les communautés natives et le fonctionnement des écosystèmes, les invasions biologiques constituent des expériences naturelles qui permettent d’étudier les processus éco-évolutifs en temps réel, notamment l’impact de nouvelles interactions biotiques sur la composition et la dynamique des communautés, l’adaptation rapide à de nouvelles conditions environnementales, ou la dispersion en limite de répartition. Les îles océaniques sont particulièrement sensibles aux invasions biologiques en raison de la faible diversité de leurs communautés natives. Dans les terres australes françaises, le carabique marcheur Merizodus soledadinus, natif de Patagonie, a été accidentellement introduit à Kerguelen en 1913. La présente étude vise à comprendre les principaux mécanismes à l’origine du succès invasif de cet insecte aux Iles Kerguelen. Un large ensemble de méthodes ont été utilisée pour explorer les traits écologiques de M. soledadinus, des populations à la molécule. Les analyses génétiques confortent l’hypothèse historique d’un unique évènement d’introduction dans un seul site des Iles Kerguelen. Les populations échantillonnées le long du gradient d’invasion ne montrent pas de structuration génétique. Les traits phénotypiques mesurés montrent une forte différentiation entre les individus selon le temps de résidence des populations, confirmant l’hypothèse de tri spatial des populations au cours de l’expansion géographique. Nous avons démontré que l’expansion géographique et la sélection d’habitats par M. soledadinus est principalement gouvernée par la disponibilité en eau, comme le suggère par la forte sensibilité des adultes au stress hydrique. En parallèle, la colonisation d’habitats en altitude dépend des conditions thermiques, qui semblent être contraignantes pour cet insecte à partir de 200m d’altitude. La colonisation d’habitats d’altitude progresse pourtant, probablement assistée par le changement climatique. Pour finir, les adultes M. soledadinus sont longévifs et actifs toute l’année. Les connaissances apportées sur l’écologie de M. soledadinus et sur la dynamique de son expansion géographique suggèrent la poursuite de la colonisation de l’archipel par ce prédateur. L’ensemble de ces connaissances pourraient être utiles à la paramétrisation d’un modèle d’expansion géographique, qui permettrait de définir les routes de dispersion et les taux d’expansion, dans l’objectif d’assister les mesures de gestion par les agents de la Réserve naturelle des Terres Australes et Antarctiques Françaises. / Global trade and human movements increase the likelihood of long-distance transportation of propagules and their subsequent introduction into new geographic regions. In some instances, newly established species can become dominant in invaded communities, at the expense of native species. Besides threatening invaded communities and ecosystem functions, biological invasions constitute natural experiments that allow to study eco-evolutionary processes in real time, including the occurrence of new biotic interactions affecting community composition, rapid adaptation to novel environmental conditions, or dispersal evolution at range margins. Because of their impoverished native communities, oceanic islands’ ecosystems are particularly sensitive to biological invasions, and the French subantarctic islands are no exception. For instance, the flightless predatory carabid beetle Merizodus soledadinus is native from the southern tip of South America, and has been accidentally introduced to the Kerguelen Islands in 1913. In the present work, we aimed at understanding the main mechanisms underlying the invasive success of this insect at the Kerguelen Islands. Using a vast array of methodologies, ecological features of M. soledadinus were investigated with analytical procedures scaling from population to molecule through the individual level. Genetic investigations support the historically-based hypothesis of a single introduction event at a unique location of the Kerguelen Islands. No genetic structure was observed among individuals sampled from different populations along the invasion gradient. We tested the hypothesis of spatial sorting of populations during range expansion, by exploring phenotypic changes among individuals sampled along the invasion gradient. The measured phenotypic traits revealed major differentiation of adults according to the residence time of their populations, confirming the occurrence of spatial sorting of populations during geographic expansion. We also demonstrated that the geographic expansion of M. soledadinus, and microhabitat selection, are primarily governed by the availability of water resources, as suggested by the high sensitivity to water stress of adults of this ground beetle. In parallel, colonisation of altitudinal habitats is governed by thermal conditions, which seem to be physiologically constraining from 200m asl onwards. As the altitudinal distribution of M. soledadinus still extends, we concluded that ongoing climatic changes play a pivotal role in this expansion. Finally, adults of this ground beetle are long-lived and active year-round. The ecological knowledge of M. soledadinus characteristics and spatial expansion dynamics suggest that the colonisation process of the Kerguelen archipelago by this species will continue. Altogether, these data could be used for parametrising range expansion models that would delineate dispersal pathways and expansion rates, in the objective to assist stakeholders’ management decisions.