What endemic fauna on Christmas Island suffered catastrophic population crashes due to A. gracilipes predation?
Answer
Large, flightless crabs
The most notorious ecological catastrophe caused by the yellow crazy ant occurred on Christmas Island, where they fundamentally altered the ecosystem by preying upon native species. Specifically, the populations of large, flightless crabs, which were a crucial part of the island’s ecology, crashed dramatically. This occurred because the ants aggressively targeted the vulnerable young and eggs of these crabs, demonstrating their destructive predatory nature when populations explode.
Related Questions
What is the scientific classification of the yellow crazy ant?What movement pattern gives the yellow crazy ant its common name?How long do yellow crazy ants rarely exceed in length?What is the unusual reproductive mechanism key to A. gracilipes colonization success?What pitfall of asexual reproduction does A. gracilipes genetic flexibility help bypass?Which caste in A. gracilipes incorporates stored paternal genes in a specialized manner?What is the main defense mechanism noted that A. gracilipes lacks compared to Solenopsis invicta?What endemic fauna on Christmas Island suffered catastrophic population crashes due to A. gracilipes predation?What results from the resource concentration and exclusion of other insects by supercolonies?What advantage does the ability to generate a genetically diverse reproductive caste give a single founding A. gracilipes queen?