Secondary invasion by European fire ants following buckthorn removal alters arthropod communities

Invasive species management often focuses on the removal of dominant non-native flora, yet these interventions can unintentionally facilitate secondary invasions. This study evaluates the ecological consequences of removing the invasive shrub Rhamnus cathartica (common buckthorn) on the abundance of the invasive ant Myrmica rubra (European fire ant) and associated pollinator communities in a post-industrial preserve. Contrary to expectations, M. rubra abundance was higher in restored plots, a pattern linked more strongly to increased leaf litter thickness than to decreased canopy cover. Whereas cavity-nesting bee abundance increased following buckthorn removal, ground-nesting bees exhibited reduced abundance in areas with high M. rubra presence, suggesting direct or indirect antagonistic interactions. Diptera abundance also increased with restoration but remained unaffected by ant presence. These results underscore the potential for invasive species removal to create ecological conditio..., , # Dryad dataset

Dataset DOI: [10.5061/dryad.jwstqjqng](10.5061/dryad.jwstqjqng)

## Description of the data and file structure

Ident = individual level line number

Julian = Julian date

Treatment = plot treatment (levels = BTshrub (buckthorn shrub), BTtree (buckthorn tree), native (restored)

Height = collection height (levels = ground, tree)

bt.dbh = buckthorn dbh per plot

bt.stems = buckthorn stems per plot

nat.dbh = native dbh per plot

nat.stems = native dbh per plot

leaf.litter.g = dry weight (g) of leaf litter per plot

Mrubra = Myrmica rubra abundance

Cavity.bees=Apidae+Megachilidae abundance

Ground.bees=Andrenidae+Halictidae abundance

Pollen.bees=Apidae+Megachilidae+Andrenidae+Halictidae abundance

Flies=Calliphoridae+Drosophilidae+Syrphidae abundance

Aranae = Aranae abundance

Coleoptera = Aranae abundance

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