Genetic Variability of the Amur Sleeper (Perccottus glenii) and their Parasite, Cestode (Nippotaenia mogurndae), outside the Natural Area of Distribution

Abstract

Based on the polymorphism of multilocus DNA markers (inter simple sequence repeat (ISSR)), we assessed the level of genetic variability and differentiation of populations of two invasive species, the Amur sleeper (Percottus glenii) and its specific parasite, Nippotaenia mogurndae, from five reservoirs in the acquired part of the range, the Irtysh River basin, Western Siberia. We revealed a high genetic polymorphism of neutral DNA markers in P. glenii. In general, the proportion of polymorphic loci was 92%, the average heterozygosity was 0.32. These parameters were lower in particular populations of P. glenii and varied within 53–74% and 0.20–0.23, respectively. The interpopulation component accounted for approximately 35% of the variability (GST = 0.35). In N. mogurndae, polymorphism was 73.7%, heterozygosity was 0.18, varying within 18–45% and 0.06–0.15, depending on the population. The level of genetic differentiation of N. mogurndae (GST = 0.38) was similar to that of P. glenii, which indicates that the processes of genetic differentiation of the parasite and the host are synchronous. Polymorphism and genetic distances of the parasite were lower than those of the host. The population genetic structure of P. glenii was partially consistent with the structure of the hydrographic network, in contrast to N. mogurndae. The data obtained indicate that during dispersal, no significant reduction in genetic polymorphism occurred in the Amur sleeper, and over several decades a population-genetic structure characteristic of this species in the native range was formed in the acquired part of the range.