Abstract
Identifying the dispersal pathways of an invasive species is useful for adopting the appropriate strategies to prevent and control its spread. However, these processes are exceedingly complex. So, it is necessary to apply new technology and collect representative samples for analysis. This study used Approximate Bayesian Computation (ABC) in combination with traditional genetic tools to examine extensive sample data and historical records to infer the invasion history of the red swamp crayfish, Procambarus clarkii, in China. The sequences of the mitochondrial control region and the proPOx intron in the nuclear genome of samples from 37 sites (35 in China and one each in Japan and the USA) were analyzed. The results of combined scenarios testing and historical records revealed a much more complex invasion history in China than previously believed. P. clarkii was most likely originally introduced into China from Japan from an unsampled source, and the species then expanded its range primarily into the middle and lower reaches and, to a lesser extent, into the upper reaches of the Changjiang River in China. No transfer was observed from the upper reaches to the middle and lower reaches of the Changjiang River. Human-mediated jump dispersal was an important dispersal pathway for P. clarkii. The results provide a better understanding of the evolutionary scenarios involved in the rapid invasion of P. clarkii in China.
Highlights
Introduced species exist in almost every ecosystem in the world, and the proportions of introduced species in biomes, ecosystems, and habitats are increasing [1]
We investigated the population genetic structure and post-establishment dispersal patterns of P. clarkii using mitochondrial cytochrome c oxidase I (COI), 16S ribosomal RNA
With the recent developments in population genetic approaches, researchers can infer the origin, pathways of introduction, mode of establishment and demographic changes associated with the dispersal of invasive species in invaded areas based on information about the population structure and the past demography of populations; such approaches can be combined with traditional genetic tools and historical records [8]
Summary
Introduced species exist in almost every ecosystem in the world, and the proportions of introduced species in biomes, ecosystems, and habitats are increasing [1]. Invasive species are of concern because they represent a major threat to the biodiversity of their new habitats [2] and could have serious implications for human well-being, and a strong influence on local economies [3,4]. As awareness of the complexity of the problems of invasive species has gradually increased, invasion ecology, including invasive species population structure, genetic diversity and evolutionary histories, has evolved in response to challenges in biodiversity conservation and invasion control [1]. Information regarding changes in the population structure, genetic diversity and evolutionary histories of invasive species, such as retracing the dispersal routes and identification of source populations, would be useful to establish possible methodologies for the prevention and control of their invasions [5].
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