Abstract

The use of molecular tools to manage natural resources is increasingly common. However, DNA-based methods are seldom used to understand the spatial and temporal dynamics of species' range shifts. This is important when managing range shifting species such as non-native species (NNS), which can have negative impacts on biotic communities. Here, we investigated the ascidian NNS Ciona robusta, Clavelina lepadiformis, Microcosmus squamiger and Styela plicata using a combined methodological approach. We first conducted non-molecular biodiversity surveys for these NNS along the South African coastline, and compared the results with historical surveys. We detected no consistent change in range size across species, with some displaying range stability and others showing range shifts. We then sequenced a section of cytochrome c oxidase subunit I (COI) from tissue samples and found genetic differences along the coastline but no change over recent times. Finally, we found that environmental DNA metabarcoding data showed broad congruence with both the biodiversity survey and the COI datasets, but failed to capture the complete incidence of all NNS. Overall, we demonstrated how a combined methodological approach can effectively detect spatial and temporal variation in genetic composition and range size, which is key for managing both thriving NNS and threatened species.This article is part of the theme issue ‘Species’ ranges in the face of changing environments (part I)’.

Highlights

  • Biodiversity is undergoing a global redistribution as a result of human influence, with species increasingly found in environments outside their previously reported geographical range [1]

  • EDNA metabarcoding data recovered broad non-native species (NNS) incidence trends and for some species was as accurate as non-molecular surveys

  • The evidence demonstrates that both DNA and non-DNA biodiversity survey methods can be used in combination to evaluate the role of genetic variation on range shifts and to inform natural resource managers

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Summary

Introduction

Biodiversity is undergoing a global redistribution as a result of human influence, with species increasingly found in environments outside their previously reported geographical range [1]. The sequencing of DNA isolated from NNS has previously identified the source of an introduction [43,44], provided evidence of multiple introductions [45] and tested if post eradication invasions are a result of incomplete eradiation or reinvasion [46]. These studies have demonstrated the value of DNA evidence for the management of NNS. We examined how spatial genetic variation data can inform the management of range shifting species by comparing eDNA metabarcoding data to biodiversity survey and mitochondrial DNA sequence datasets

Methods
Results
Discussion
26. Shackleton RT et al 2019 Stakeholder engagement
41. Deiner K et al 2017 Environmental DNA
Findings
72. Zhan A et al 2013 High sensitivity of 454

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