Abstract
Discerning the dispersal patterns of invasive species is critically important for the design of effective management strategies and the development of appropriate theoretical models predicting the spatial expansion of introduced populations. Post-introduction dispersal may occur naturally or via human transport, but for many organisms, assessing the relative contribution of each of these factors is difficult using traditional methods. Here, we explored the genetic patterns associated with the spread of red swamp crayfish (Procambarus clarkii) among 21 populations in the Pearl River basin and 2 peripheral populations in the Yangtze River basin. We found the genetic diversity of P. clarkii in the Pearl River basin was somewhat lower than in the Yangtze River basin. We also found (1) there was significant genetic differentiation between populations, (2) genetic differentiation was not related to geographic distance (i.e., isolation by distance), and (3) a Bayesian assignment analysis revealed three distinct genetic clusters and genetic admixture. Our results therefore provide evidence that human-mediated multiple introductions occurred in the Pearl River basin. Anthropogenic activities such as commercial transportation were likely responsible for the long-distance dispersal of P. clarkii. This study provides useful information for developing management strategies.
Highlights
Molecular systematics and population genetics have rendered new and exciting tools to better our understanding of population dynamics during biological invasions[5]
Previous works have demonstrated the initial entry point, genetic structure of P. clarkii and dispersal pattern mediated by human activities in the Yangtze River basin[12, 21]
We aimed to investigate population genetics patterns associated with the spread of P. clarkii in the Pearl River basin and proposed some management opinions
Summary
Molecular systematics and population genetics have rendered new and exciting tools to better our understanding of population dynamics during biological invasions[5]. Successful establishment of P. clarkii populations has been facilitated by their high environmental tolerance, rapid population growth rate and superior competitive ability[13, 14]. This invasive crayfish is a polytrophic keystone species that can exert multiple pressures on ecosystems[15]. We aimed to investigate population genetics patterns associated with the spread of P. clarkii in the Pearl River basin and proposed some management opinions. Genetic analyses were based on data from seven highly polymorphic microsatellite loci We utilized both population- and individual-level assessments of genetic connectivity between sample sites to infer dispersal patterns associated with multiple potential introductions acting on different spatial scales
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