Population genetics of invasive Pomacea spp. in Hangzhou City, Zhejiang Province

Abstract

To investigate the distribution and identify the genetic genetics of invasive Pomacea species in Xihu District, Hangzhou City, so as to understand the spread tendency of Pomacea species. The specimens of Pomacea species were collected from five sites in water systems (lakes, rivers and wetlands) and its costal lands in Xihu District, Hangzhou City in 2017 for morphological identification. Total DNA was isolated from the foot tissues of adult snails for amplification of the COI gene, and haplotype diversity and nucleic acid diversity analyses were performed. In addition, a phylogenetic tree was created based on the haplotype captured from GenBank and those from this study to investigate the phylogenetic relationships. Pomacea specimens, which were preliminarily characterized as Pomacea, were found in ponds, rivers and wetlands in Xihu District of Hangzhou City. A total of 16 sequences were captured from the DNA samples of Pomacea specimens, which belonged to 3 haplotypes, including Hap1, Hap2 and Hap3. A high frequency was seen in Hap1 and Hap3, and a low frequency was found in Hap2. The Pomacea specimens collected from the 5 sites in Xihu Districts included P. canaliculata and P. maculate. The Pomacea specimens with a Hap1 had a close genetic relationship with the P. canaliculata from Argentina, Guangdong Province and Hong Kong Special Administrative Region of China, and the Pomacea specimens with a Hap2 had a close genetic relationship with the P. canaliculata from Argentina, Japan and Guangzhou City of Guangdong Province, China, while the Pomacea specimens with a Hap2 had a close genetic relationship with the P. maculate from Argentina and Brazil. P. canaliculata and P. maculata are present in Xihu District of Hangzhou City. P. maculata may spread to Xihu District through multiple introductions or water flow.