Expansion Routes Research Articles

Demographic Processes Linked to Genetic Diversity and Positive Selection across a Species' Range

Demography determines the strength of genetic drift, which generally reduces genetic variation and the efficacy of selection. Here, we disentangled the importance of demographic processes at a local scale (census size and mating system) and at a species-range scale (old split between population clusters, recolonization after the last glaciation cycle, and admixture) in determining within-population genomic diversity and genomic signatures of positive selection. Analyses were based on re-sequence data from 52 populations of North American Arabidopsis lyrata collected across its entire distribution. The mating system and range dynamics since the last glaciation cycle explained around 60% of the variation in genomic diversity among populations and 52% of the variation in the signature of positive selection. Diversity was lowest in selfing compared with outcrossing populations and in areas further away from glacial refugia. In parallel, reduced positive selection was found in selfing populations and in populations with a longer route of postglacial range expansion. The signature of positive selection was also reduced in populations without admixture. We conclude that recent range expansion can have a profound influence on diversity in coding and non-coding DNA, similar in magnitude to the shift toward selfing. Distribution limits may in fact be caused by reduced effective population size and compromised positive selection in recently colonized parts of the range.

On small-scale liquefaction of natural gas with supersonic separator: Energy and second law analyses

Under certain conditions supersonic separators promote superior natural gas conditioning over traditional routes. An instigating possibility consists in using supersonic separators to obtain liquefied natural gas that exhibits global growth. This work analyses natural gas liquefaction through a low-scale process using realistic non-isentropic supersonic separator whose design was proposed in the literature. Results are compared with other compact adiabatic expansion routes like the Joule-Thomson and turbo-expander, all starting from natural gas at (298.15 K, 80 bar) and reaching saturated liquefied natural gas at (115.4 K, 1.25 bar). The objective was to demystify the notion that 100% liquefaction per pass is possible with supersonic separator by obtaining the maximum liquefaction fraction per pass for the three compact routes and unveiling whether supersonic separators lead to a less power intense, technically, thermodynamically and economically superior short-scale liquefaction process. To this end, a HYSYS Unit Operation Extension was created to simulate supersonic separators with rigid-geometry, following expected physical behavior and satisfying the 2nd Law of Thermodynamics. Results include a 2nd Law analysis of processes leading to thermodynamic efficiency and liquefaction lost work. Supersonic separator route reached the highest Net Present Value of all routes but was somewhat outperformed by turbo-expander route in terms of power consumption, thermodynamic efficiency and lost power.

Trend Analysis of Road Transport Infrastructure Development in Awka, Anambra State, Nigeria

Road transport which is the most accessed means of transport system has remained vital to the growth of any society. Therefore, the development of adequate and robust road transport system is a necessity for economic growth and live ability. In this paper attempt was made to analysis the trend in road transport infrastructure development in Awka the capital city of Anambra State from 2006 to 2017. A handheld Global Positioning System (GPS) device was used to acquire the requisite coordinates. Geographic Information System (ArcGIS version 10.5) was used to acquire and plot the imageries of the routes. The result shows continues increase in the development of road transport infrastructure in the State. In 2011 roads increased from 600 (2006) to 2500 (Tarred 1900; Untarred 600) while 2017 has a count of 4,769 roads (Tarred 3,360; Untarred 1,409). The result also showed a growth rate of 12.2% from 2006 to 2011 and a growth rate of 5.20% from 2011 to 2017. It was observed that despite the increase in road construction and rehabilitation traffic congestion was still an issue in some routes. This observation is attributable to the fact that most of the carriages are not wide enough. To enhance migration, flow of goods and services, carriage expansion and alternative routes to various locations be made.

Independent Evolutionary Responses to Quaternary Landscape and Climatic Changes of Two Codistributed Cactophilic Drosophila Species (Drosophila repleta group) in Open Areas of South America

AbstractEvolutionary processes related to climatic changes and ecological factors, such as microhabitat affinities and food specialization, can be important contributors to phylogeographic discordance between codistributed and related species. Here, we evaluate the evolutionary histories of two cactophilic and codistributed Drosophila species (Diptera: Drosophilidae) from South America, Drosophila antonietae and Drosophila meridionalis, where they use mainly Cereus hildmaniannus (Cactoideae: Cereeae) as host, using mitochondrial DNA sequences and species distribution modeling. The diversification of both species was estimated during the Pleistocene. For both species, the distribution of suitable areas through the Last Glacial period to the present showed a similar dynamic from Andes Valley through east and through the Paraná-Paraguay river basin to the Atlantic coastline. The current distribution of D. antonietae was influenced by demographic expansion and putative migration route from northwest to south and then to coast, with two genetic incipient groups with bidirectional genetic flow between them. For D. meridionalis, we suggested a migration route from south to north as well as to coast, with three genetic groups deeply structured with no evidence of demographic expansion. Our comparative results showed that the Quaternary paleoclimatic dynamic has had a similar role in both species (displacement of the high suitability areas) with similar routes but in different directions. Additionally, the Araucaria forest represents a putative biogeographic barrier for Drosophila species and also for host C. hildmaniannus. The phylogeographical differences between these species related to geographical distribution, genetic structure, and demographic history could be explained for differences to adaptation and plasticity to explore a new host.

Ancient genome-wide DNA from France highlights the complexity of interactions between Mesolithic hunter-gatherers and Neolithic farmers.

Starting from 12,000 years ago in the Middle East, the Neolithic lifestyle spread across Europe via separate continental and Mediterranean routes. Genomes from early European farmers have shown a clear Near Eastern/Anatolian genetic affinity with limited contribution from hunter-gatherers. However, no genomic data are available from modern-day France, where both routes converged, as evidenced by a mosaic cultural pattern. Here, we present genome-wide data from 101 individuals from 12 sites covering today's France and Germany from the Mesolithic (N = 3) to the Neolithic (N = 98) (7000-3000 BCE). Using the genetic substructure observed in European hunter-gatherers, we characterize diverse patterns of admixture in different regions, consistent with both routes of expansion. Early western European farmers show a higher proportion of distinctly western hunter-gatherer ancestry compared to central/southeastern farmers. Our data highlight the complexity of the biological interactions during the Neolithic expansion by revealing major regional variations.

Post-Merger Financial Performance of ICICI Bank

India has witnessed Mergers and Acquisitions across sectors and the most talked about mergers are those in the Banking sector. The banking sector attracts more attention because of the wide geographic spread and the scattered spectrum of stakeholders. Post liberalization banking sector has grown by leaps and bounds and has also seen a lot of mergers and acquisitions. ICICI bank is one of the biggest players among the private sector banks, adopted the merger and acquisition route for expansion. It witnessed four mergers and the same have been studied in this paper. Evaluation of the mergers has been done using the CAMEL model. For the study, three years’ pre-merger data and three years’ post-merger data have been taken into consideration. It was found that there was no significant improvement in the financial performance of ICICI Bank post these mergers.

Sighting of Saccorhiza polyschides (Lightfoot) Batters (Phaeophyceae, Stramenopiles) in Algeria (Mediterranean Sea): an Insight into Range Expansion Routes

In the Mediterranean Sea, the north-east Atlantic seaweed Saccorhiza polyschides (Lightfoot) Batters is uncommon. The only permanent populations are located in the Alboran Sea near the Strait of Gibraltar and the Strait of Messina (Italy). In contrast, since the early 19th century, several sightings, on ship’s hulls or in harbours, reflect the dispersal of propagules which failed to establish in the Mediterranean. Here we report a new sighting of Saccorhiza polyschides, near the port of Jijel, Algeria. This first new record in the Mediterranean for more than a century indicates that the dispersal of propagules continues today. In addition, because of its spectacular size and ease of its observation, it sheds light on the expansion routes of a species at the limit of their current range area.

The Genomic Context for the Evolution and Transmission of Community-Associated Staphylococcus aureus ST59 Through the Food Chain

Sequence type 59 (ST59) is a predominant clonal lineage of community-acquired, methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (CA-MRSA) in Asia. Despite its increasing clinical relevance in China, the evolution and geographic expansion of ST59 has been relatively uncared for. Previous study has shown that ST59 was the predominant clone in food-related MRSA in China. This study compared the genomes of 87 clonal complex (CC) 59 S. aureus isolates sourced from food chain and infection cases to reconstruct the molecular evolution and geographical spread of ST59. Accordingly, three major sub-clades of ST59 were identified and these did not correlate with isolation source or location. Phylogenetic analysis estimated that ST59 in mainland China diverged from a most common recent ancestor around 1974, and most of the cases of cross-country transmission occurred between 1987 and 2000. Notably, two recent events of cross-country transmission through the food chain were observed, the isolates from these events diverged within relatively short time intervals. These isolates also showed high similarity in terms of their core genome, accessory genes, and antibiotic resistance patterns. These findings provide a valuable insight into the potential route of ST59 expansion in China and indicate a need for robust food chain surveillance to prevent the spread of this pathogen.

Genetic Structure and Phylogeography of Tuber magnatum Populations

The ectomycorrhizal fungus Tuber magnatum produces the white truffle appreciated worldwide for its unique aroma. With respect to other Tuber spp. of economic interest, T. magnatum presents a narrower geographical range. This species has, in fact, long been considered endemic to Italy. However, over the last few decades several reports have documented the presence of white truffles in different Mediterranean countries and in particular in various areas of south-east Europe. In this study, samples from several Pannonian and Balkan countries such as Hungary, Serbia, Romania, Bulgaria and Greece have been collected and genotyped with microsatellite markers and the data merged with those available for Italian populations. Our objectives were to test whether Italian and south-east European populations are differentiated and to evaluate the genetic diversity of T. magnatum all over its distributional range. We show the genetic structure of T. magnatum populations with the differentiation of four main groups: northern Italy, central-northern Italy, southern Italy and the Balkan/Pannonian region. The present study allowed us to refine the evolutionary history of T. magnatum and track the possible post-glacial expansion route of this species. The assessment of T. magnatum’s genetic structure is not only of scientific relevance, but it is also important for the conservation and market traceability of this prestigious fungus.

The historical context of contemporary climatic adaptation: a case study in the climatically dynamic and environmentally complex southwestern United States

The process of adaptation can be highly dependent upon historical and contemporary factors, especially in environmentally and topographically complex regions affected by Pleistocene glaciations. Here, we investigate Hilaria jamesii (Poaceae), a dryland C4 graminoid, to test how patterns of adaptive genetic variation are linked to its glacial and post‐glacial history. We show that the species persisted in a single, southern refugium during the last glacial period and subsequently migrated throughout its current distribution concurrent with post‐glacial warming. The species’ putative adaptive genetic variation correlates with climatic gradients (e.g. monsoon precipitation and mean diurnal temperature range) that covary with the species’ probable route of demographic expansion. The short timescale and multiple climatic dimensions of adaptation imply that natural selection acted primarily upon standing genetic variation. These findings suggest that restoration and conservation practices should prioritize the maintenance of standing genetic variation to ensure that species have the capacity to respond to future environmental changes.

A population genetic study of the egg parasitoid Baryscapus servadeii reveals large scale automictic parthenogenesis and almost fixed homozygosity

The pine processionary moth Thaumetopoea pityocampa – T. wilkinsoni is one of the main defoliators of pine and cedar forests in the Mediterranean area. Its distribution is currently expanding northward and to higher altitudes due to climate warming. This species is associated with a rich community of predators and parasitoids. The specialist egg parasitoid Baryscapus servadeii is among the most abundant, and is thought to significantly affect the population dynamics of its host. To determine if the parasitoid tracks the range expansion of its host and shows similar population genetic patterns, we developed eight de novo microsatellite markers using SSR enrichment and 454 pyrosequencing. Despite a large-scale sampling design, ranging from Northern Africa to Western Europe, Crete and Cyprus, genotyping revealed an unexpectedly high level of homozygosity and reduced genetic diversity, with 90% of studied individuals being characterized by only 2 multi-locus genotypes. We then tested if B. servadeii is associated with parthenogenesis-inducing endobacteria, and found that most individuals were associated with a Rickettsia symbiont, not Wolbachia. Interestingly, genetic diversity and an absence of symbionts were documented in some individuals of the congeneric hyperparasitoid B. transversalis, which were found in the same samples. Altogether, the results suggest that microsatellite nuclear markers will not be useful for deciphering the demography and range expansion routes of this parasitoid. However, B. servadeii can be considered an interesting and novel example of Rickettsia inducing thelytoky in chalcid parasitoids.

Genome-wide identification and expression analysis of two component system genes in Cicer arietinum

The two-component system (TCS) plays an important role in signal transduction pathways, cytokinin signaling and stress resistance of prokaryotes and eukaryotes. It is comprised of three types of proteins in plants; histidine kinases (HKs), histidine phosphotransfer proteins (HPs) and response regulators (RRs). Chickpea (Cicer arietinum L.) is one of the most important legume crops worldwide with special economic value in semi-arid tropics. Availability of complete genome sequence of chickpea presents a valuable resource for comparative analysis among angiosperms. In current study, Arabidopsis thaliana and Oryza sativa were used as reference plant species for comparative genomics analysis with C. arietinum. A genome-wide computational survey enabled us to identify putative members of TCS protein family including 18HKs, 26 RRs (7 type-A, 7 type-B, 2 type C and 10 pseudo) and 7 HPs (5 true and 2pseudo) genes in chickpea. The predicted TCS genes displayed family specific intron/exon organization and were randomly distributed across all the eight chromosomes. Comparative phylogenetic and evolutionary analysis suggested a variable conservation of TCS genes in relation to mono/dicot model plants and segmental duplication was the principal route of expansion for this family in chickpea. The promoter regions of TCS genes exhibited several abiotic stress-related cis-elements indicating their involvement in abiotic stress response. The expression analysis of TCS genes demonstrated stress (drought, heat, osmotic and salt) specific differential expression. Current study provides insight into TCS genes in C. arietinum, which will be helpful for further functional analysis of these genes in response to different abiotic stresses.

Phylogeography and paleodistribution models of a widespread birch (Betula platyphylla Suk.) across East Asia: Multiple refugia, multidirectional expansion, and heterogeneous genetic pattern.

Widespread tree species cover large geographical areas and play important roles in various vegetation types. Understanding how these species responded to historical climatic changes is important for understanding community assembly mechanisms with evolutionary and conservation implications. However, the location of refugial areas and postglacial history of widespread trees in East Asia remain poorly known. We combined microsatellite data (63 populations, 1756 individuals) and ecological niche modeling to examine the range‐wide population diversity, genetic structure, and historical demography of a pioneer tree species, Asian white birch (Betula platyphylla Suk.) across East Asia. We found a north‐to‐south trend of declining genetic diversity and five clusters, corresponding to geographical regions. Different clusters were inferred to have diverged through Pleistocene climatic oscillations and have different expansion routes, leading to genetic admixture in some populations. Ecological niche models indicated that the distribution of B. platyphylla during the last glacial maximum still had a large latitude span with slight shifts toward southeast, and northern populations had more variable distribution ranges than those in the south during later climatic oscillations. Our results reflect the relatively stable distribution through the last glacial–interglacial cycles and recent multidirectional expansion of B. platyphylla, providing new hypotheses for the response pattern of widespread tree species to climate change. The gradual genetic pattern from northeast to southwest and alternative distribution dynamics possibly resulted from environmental differences caused by latitude and topographic heterogeneity.

A Ring Expansion Route to Benzofused N‐Heterocycles Through Aryne Insertion into 1,3‐Diaza‐heterocycles

Arynes have been found to undergo formal σ‐bond insertion into a C(sp3)–N bond for the first time. This transformation is utilized in the ring expansion of 1,3‐diaza‐heterocycles to afford benzofused medium‐ring N‐heterocycles in a single step. This represents a novel route to biologically relevant 2,3,4,5‐tetrahydro‐1H‐benzo[e][1,4]diazepines, prepared directly from easily accessible imidazolidines. An example of the ring expansion of a 1,3‐diazetidine is also reported, which affords the corresponding 1,2,3,4‐tetrahydroquinazoline.

Impacts of globalization on worker injury in host countries

Purpose International expansion is an inevitable consequence for companies that are seeking revenue growth. Foreign direct investment (FDI) by global enterprises is a common route of such expansion. As companies invest abroad, competing interests cause concerns over the impact (both positive and negative) on the local labor force (necessitating corporate social responsibility) caused by FDI. Therefore, there is a logical link between FDI, a country’s labor force and globalization. The purpose of this study is to explore this untested relationship. Design/methodology/approach This panel study uses cross-country data from the World Bank to understand the pattern of influence of globalization on worker injury. A secondary data set of 36 developed and developing countries from 2003 to 2007 are gathered for this paper to analyze. Findings The results of this paper indicate that, companies are seeking to maintain higher levels of social responsibility should not only consider a framework such as ISO 26000 themselves but also they should encourage compliance from their upstream suppliers as well. Originality/value Goods for these companies are manufactured in Bangladesh, but unfortunately, a serious tragedy occurred when a building collapsed, resulting in the death of 1,127 people, which was not the first of such events in Bangladesh (The Associated Press, 2013). Inspired by this recent tragedy, this study examines possible connections between globalization and the factors that are associated with the incidences of worker injury. Globalization is a well-studied phenomenon, however very little has been done to examine its impact on worker injuries; this paper helps fill that gap.

Thermodynamic Selection of the Optimal Working Fluid for Organic Rankine Cycles

A novel method proposed to choose the optimal working fluid—solely from the point of view of expansion route—for a given heat source and heat sink (characterized by a maximum and minimum temperature). The basis of this method is the novel classification of working fluids using the sequences of their characteristic points on temperature-entropy space. The most suitable existing working fluid can be selected, where an ideal adiabatic (isentropic) expansion step between a given upper and lower temperature is possible in a way, that the initial and final states are both saturated vapour states and the ideal (isentropic) expansion line runs in the superheated (dry) vapour region all along the expansion. Problems related to the presence of droplets or superheated dry steam in the final expansion state can be avoided or minimized by using the working fluid chosen with this method. Results obtained with real materials are compared with those gained with model (van der Waals) fluids; based on the results obtained with model fluids, erroneous experimental data-sets can be pinpointed. Since most of the known working fluids have optimal expansion routes at low temperatures, presently the method is most suitable to choose working fluids for cryogenic cycles, applied for example for heat recovery during LNG-regasification. Some of the materials, however, can be applied in ranges located at relatively higher temperatures, therefore the method can also be applied in some limited manner for the utilization of other low temperature heat sources (like geothermal or waste heat) as well.

Jewish New York: The Remarkable Story of a City and a People by Deborah Dash Moore

Reviewed by: Jewish New York: The Remarkable Story of a City and a People by Deborah Dash Moore Jerome A. Chanes (bio) Jewish New York: The Remarkable Story of a City and a People. By Deborah Dash Moore (with Jeffrey S. Gurock, Annie Polland, Howard B. Rock, and Daniel Soyer). New York: New York University Press, 2017. 500 pp. "Very few people know who I am," Salvador Dalí is reputed to have said, "And I am not one of them." Well, count me in—at least when it comes to the question of what is a Jew. Are Jews a national group? Are Jews a religion? A race? Are Jews an "ethnicity"—whatever that means? A language group? All of the above? These questions—even some answers—cohere in Deborah Dash Moore's (and four co-authors') comprehensive and eminently readable Jewish New York: The Remarkable Story of a City and a People, a tour-de-force historical survey of New York's Jewish communities. Jewish New York? What's that? Sephardim? German Jews? Russian Jews? "Uptown" versus "Downtown"? Bundists? Zionists? Orthodox? Reformers? Holocaust survivors? Hasidim? Misnagdim? All come together in the pungent cholent that is Jewish New York. Jewish New York, a telescoped version of the five authors' magisterial three volume City of Promises—principal author Deborah Dash Moore synthesized the three volumes into one here—is a comprehensive roadmap to who made Jewish New York and how it happened. The book consists of four parts; each plumbs a discrete era in New York Jewish history, from its "Foundations" (the "why" of the twenty-three Jews leaving Recife for New Amsterdam in 1654 in itself makes for a good yarn!), to the present-day "A Changing City," the second decade of the twenty-first century. The book uses the history of the waves of immigration of Jews to America—each wave had its own "flavor" of Jews—as a vehicle for narrating the more narrow New York Jewish history. While the story is compellingly told, there are occasional weaknesses. An example is the treatment of the migration from Germany, beginning in 1836, the second of the four migrations of Jews to the new land, which was important in that it was the first mass migration of Jews to America and to New York. Moore notes that "many [German Jews] traveled on to midwestern cities … [but] thousands remained in New York" (43). But the book misses the point. Yes, thousands of German Jewish immigrants did remain in New York; but most soon left the seaboard cities and struck inland with peddler packs on their backs. The German Jews arrived during the period of national expansion, and they followed the routes of expansion, establishing most of the Jewish communities in the United States. This [End Page 385] missing piece—who did stay in New York?—of the national historical narrative is important in illumining the New York story. Jewish New York is strongest in nineteenth- and twentieth-century urban history, the "urbanization and becoming city people," in the singularly New York sense, of immigrant Jews (4). Moore indeed has urbanization and city front and center of her history, and rightly so. And in two superb chapters, "Jewish Geography" and "Raising Two Generations," the authors, in forty-six exceptionally concentrated pages, cover the results and consequences of urbanization: changing neighborhoods, from the Lower East Side to everywhere; public transit; housing; discrimination; education; innovation in religion; culture (including, brilliantly, fashion); and health. The book takes the reader seamlessly from 1880s New York to the 1970s, the cusp of contemporary New York. Thence, from the 1970s to the first decade of the twenty-first century, Jewish New York charts the sociology and the politics of "A Changing City." On the very last page of the book, the word "challenge" pokes through the prose; the reader is left to ponder, again, the book's thesis—the challenge of how Jews continue to change New York, and how they are changed by New York. As compelling as Jewish New York is, there are holes in the narrative. In her discussion of the Yiddish press—the journalistic vehicle for immigrant Jews in the first decades of the...

Which way to turn? Is the Haua Fteah a Levantine site?

AbstractRecent work has shown early modern human occupation at Jebel Irhoud, Morocco, dating as far back as MIS 9 (337–300 Ka). Such early dates double the period in which modern humans were present in North Africa, with implications for several key debates on modern human origins and subsequent spread. Routes across a ‘Green Sahara’ allowed population movement intermittently from sub-Saharan Africa and across the Saharan region in general. This has implications for the debate about the timing and routes of modern human expansion across and out of Africa, but also has the effect of focusing discussion on the archaeological record of sub-Saharan Africa and even Arabia for evidence of human behaviour and adaptations. This may be unfortunate as the record for much of the vast area of sub-Saharan Africa and Arabia is extremely limited and the more detailed record of the Levantine region is overlooked. Work at the Haua Fteah and in its surrounding region (Cyrenaican Libya) provides an opportunity to investigate how far the Palaeolithic record for this part of North Africa is, in fact, a product of trans-Saharan, North African or Levantine, influences. The genetic evidence suggests the process of modern human expansion out of Africa, and just as importantly within Africa itself, was a complex one that may have involved population movements into and out of North Africa from several different directions. A concentration upon the Green Sahara hypothesis may distract current research from this broader picture.

A Greek Cylindrospermopsis raciborskii strain: Missing link in tropic invader’s phylogeography tale

The cyanobacterium Cylindrospermopsis raciborskii represents a challenge for researchers and it is extensively studied for its toxicity and invasive behaviour, which is presumably enhanced by global warming. Biogeography studies indicate a tropical origin for this species, with Greece considered as the expansion route of C. raciborskii in Europe. The widening of its geographic distribution and the isolation of strains showing high optimum growth temperature underline its ecological heterogeneity, suggesting the existence of different ecotypes. The dominance of species like C. raciborskii along with their ecotoxicology and potential human risk related problems, render the establishment of a clear phylogeography model essential. In the context of the present study, the characterization of Cylindrospermopsis raciborskii TAU-MAC 1414 strain, isolated from Lake Karla, with respect to its phylogeography and toxic potential, is attempted. Our research provides new insights on the origin of C. raciborskii in the Mediterranean region; C. raciborskii expanded in Mediterranean from North America, whilst the rest of the European strains may originate from Asia and Australia. Microcystin synthetase genes, phylogenetic closely related with Microcystis strains, were also present in C. raciborskii TAU-MAC 1414. We were unable to unambiguously confirm the presence of MC-LR, using LC–MS/MS. Our results are shedding light on the expansion and distribution of C. raciborskii, whilst they pose further questions on the toxic capacity of this species.

Tracking the origin and dispersal of the Asian chestnut gall wasp Dryocosmus kuriphilus Yasumatsu (Hymenoptera, Cynipidae) in Europe with molecular markers.

The Asian chestnut gall wasp, Dryocosmus kuriphilus, is an invasive pest causing significant damage to chestnut trees (Castanea spp., Fagaceae). Originating from China, it has recently invaded a wide range of regions in Europe and North America. Understanding the population genetic structure of important invasive pests is very useful for improving the knowledge concerning routes of expansion and colonizing capacity. Despite its economic importance, limited attention has been given to D. kuriphilus origin and spread, or to its genetic structure. In this study, D. kuriphilus populations sampled in eight European countries were screened using both mitochondrial (cytochrome c oxidase subunit 1; COI) and nuclear (internal transcribed spacer 2; ITS2) sequences, and Amplified Fragment Length Polymorphism (AFLP) markers. The molecular markers COI and ITS2 highlighted the presence of a single haplotype in all the studied populations. The recorded mitochondrial haplotype was identical to one of the most widespread haplotypes occurring in the native area (China). AFLP results indicated that D. kuriphilus individuals belong to two genetically distinct clusters without any further geographic clustering. These results suggest that D. kuriphilus populations in Europe could be the result of a single introduction of a Chinese founder population characterized by two genetically distinct lineages that subsequently spread rapidly across Europe. However, the possibility that populations originated from multiple introductions of the same Chinese mitochondrial haplotype cannot be excluded. The reported results provide useful information concerning this invasive species, potentially facilitating integrated pest management.