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Mixed but not admixed: a spatial analysis of genetic variation of an invasive ascidian on natural and artificial substrates

Mixed but not admixed: a spatial analysis of genetic variation of an invasive ascidian on natural and artificial substrates
Mixed but not admixed: a spatial analysis of genetic variation of an invasive ascidian on natural and artificial substrates
Following the introduction to a new area (pre-border dispersal), post-border processes determine the success in the establishment of non-indigenous species (NIS). However, little is known on how these post-border processes shape the genetic composition of NIS at regional scales. Here, we analyse genetic variation in introduced populations along impacted coastlines to infer demographic and kinship dynamics at the post-border stage. We used as a model system the ascidian species Microcosmus squamiger that has been introduced worldwide. This species can colonize and grow fast on man-made artificial structures, impacting activities such as mariculture. However, it can also establish itself on natural substrates, thus altering natural communities and becoming an ecological problem. We genotyped 302 individuals from eight populations established on natural and artificial substrates in the north-western Mediterranean Sea, using six microsatellite loci. We then compared the resulting genotypes with those found within the native range of the species. We found high levels of genetic diversity and allelic richness in all populations, with an overall deficit of heterozygotes. Autocorrelation analyses showed that there was no within-population genetic structure (at a scale of tens of metres); likewise, no significant differentiation in pairwise comparisons between populations (tens of kilometres apart) and no isolation-by-distance pattern was found. The results suggest that M. squamiger has a natural capacity for high dispersal from one patch of hard substrate to another and no differences whatsoever could be substantiated between natural and artificial substrates. Interestingly, two groups of genetically differentiated individuals were detected that were associated with the two ancestral source areas of the worldwide expansion of the species. Individual assignment tests showed the coexistence of individuals of these two clusters in all populations but with little interbreeding among them as the frequency of admixed individuals was only 15 %. The mechanism responsible for maintaining these genetic pools unmixed is unknown, but it does not appear to compromise post-border colonization of introduced populations.
0025-3162
1645-1660
Ordóñez, Víctor
54bbc19c-76da-42bc-b47d-2899c6b6ed40
Pascual, Marta
1845f1ba-c502-484d-83ad-21439b727244
Rius, Marc
c4e88345-4b4e-4428-b4b2-37229155f68d
Turon, Xavier
df0c3b35-aba1-4657-add0-3c6aee7c08d3
Ordóñez, Víctor
54bbc19c-76da-42bc-b47d-2899c6b6ed40
Pascual, Marta
1845f1ba-c502-484d-83ad-21439b727244
Rius, Marc
c4e88345-4b4e-4428-b4b2-37229155f68d
Turon, Xavier
df0c3b35-aba1-4657-add0-3c6aee7c08d3

Ordóñez, Víctor, Pascual, Marta, Rius, Marc and Turon, Xavier (2013) Mixed but not admixed: a spatial analysis of genetic variation of an invasive ascidian on natural and artificial substrates. Marine Biology, 160 (7), 1645-1660. (doi:10.1007/s00227-013-2217-5).

Record type: Article

Abstract

Following the introduction to a new area (pre-border dispersal), post-border processes determine the success in the establishment of non-indigenous species (NIS). However, little is known on how these post-border processes shape the genetic composition of NIS at regional scales. Here, we analyse genetic variation in introduced populations along impacted coastlines to infer demographic and kinship dynamics at the post-border stage. We used as a model system the ascidian species Microcosmus squamiger that has been introduced worldwide. This species can colonize and grow fast on man-made artificial structures, impacting activities such as mariculture. However, it can also establish itself on natural substrates, thus altering natural communities and becoming an ecological problem. We genotyped 302 individuals from eight populations established on natural and artificial substrates in the north-western Mediterranean Sea, using six microsatellite loci. We then compared the resulting genotypes with those found within the native range of the species. We found high levels of genetic diversity and allelic richness in all populations, with an overall deficit of heterozygotes. Autocorrelation analyses showed that there was no within-population genetic structure (at a scale of tens of metres); likewise, no significant differentiation in pairwise comparisons between populations (tens of kilometres apart) and no isolation-by-distance pattern was found. The results suggest that M. squamiger has a natural capacity for high dispersal from one patch of hard substrate to another and no differences whatsoever could be substantiated between natural and artificial substrates. Interestingly, two groups of genetically differentiated individuals were detected that were associated with the two ancestral source areas of the worldwide expansion of the species. Individual assignment tests showed the coexistence of individuals of these two clusters in all populations but with little interbreeding among them as the frequency of admixed individuals was only 15 %. The mechanism responsible for maintaining these genetic pools unmixed is unknown, but it does not appear to compromise post-border colonization of introduced populations.

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More information

e-pub ahead of print date: 5 April 2013
Published date: July 2013
Organisations: Ocean Biochemistry & Ecosystems

Identifiers

Local EPrints ID: 354666
URI: http://eprints.soton.ac.uk/id/eprint/354666
ISSN: 0025-3162
PURE UUID: 1887d91c-8c01-4623-b12c-7228799a8d1d

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Date deposited: 17 Jul 2013 10:02
Last modified: 14 Mar 2024 14:22

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Contributors

Author: Víctor Ordóñez
Author: Marta Pascual
Author: Marc Rius
Author: Xavier Turon

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