Newcomers and Old Friends: Long‐Distance and Bridgehead Introductions Both Contribute to the Recent Invasion of the Little Fire Ant in Southern Europe

• Autores: Loiseau, Anne; Kergoat, Gael J.; Blight, Olivier; Demetriou, Jakovos; Espadaler, Xavier; Benoit, Laure; Calcaterra, Luis Alberto; Chifflet, Lucila; Jourdan, Hervé; Menchetti, Mattia; Facon, Benoit; Foucaud, Julien
• Año de publicación: 2025
• Idioma: inglés
• Tipo de recurso: artículo
• Materia: Biological invasion; bridgehead effect; introduction routes; little fire ant; microsatellite genotyping
• Institución: Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas

AimBiological invasions result from the combination of (i) population dispersal opportunities and (ii) adaptations to the recipient environment. Identifying complex migration histories, made of long-distance dispersal from the native range and secondary introductions, or genetic patterns indicative of adaptation is crucial to build coherent management efforts of problematic invasive species. We here aimed at determining the routes of introduction and describing the genetic peculiarities of recent introductions of Wasmannia auropunctata, a destructive invasive ant species with a polymorphic clonal/sexual reproduction system.LocationWe focused on three recently established European populations (Cyprus, France and Spain) and their relationship with earlier worldwide introductions and the native South American range of W. auropunctata.MethodsWe used a combination of cytochrome c oxidase subunit I (COI) sequencing and genotyping of a total of 686 European individuals at 12 microsatellite loci (from 76 nests and seven localities), together with previous worldwide datasets totalling 503 COI sequences and 6963 genotyped individuals. Phylogenetic reconstruction and genetic differentiation analyses were used to infer the origin, reproduction systems and genetic diversity of the three European populations.ResultsWe show that the history of the invasion of Europe is a mix of secondary introductions from a Mediterranean bridgehead population (Israel), and a novel long-distance introduction from a climatically similar area of northeastern Argentina. All newly introduced populations reproduce clonally and display an outbred genotypic pattern, consistent with all prior introductions and with anthropised areas of the native range.Main ConclusionsThis study confirms that preventing novel introductions is complex and requires adequate surveillance tools to simultaneously monitor areas of the native range with potential prior adaptation and previous introductions that could act as bridgeheads. Because of their ecological and genetic similarities, the fate of more ancient introductions could help us foresee what the future holds for European introductions.
Fil: Loiseau, Anne. Université Montpellier II; Francia
Fil: Kergoat, Gael J.. Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique. Institut de Recherche pour le Développement; Francia
Fil: Blight, Olivier. Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique; Francia
Fil: Demetriou, Jakovos. University of Athens; Grecia
Fil: Espadaler, Xavier. Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona; España
Fil: Benoit, Laure. Institut National de la Recherche Agronomique; Francia
Fil: Calcaterra, Luis Alberto. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas; Argentina. Fundación para el Estudio de Especies Invasivas; Argentina
Fil: Chifflet, Lucila. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Oficina de Coordinación Administrativa Ciudad Universitaria. Instituto de Ecología, Genética y Evolución de Buenos Aires. Universidad de Buenos Aires. Facultad de Ciencias Exactas y Naturales. Instituto de Ecología, Genética y Evolución de Buenos Aires; Argentina
Fil: Jourdan, Hervé. Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique; Francia
Fil: Menchetti, Mattia. Universitat Pompeu Fabra. Center For Brain And Cognition.; España
Fil: Facon, Benoit. Institut National de la Recherche Agronomique; Francia
Fil: Foucaud, Julien. Institut National de la Recherche Agronomique; Francia