Genetic signature of accidental transfer of the peregrine earthworm Pontoscolex corethrurus (Clitellata, Glossoscolecidae) in French Guiana

Harmful or useful? A case study of the exotic peregrine earthworm morphospecies Pontoscolex corethrurus

“…Although several complexes of cryptic species have been recently described in earthworms, highlighting the difficulties of morphological diagnosis in this taxon (King et al, 2008;Novo et al, 2010;Pérez-Losada et al, 2009;Shekhovtsov et al, 2016), there is not much data available in the literature on the genetic diversity within the P. corethrurus morphospecies (Cunha et al, 2014;Dupont et al, 2012). In three populations of P. corethrurus in the Azores archipelago, Cunha et al (2014) revealed the existence of two genetically divergent lineages which were morphologically indistinguishable.…”

“…Yet, parthenogenetic species lack the capacity to generate novel genetic variation necessary for evolvability (i.e., the ability of a population to adapt in response to environmentally induced stress, Waddington, 1965) due to the absence of bi-parental reproduction and genetic recombination. It has been suggested however, that P. corethrurus is capable of bi-parental reproduction (Dupont et al, 2012;Gates, 1973). Such a mixed-mating system, allowing reproduction through inbreeding and outbreeding according to mating possibilities, is a trait that may favour the rapid establishment of an exotic species in new areas (Dupont et al, 2007).…”

“…In rare cases, Gates (1973) observed some iridescence in P. corethrurus spermathecae that raised the possibility of biparental reproduction. Sexual reproduction has also been suggested to occur by Dupont et al (2012), based on a population genetics study.…”

“…Dupont et al (2012) proposed that the accidental transfer of this morphospecies from Cayenne to the Nouragues reserve in French Guiana, which was revealed using the Amplified Fragment Length Polymorphism (AFLP) method, could be due to deliberate soil transfer for scientific experiments and accidental soil transfer on tools and shoes. Moreover, Brown et al (2006) indicated that P. corethrurus is commonly used as fish-bait in Brazil.…”

The complete mitochondrial DNA sequence of the pantropical earthworm Pontoscolex corethrurus (Rhinodrilidae, Clitellata): Mitogenome characterization and phylogenetic positioning

“…The species formerly belonged in the Glossoscolecidae family, but was recently allocated to the Rhinodrilidae family by James (2012), following the phylogeny of James and Davidson (2012). It is also the most well-known earthworm species in the humid tropics, frequently used in ecological and agronomic studies (Bhattacharjee and Chaudhuri, 2002;Buch et al, 2013;Chapuis-Lardy et al, 2010;Dupont et al, 2012;Hamoui, 1991;Marichal et al, 2010). Being a geophagous endogeic species, P. corethrurus shows high plasticity regarding its tolerance to soil physicochemical characteristics, including variable moisture, high temperatures, exceptionally high carbon dioxide and low oxygen levels, and is capable of inhabiting nutrient-poor soils (Cunha et al, 2014;Hamoui, 1991;Lavelle et al, 1987), as well as rotten logs (Buch et al, 2011).…”