Genetic variability and phylogeography of the invasive zebra mussel, Dreissena polymorpha (Pallas)

Abstract

The zebra mussel, Dreissena polymorpha (Pallas), a bivalve species originally native to the Black and Caspian seas, has invaded Ireland in the last decade. Five microsatellite loci were used to investigate genetic diversity and population structure in 10 populations across Europe (Ireland, UK, the Netherlands and Romania) and the Great Lakes (Lake Ontario and Lake St Clair). Levels of allelic diversity and mean expected heterozygosity were high for all populations (mean number of alleles/locus and H(E) were 10-15.2 and 0.79-0.89, respectively). High levels of polymorphism observed in Irish populations suggest that the Irish founder population(s) were large and/or several introductions took place after foundation. Significant deficits of heterozygotes were recorded for all populations, and null alleles were the most probable factor contributing to these deficits. Pairwise comparisons using Fisher exact tests and F(ST) values revealed little genetic differentiation between Irish populations. The UK sample was not significantly differentiated from the Irish samples, most probably reflecting an English origin for Irish zebra mussels. No significant differentiation was detected between the two Great Lakes populations. Our data support a northwest rather than a central or east European source for North American zebra mussels.

Origin of Spanish invasion by the zebra mussel, Dreissena polymorpha (Pallas, 1771) revealed by amplified fragment length polymorphism (AFLP) fingerprinting

“…This close genetic similarity is most likely the result of recent introductions, in which one location served as the source for the introduction to the other locations. Pollux et al (2003), for example, showed that the close genetic similarity inferred from AFLP loci among Irish and British zebra mussel populations most likely resulted from a recent introduction of zebra mussels from the Great Britain to Ireland, which was later confirmed in a study by Astanei et al (2005) During the 19th century the zebra mussel colonised large parts of North and Central Europe, including many of France's major river systems e.g. Seine River 1855, Loire River 1863, Rhône River 1865 and Garonne River 1866 (Kinzelbach 1992).…”

“…Recent studies have revealed the usefulness of genetic markers (e.g., RAPD, AFLP and microsatellites) as a tool to study the genetic structure of populations and infer source regions of invasion of Dreissena species (Wilson et al 1999;Stepien et al 2002;Pollux et al 2003;Elderkin et al 2004;Astanei et al 2005;Therriault et al 2005;May et al 2006). Phylogeographic analysis, expressing the hierarchical descent of populations, allows the identification of source regions by comparing the genetic similarity between the newly established population and potential surrounding source populations (Pollux et al 2003).…”

Genetic diversity among red swamp crayfish (Procambarus clarkii) populations in the middle and lower reaches of the Yangtze River based on AFLP markers

“…Yue et al (2010) have proved that the bottleneck effect is a crucial factor in gene diversity. Founder effects have been reported in a number of invasive species, including quagga mussel (Wilson et al, 1999), zebra mussel (Astanei et al, 2005), and Chinese mitten crab, which has invaded Europe (Herborg et al, 2007). In fact, Barbaresi et al (2003) have shown that low genetic diversity is due to the founder effect.…”

Next-generation sequencing of Dreissena polymorpha transcriptome sheds light on its mitochondrial DNA

“…Native to the lakes, slow moving rivers and low salinity areas of the Black, Caspian and Azov Seas regions of central and eastern Europe, the zebra mussel was introduced to northwestern Russia, much of mainland Europe and England by at least the mid1800s by the construction of canal systems in Europe and Russia that linked several major river drainages. The zebra mussel together with the quagga mussel (Dreissena bugensis, Andrusov, 1897) was introduced into the Great Lakes of North America in the mid1980s by the discharge of ballast water from transAtlantic freighters (Stańczykowska, 1977;Hebert et al, 1989;Roberts, 1990;Bij de Vaate et al, 2002;Astanei et al, 2005;Bidwell, 2010). The colonization success of the zebra mussel is largely related to its method of reproduction external mode of fertilization, presence of free-swimming planktonic veliger larval stage, and attachment of juveniles and adults to hard surfaces via byssal threads (Borcherding, 1991;Johnson & Carlton, 1996).…”

“…The colonization success of the zebra mussel is largely related to its method of reproduction external mode of fertilization, presence of free-swimming planktonic veliger larval stage, and attachment of juveniles and adults to hard surfaces via byssal threads (Borcherding, 1991;Johnson & Carlton, 1996). Despite this, there are only relatively few genetic studies of this invader (Stepien et al, 2002;Soroka, 1999Soroka, , 2002Soroka, , 2003Soroka, , 2010Astanei et al, 2005;Astanei & Gosling, 2010). The zebra mussels started expanding their range in Poland approx.…”