Climate change as a possible driver of invasion and differential in HSP70 expression in two genetically distinct populations of the invasive killer shrimp, Dikerogammarus villosus

• Published in: Biological invasions Vol. 20; no. 8; pp. 2047 - 2059
• Main Authors: Hupało, Kamil, Riss, H. Wolfgang, Grabowski, Michał, Thiel, Jacqueline, Bącela-Spychalska, Karolina, Meyer, Elizabeth I.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Cham Springer International Publishing 01.08.2018; Springer Nature B.V
• Subjects: Aquatic ecosystems; biogeography; Cellular stress response; Climate change; Climatic conditions; climatic factors; Cross-breeding; crossing; Developmental Biology; Dikerogammarus villosus; ecological invasion; Ecology; Freshwater & Marine Ecology; Freshwater ecosystems; Global climate; Global warming; heat tolerance; Hsp70 protein; Introduced species; Invasive species; Life Sciences; Original Paper; Plant Sciences; Population genetics; Populations; prediction; stress response; Temperature effects; Temperature tolerance; Thermal stress; Thermal stress; Climate change; Biological invasion; Heat shock
• ISSN: 1387-3547; 1573-1464
• DOI: 10.1007/s10530-018-1679-2

Global climate change is known to affect physiological processes in charge of cellular stress response. That often results in forcing many organisms to shift their biogeographic distribution ranges. It also holds true for euryoecious and highly invasive species like the killer shrimp, Dikerogammarus villosus. In this study we compare the level of response to thermal stress in two genetically diversified populations of the amphipod D. villosus on the cellular level, namely HSP70 expression. The results show clear difference in HSP70 expression, that can be a direct consequence of the different climatic conditions both populations faced along their invasion routes. We conclude that the eastern population of D. villosus is more sensitive to thermal stress than the western population, hence its invasion potential may be lower than that of the latter. Considering the thermal tolerance of both populations and global warming, we can make some predictions about further spread of D. villosus , including the possibility of an emergence of the super-invader that may arise after cross-breeding of both populations, imposing even larger threat to the freshwater ecosystems.