Genetic structure provides insights into the geographic origins and temporal change in the invasive charru mussel (Sururu) in the southeastern United States

• Published in: PloS one Vol. 12; no. 7; p. e0180619
• Main Authors: Calazans C, Sávio H, Walters, Linda J, Fernandes, Flavio C, Ferreira, Carlos E L, Hoffman, Eric A
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: United States Public Library of Science 07.07.2017; Public Library of Science (PLoS)
• Subjects: Animals; Anthropogenic factors; Biodiversity; Biology and Life Sciences; Bivalvia - classification; Bivalvia - genetics; Coastal environments; Cytochrome; Cytochrome-c oxidase; Deoxyribonucleic acid; Dispersal; Distribution; DNA; DNA sequencing; DNA, Mitochondrial - genetics; Earth Sciences; Ecology and Environmental Sciences; Electron Transport Complex IV - genetics; Gene sequencing; Genetic aspects; Genetic diversity; Genetic structure; Genetics, Population; Haplotypes; Introduced Species; Life history; Marine biology; Microsatellite Repeats - genetics; Mitochondrial DNA; Mussels; Native species; Natural populations; Nonnative species; Oceanography; Oxidase; People and places; Phylogeography; Population; Population genetics; Populations; Salinity; Sampling; South America; Southeastern United States; Studies; United States; Brazil; Rio de Janeiro Brazil; Florida; United States > US
• ISSN: 1932-6203; 1932-6203
• DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0180619

In 2004, Mytella charruana (d'Orbigny, 1842) (Mollusca: Bivalvia: Mytilidae) became established along the coast of the southeastern United States (SE-US). Using mitochondrial DNA sequencing (cytochrome c oxidase subunit I), we compared genetic variation throughout its native range in South America to its invasive range in the SE-US. Samples from the SE-US were collected in 2006 and 2010 enabling a temporal comparison to evaluate possible genetic changes of the invasive population. We addressed two questions. First, what are the potential source populations (or geographic regions) for the SE-US invasion? Second, how has genetic diversity changed between the two sampling periods within the SE-US? We identified a total of 72 haplotypes, 64 of which were isolated to geographic sites and only 8 were shared among sites. The highly structured native range provides insight into the origin of invasive populations where our results suggest that the introduced SE-US population originated from multiple source populations with the Panama region as the primary source. Additionally, our results indicate that genetic composition of the non-native populations was unchanged between the two sampling periods. Mytella charruana exhibit a significant pattern of genetic structure among natural populations, owing to biogeographic barriers that limit natural dispersal, and an ability to persist in novel habitats, owing to a suite of life-history characters that favor survival under variable conditions. Overall, this study explains why M. charruana may become an increasing threat to locations founded by anthropogenic transportation.