Work

Misperceived invasion: the L usitanian slug ( A rion lusitanicusauct. non‐ M abille or A rion vulgarisMoquin‐Tandon 1855) is native to C entral E urope

Year: 2014

Type: article

Abstract: The Lusitanian slug, presumed to be native to south-west Europe, was ranked among the 100 worst invading species in Central Europe. However, from the very beginning of its recognition in the presumed invasion area, there was little evidence that the species was actually anthropogenically introduced. We investigated the invasive status of the species by comparing specific predictions on the population genetic structure in the invasion area with the pattern actually found. In a DNA-taxonomy approach, the species could not be found in its presumed native range. Using statistical phylogeographic techniques on a mitochondrial (COI) and nuclear (ZF) marker and species distribution modelling, we could show that the species is with very high probability not an invasor, but native to Central Europe. The study underlines the value of statistical phylogeography in rigorously testing hypotheses on the dynamics of biological invasions.

Source: Evolutionary Applications

DOI: 10.1111/eva.12177

Authors: Markus Pfenninger, Alexander Weigand, Miklós Bálint, Annette Klussmann‐Kolb

Institutions: Goethe University Frankfurt, Senckenberg Biodiversity and Climate Research Centre

Language: English

Topic: Genetic diversity and population structure

Subfield: Genetics

Field: Biochemistry, Genetics and Molecular Biology

Domain: Life Sciences

SDG: Life on land

Open Access status: gold

Estimated APC paid: $4,320