SNP analyses and acoustic tagging reveal multiple origins and widespread dispersal of invasive brown trout in the Falkland Islands
Abstract Biological invasions are important causes of biodiversity loss, particularly in remote islands. Brown trout (Salmo trutta) have been widely introduced throughout the Southern Hemisphere, impacting endangered native fauna, particularly galaxiid fishes, through predation and competition. Howe...
| Main Authors: | , , , , , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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Wiley
2021-08-01
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| Series: | Evolutionary Applications |
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| Online Access: | https://doi.org/10.1111/eva.13274 |
| _version_ | 1818681553947983872 |
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| author | Jessica F. Minett Carlos Garcia de Leaniz Halina Sobolewska Paul Brickle Glenn T. Crossin Sofia Consuegra |
| author_facet | Jessica F. Minett Carlos Garcia de Leaniz Halina Sobolewska Paul Brickle Glenn T. Crossin Sofia Consuegra |
| author_sort | Jessica F. Minett |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Abstract Biological invasions are important causes of biodiversity loss, particularly in remote islands. Brown trout (Salmo trutta) have been widely introduced throughout the Southern Hemisphere, impacting endangered native fauna, particularly galaxiid fishes, through predation and competition. However, due to their importance for sport fishing and aquaculture farming, attempts to curtail the impacts of invasive salmonids have generally been met with limited support and the best prospects for protecting native galaxiids is to predict where and how salmonids might disperse. We analysed 266 invasive brown trout from 14 rivers and ponds across the Falkland Islands as well as 32 trout from three potential source populations, using a panel of 592 single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) and acoustic tagging, to ascertain their origins and current patterns of dispersal. We identified four genetically distinct clusters with high levels of genetic diversity and low admixture, likely reflecting the different origins of the invasive brown trout populations. Our analysis suggests that many trout populations in the Falklands may have originated from one of the donor populations analysed (River Wey). The highest genetic diversity was observed in the rivers with the greatest number of introductions and diverse origins, while the lowest diversity corresponded to a location without documented introductions, likely colonized by natural dispersal. High levels of gene flow indicated widespread migration of brown trout across the Falkland Islands, likely aided by anadromous dispersal. This is supported by data from acoustically tagged fish, three of which were detected frequently moving between two rivers ~26 km apart. Our results suggest that, without containment measures, brown trout may invade the last remaining refuges for the native endangered Aplochiton spp. We provide new insights into the origin and dispersal of invasive brown trout in the Falkland Islands that can pave the way for a targeted approach to limit their impact on native fish fauna. |
| first_indexed | 2024-12-17T10:04:47Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-88b2abb45de74975a10d2fabbdd37b05 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 1752-4571 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-12-17T10:04:47Z |
| publishDate | 2021-08-01 |
| publisher | Wiley |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Evolutionary Applications |
| spelling | doaj.art-88b2abb45de74975a10d2fabbdd37b052022-12-21T21:53:11ZengWileyEvolutionary Applications1752-45712021-08-011482134214410.1111/eva.13274SNP analyses and acoustic tagging reveal multiple origins and widespread dispersal of invasive brown trout in the Falkland IslandsJessica F. Minett0Carlos Garcia de Leaniz1Halina Sobolewska2Paul Brickle3Glenn T. Crossin4Sofia Consuegra5Department of Biosciences Centre for Sustainable Aquatic Research Swansea University Swansea UKDepartment of Biosciences Centre for Sustainable Aquatic Research Swansea University Swansea UKNoahgene Ltd. Alloa UKSouth Atlantic Environmental Research Institute (SAERI) Stanley Falkland IslandsDepartment of Biology Dalhousie University Halifax NS CanadaDepartment of Biosciences Centre for Sustainable Aquatic Research Swansea University Swansea UKAbstract Biological invasions are important causes of biodiversity loss, particularly in remote islands. Brown trout (Salmo trutta) have been widely introduced throughout the Southern Hemisphere, impacting endangered native fauna, particularly galaxiid fishes, through predation and competition. However, due to their importance for sport fishing and aquaculture farming, attempts to curtail the impacts of invasive salmonids have generally been met with limited support and the best prospects for protecting native galaxiids is to predict where and how salmonids might disperse. We analysed 266 invasive brown trout from 14 rivers and ponds across the Falkland Islands as well as 32 trout from three potential source populations, using a panel of 592 single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) and acoustic tagging, to ascertain their origins and current patterns of dispersal. We identified four genetically distinct clusters with high levels of genetic diversity and low admixture, likely reflecting the different origins of the invasive brown trout populations. Our analysis suggests that many trout populations in the Falklands may have originated from one of the donor populations analysed (River Wey). The highest genetic diversity was observed in the rivers with the greatest number of introductions and diverse origins, while the lowest diversity corresponded to a location without documented introductions, likely colonized by natural dispersal. High levels of gene flow indicated widespread migration of brown trout across the Falkland Islands, likely aided by anadromous dispersal. This is supported by data from acoustically tagged fish, three of which were detected frequently moving between two rivers ~26 km apart. Our results suggest that, without containment measures, brown trout may invade the last remaining refuges for the native endangered Aplochiton spp. We provide new insights into the origin and dispersal of invasive brown trout in the Falkland Islands that can pave the way for a targeted approach to limit their impact on native fish fauna.https://doi.org/10.1111/eva.13274acoustic telemetryconnectivitygene flowgenetic diversityinvasive speciespopulation origin |
| spellingShingle | Jessica F. Minett Carlos Garcia de Leaniz Halina Sobolewska Paul Brickle Glenn T. Crossin Sofia Consuegra SNP analyses and acoustic tagging reveal multiple origins and widespread dispersal of invasive brown trout in the Falkland Islands Evolutionary Applications acoustic telemetry connectivity gene flow genetic diversity invasive species population origin |
| title | SNP analyses and acoustic tagging reveal multiple origins and widespread dispersal of invasive brown trout in the Falkland Islands |
| title_full | SNP analyses and acoustic tagging reveal multiple origins and widespread dispersal of invasive brown trout in the Falkland Islands |
| title_fullStr | SNP analyses and acoustic tagging reveal multiple origins and widespread dispersal of invasive brown trout in the Falkland Islands |
| title_full_unstemmed | SNP analyses and acoustic tagging reveal multiple origins and widespread dispersal of invasive brown trout in the Falkland Islands |
| title_short | SNP analyses and acoustic tagging reveal multiple origins and widespread dispersal of invasive brown trout in the Falkland Islands |
| title_sort | snp analyses and acoustic tagging reveal multiple origins and widespread dispersal of invasive brown trout in the falkland islands |
| topic | acoustic telemetry connectivity gene flow genetic diversity invasive species population origin |
| url | https://doi.org/10.1111/eva.13274 |
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