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Founder effects and species introductions: A host versus parasite perspective
April M H Blakeslee1,2, Linsey E Haram2, Irit Altman3
1East Carolina University Greenville NC USA.
Evolutionary Applications
|May 21, 2020
Summary
Parasites introduced with host snails show greater genetic diversity loss than their hosts, especially those with complex life cycles and fish final hosts. Colonization impacts parasite genetics more than host genetics.
Area of Science:
- Ecology
- Evolutionary Biology
- Genetics
Background:
- Species introductions can cause genetic founder effects, leading to reduced genetic diversity in founding populations.
- While many introduced hosts show resilience, parasites may experience more pronounced founder effects due to complex life cycles and smaller founding populations.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate differential genetic signatures between introduced host snails (Tritia obsoleta) and their trematode parasites across native and introduced ranges.
- To determine if parasite life cycles and final hosts influence the degree of founder effects observed during colonization.
Main Methods:
- Examined genetic diversity, gene flow, and population structure of the eastern mudsnail and four trematode species using mitochondrial and nuclear markers.
- Compared genetic diversity and founder effects in native (east coast) versus introduced (west coast) North American populations.
- Assessed the influence of final host (fish vs. birds) on parasite genetic diversity and founder effects.
Main Results:
- The host snail showed minimal evidence of genetic founder effects.
- Trematode parasites exhibited significantly lower genetic diversity in introduced populations compared to native ones.
- Parasites utilizing fish as final hosts displayed greater founder effects and lower diversity in introduced ranges than those using birds.
Conclusions:
- Colonization events, particularly anthropogenic introductions, have a more substantial impact on the genetic diversity of parasites than their free-living hosts.
- Parasite life history, including reliance on specific final hosts, modulates the genetic consequences of introduction and colonization.
- Understanding parasite population genetics is crucial for assessing the full ecological impact of species introductions.
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