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Human mediated transport determines the non-native distribution of a dispersal limited estuarine invertebrate
Citation:
DARLING, J., A. Kuenzi, AND A. M. Reitzel. Human mediated transport determines the non-native distribution of a dispersal limited estuarine invertebrate. MARINE ECOLOGY PROGRESS SERIES. Inter-Research, Luhe, Germany, 380:137-146, (2009).
Impact/Purpose:
Here we utilize genetic methods to explore the population structure of Nematostella vectensis, a dispersal-limited salt marsh anemone, along the Pacific coast of North America. Analysis of nine highly polymorphic microsatellite loci reveals that asexual reproduction is critical to both maintenance of local population density and regional population expansion. While high levels of genetic differentiation among populations reflect general restrictions to natural dispersal, the observation of two clones distributed across multiple, widely separated sampling sites indicates that anthropogenic transport of clonal propagules is likely a major contributor to the spread of N. vectensis and the maintenance of population connectivity.
Description:
Sessile invertebrates are common invaders of estuarine ecosystems. To expand their non-native ranges, these invasive taxa must contend with the geographically and ecologically discontinuous nature of estuarine habitats, in many cases without the benefit of highly dispersed larval phases. In addition, their population dynamics may reflect contributions from both sexual and asexual reproduction.