Genomic data is missing for many highly invasive species, restricting our preparedness for escalating incursion rates

Abstract

Biological invasions drive environmental change, potentially threatening native biodiversity, human health, and global economies. Population genomics is an increasingly popular tool in invasion biology, improving accuracy and providing new insights into the genetic factors that underpin invasion success compared to research based on a small number of genetic loci. We examine the extent to which population genomic resources, including reference genomes, have been used or are available for invasive species research. We find that 82% of species on the International Union for Conservation of Nature “100 Worst Invasive Alien Species” list have been studied using some form of population genetic data, but just 32% of these species have been studied using population genomic data. Further, 55% of the list’s species lack a reference genome. With incursion rates escalating globally, understanding how genome-driven processes facilitate invasion is critical, but despite a promising trend of increasing uptake, “invasion genomics” is still in its infancy. We discuss how population genomic data can enhance our understanding of biological invasion and inform proactive detection and management of invasive species, and we call for more research that specifically targets this area.

Population genomic insights into invasion success in a polyphagous agricultural pest, Halyomorpha halys

“…Exposure to these novel conditions can often drive adaptive evolutionary change in invaders, a key feature that can facilitate their successful post‐introduction proliferation and spread (Colautti & Lau, 2015 ; Sakai et al, 2001 ). Although a growing body of literature has reported evidence of rapid evolutionary shifts in morphology (Brandenburger et al, 2019 ), behaviour and life history traits (Ruland & Jeschke, 2020 ) during invasion, the genomic basis of such adaptations has remained largely unexplored—mainly due to the poor availability of genomic resources for invasive species (Matheson & McGaughran, 2022 ). Understanding the genomic underpinnings of adaptation in invasive species can provide insights into long‐term effects and sustainability of various pest control strategies (Sethuraman et al, 2020 ).…”

The first record of a non-native seaweed from South Georgia and confirmation of its establishment in the Falkland Islands: Ulva fenestrata Postels & Ruprecht

“…Determining the timeframe and pathway of introduction of U. fenestrata in South Georgia requires further investigation involving additional field sampling of remote areas in the Southern Hemisphere and detailed molecular analyses of historical and recent herbarium specimens. In particular, population genetics and genomic data may be used to track the geographical origin of U. fenestrata and even predict its invasion success (Estoup and Guillemaud 2010;Matheson and McGaughran 2022), which would shed more light on its population status in South Georgia and other regions of the Southern Hemisphere where it is considered a non-native (Nelson et al 2021).…”

Mitochondrial genome sequencing and analysis of the invasiveMicrostegium vimineum: a resource for systematics, invasion history, and management

“…Such problems have been exacerbated by climate change and greater interconnectedness across the globe (Finch et al, 2021). Genomic resources provide practitioners and researchers with a baseline of powerful tools in medicine, agriculture, and virtually all areas of the life sciences, yet such tools are generally lacking for invasive species compared to those in crop and animal systems (Matheson and McGaughran, 2022). However, the widespread availability and increasing affordability of genome sequencing technologies and bioinformatic platforms are changing the landscape of invasion biology (North et al, 2021).…”