Inferring Invasion History of Red Swamp Crayfish (Procambarus clarkii) in China from Mitochondrial Control Region and Nuclear Intron Sequences

Abstract

Identifying the dispersal pathways of an invasive species is useful for adopting the appropriate strategies to prevent and control its spread. However, these processes are exceedingly complex. So, it is necessary to apply new technology and collect representative samples for analysis. This study used Approximate Bayesian Computation (ABC) in combination with traditional genetic tools to examine extensive sample data and historical records to infer the invasion history of the red swamp crayfish, Procambarus clarkii, in China. The sequences of the mitochondrial control region and the proPOx intron in the nuclear genome of samples from 37 sites (35 in China and one each in Japan and the USA) were analyzed. The results of combined scenarios testing and historical records revealed a much more complex invasion history in China than previously believed. P. clarkii was most likely originally introduced into China from Japan from an unsampled source, and the species then expanded its range primarily into the middle and lower reaches and, to a lesser extent, into the upper reaches of the Changjiang River in China. No transfer was observed from the upper reaches to the middle and lower reaches of the Changjiang River. Human-mediated jump dispersal was an important dispersal pathway for P. clarkii. The results provide a better understanding of the evolutionary scenarios involved in the rapid invasion of P. clarkii in China.

Characterization of Population Genetic Structure of red swamp crayfish, Procambarus clarkii, in China

“…The high level of genetic diversity in P. clarkii populations was detected in this study, which is consistent with the previous studies 12 and could contribute to invasion success 28 . Meanwhile, the high level of variance within populations rather than among populations was revealed in this study, which might help to the invasion success of P. clarkii 11 , 12 , and also it appears to be an typical genetic feature of invasive species after its successful invasion, which is also reported in other invasive species 29 – 31 . Meanwhile, the high F ST values revealed less genetic exchange between most P. clarkii populations, which may be related to its migrational ability in the wild and high fecundity.…”

“…Undoubtedly, P. clarkii could provide a desirable mode for investigating the genetic structure of an invasive species mainly dispersed by human-mediated factors. Previous studies 6 , 12 , 13 proposed that the populations of P. clarkii in China exhibited a high level of genetic diversity after successfully invading a new environment. Meanwhile, in the past years, the human-mediated dispersal in aquaculture accelerated the invasion of P. clarkii in China and might result in the differnet levels of gene flow among different populations 11 .…”

“…The population structure and genetic diversity of this alien species help us revealing the historical dispersal pattern of P. clarkii in China, and also provide new insights into invasion prevention and utilization of genetic resource. Previously, population genetic studies of P. clarkii have generally used mitochondrial genes 12 , microsatellites 14 , 15 and AFLP 13 , and that the genomic data of P. clarkii is quite limited 8 , 16 . The growing accessibility to high-throughput sequencing technologies allows the production of massive data and the discovery of genome-wide resources at relatively modest and decreasing costs.…”

Novel Insights into Antiviral Gene Regulation of Red Swamp Crayfish, Procambarus clarkii, Infected with White Spot Syndrome Virus

“…The red swamp crayfish, Procambarus clarkii (Girard 1985), native to north-eastern Mexico and south-central United States, is one of the world’s most invasive species [ 1 ]. In 1920s, P. clarkii was firstly introduced into Nanjing City, China from Japan [ 2 ] and is now widely distributed in almost all forms of the freshwater bodies [ 3 ]. Interestingly, it is widely favored and consumed in China, and is one of the most economically important farmed aquatic species rather than a devastating invasive species in China.…”

Identification of peptides from sinus gland extracts in the red swampcrayfish Procambarus clarkii by mass spectrometry

“…It also provides a useful model organism in many areas of physiology (Li et al, 2015). Despite the well-studied negative regulator roles for crustacean hyperglycemic hormone (CHH) family in the crayfish, there is no sufficient study in the profile of the signaling molecules in term of complement neuropeptides, as well as the limitation of existing tools to investigate signal regulation mechanism (splicing, processing and releasing).…”