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Invasion genomics of the alpine newt in Britain reveal a complex history of introductions and translocations
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  • Rachel Hester,
  • Jim Labisko,
  • Jinliang Wang,
  • Trenton Garner
Rachel Hester
University College London

Corresponding Author:[email protected]

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Jim Labisko
University College London
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Jinliang Wang
Zoological Society of London
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Trenton Garner
Zoological Society of London
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Abstract

The spread of invasive species to regions outside of their typical, native range has been fuelled by globalization and trade, with human-facilitated introductions being a primary driver of invasion by non-native species. The alpine newt, Ichthyosaura alpestris is native to mainland Europe, and has become well-established at several locations across the UK, with a pattern of invasion in the UK suggesting both primary introductions from its native range, and secondary translocations from established sites. We sampled 95 individuals from 23 ponds in 11 sites across the UK and obtained their genomic SNP (Single Nucleotide Polymorphisms) data from ddRAD-sequencing to answer questions about the invasion history of these UK non-native amphibians. In conjunction with these genomic tools, anecdotal evidence is also used to better understand the pattern of invasion and subsequent spread of alpine newts across the country. Our results provide an insight into the genetic variation within these populations, with strong population structure among sites and ponds within a site. Population structure analyses also provide evidence for human-assisted movement of newts within the UK and the results are consistent with multiple independent introductions. Such findings support the idea that human-mediated translocation plays a central role in the movement of alpine newts around the UK. This research illustrates how genomics can be used in conjunction with historical data to better understand the invasion history of non-native organisms.
09 Jan 2025Submitted to Molecular Ecology
10 Jan 2025Submission Checks Completed
10 Jan 2025Assigned to Editor
10 Jan 2025Review(s) Completed, Editorial Evaluation Pending
22 Jan 2025Reviewer(s) Assigned