Abstract Detail

Genetics Section

Moody, Michael Lee [1], Mohl, Jonathon E. [2], Palomino, Nayell [2], Thum, Ryan A. [3], Weyl, Philip [4].

Unraveling the history of the North American Eurasian watermilfoil invasion using traditional sequence and RADseq data.

The North American Eurasian watermilfoil (EWM; Myriophyllum spicatum) invasion is currently believed to have an origin near New York in the 1940’s with the current distribution across the contiguous U.S.A. and Canada. As the invasion became more prevalent in the Midwest U.S., hybridization with the native Northern watermilfoil (NWM; M. sibiricum) was identified to have a significant role in the invasion. While it is clear now that there are multiple genotypes involved, the geographic origins of these genotypes are unclear. Hybrids are more prominent across recently invaded part of the U.S.A. (Midwest/West) but not identified in the oldest part of the range (East). We use cpDNA intron and nrDNA ITS to examine geographic origins of EWM. RADseq data, which provides unprecedented advantage in volume of available loci, was incorporated to help elucidate footprint of a hybrid past among EWM where hybrids have not been identified using more traditional molecular methods. RADseq data was also used to explore diversity within the North American invasion. A combined 93 invasive and native populations were sampled for phylogeographic analysis. Multiple haplotypes from the native range of M. spicatum were identified to be involved in the invasion. Hybrid taxa have maternal origin primarily from M. spicatum. An initial library of 35K SNPs from a panel of 45 EWM, NWM and hybrid taxa from across North America and Asia was constructed. More than 1.7K SNP fixed differences between EWM from its native range and NWM and these loci were used to explore potential for hybrid history in EWM not identified using current methods. The SNP library was also used to identify divergent lineages within the North American invasion and possible signatures of evolution. Future research will be able to build on this data to better explain the complex history of the invasion and investigate the role of selection.

1 - University Of Texas At El Paso, Department Of Biology, 500 W. University Ave., Bioscience Bldg 2.120, El Paso, TX, 79968, USA
2 - University of Texas at El Paso, 500 W. University Ave, El Paso, Texas, 79968, United States
3 - Montana State University, 313 Plant BioScience Building, Bozeman, MT, 59717
4 - Rhodes University, Drosty Rd, Grahamstown, 6139, South Africa

Keywords:
Phylogeography
hybrids
RADseq
cpDNA
Invasion
Evolution.

Presentation Type: Oral Paper:Papers for Sections
Session: 17
Location: Salon 15/16/The Shaw Conference Centre
Date: Monday, July 27th, 2015
Time: 1:45 PM
Number: 17002
Abstract ID:985
Candidate for Awards:None