Browsing by Subject "Invasive species"

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European population genomic differentiation and dispersal pattern of the invasive beetle Anoplophora glabripennis
(2023) Häussermann, Iris Hanna; Hasselmann, Martin
Anthropogenic activities (e.g. homogenized habitats, trade) are the main factors to facilitate the increasing rates of invasive alien species. In this study, the invasion of the Asian long-horned beetle (Anoplophora glabripennis) was examined. Its native distribution is eastern Asia (China, Korean peninsula), but by extensive trade, this beetle was introduced via wood packing materials to North-America (1996) and Europe (2001). ALB attacks healthy broadleaved trees (e.g. Acer spp., Salix spp., Populus spp.), which can become lethal due to larval feeding. This study aims to detect genetic differences and kinship between the European infestation sites in Germany, Switzerland and Italy, from which the introduction and dispersal patterns can be deviated. Therefore, mitochondrial (mt) DNA-markers of the Cytochrome oxidase subunits I and II genes (COI and II) were used (ch. A and B, Sanger sequencing), as well as genome wide single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs), which were obtained by a Genotype-by-sequencing (GBS) approach (ch. C, Illumina sequencing). The results of this population genomic study of invasive European ALB populations showed very complex introduction patterns into Europe including multiple independent introductions characterized by the high population structure between the European infestation sites and some cases of human mediated secondary dispersal.
Peronospora aquilegiicola made its way to Germany: The start of a new pandemic?
(2020) Thines, Marco; Buaya, Anthony; Ali, Tahir; Brand, Thomas
Peronospora aquilegiicola is a destructive pathogen of columbines and has wiped out most Aquilegia cultivars in several private and public gardens throughout Britain. The pathogen, which is native to East Asia was noticed in England and Wales in 2013 and quickly spread through the country, probably by infested plants or seeds. To our knowledge, the pathogen has so far not been reported from other parts of Europe. Here, we report the emergence of the pathogen in the northwest of Germany, based on morphological and phylogenetic evidence. As the pathogen was found in a garden in which no new columbines had been planted recently, we assume that the pathogen has already spread from its original point of introduction in Germany. This calls for an increased attention to the further spread of the pathogen and the eradication of infection spots to avoid the spread to naturally occurring columbines in Germany and to prevent another downy mildew from becoming a global threat, like Peronospora belbahrii and Plasmopara destructor, the downy mildews of basil and balsamines, respectively.