Population Ecology and Genetic Diversity of the Invasive Alien Species in Lake Trasimeno (Italy).
Ambrosius Josef Martin Dörr, Melissa Scoparo, Irene Cardinali, Gianandrea La Porta, Barbara Caldaroni, Gabriele Magara, Matteo Pallottini, Roberta Selvaggi, Beniamino Cenci-Goga, Enzo Goretti, David Cappelletti, Hovirag Lancioni, Antonia Concetta Elia
Author Information
Ambrosius Josef Martin Dörr: Department of Chemistry, Biology and Biotechnology, University of Perugia, Via Elce di Sotto 8, 06123 Perugia, Italy.
Melissa Scoparo: Department of Chemistry, Biology and Biotechnology, University of Perugia, Via Elce di Sotto 8, 06123 Perugia, Italy.
Irene Cardinali: Department of Chemistry, Biology and Biotechnology, University of Perugia, Via Elce di Sotto 8, 06123 Perugia, Italy. ORCID
Gianandrea La Porta: Department of Chemistry, Biology and Biotechnology, University of Perugia, Via Elce di Sotto 8, 06123 Perugia, Italy. ORCID
Barbara Caldaroni: Department of Chemistry, Biology and Biotechnology, University of Perugia, Via Elce di Sotto 8, 06123 Perugia, Italy.
Gabriele Magara: Department of Chemistry, Biology and Biotechnology, University of Perugia, Via Elce di Sotto 8, 06123 Perugia, Italy.
Matteo Pallottini: Department of Chemistry, Biology and Biotechnology, University of Perugia, Via Elce di Sotto 8, 06123 Perugia, Italy. ORCID
Roberta Selvaggi: Department of Chemistry, Biology and Biotechnology, University of Perugia, Via Elce di Sotto 8, 06123 Perugia, Italy.
Beniamino Cenci-Goga: Department of Veterinary Medicine, University of Perugia, Via San Costanzo 4, 06126 Perugia, Italy. ORCID
Enzo Goretti: Department of Chemistry, Biology and Biotechnology, University of Perugia, Via Elce di Sotto 8, 06123 Perugia, Italy. ORCID
David Cappelletti: Department of Chemistry, Biology and Biotechnology, University of Perugia, Via Elce di Sotto 8, 06123 Perugia, Italy. ORCID
Hovirag Lancioni: Department of Chemistry, Biology and Biotechnology, University of Perugia, Via Elce di Sotto 8, 06123 Perugia, Italy. ORCID
Antonia Concetta Elia: Department of Chemistry, Biology and Biotechnology, University of Perugia, Via Elce di Sotto 8, 06123 Perugia, Italy.
The deliberate or accidental introduction of invasive alien species (IAS) causes negative ecological and economic impacts altering ecosystem processes, imperiling native species and causing damage to human endeavors. A monthly monitoring program was performed in Lake Trasimeno (Central Italy) from July 2018 to July 2019 in order to provide an upgrade of the population ecology of and to assess the genetic diversity by analyzing the relationships among mitochondrial DNA diversity. Our results confirmed that is well acclimatized in the lake, revealing a stable population structure favored by the resources and conditions typical of this ecosystem, which seem to be optimal for the maintenance of the species. Four distinct mitochondrial haplotypes were detected, but one of them was clearly overrepresented (76%), suggesting that a single predominant introduction event may have occurred in this area, likely followed by secondary events. The identification of the typical genetic variants provides a better understanding of the evolutionary scenarios of in this biotope and it can be helpful in management plans concerning the expanding populations of this invasive alien species.
