Establishment failure in biological invasions: a case history of Littorina littorea in California, USA.

ABSTRACT:

Background

The early stages of biological invasions are rarely observed, but can provide significant insight into the invasion process as well as the influence vectors have on invasion success or failure.

Methodology/principal findings

We characterized three newly discovered populations of an introduced gastropod, Littorina littorea (Linné, 1758), in California, USA, comparing them to potential source populations in native Europe and the North American East Coast, where the snail is also introduced. Demographic surveys were used to assess spatial distribution and sizes of the snail in San Francisco and Anaheim Bays, California. Mitochondrial DNA was sequenced and compared among these nascent populations, and various populations from the North American East Coast and Europe,

SUBMITTER: Chang AL 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC3018467 | biostudies-literature | 2011 Jan

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature