Reasons for the invasive success of a guppy (Poecilia reticulata) population in Trinidad.

ABSTRACT: The introduction of non-native species into new habitats poses a major threat to native populations. Of particular interest, though often overlooked, are introductions of populations that are not fully reproductively isolated from native individuals and can hybridize with them. To address this important topic we used different approaches in a multi-pronged study, combining the effects of mate choice, shoaling behaviour and genetics. Here we present evidence that behavioural traits such as shoaling and mate choice can promote population mixing if individuals do not distinguish between native and foreign conspecifics. We examined this in the context of two guppy (Poecilia reticulata) populations that have been subject to an introduction and subsequent population mixing event in Trinidad. The

SUBMITTER: Sievers C 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC3365015 | biostudies-literature | 2012

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature