Cryptic diversity in Black rats Rattus rattus of the Galapagos Islands, Ecuador.

ABSTRACT: Human activity has facilitated the introduction of a number of alien mammal species to the Galápagos Archipelago. Understanding the phylogeographic history and population genetics of invasive species on the Archipelago is an important step in predicting future spread and designing effective management strategies. In this study, we describe the invasion pathway of Rattus rattus across the Galápagos using microsatellite data, coupled with historical knowledge. Microsatellite genotypes were generated for 581 R. rattus sampled from 15 islands in the archipelago. The genetic data suggest that there are at least three genetic lineages of R. rattus present on the Galápagos Islands. The spatial distributions of these lineages correspond to the main centers of human settlement

SUBMITTER: Willows-Munro S 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC4863831 | biostudies-literature | 2016 Jun

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature