Genetic population structure of invasive raccoons (Procyon lotor) in Hokkaido, Japan: Unique phenomenon caused by pet escape or abandonment.

ABSTRACT: Phylogeographic studies can resolve relationships between genetic population structure of organisms and geographical distributions. Raccoons have become feral in Japan, and in Hokkaido island, they have been rapidly increasing in number and spreading since the 1970s. We analyzed mitochondrial (mtDNA) and microsatellite DNA to understand the current phylogenetic distribution and invasive founder events. Overall, Hokkaido raccoons maintained high genetic diversity (i.e., the level of heterozygosity was comparable to the original habitat, North America). Based on mtDNA distribution and microsatellite diversity, Hokkaido raccoons were divided into six management units. However, mtDNA haplotype distributions and genetic structures based on microsatellites did not always correspond to each other

SUBMITTER: Okuyama MW 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC7229193 | biostudies-literature | 2020 May

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature