title: Genetic and Morphological Characterization of Freshwater Shrimps (Caridina africana Kingsley, 1882) Reveals the Presence of Alien Shrimps in the Cape Floristic Region, South Africa.
abstract: Morphological identification and molecular data (mtDNA COI) were used to resolve the taxonomic identity of a non-native freshwater shrimp in the Cape Floristic Region (CFR) of South Africa and to evaluate levels of genetic diversity and differentiation in the species' core natural distribution. The species was morphologically and genetically identified as Caridina africana Kingsley, 1882, whose main natural distribution is in the KwaZulu-Natal (KZN) Province, more than 1200 km from the point of new discovery. Subsequently, sequence data from natural populations occurring in seven rivers throughout KZN showed the presence of nuclear copies of the mtDNA COI gene (NUMTs) in 46 out of 140 individuals. Upon removal of sequences containing NUMTs, levels of genetic diversity were low in the alien population (possibly as a consequence of a bottleneck event), while varying levels of genetic diversity and differentiation were found in natural populations, indicating habitat heterogeneity, fragmentation and restricted gene flow between rivers. Following the present study, the alien shrimp has survived the Western Cape's winter and dispersed into a nearby tributary of the Eerste River System, hence posing an additional potential threat to endangered endemics. Understanding the biology of this alien species will aid detection and eradication procedures.
authors: From the Molecular Breeding and Biodiversity Research Group, Department of Genetics, Stellenbosch University, JC Smuts Building, van der Bjl Street, Stellenbosch 7600, South Africa (Mirimin, Kitchin, and Roodt-Wilding); Marine and Freshwater Research Centre, Galway-Mayo Institute of Technology, Galway, Ireland (Mirimin); Scientific Services, Cape Nature, Jonkershoek , Stellenbosch, South Africa (Impson); Invertebrates Division, Life Sciences Department, Natural History Museum, London, UK (Clark and Richard); and Evolutionary Genomics Group, Department of Botany and Zoology, Stellenbosch University, Stellenbosch, South Africa (Daniels). lmirimin@gmail.com.
authors: Luca
authors: L
authors: Mirimin
authors: From the Molecular Breeding and Biodiversity Research Group, Department of Genetics, Stellenbosch University, JC Smuts Building, van der Bjl Street, Stellenbosch 7600, South Africa (Mirimin, Kitchin, and Roodt-Wilding); Marine and Freshwater Research Centre, Galway-Mayo Institute of Technology, Galway, Ireland (Mirimin); Scientific Services, Cape Nature, Jonkershoek , Stellenbosch, South Africa (Impson); Invertebrates Division, Life Sciences Department, Natural History Museum, London, UK (Clark and Richard); and Evolutionary Genomics Group, Department of Botany and Zoology, Stellenbosch University, Stellenbosch, South Africa (Daniels).
authors: Natasha
authors: N
authors: Kitchin
authors: From the Molecular Breeding and Biodiversity Research Group, Department of Genetics, Stellenbosch University, JC Smuts Building, van der Bjl Street, Stellenbosch 7600, South Africa (Mirimin, Kitchin, and Roodt-Wilding); Marine and Freshwater Research Centre, Galway-Mayo Institute of Technology, Galway, Ireland (Mirimin); Scientific Services, Cape Nature, Jonkershoek , Stellenbosch, South Africa (Impson); Invertebrates Division, Life Sciences Department, Natural History Museum, London, UK (Clark and Richard); and Evolutionary Genomics Group, Department of Botany and Zoology, Stellenbosch University, Stellenbosch, South Africa (Daniels).
authors: Dean N
authors: DN
authors: Impson
authors: From the Molecular Breeding and Biodiversity Research Group, Department of Genetics, Stellenbosch University, JC Smuts Building, van der Bjl Street, Stellenbosch 7600, South Africa (Mirimin, Kitchin, and Roodt-Wilding); Marine and Freshwater Research Centre, Galway-Mayo Institute of Technology, Galway, Ireland (Mirimin); Scientific Services, Cape Nature, Jonkershoek , Stellenbosch, South Africa (Impson); Invertebrates Division, Life Sciences Department, Natural History Museum, London, UK (Clark and Richard); and Evolutionary Genomics Group, Department of Botany and Zoology, Stellenbosch University, Stellenbosch, South Africa (Daniels).
authors: Paul F
authors: PF
authors: Clark
authors: From the Molecular Breeding and Biodiversity Research Group, Department of Genetics, Stellenbosch University, JC Smuts Building, van der Bjl Street, Stellenbosch 7600, South Africa (Mirimin, Kitchin, and Roodt-Wilding); Marine and Freshwater Research Centre, Galway-Mayo Institute of Technology, Galway, Ireland (Mirimin); Scientific Services, Cape Nature, Jonkershoek , Stellenbosch, South Africa (Impson); Invertebrates Division, Life Sciences Department, Natural History Museum, London, UK (Clark and Richard); and Evolutionary Genomics Group, Department of Botany and Zoology, Stellenbosch University, Stellenbosch, South Africa (Daniels).
authors: Jasmine
authors: J
authors: Richard
authors: From the Molecular Breeding and Biodiversity Research Group, Department of Genetics, Stellenbosch University, JC Smuts Building, van der Bjl Street, Stellenbosch 7600, South Africa (Mirimin, Kitchin, and Roodt-Wilding); Marine and Freshwater Research Centre, Galway-Mayo Institute of Technology, Galway, Ireland (Mirimin); Scientific Services, Cape Nature, Jonkershoek , Stellenbosch, South Africa (Impson); Invertebrates Division, Life Sciences Department, Natural History Museum, London, UK (Clark and Richard); and Evolutionary Genomics Group, Department of Botany and Zoology, Stellenbosch University, Stellenbosch, South Africa (Daniels).
authors: Savel R
authors: SR
authors: Daniels
authors: From the Molecular Breeding and Biodiversity Research Group, Department of Genetics, Stellenbosch University, JC Smuts Building, van der Bjl Street, Stellenbosch 7600, South Africa (Mirimin, Kitchin, and Roodt-Wilding); Marine and Freshwater Research Centre, Galway-Mayo Institute of Technology, Galway, Ireland (Mirimin); Scientific Services, Cape Nature, Jonkershoek , Stellenbosch, South Africa (Impson); Invertebrates Division, Life Sciences Department, Natural History Museum, London, UK (Clark and Richard); and Evolutionary Genomics Group, Department of Botany and Zoology, Stellenbosch University, Stellenbosch, South Africa (Daniels).
authors: Rouvay
authors: R
authors: Roodt-Wilding
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D003445:Crustacea / Q000033:anatomy & histology / Q000145:classification* / Q000235:genetics; D004272:DNA, Mitochondrial / Q000235:genetics; D005260:Female; D005618:Fresh Water; D051456:Gene Flow; D014644:Genetic Variation; D005828:Genetics, Population; D006239:Haplotypes; D058865:Introduced Species; D008297:Male; D045483:Rivers; D017422:Sequence Analysis, DNA; D013019:South Africa
chemical_list: D004272:DNA, Mitochondrial
keywords: Atyidae; KwaZulu-Natal; NUMTs; Western Cape; cytochrome c oxidase subunit I; introduction; non-native