title: Preventing species invasion: A role for integrative taxonomy?
abstract: Integrative taxonomy, a multi-disciplinary approach adding modern techniques to traditional morphology-based methods (e.g. molecular and morphological criteria), can play an important role in bioinvasion research to identify introduced taxa, discover pathways of introduction and inform authorities to control and prevent future introductions. The present study is the first on introduced populations of Callosciurus, Asiatic tree squirrels, known as potentially invasive species in Europe (Italy, Belgium and France). We combined molecular (mitochondrial DNA markers: CoxI, D-loop) and morphometric analysis on skulls, comparing them to the widest morphological and molecular datasets ever assembled for Callosciurus. Squirrels collected in Italy and Belgium share the same haplotypes and skull characteristics, but are conspicuously different from the French population in Antibes. Genetic data revealed close similarity between French squirrels and Pallas's squirrels, Callosciurus erythraeus, from Taiwan, China. Italian and Belgian squirrels formed an independent taxonomic lineage in genetic analyses, whose taxonomic rank needs further investigation. The morphological and morphometric characteristics of these 2 populations are, however, similar to known specimens assigned to Callosciurus erythraeus. These results may indicate a common origin for the populations found in Belgium and Italy. In contrast, French specimens suggest an independent introduction event of squirrels originating from Asia.
authors.affiliation: Environment Analysis and Management Unit -Guido Tosi Research Group, Department of Theoretical and Applied Sciences, University of Insubria, Varese, Italy.
authors.forename: Maria V
authors.initials: MV
authors.lastname: Mazzamuto
authors.affiliation: ZooPlantLab, Department of Biotechnoly and Biosciences, University of Milano-Bicocca, Milan, Italy.
authors.forename: Andrea
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Galimberti
authors.affiliation: Department of Biology and Biotechnology "Charles Darwin," Sapienza, Rome University, Rome, Italy.
authors.forename: Giacomo
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Cremonesi
authors.affiliation: Centre of Ecology and Conservation Sciences, Sorbonne University, MNHN, CNRS, UPMC, National Museum of Natural History, Paris, France.
authors.forename: Benoît
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Pisanu
authors.affiliation: Centre of Ecology and Conservation Sciences, Sorbonne University, MNHN, CNRS, UPMC, National Museum of Natural History, Paris, France.
authors.forename: Jean-Louis
authors.initials: JL
authors.lastname: Chapuis
authors.affiliation: Research Institute for Nature and Forestry, Geraardsbergen, Belgium.
authors.forename: Jan
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Stuyck
authors.affiliation: CNR - Institute of Ecosystem Studies, Department of Biology and Biotechnology "Charles Darwin," Sapienza, Rome University, Rome, Italy.
authors.forename: Giovanni
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Amori
authors.affiliation: Environment Analysis and Management Unit -Guido Tosi Research Group, Department of Theoretical and Applied Sciences, University of Insubria, Varese, Italy.|Forestry College, Guizhou University, Guiyang, Guizhou, China.
authors.forename: Haijun
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Su
authors.affiliation: University of Calabria, Museum of Natural History of Calabria and Botanical Garden, Arcavacata di Rende (CS), Italy.
authors.forename: Gaetano
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Aloise
authors.affiliation: Environment Analysis and Management Unit -Guido Tosi Research Group, Department of Theoretical and Applied Sciences, University of Insubria, Varese, Italy.
authors.forename: Damiano G
authors.initials: DG
authors.lastname: Preatoni
authors.affiliation: Environment Analysis and Management Unit -Guido Tosi Research Group, Department of Theoretical and Applied Sciences, University of Insubria, Varese, Italy.
authors.forename: Lucas A
authors.initials: LA
authors.lastname: Wauters
authors.affiliation: ZooPlantLab, Department of Biotechnoly and Biosciences, University of Milano-Bicocca, Milan, Italy.
authors.forename: Maurizio
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Casiraghi
authors.affiliation: Environment Analysis and Management Unit -Guido Tosi Research Group, Department of Theoretical and Applied Sciences, University of Insubria, Varese, Italy.
authors.forename: Adriano
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Martinoli
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D002965:Classification / Q000379:methods*; D058893:DNA Barcoding, Taxonomic; D004272:DNA, Mitochondrial / Q000235:genetics; D005060:Europe; D058865:Introduced Species; D012589:Sciuridae / Q000033:anatomy & histology / Q000145:classification* / Q000235:genetics*; D016415:Sequence Alignment; D012886:Skull / Q000033:anatomy & histology
chemical_list: D004272:DNA, Mitochondrial
keywords: Callosciurus; CoxI; D-loop; invasive species; morphometric analysis