title: Low Genetic Diversity and High Invasion Success of Corbicula fluminea (Bivalvia, Corbiculidae) (Müller, 1774) in Portugal.
abstract: The Asian clam, Corbicula fluminea, is an invasive alien species (IAS) originally from Asia that has spread worldwide causing major ecological and economic impacts in aquatic ecosystems. Here, we evaluated C. fluminea genetic (using COI mtDNA, CYTb mtDNA and 18S rDNA gene markers), morphometric and sperm morphology variation in Portuguese freshwater ecosystems. The COI marker revealed a single haplotype, which belongs to the Asian FW5 invasive lineage, suggesting a common origin for all the 13 Portuguese C. fluminea populations analysed. Morphometric analyses showed differences between the populations colonizing the North (with the exception of the Lima River) and the Centre/South ecosystems. The sperm morphology examination revealed the presence of biflagellate sperm, a distinctive character of the invasive androgenetic lineages. The low genetic variability of the Portuguese C. fluminea populations and the pattern of sperm morphology have been illuminating for understanding the demographic history of this invasive species. We hypothesize that these populations were derived from a unique introductory event of a Corbicula fluminea FW5 invasive androgenic lineage in the Tejo River, which subsequently dispersed to other Portuguese freshwater ecosystems. The C. fluminea asexual reproductive mode may have assisted these populations to become highly invasive despite the low genetic diversity.
authors.affiliation: CIIMAR/CIMAR - Interdisciplinary Centre of Marine and Environmental Research, University of Porto, Terminal de Cruzeiros do Porto de Leixões, Av. General Norton de Matos, s/n, 4450-208, Porto, Portugal.|ICBAS - Institute of the Biomedical Sciences Abel Salazar, University of Porto, Department of Populations Study, Laboratory of Ecotoxicology, Rua de Jorge Viterbo Ferreira, 228, 4050-313, Porto, Portugal.
authors.forename: Cidália
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Gomes
authors.affiliation: CIIMAR/CIMAR - Interdisciplinary Centre of Marine and Environmental Research, University of Porto, Terminal de Cruzeiros do Porto de Leixões, Av. General Norton de Matos, s/n, 4450-208, Porto, Portugal.|CBMA - Centre of Molecular and Environmental Biology, Department of Biology, University of Minho, Campus de Gualtar, 4710-057, Braga, Portugal.
authors.forename: Ronaldo
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Sousa
authors.affiliation: CIIMAR/CIMAR - Interdisciplinary Centre of Marine and Environmental Research, University of Porto, Terminal de Cruzeiros do Porto de Leixões, Av. General Norton de Matos, s/n, 4450-208, Porto, Portugal.|FCUP - Department of Biology, Faculty of Sciences, University of Porto, Rua do Campo Alegre, s/n Edifício FC5, 4169-007, Porto, Portugal.
authors.forename: Tito
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Mendes
authors.affiliation: CIIMAR/CIMAR - Interdisciplinary Centre of Marine and Environmental Research, University of Porto, Terminal de Cruzeiros do Porto de Leixões, Av. General Norton de Matos, s/n, 4450-208, Porto, Portugal.|FCUP - Department of Biology, Faculty of Sciences, University of Porto, Rua do Campo Alegre, s/n Edifício FC5, 4169-007, Porto, Portugal.
authors.forename: Rui
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Borges
authors.affiliation: CIIMAR/CIMAR - Interdisciplinary Centre of Marine and Environmental Research, University of Porto, Terminal de Cruzeiros do Porto de Leixões, Av. General Norton de Matos, s/n, 4450-208, Porto, Portugal.|ICBAS - Institute of the Biomedical Sciences Abel Salazar, University of Porto, Department of Populations Study, Laboratory of Ecotoxicology, Rua de Jorge Viterbo Ferreira, 228, 4050-313, Porto, Portugal.
authors.forename: Pedro
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Vilares
authors.affiliation: CIIMAR/CIMAR - Interdisciplinary Centre of Marine and Environmental Research, University of Porto, Terminal de Cruzeiros do Porto de Leixões, Av. General Norton de Matos, s/n, 4450-208, Porto, Portugal.|FCUP - Department of Biology, Faculty of Sciences, University of Porto, Rua do Campo Alegre, s/n Edifício FC5, 4169-007, Porto, Portugal.
authors.forename: Vitor
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Vasconcelos
authors.affiliation: CIIMAR/CIMAR - Interdisciplinary Centre of Marine and Environmental Research, University of Porto, Terminal de Cruzeiros do Porto de Leixões, Av. General Norton de Matos, s/n, 4450-208, Porto, Portugal.|ICBAS - Institute of the Biomedical Sciences Abel Salazar, University of Porto, Department of Populations Study, Laboratory of Ecotoxicology, Rua de Jorge Viterbo Ferreira, 228, 4050-313, Porto, Portugal.
authors.forename: Lúcia
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Guilhermino
authors.affiliation: CIIMAR/CIMAR - Interdisciplinary Centre of Marine and Environmental Research, University of Porto, Terminal de Cruzeiros do Porto de Leixões, Av. General Norton de Matos, s/n, 4450-208, Porto, Portugal.|FCUP - Department of Biology, Faculty of Sciences, University of Porto, Rua do Campo Alegre, s/n Edifício FC5, 4169-007, Porto, Portugal.
authors.forename: Agostinho
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Antunes
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D049874:Corbicula / Q000235:genetics*; D004272:DNA, Mitochondrial / Q000235:genetics*; D004275:DNA, Ribosomal / Q000235:genetics; D017753:Ecosystem; D005260:Female; D005618:Fresh Water; D005819:Genetic Markers; D014644:Genetic Variation; D005828:Genetics, Population; D005843:Geography; D006239:Haplotypes; D058865:Introduced Species; D008297:Male; D010802:Phylogeny; D016133:Polymerase Chain Reaction; D011174:Portugal; D013094:Spermatozoa / Q000502:physiology
chemical_list: D004272:DNA, Mitochondrial; D004275:DNA, Ribosomal; D005819:Genetic Markers