title: Epigenetic signatures of invasive status in populations of marine invertebrates.
abstract: Epigenetics, as a DNA signature that affects gene expression and enables rapid reaction of an organism to environmental changes, is likely involved in the process of biological invasions. DNA methylation is an epigenetic mechanism common to plants and animals for regulating gene expression. In this study we show, for the first time in any marine species, significant reduction of global methylation levels during the expansive phase of a pygmy mussel (Xenostrobus securis) recent invasion in Europe (two-year old), while in older introductions such epigenetic signature of invasion was progressively reduced. Decreased methylation was interpreted as a rapid way of increasing phenotypic plasticity that would help invasive populations to thrive. This epigenetic signature of early invasion was stronger than the expected environmental signature of environmental stress in younger populations sampled from ports, otherwise detected in a much older population (>90 year old) of the also invasive tubeworm Ficopomatus enigmaticus established in similar locations. Higher epigenetic than genetic diversity found in X. securis was confirmed from F. enigmaticus samples. As reported for introduced plants and vertebrates, epigenetic variation could compensate for relatively lower genetic variation caused by founder effects. These phenomena were compared with epigenetic mechanisms involved in metastasis, as parallel processes of community (biological invasion) and organism (cancer) invasions.
authors.affiliation: PSL Research University: EPHE-UPVD-CNRS, USR 3278 CRIOBE, Université de Perpignan, 52 Avenue Paul Alduy, 66860 Perpignan Cedex, France.|Laboratoire d'Excellence "Corail", Centre de Recherche Insulaire et Observatoire de l'Environment (CRIOBE), BP 1013, 98 729 Papetoai, Moorea, French Polynesia.
authors.forename: Alba
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Ardura
authors.affiliation: Coastal and Freshwater Group, Cawthron Institute, 98 Halifax Street East, 7010 Nelson, New Zealand.|Marine Science and Technology Centre, Klaipeda University, H. Manto 84, LT-92294, Klaipeda, Lithuania.
authors.forename: Anastasija
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Zaiko
authors.affiliation: Facultad de Biología, University of Vigo. Campus Universitario Lagoas-Marcosende, 36310 Vigo, Spain.
authors.forename: Paloma
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Morán
authors.affiliation: PSL Research University: EPHE-UPVD-CNRS, USR 3278 CRIOBE, Université de Perpignan, 52 Avenue Paul Alduy, 66860 Perpignan Cedex, France.|Laboratoire d'Excellence "Corail", Centre de Recherche Insulaire et Observatoire de l'Environment (CRIOBE), BP 1013, 98 729 Papetoai, Moorea, French Polynesia.
authors.forename: Serge
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Planes
authors.affiliation: Department of Functional Biology, University of Oviedo. C/Julian Claveria s/n 33006-Oviedo, Spain.
authors.forename: Eva
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Garcia-Vazquez
mesh_terms: D063147:Animal Distribution; D000818:Animals; D059001:Aquatic Organisms; D049872:Bivalvia / Q000145:classification / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism; D004247:DNA / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D058893:DNA Barcoding, Taxonomic; D019175:DNA Methylation; D044127:Epigenesis, Genetic; D005060:Europe; D018703:Founder Effect; D014644:Genetic Variation; D006801:Humans; D058865:Introduced Species; D009369:Neoplasms / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D009360:Neoplastic Cells, Circulating / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D009520:New Zealand; D010802:Phylogeny; D058974:Phylogeography; D011077:Polychaeta / Q000145:classification / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism; D025341:Principal Component Analysis
chemical_list: D004247:DNA