Cryptic diversity in Black rats Rattus rattus of the Galápagos Islands, Ecuador

• Published in: Ecology and Evolution
• Main Authors: Willows‐Munro, Sandi, Dowler, Robert C., Jarcho, Michael R., Phillips, Reese B., Snell, Howard L., Wilbert, Tammy R., Edwards, Cody W.
• Other Authors: National Geographic Society
• Format: Article in Journal/Newspaper
• Language: English
• Published: Wiley 2016
• Subjects: Rattus rattus
• Online Access: http://dx.doi.org/10.1002/ece3.2033; https://api.wiley.com/onlinelibrary/tdm/v1/articles/10.1002%2Fece3.2033; https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/pdf/10.1002/ece3.2033; https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/full-xml/10.1002/ece3.2033

Abstract Human activity has facilitated the introduction of a number of alien mammal species to the G alápagos A rchipelago. Understanding the phylogeographic history and population genetics of invasive species on the Archipelago is an important step in predicting future spread and designing effective management strategies. In this study, we describe the invasion pathway of R attus rattus across the G alápagos using microsatellite data, coupled with historical knowledge. Microsatellite genotypes were generated for 581 R . rattus sampled from 15 islands in the archipelago. The genetic data suggest that there are at least three genetic lineages of R . rattus present on the G alápagos I slands. The spatial distributions of these lineages correspond to the main centers of human settlement in the archipelago. There was limited admixture among these three lineages, and these finding coupled with low rates of gene flow among island populations suggests that interisland movement of R . rattus is rare. The low migration among islands recorded for the species will have a positive impact on future eradication efforts.