Biological invasions in international seaports: a case study of exotic rodents in Cotonou

• Published in: Urban Ecosystems
• Main Authors: Badou, Sylvestre, Hima, Karmadine, Agbangla, Clément, Gauthier, Philippe, Missihoun, Antoine, A., Houéménou, Gualbert, Loiseau, Anne, Brouat, Carine, Dobigny, Gauthier
• Other Authors: Ecole Polytechnique d'Abomey Calavi (EPAC), Université d’Abomey-Calavi = University of Abomey Calavi (UAC), Centre de Biologie pour la Gestion des Populations (UMR CBGP), Centre de Coopération Internationale en Recherche Agronomique pour le Développement (Cirad)-Institut de Recherche pour le Développement (IRD France-Sud )-Institut National de Recherche pour l’Agriculture, l’Alimentation et l’Environnement (INRAE)-Institut Agro Montpellier, Institut national d'enseignement supérieur pour l'agriculture, l'alimentation et l'environnement (Institut Agro)-Institut national d'enseignement supérieur pour l'agriculture, l'alimentation et l'environnement (Institut Agro)-Université de Montpellier (UM), Abdou Moumouni University of Niamey = Université Abdou Moumouni de Niamey (UAM), Unité Peste - Plague Unit Antananarivo, Madagascar, Institut Pasteur de Madagascar, Pasteur Network (Réseau International des Instituts Pasteur)-Pasteur Network (Réseau International des Instituts Pasteur), Sylvestre Badou was granted a Doctoral Research Fellowship (ARTS) by IRD (2019–2022). Data used in this work were produced through the genotyping and sequencing facilities of Labex CeMEB mutualized GenSeq platform (Mediterranean Center for Environment and Biodiversity, Genotyping-Sequencing Platform). This work is part of the PASPort/PPSE project funded by ACP, IRD and ENABEL., ANR-10-LABX-0004,CeMEB,Mediterranean Center for Environment and Biodiversity(2010)
• Format: Article in Journal/Newspaper
• Language: English
• Published: HAL CCSD 2023
• Subjects: Invasive rodents; Population genetics; Movement; Urban; Rodent management; Invasive rodents Population genetics Movement Urban Rodent management; [SDV.GEN.GPO]Life Sciences [q-bio]/Genetics/Populations and Evolution [q-bio.PE]; Rattus rattus
• Online Access: https://hal.inrae.fr/hal-04091150; https://hal.inrae.fr/hal-04091150v1/document; https://hal.inrae.fr/hal-04091150v1/file/s11252-023-01356-6.pdf; https://doi.org/10.1007/s11252-023-01356-6

All datasets used for this study are entirely deposited in the Small Mammal Collection at the IRD/CBGP (https://doi.org/10.15454/WWNUPO) as well as at URIB/LARBA/EPAC. The datasets are available upon request. International audience Black rat (Rattus rattus), brown rat (Rattus norvegicus), and house mouse (Mus musculus) are known to be among the most common anthropophilic rodent species in cities worldwide. These species are responsible for the destruction of domestic and industrial materials, considerable damage to food stocks as well as zoonotic pathogens circulation and transmission to humans and animals. These invasive species have disseminated in all continents following human-mediated exchanges, especially maritime transports. In particular, seaports appear as privileged rats and mice's entry points into new regions, thus making them international regulations' priorities for rodent surveillance and management. Yet, studies on seaport rodents are rare; in particular, investigations on their genetic structure are almost inexistent, thus precluding science-guided interventions. In order to fill such a gap, our study focused on the population genetics of R. rattus, R. norvegicus and M. musculus in the Autonomous Port of Cotonou, Benin. Nine different sites were surveyed for three years. In total, 366 R. rattus, 188 R. norvegicus and 244 M. musculus were genotyped using 18 microsatellites, 16 microsatellites and 17 microsatellites, respectively. Our results show very well-structured genetic clusters in all three species as well as limited impacts of rodent control campaigns. Using comparisons with genotypes from other European, Asian and African countries, we suggest for the first time that settlement of newly introduced individuals may be a rare event. Implications in terms of management units and control and monitoring are discussed.