Integrative taxonomy reveals cryptic diversity in North American Lasius ants, and an overlooked introduced species
Schär, Sämi (Institut de Biologia Evolutiva (UPF-CSIC) (Barcelona))
Talavera, Gerard (Institut Botànic de Barcelona)
Rana, Jignasha (The George Washington University. Department of Biological Sciences)
Espadaler, Xavier (Centre de Recerca Ecològica i d'Aplicacions Forestals)
Cover, Stefan P. (Harvard University. Museum of Comparative Zoology)
Shattuck, Steven O. (Harvard University. Museum of Comparative Zoology)
Vila Ujaldón, Roger (Institut de Biologia Evolutiva (UPF-CSIC) (Barcelona))
Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona. Departament de Biologia Animal, de Biologia Vegetal i d'Ecologia

Date:	2022
Abstract:	Biological invasions are a grave threat to ecosystems. The black garden ant (Lasius niger) is a pest species in Europe. Current literature states that L. niger occupies a disjunct native distribution in the Holarctic, however, based on recent work, we re-evaluate this distribution. The native range of L. niger is reconsidered based on phylogenetic relationships (nine mitochondrial and nuclear markers, 5670 bp), DNA-barcoding (98 Holarctic specimens), morphometry (88 Holarctic specimens, 19 different measurements) and subjective assessment of phenotype. The potential spread of this species is estimated using ecological niche modeling. Lasius niger is more closely related to other Palearctic species than to the Nearctic ants known under this name. The latter are described as a distinct species, L. ponderosae sp. nov. However, DNA-barcoding discovered established populations of L. niger in metropolitan areas in Canada (Vancouver and Halifax). We describe a morphometrical method to delineate L. ponderosae sp. nov. and L. niger. MtDNA diversity and divergence is high within L. ponderosae sp. nov. , but low within L. niger. More than 1,000,000 km 2 are suitable as a habitat for L. niger in North America. This case emphasizes the critical role of integrative taxonomy to detect cryptic species and identify potential biological invasions in their nascent stages.
Grants:	Agencia Estatal de Investigación CGL2016-76322 Agencia Estatal de Investigación PID2020-117739GA-I00
Rights:	Aquest document està subjecte a una llicència d'ús Creative Commons. Es permet la reproducció total o parcial, la distribució, la comunicació pública de l'obra i la creació d'obres derivades, fins i tot amb finalitats comercials, sempre i quan es reconegui l'autoria de l'obra original.
Language:	Anglès
Document:	Article ; recerca ; Versió publicada
Subject:	Entomology ; Invasive species ; Phylogenetics ; Taxonomy
Published in:	Scientific reports, Vol. 12 (April 2022) , art. 5970, ISSN 2045-2322

DOI: 10.1038/s41598-022-10047-9
PMID: 35396496

12 p, 2.4 MB

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Research literature > UAB research groups literature > Research Centres and Groups (research output) > Experimental sciences > CREAF (Centre de Recerca Ecològica i d'Aplicacions Forestals)
Articles > Research articles
Articles > Published articles