Data from: Invasion genetics of marsh frogs (Pelophylax ridibundus sensu lato) in Switzerland

The marsh frog (Pelophylax ridibundus sensu lato) is the number one amphibian invader in Western Europe. In Switzerland, marsh frogs were introduced in the 1950-1960s and progressively colonized most of the northern parts of the country. We investigated this invasion using molecular tools. We mapped the cryptic presence of three monophyletic mitochondrial lineages (P. ridibundus, P. kurtmuelleri and P. c. f. bedriagae from southeastern Europe) consistent with registered importations by a local frog-leg industry. High nuclear diversity supports that invasive frogs probably originated from genetically-rich import batches and patterns of population differentiation confirm that multiple independent introduction sites were involved. Moreover, several lines of evidence suggest occasional hybridization with local hybridogenetic water frogs. This invasion emphasizes the issues of frequent amphibian releases and translocations at the international and regional scale for commercial and recreational purposes, and stresses for more adequate legislation, control and information to the general public. Given the parallel invasion by exotic pool frogs (i. e., the Italian P. bergeri has replaced the local P. lessonae), the situation of water frogs in Switzerland is critical. The water frog complex makes an alarming symbol of the anthropogenic mark left on wildlife diversity and distributions.

广义沼泽蛙（Pelophylax ridibundus sensu lato）是西欧头号两栖入侵物种。在瑞士，沼泽蛙于20世纪50至60年代被引入，并逐步扩散至该国北部大部分区域。本研究借助分子生物学手段对此次入侵事件展开调查。我们明确了三个单系线粒体谱系（源自欧洲东南部的P. ridibundus、P. kurtmuelleri以及P. c. f. bedriagae）的隐秘分布，该分布与当地蛙腿产业的注册进口记录相吻合。较高的核基因多样性表明，入侵蛙类大概率源自基因多样性丰富的进口种群；种群分化模式则证实，此次入侵涉及多个独立的引入位点。此外，多项证据显示，入侵蛙类偶尔会与当地的杂交生殖型水蛙发生杂交。此次入侵凸显了国际及区域范围内因商业与休闲目的频繁开展两栖动物放生及易位活动所引发的问题，并呼吁完善相关立法、加强管控并向公众普及相关知识。考虑到外来池蛙（即意大利P. bergeri已取代当地P. lessonae）的同步入侵，瑞士境内水蛙的生存现状已岌岌可危。水蛙复合类群堪称人类活动对野生动物多样性及其分布造成影响的醒目警示符号。