Global invasion history of Reticulitermes flavipes

Here, we used population genetic analyses and approximate Bayesian computation (ABC) to investigate the invasion history of the subterranean termite species R. flavipes. Using ddRadSeq, we first generated a SNP dataset sequencing 23 native populations in the USA and six introduced populations of this species in France, Germany, Chile, Uruguay, the Bahamas and Canada. We then assessed patterns of genetic structure within the entire native range of the species, and within each of the introduced populations. Finally, in order to elucidate the invasion history of R. flavipes, we compared support for different invasion scenarios modeling the number, size, and origin of each introduction event and their admixture using ABC.

本研究采用种群遗传分析与近似贝叶斯计算（approximate Bayesian computation, ABC），对地下白蚁物种R. flavipes的入侵历史展开探究。首先利用ddRADSeq技术对分布于美国的23个本土种群，以及该物种在法国、德国、智利、乌拉圭、巴哈马与加拿大的6个外来入侵种群进行测序，由此构建了单核苷酸多态性（Single Nucleotide Polymorphism, SNP）数据集。随后，我们分别解析了该物种在其整个本土分布范围以及各外来入侵种群内的遗传结构模式。最后，为阐明R. flavipes的入侵历史，我们借助近似贝叶斯计算（ABC）比较了不同入侵情景的支持度；这些情景通过建模各引入事件的数量、规模、来源及其遗传混合模式得以构建。