Data from: Ancestral origins and invasion pathways in a globally invasive bird correlate with climate and influences from bird trade

Invasive species present a major threat to global biodiversity. Understanding genetic patterns and evolutionary processes that reinforce successful establishment is paramount for elucidating mechanisms underlying biological invasions. Among birds, the ring-necked parakeet (Psittacula krameri) is one of the most successful invasive species, established in over 35 countries. However, little is known about the evolutionary genetic origins of this species and what population genetic signatures tell us about patterns of invasion. We reveal the ancestral origins of populations across the invasive range, and explore the potential influence of climate and propagule pressure from the pet trade on observed genetic patterns. Ring-necked parakeet samples representing the ancestral native range (n=96) were collected from museum specimens and modern samples from the invasive range (n=855) were gathered from across Europe, Mauritius and Seychelles, and sequenced for two mitochondrial DNA markers comprising 868bp of cytochrome b and control region, and genotyped at 10 microsatellite loci. Invasive populations comprise birds that originate predominantly from Pakistan and northern areas of India. Haplotypes associated with more northerly distribution limits in the ancestral native range were more prevalent in invasive populations in Europe, and the predominance of Asian haplotypes in Europe is consistent with the higher number of Asian birds transported by the pet trade outside the native range. Successful establishment of invasive species is likely to be underpinned by a combination of environmental and anthropogenic influences.

外来入侵物种对全球生物多样性构成重大威胁。解析驱动生物入侵的内在机制，阐明助力入侵物种成功定殖的遗传模式与演化过程，是相关研究的核心要务。在鸟类中，红领绿鹦鹉（Psittacula krameri）是最为成功的外来入侵物种之一，已在全球超过35个国家成功定殖。然而，学界对该物种的演化遗传起源，以及种群遗传特征可揭示何种入侵模式，仍知之甚少。本研究明确了该物种入侵分布范围内种群的祖先起源，并探讨了气候条件以及宠物贸易带来的繁殖体压力对观测到的遗传模式的潜在影响。研究采集了代表祖先原生分布区的红领绿鹦鹉样本（n=96，源自博物馆标本），以及来自入侵分布区的现代样本（n=855，覆盖欧洲、毛里求斯与塞舌尔）；对所有样本开展了两段线粒体DNA标记的测序——包含868bp的细胞色素b基因与控制区，并在10个微卫星位点进行了基因分型。入侵种群的个体主要起源于巴基斯坦与印度北部地区。在欧洲的入侵种群中，与原生分布区北界分布相关的单倍型更为常见；而欧洲入侵种群中亚洲单倍型占主导的现象，与宠物贸易在原生分布区外运输的亚洲鸟类数量更多的情况相符。外来入侵物种的成功定殖，大概率是环境因素与人为活动共同作用的结果。