Data from: Strong population genetic structure of an invasive species, Rhynchophorus ferrugineus (Olivier), in southern China

The red palm weevil (RPW), Rhynchophorus ferrugineus (Olivier), was initially reported in China in the 1990s and is now considered one of the most successful invasive pests of palm plants in the country. A total of 14 microsatellite loci and one mitochondrial cytochrome oxidase subunit Ι (cox I) gene fragment were used to investigate the genetic characteristics and structure of R. ferrugineus in southern China. High levels of genetic differentiation among populations and significant correlations between genetic and geographical distances indicated an important role of geographical distance in the distribution of the RPW in southern China. High gene flow between Fujian and Taiwan province populations illustrated the increased effects of frequent anthropogenic activities on gene flow between them. Genetic similarity (i.e., haplotype similarity) indicated that RPW individuals from Taiwan and Fujian invaded from a different source than those from Hainan. To some extent, the genetic structure of the RPW in southern China correlated well with the geographic origins of this pest. We propose that geographical distance, anthropogenic activities and the biological attributes of this pest are responsible for the distribution pattern of the RPW in southern China. The phylogenetic analysis suggests that the most likely native sources of the RPW in southern China are India, the Philippines, and Vietnam.

红棕象甲（red palm weevil, RPW，学名：Rhynchophorus ferrugineus (Olivier)）于20世纪90年代首次在我国被报道，如今已被视为我国棕榈科植物最具危害性的入侵害虫之一。本研究共利用14个微卫星位点（microsatellite loci）与一段线粒体细胞色素氧化酶亚基I（cox I）基因片段，对我国南方地区红棕象甲的遗传特征及种群遗传结构进行了探究。种群间存在高水平的遗传分化，且遗传距离与地理距离呈显著相关，这表明地理距离对我国南方红棕象甲的分布具有重要影响。福建与中国台湾地区种群间存在较高的基因交流率，这体现出频繁的人类活动对两地种群间基因交流的促进作用显著增强。遗传相似度（即单倍型（haplotype）相似度）结果显示，中国台湾与福建地区的红棕象甲种群其入侵来源与海南种群存在差异。在一定程度上，我国南方红棕象甲的种群遗传结构与其地理起源呈现出较好的相关性。本研究认为，地理距离、人类活动以及该害虫自身的生物学特性共同塑造了我国南方红棕象甲的分布格局。系统发育分析（phylogenetic analysis）结果表明，我国南方红棕象甲种群最有可能的原生起源地为印度、菲律宾与越南。