Evolutionary Genetics of Invasive Mammal Species Introduced in Argentina

LIZARRALDE MARTA SUSANA; MARIANA FASANELLA; SEBASTIÁN POLJAK; GABRIELLI MAGALÍ; JULIETA SANCHEZ

Natural Science

Scientific Research Publishing Inc

Año: 2018 vol. 10 p. 221 - 231

2150-4091

Invasive exotic species have a wide geographical distribution, characteristic life cycles 23 and great ability to adapt, establish and spread in a new environment. Invasion genetics is a 24 relatively new discipline that investigates the genetic variation patterns of invasive exotic 25 species and their ecological and evolutionary consequences. A pioneer in this discipline was 26 Charles Elton who wrote ?The Ecology of Invasions by Plants and Animals?, although later 27 ?The genetic of colonizing species? was considered the founding document for Invasion 28 Genetics. Gradually, the advances in novel molecular technologies, the use of higher 29 resolution genetic markers, and the research development on genetic variation of invasive 30 species consolidated the importance of genetic aspects in the invasion process. Undoubtedly, 31 the growing concern for the disturbances generated by invasive species on biodiversity and 32 functioning of ecosystems was also determinant for the inclusion of the Invasion Biology 33 within the broad field of Evolutionary Biology including relevant examples that address the 34 evolutionary genetic aspects of biological invasions. In Argentina, it is striking that the 35 genetic approach is not being used yet for species that have become invasive, even when they 36 are causing countless drawbacks and disturbances in various ecosystems. Although the 37 number of invasive species registered far exceeds 20, little research has been done on invasive 38 mammals and only five of them were hitherto genetically analyzed. Presuming that invasion 39 genetics is incorporated into the agenda of control and management organizations, it would 40 allow integrating the ecological, genetic, and evolutionary biology aspects for knowledge of 41 invasive species widely distributed in Argentina.