scholarly journals Psidium guajava in the Galapagos Islands: population genetics and history of an invasive species

2018 ◽  
Author(s):  
Diego Urquía ◽  
Bernardo Gutiérrez ◽  
Gabriela Pozo ◽  
María José Pozo ◽  
Analía Espín ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Population Genetics ◽  
Invasive Plant ◽  
Psidium Guajava ◽  
Galapagos Islands ◽  
Historical Record ◽  
Galápagos Islands ◽  
Santa Cruz ◽  
Island Populations ◽  
Galapagos Archipelago ◽  
History Of

AbstractThe threat of invasive plant species in island populations prompts the need to better understand their population genetics and dynamics. In the Galapagos islands, this is exemplified by the introduced guava (Psidium guajava), considered one of the greatest threats to the local biodiversity due to its effective spread in the archipelago and its ability to outcompete endemic species. To better understand its history and genetics, we analyzed individuals from three inhabited islands in the Galapagos archipelago with 11 SSR markers. Our results reveal similar genetic diversity between islands, suggestive of gene flow between them. Populations appear to be distinct between the islands of San Cristobal and Isabela, with the population of Santa Cruz being composed as a mixture from both. Additional evidence for genetic bottlenecks and the inference of introduction events suggests an original introduction of the species in San Cristobal, from where it was later introduced to Isabela, and finally into Santa Cruz. Alternatively, an independent introduction event for Isabela is also possible. These results are contrasted with the historical record, providing a first overview of the history of P. guajava in the Galapagos islands and its current population dynamics.

scholarly journals Origin and dispersion pathways of guava in the Galapagos Islands inferred through genetics and historical records

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Diego Urquia ◽  
Bernardo Gutierrez ◽  
Gabriela Pozo ◽  
Maria Pozo ◽  
Maria Torres
Keyword(s):  
Genetic Diversity ◽  
Psidium Guajava ◽  
Galapagos Islands ◽  
Genetic Distances ◽  
Galápagos Islands ◽  
Santa Cruz ◽  
Historical Sources ◽  
Introduction History ◽  
Galapagos Archipelago ◽  
History Of

Guava (Psidium guajava) is one of the most aggressive invasive plants in the Galapagos Islands. Determining its provenance and genetic diversity could provide valuable information for its control. With this purpose, we analyzed 11 SSR markers in guava individuals collected from Isabela, Santa Cruz, San Cristobal and Floreana islands in the Galapagos, as well as from mainland Ecuador. The mainland guava population appeared genetically differentiated from the Galapagos populations, with higher genetic diversity levels found in the former. By using different approaches for data analysis, we consistently found that the Central Highlands region of mainland Ecuador is one of the most likely origins of the Galapagos populations. Moreover, the guavas from Isabela and Floreana show a potential genetic input from southern mainland Ecuador, while the population from San Cristobal would be linked to the coastal mainland regions. Interestingly, the proposed origins for the Galapagos guava coincide with the first human settlings of the archipelago. By employing Approximate Bayesian Computation, we propose a model where San Cristobal was the first island to be colonized by guava from the mainland, from which it would have spread to Floreana and finally to Santa Cruz; Isabela would have been seeded from Floreana. An independent trajectory could also have contributed in the invasion of Floreana and Isabela. The pathway shown in our model agrees with the human colonization history of the different islands in the Galapagos. Our model, in conjunction with the clustering patterns of the guava individuals (based on genetic distances), suggests that guava introduction history in the Galapagos archipelago was driven predominantly by a single event (or events in rapid succession) instead of several independent introductions. We thus show that genetic analyses supported by historical sources can be used to answer questions on the variability and history of guava in the Galapagos Islands.

scholarly journals Psidium guajava in the Galapagos Islands: Population genetics and history of an invasive species

PLoS ONE ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 14 (3) ◽  
pp. e0203737 ◽  
Author(s):  
Diego Urquía ◽  
Bernardo Gutierrez ◽  
Gabriela Pozo ◽  
María José Pozo ◽  
Analía Espín ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Invasive Species ◽  
Population Genetics ◽  
Psidium Guajava ◽  
Galapagos Islands ◽  
Galápagos Islands ◽  
History Of

New littoral mite species (Acari, Oribatida, Fortuyniidae) from the Galápagos archipelago, with ecological and zoogeographical considerations

Zootaxa ◽  
2017 ◽  
Vol 4244 (1) ◽  
pp. 39 ◽  
Author(s):  
TOBIAS PFINGSTL ◽  
HEINRICH SCHATZ
Keyword(s):  
Littoral Zone ◽  
Galapagos Islands ◽  
Mite Species ◽  
Galápagos Islands ◽  
Santa Cruz ◽  
Ecological Preferences ◽  
Galapagos Archipelago ◽  
Unique Character ◽  
Cuticular Ridge

Two species of Fortuyniidae, found on the Galápagos Islands (Ecuador) are described and illustrated based on the adult and juvenile instars. Alismobates galapagoensis sp. nov. was found on six islands of the archipelago, in littoral and supralittoral habitats. It is morphologically similar to A. inexpectatus Pfingstl & Schuster, 2012 from Bermuda, but differs from that species and all other known congeners by a prominent cuticular ridge on epimeron III among other unique character combinations. Litoribates caelestis gen. and sp. nov. was found on the islands Santa Cruz and Bartolomé in the littoral zone under Maytenus and mangroves. Notes on distribution and ecological preferences of both species are included. 

scholarly journals Evidence of cannibalism in a population of western Galápagos racers Pseudalsophis occidentalis (Serpentes: Colubridae)

2021 ◽  
pp. 6-11
Author(s):  
LUIS ORTIZ-CATEDRAL
Keyword(s):  
Natural History ◽  
Trophic Interactions ◽  
Galapagos Islands ◽  
Galápagos Islands ◽  
Galapagos Archipelago ◽  
Faecal Samples ◽  
History Of ◽  
Common Behaviour ◽  
Prey Items

Cannibalism is a common behaviour among snakes, but it has not yet been verified for any of the nine species of Galápagos racer (Pseudalsophis spp.), a group endemic to the Galápagos archipelago, Ecuador. Galápagos racers are opportunistic generalists feeding on a variety of vertebrate prey. There are a few anecdotal and suspected attempts of cannibalism among Galápagos racers, but it is unclear whether this behaviour occurs and if so, how frequent it is. We analysed 61 faecal samples from western Galápagos racers (Pseudalsophis occidentalis). In addition to the remains of well known prey items such as lizards, we found snake teeth and skin fragments in 11 samples. Combined with previous observations of attempted cannibalism between western Galápagos racers, our results represent evidence that this species consumes other racers as prey. Our study contributes to a growing knowledge of the natural history of Galápagos racers and highlights the role of these reptiles in complex trophic interactions in the Galápagos islands.

scholarly journals Rediscovery of rodents (Genus Nesoryzomys) considered extinct in the Galápagos Islands

Oryx ◽  
2000 ◽  
Vol 34 (2) ◽  
pp. 109-117 ◽  
Author(s):  
Robert C. Dowler ◽  
Darin S. Carroll ◽  
Cody W. Edwards
Keyword(s):  
Charles Darwin ◽  
Rattus Rattus ◽  
Galapagos Islands ◽  
Santa Fe ◽  
Galápagos Islands ◽  
Santa Cruz ◽  
Emergency Plans ◽  
Extant Species ◽  
History Of ◽  
Rodent Populations

AbstractThe history of the endemic rodents of the Galápagos Islands began with the discovery of the first Galápagos rice rat species by Charles Darwin in 1835 and the last species was described as recently as 1980. Unfortunately, of the seven described species known to occur in the islands during the past 150 years, only two were known to be extant to 1995. Since then, two expeditions to the Galápagos Islands have been conducted to survey endemic rodent populations. The first confirmed the existence of a small endemic rice rat, Nesoryzomys fernandinae, on Fernandina, known previously only from owl pellet remains found in 1979. In 1997, an expedition to Santiago revealed a population of the larger rice rat N. swarthi, a species collected alive only once in 1906 and considered extinct in all recent literature on the Galápagos Islands. Survey efforts on Santa Cruz resulted only in the collection of introduced rodent species (Rattus rattus, R. norvegicus and Mus musculus). The extant species of native rodents in the Galápagos Islands now number four: N. narboroughi and N. fernandinae on Fernandina; N. swarthi on Santiago; and Oryzomys bauri on Santa Fe. Three species are found on islands where no introduced rodents or cats occur, whereas only one (N. swarthi) co-exists with R. rattusand M. musculus. Nesoryzomys darwini and N. indefessus on Santa Cruz and O. galapagoensis on San Cristóbal are still considered extinct. Strategies for conservation should include monitoring islands for introduced rodents and cats, development of emergency plans in the event of introductions, and captive management.

scholarly journals Understanding the genetic diversity of the guayabillo (Psidium galapageium), an endemic plant of the Galapagos Islands

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Diego Urquia ◽  
Gabriela Pozo ◽  
Bernardo Gutierrez ◽  
Jennifer K. Rowntree ◽  
Maria de Lourdes Torres
Keyword(s):  
Genetic Diversity ◽  
Population Structure ◽  
Galapagos Islands ◽  
Conservation Strategies ◽  
Galápagos Islands ◽  
Santa Cruz ◽  
Endemic Plant ◽  
Important Indicator ◽  
Genetic Diversity And Structure ◽  
History Of

ABSTRACTOceanic archipelagos are known to host a variety of endemic plant species. The genetic diversity and structure of these species is an important indicator of their evolutionary history and can inform appropriate conservation strategies that mitigate the risks to which they’re exposed, including invasive species and environmental disturbances. A comprehensive consideration of the role of their natural history, as well as the landscape features and the geological history of the islands themselves is required to adequately understand any emerging patterns. Such is the case for the guayabillo (Psidium galapageium), an understudied endemic plant from the Galapagos Islands with important ecological and economic roles. In this study we designed and evaluated 13 informative SSR markers and used them to investigate the genetic diversity, population structure and connectivity of the guayabillo populations from San Cristobal, Isabela and Santa Cruz islands. A total of 208 guayabillo individuals were analyzed, revealing a strong population structure between islands and two distinct genetic lineages for the Santa Cruz population. Overall, the guayabillo genetic diversity is relatively high, an unusual pattern for an insular endemic species which is possibly explained by its polyploidy and the geographical features of the islands. These include their broad altitudinal ranges and habitat heterogeneity. For populations displaying a lower genetic diversity such as San Cristobal, the history of human disturbance could be an important factor explaining these observations. Some similarities between individuals in Santa Cruz and the San Cristobal population could be explained by population differentiation or distinct natural histories of separate lineages. Our findings highlight the complex population dynamics that shape the genetic diversity of species like the guayabillo and emphasize the need to explore the currently unresolved questions about this Galapagos endemic plant.

The Galápagos Islands: A History of Their Exploration

1960 ◽  
Vol 41 (3) ◽  
pp. 417
Author(s):  
Richard H. Manville ◽  
Joseph Richard Slevin
Keyword(s):  
Galapagos Islands ◽  
Galápagos Islands ◽  
History Of

Cockroaches (Blattaria) of Ecuador—checklist and history of research

Zootaxa ◽  
2013 ◽  
Vol 3599 (5) ◽  
pp. 401-445 ◽  
Author(s):  
ĽUBOMÍR VIDLIČKA
Keyword(s):  
Galapagos Islands ◽  
Museum Collections ◽  
Galápagos Islands ◽  
Research History ◽  
History Of Research ◽  
History Of

Cockroaches are an understudied group and the total number of described taxa increases every year. The last checklist of Ecuador species was published in 1926. The main aim of this study was to complete a new checklist of cockroach species recorded in Ecuador supplemented with a research history of cockroaches (Blattaria) on the territory of continental Ecuador. In addition, the checklist contains comments on Ecuadorian faunistic records, including the Galápagos Islands. A total of 114 species (105 in continental Ecuador and 18 in Galápagos Islands) belonging to 6 families and 44 genera are listed. Forty species (38.1 %) occur solely in continental Ecuador and five (27.8 %) are endemic on Galápagos Islands. The results indicate that further research on the cockroach fauna of Ecuador as well as determination of museum collections from this territory is needed

Entomogenous fungi from the Galápagos Islands

1982 ◽  
Vol 60 (11) ◽  
pp. 2325-2333 ◽  
Author(s):  
Harry C. Evans ◽  
Robert A. Samson
Keyword(s):  
Galapagos Islands ◽  
Verticillium Lecanii ◽  
Galápagos Islands ◽  
Santa Cruz ◽  
Entomogenous Fungi ◽  
Ecological Implications ◽  
Associated Species

Twenty-one species of entomogenous fungi, collected during a mycological survey of the island of Santa Cruz, are listed. Several coccid-associated species are described in detail, including Hirsutella sphaerospora sp. nov. on Eriococcid larvae; Hirsutella besseyi Fisher; and Torrubiella confragosa Mains, putative teleomorph of Verticillium lecanii (Zimm.) Viégas. In addition, Hirsutella darwinii on a spider host is described as new. The entomogenous mycoflora is similar to that of mainland Ecuador and the ecological implications are discussed particularly in relation to coccid populations.

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