Elucidation of dispersal patterns based on genetic variation in exotic species originated from tropical regions

2017 Fiscal Year Final Research Report

• Project/Area Number: 25304014
• Research Category: Grant-in-Aid for Scientific Research (B)
• Allocation Type: Partial Multi-year Fund
• Section: 海外学術
• Research Field: Biodiversity/Systematics
• Research Institution: University of the Ryukyus
• Principal Investigator: TATSUTA Haruki 琉球大学, 農学部, 教授 (50370268)
• Co-Investigator(Kenkyū-buntansha): 溝田 浩二 宮城教育大学, 学内共同利用施設等, 准教授 (00333914) ; 辻 瑞樹 琉球大学, 農学部, 教授 (20222135) ; 二見 恭子 長崎大学, 熱帯医学研究所, 助教 (30432983) ; 足達 太郎 東京農業大学, 国際食料情報学部, 教授 (50385506) ; 熊野 了州 帯広畜産大学, 畜産学部, 准教授 (90621053)
• Research Collaborator: RAJEMISON Balsama チンバザザ動植物公園
• Project Period (FY): 2013-04-01 – 2018-03-31
• Keywords: 系統地理 / 侵入種 / 分布拡大 / ツヤオオズアリ / アリモドキゾウムシ

Outline of Final Research Achievements

In order to explore the phylogeographic origin and expansion patterns of invasive sweetpotato weevil Cylas formicarius and the bigheaded ant Pheidole megacephala, we conducted field survey mainly in the African Continent and Madagascar, and then performed phylogeographic and network analyses based on molecular genetic data. In C. formicarius, samples from Madagascar constituted monophyletic clade together with those from India, suggesting that the weevils originated in Gondwanaland and then had spread their distribution via conjoined Madagascar and India which had been split off from Gondwanaland. The phylogenetic studies on P. megacephala are ongoing in consideration of the species status and classification.

Free Research Field

進化生物学