A small proportion of breeders drive American bullfrog invasion of the Yellowstone River floodplain, Montana

Northwest Science
By: , and 

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Abstract

The American bullfrog (Lithobates catesbeianus) is a non-native invader of aquatic habitats across the northwestern United States. It recently invaded the Yellowstone River, Montana, and has spread to over 140 km of floodplain habitat. We analyzed seven microsatellites in 528 tadpoles sampled across nearly the entire Yellowstone River invasion (about 140 river km) to characterize invasion genetics, compare our results with those of a recent mtDNA study (Kamath et al. 2016), and to inform control efforts. Microsatellite variation supports the mtDNA-based hypothesis of at least two independent introductions to the floodplain from genetically divergent populations in the midwestern United States, followed by massive range expansion. One introduction is associated with the upstream extent of the invasion near Park City, Montana and the other more broadly with downstream populations. All sites were characterized by small effective numbers of breeders (Nb; harmonic mean = 9.97), and therefore, a small proportion of highly successful adults may drive the invasion by producing large families. Microsatellites and mtDNA produced discordant estimates of genetic admixture between the upstream and downstream invasions, which may reflect small effective population size. Although we observed isolation by distance using both types of markers, microsatellites appear to reflect population structure resulting from secondary contact between the two introductions, as opposed to structure resulting from equilibrium between gene flow and genetic drift. Most sites showed evidence for genetic bottlenecks, which supports the recent history of invasion. Small Nb paired with known high localized extinction rates following colonization suggests focused removal of post metamorphic life stages at sites less likely to go extinct on their own could help limit invasion by bullfrogs.

Study Area

Publication type Article
Publication Subtype Journal Article
Title A small proportion of breeders drive American bullfrog invasion of the Yellowstone River floodplain, Montana
Series title Northwest Science
DOI 10.3955/046.094.0302
Volume 94
Issue 3-4
Year Published 2021
Language English
Publisher Northwest Scientific Association
Contributing office(s) Northern Rocky Mountain Science Center
Description 12 p.
First page 231
Last page 242
Country United States
State Montana
Other Geospatial Yellowstone River Floodplain
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