Origin of Introductions
Regulatory officials need to know the origin of the ALB infestations to be able to prevent further introductions from the same sources and to understand the spread of existing infestations. Also, there are some biological differences between the populations that may require slightly different eradication methods used so knowing the origin will be critical.
Developing molecular methods to identify the origins of North American infestations of ALB. Several different DNA marker types will be used.
Origins of infestations will be identified.
The mtDNA haplotype of beetles from Carteret, NJ differed from that of New York City/Jersey City beetles by 18 nucleotide sites, from that of Toronto beetles by 17 nucleotide sites, and from the Chicago/New York City mtDNA haplotype by 4 nucleotide sites. Ranking them in terms of genetic distance from the New York City/Jersey City, population, we have the Chicago/New York City mtDNA haplotype most similar (4 different nucleotide sites) followed by the Toronto mtDNA haplotype (7 different nucleotide sites) followed by the Carteret mtDNA haplotype (18 nucleotide sites) as indicated by clade distances. We show that beetles from the Toronto and Carteret populations each have their own unique mtDNA haplotype. This suggests that these invasions were initiated separately from each other and from the primary New York/Jersey City invasion. This data does not support the hypothesis that beetles dispersed from New York City/ Jersey City to Carteret. All of the Jersey City beetles share only one of the two mtDNA haplotypes found in the New York City beetles. This might indicate that one or only a few beetles spread from one of the populations in Queens to found the Jersey City population, and that it was not a separate introduction event. We can say that two distinct haplotypes invaded New York. They must have been introduced from distinct source populations or from one heterogeneous population. Research is ongoing to sample potential source populations across China and Korea.
Maureen E. Carter, E. Richard Hoebeke, Richard G. Harrison, Steven M. Bogdanowicz, Melody Keena and Alan Sawyer. Analysis of mtDNA sequence data for the Asian longhorned beetle (Anoplophora glabripennis): evidence for multiple invasions in North America Proceedings, 16th U.S. Department of Agriculture interagency research forum on gypsy moth and other invasive species 2005 GTR-NE-337 pp 3
- Maureen E. Carter, Cornell University Dissertation Research
- E. Richard Hoebeke, Cornell University
- Richard G. Harrison, Cornell University
- Steven M. Bogdanowicz, Cornell University
- Melody Keena, USDA-Forest Service- NRS Research Entomologist
- Alan Sawyer, USDA- Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service- Plant Protection and Quarantine Ecologist
Last Modified: 09/15/2009