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Matching the origin of an invasive weed for selection of a herbivore haplotype for a biological control programme
Author(s) -
GOOLSBY JOHN A.,
DE BARRO PAUL J.,
MAKINSON JEFFREY R.,
PEMBERTON ROBERT W.,
HARTLEY DIANA M.,
FROHLICH DONALD R.
Publication year - 2006
Publication title -
molecular ecology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 2.619
H-Index - 225
eISSN - 1365-294X
pISSN - 0962-1083
DOI - 10.1111/j.1365-294x.2005.02788.x
Subject(s) - biology , fern , context (archaeology) , weed , ecology , haplotype , biological pest control , allele , paleontology , biochemistry , gene
The Florida Everglades have been invaded by an exotic weed fern, Lygodium microphyllum . Across its native distribution in the Old World tropics from Africa to Australasia it was found to have multiple location‐specific haplotypes. Within this distribution, the climbing fern is attacked by a phytophagous mite, Floracarus perrepae, also with multiple haplotypes. The genetic relationship between mite and fern haplotypes was matched by an overarching geographical relationship between the two. Further, mites that occur in the same location as a particular fern haplotype were better able to utilize the fern than mites from more distant locations. From a biological control context, we are able to show that the weed fern in the Everglades most likely originated in northern Queensland, Australia/Papua New Guinea and that the mite from northern Queensland offers the greatest prospect for control.