Ambrosia beetle invasions are structured by inbreeding, intraspecific hybridisation, and bridgeheads

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ID: 327751
2026
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Abstract
Abstract When invasive populations establish in regions far from their origin, they may accumulate deleterious mutations that limit population viability and later expansion. Invasions stemming from such bridgehead populations may experience further sequential bottlenecks. However, deleterious mutations can be masked or eliminated when populations outbreed with other lineages. Here, we analyse global invasions of a species complex of persistently inbreeding ambrosia beetles, using genomic data (N=247) from invasive populations in Africa, North America and Australia, and from native populations in Asia. We mostly focus on one species of this complex (Euwallacea fornicatus) which poses a severe threat to tree species worldwide and is rapidly expanding its global range. We uncover a single lineage of this species across California, South Africa, and Western Australia, involving an invasive bridgehead and containing almost no nuclear genetic variation. In South Africa we identify a second lineage that has repeatedly hybridised with the first lineage. Genetic patterns in the native range indicate that such opportunistic outbreeding may be common. Despite lacking nuclear variation, the first lineage contained two CO1 haplotypes that were also observed in every hybrid lineage, pointing to heteroplasmy and possible hybrid origins of this lineage. Native populations had fewer missense mutations than invasive populations, indicating that opportunistic outbreeding may help purge fixed deleterious mutations when local lineage diversity is high. These findings highlight the importance of outbreeding even when inbreeding is common, and they demonstrate the biosecurity threat posed by subsequent gene flow into invasive populations.
Reference Key
openalex_W7211954002 Use this key to autocite in the manuscript while using SciMatic Manuscript Manager or Thesis Manager
Authors Thomas L. Schmidt, Anandi Bierman, Elizabeth J. Huisamen, John S. Terblanche, Ary A. Hoffmann
Journal molecular biology and evolution
Year 2026
DOI
10.1093/molbev/msag231
URL
https://doi.org/10.1093/molbev/msag231
Keywords Keywords not found

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