2011: Detection and monitoring of an introduced predator and its impacts on native wildlife using DNA species identification: The case of the fox in Tasmania

<p>Slides from the International Barcode of Life conference, Adelaide, Australia, 2011</p

Genotypes and Results

Genotypes, results of 3Q and Structure analysis, location data for all individual

PCoA Input file

Distance matrix used as input for PCOA. Data associated with each individual is available in the file Genotypes and Results

2011: Finding foxes in Tasmania

<p>Poster from  the Genetics Society of Australasia conference, Melbourne, Australia, 2011</p

Microsatellite genotypes formatted for the program STRUCTURE

Input file for STRUCTURE. One line format. Accompanying data for each individual listed in file Genotypes and Result

The genetic signature left by the range expansion of red foxes in Australia is detectable after more than 80 years of population stability

Reconstructing biological invasions from historical sources can provide insights into how they occur but are difficult to do when invasions are poorly documented. Genetic signatures left by invaders can also offer insights into invasion routes, points of origin and general biology but often present conclusions that are contradictory to expectations. Here, we test the ability of continental-wide microsatellite genotype data from 29 loci and 3122 samples to reconstruct the well-documented invasion of red foxes Vulpes vulpes from the United Kingdom into Australia over 150 years ago, an invasion that has led to the extinction of many native species. Our analysis reveals several key signals of invasion evident in Australian foxes. They display lower levels of diversity than foxes sampled from the UK, exhibit clines in diversity from the point of introduction (south-east Australia) to the edge of their range, and show strong evidence of allele surfing in westerly and north-easterly directions. These characteristics are consistent with a single point of origin followed by rapid expansion in westerly and north-easterly directions as suggested by historical records. We also find little genetic structure in foxes across Australia with only the vast Nullarbor Plains and Great Victoria Desert region presenting a detectable barrier to their dispersal. As such, no mainland region within the current range of foxes can be considered genetically isolated and therefore appropriate for localised eradication efforts. Overall, our analyses demonstrate the ability of comprehensive population genetic studies to reconstruct invasion histories even after more than 80 years since colonisation was stabilised.</p

Tedeschi et al_RSPB-2015-2320_NEW dataset for DRYAD

Raw Cq data for all gene expression analysis performe

Report-DLu15-1902_Mod

Unfiltered DArTseq genotypes for 1016 L. carponotatus samples