Stress related epigenetic changes may explain opportunistic success in biological invasions in Antipode mussels

Different environmental factors could induce epigenetic changes, which are likely involved in the biological invasion process. Some of these factors are driven by humans as, for example, the pollution and deliberate or accidental introductions and others are due to natural conditions such as salinit...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Scientific reports 2018-07, Vol.8 (1), p.10793-10, Article 10793
Main Authors: Ardura, Alba, Clusa, Laura, Zaiko, Anastasija, Garcia-Vazquez, Eva, Miralles, Laura
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Environmental factors
Epigenetics
Introduced species
Invasive species
Methylation
Mollusks
Pollution
Pollution monitoring
Salinity
Salinity effects
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Summary:Different environmental factors could induce epigenetic changes, which are likely involved in the biological invasion process. Some of these factors are driven by humans as, for example, the pollution and deliberate or accidental introductions and others are due to natural conditions such as salinity. In this study, we have analysed the relationship between different stress factors: time in the new location, pollution and salinity with the methylation changes that could be involved in the invasive species tolerance to new environments. For this purpose, we have analysed two different mussels' species, reciprocally introduced in antipode areas: the Mediterranean blue mussel Mytilus galloprovincialis and the New Zealand pygmy mussel Xenostrobus securis, widely recognized invaders outside their native distribution ranges. The demetylathion was higher in more stressed population, supporting the idea of epigenetic is involved in plasticity process. These results can open a new management protocols, using the epigenetic signals as potential pollution monitoring tool. We could use these epigenetic marks to recognise the invasive status in a population and determine potential biopollutants.
ISSN:2045-2322
2045-2322
DOI:10.1038/s41598-018-29181-4