The Facet of Human Impact: <i>Solenopsis invicta</i> Buren, 1972 Spreading around the Atlantic Forest
Manuela O. Ramalho,
Victor H. Nagatani,
Juliana M. C. Alves,
Otavio G. M. Silva,
Eduardo G. P. Fox,
Rodrigo F. Souza,
Debora Y. Kayano,
Ricardo Harakava,
Alexandre W. S. Hilsdorf,
Maria S. C. Morini
Affiliations
Manuela O. Ramalho
Department of Biology, West Chester University, West Chester, PA 19393, USA
Victor H. Nagatani
Laboratório de Mirmecologia do Alto Tietê, Núcleo de Ciências Ambientais, University of Mogi das Cruzes, Av. Cândido Xavier Almeida e Souza 200, Mogi das Cruzes 08780-911, SP, Brazil
Juliana M. C. Alves
Unidade Laboratorial de Referência em Biologia Molecular Aplicada, Instituto Biológico, São Paulo 04014-002, SP, Brazil
Otavio G. M. Silva
Coordination of Earth Sciences and Ecology, Museu Paraense Emílio Goeldi, Av. Perimetral 1901, Belém 66077-830, PA, Brazil
Eduardo G. P. Fox
Programa de Pós-Graduação em Ambiente e Sociedade (PPGAS), State University of Goiás (UEG), Quirinópolis 75860-000, GO, Brazil
Rodrigo F. Souza
Laboratório de Mirmecologia do Alto Tietê, Núcleo de Ciências Ambientais, University of Mogi das Cruzes, Av. Cândido Xavier Almeida e Souza 200, Mogi das Cruzes 08780-911, SP, Brazil
Debora Y. Kayano
Laboratório de Mirmecologia do Alto Tietê, Núcleo de Ciências Ambientais, University of Mogi das Cruzes, Av. Cândido Xavier Almeida e Souza 200, Mogi das Cruzes 08780-911, SP, Brazil
Ricardo Harakava
Unidade Laboratorial de Referência em Biologia Molecular Aplicada, Instituto Biológico, São Paulo 04014-002, SP, Brazil
Alexandre W. S. Hilsdorf
Laboratório de Mirmecologia do Alto Tietê, Núcleo de Ciências Ambientais, University of Mogi das Cruzes, Av. Cândido Xavier Almeida e Souza 200, Mogi das Cruzes 08780-911, SP, Brazil
Maria S. C. Morini
Laboratório de Mirmecologia do Alto Tietê, Núcleo de Ciências Ambientais, University of Mogi das Cruzes, Av. Cândido Xavier Almeida e Souza 200, Mogi das Cruzes 08780-911, SP, Brazil
The present investigation deals with some aspects of the diversity of fire ants (Hymenoptera: Formicidae) in their native range. The Red Imported Fire Ant Solenopsis invicta is native to the tropical and subtropical inland territories of South America. In Brazil, it mainly occurs around the Pantanal region and across the Paraguay river, a region composed of grasslands which are seasonally flooded. Recent studies have evidenced this fire ant species is gradually spreading to other regions of Brazil. In the present investigation, we surveyed the molecular diversity of S. invicta populations across fragments of Atlantic Forest in São Paulo, Brazil, using mtDNA COI haplotypes. Fire ant nests were sampled along the highways lining the northern and southern slope sides of the mountain range Serra do Mar, SP, Brazil. Four haplotypes were identified (H1–H4), which were assessed for similarity to deposited records by other authors, revealing that the haplotypes H1 and H2 are likely of foreign origin through recent reintroduction via a marine port to the south of the Serra do Mar mountain range. On the other hand, the haplotypes H3 and H4, predominating among the inland samples from the northern side of the mountain range, were most similar to previous records from more central regions of Brazil. Haplotypes clustered into distinct supergroups, further pointing to the occurrence of two separate expansion waves of S. invicta in the region. We suggest the obtained pattern indicates the mountain range may function as a geographical barrier deferring gene flow.
