Oral Presentation Australian Society for Limnology Conference 2016

Molecular identification of the precise geographic origins of an invasive shrimp species in a globally significant Australian biodiversity hotspot (#106)

Annique Harris 1 , Timothy J Page 2 3 , Seema Fotedar 1 , Rodney Duffy 1 , Michael Snow 1
  1. Western Australian Fisheries and Marine Research Laboratories, Hillarys, WA, Australia
  2. Australian Rivers Institute, Griffith University, Nathan, QLD, Australia
  3. Dept of Science, Information Technology and Innovation, Brisbane, QLD, Australia

This project details the first detection of invasive freshwater shrimp into the south-west of Western Australia, a region recognised for its biodiversity and the vulnerability of its endemic species. The species was detected as part of biosecurity surveillance of Perth's freshwater lakes. Molecular taxonomy was used to identify the introduced specimens as Caridina indistincta sp. B, which is part of a species-complex native to eastern Australia. Phylogeographic analyses were then used to narrow down the likely source population to a small area of south-eastern Queensland, over 3,500kms across the continent from the invasion sites. The potential source area is heavily involved in the trade in freshwater species for aquaria and recreational fish stocking. This information will help in identifying the precise invasion vector and will allow more targeted management measures to prevent future imports of exotic aquatic invasive species.