Project Number: 6615-32000-041-05
Project Type: Reimbursable

Start Date: May 01, 2007
End Date: Apr 30, 2011

Objective:
The principal objective of the proposed research is to use data from multiple genetic markers of different classes (allozymes, microsatellites, mitochrondrial DNA sequences, nuclear DNA sequences) to itentify the native source population(s) of S. invicta introduced into the U.S.A.

Approach:
Genetic data will be generated for S. invicta collected from twenty sites located throughout the native range of the species in South America as well as from several sites located throughout the U.S.A. These data will be analyzed using multiple complementary statistical and phylogenetic methods to infer the region of the native range from which the introduced ants originated. Subsequent high-resolution sampling in this region combined with additional detailed genetic analyses will allow us to pinpoint with reasonable confidence the source population(s) of introduced S. invicta.