Unveiling the Genomic Landscape of Pseudorasbora parva, the Most Invasive Freshwater Fish Worldwide: A Key Step Towards Understanding Invasion Dynamics
Abstract
Invasive species often defy theoretical expectations, successfully establishing and spreading despite reduced propagule pressure and limited genetic diversity. What genomic mechanisms underpin this paradox? How do adaptive processes and host–pathogen interactions shape invasion outcomes? And which genes drive resistance and modulate pathogen virulence? Here, we address these questions using a model of co-invasion: the Asian topmouth gudgeon (Pseudorasbora parva) and its fungal parasite the Rosette agent (Sphaerothecum destruens), a system with profound ecological and economic consequences. Here by (1) mapping the reads obtained by Illumina sequencing on a previously deposited P. parva genome from Germany, (2) identifying SNPs and (3) creating a consensus sequence, we generated the first whole genome of an invasive P. parva population in France and compared it to a German population to explore patterns of genetic diversity, local adaptation, and potential signatures of pathogen resistance. Despite historical bottlenecks, our results reveal unexpectedly high levels of genomic diversity between these invasive populations. We identify candidate loci linked to immune function and provide insights into the evolutionary dynamics of co-introduction. These findings offer a rare window into how invasive species maintain adaptability and how pathogens may co-evolve during range expansion. Beyond advancing our understanding of invasion biology, the genomic resources generated here pave the way for translational approaches, including the development of genome-editing strategies aimed at mitigating the impact of invasive species and their associated pathogens. This work marks a critical step toward unraveling the complex interplay between genetics, ecology, and evolution in biological invasions.
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BibTeX
@article{combe2026unveiling,
title = {{Unveiling the Genomic Landscape of Pseudorasbora parva, the Most Invasive Freshwater Fish Worldwide: A Key Step Towards Understanding Invasion Dynamics}},
author = {Marine Combe and Théo Deremarque and Justina Givens and Rodolphe Elie Gozlan},
journal = {Fishes},
year = {2026},
month = sep,
doi = {10.3390/fishes10060297},
url = {https://hal.science/hal-05764366v1},
note = {CC BY 4.0},
}
RIS
TY - JOUR
TI - Unveiling the Genomic Landscape of Pseudorasbora parva, the Most Invasive Freshwater Fish Worldwide: A Key Step Towards Understanding Invasion Dynamics
AU - Marine Combe
AU - Théo Deremarque
AU - Justina Givens
AU - Rodolphe Elie Gozlan
PY - 2026
DA - 2026/09/25
JO - Fishes
DO - 10.3390/fishes10060297
UR - https://hal.science/hal-05764366v1
AB - Invasive species often defy theoretical expectations, successfully establishing and spreading despite reduced propagule pressure and limited genetic diversity. What genomic mechanisms underpin this paradox? How do adaptive processes and host–pathogen interactions shape invasion outcomes? And which genes drive resistance and modulate pathogen virulence? Here, we address these questions using a model of co-invasion: the Asian topmouth gudgeon (Pseudorasbora parva) and its fungal parasite the Rosette agent (Sphaerothecum destruens), a system with profound ecological and economic consequences. Here by (1) mapping the reads obtained by Illumina sequencing on a previously deposited P. parva genome from Germany, (2) identifying SNPs and (3) creating a consensus sequence, we generated the first whole genome of an invasive P. parva population in France and compared it to a German population to explore patterns of genetic diversity, local adaptation, and potential signatures of pathogen resistance. Despite historical bottlenecks, our results reveal unexpectedly high levels of genomic diversity between these invasive populations. We identify candidate loci linked to immune function and provide insights into the evolutionary dynamics of co-introduction. These findings offer a rare window into how invasive species maintain adaptability and how pathogens may co-evolve during range expansion. Beyond advancing our understanding of invasion biology, the genomic resources generated here pave the way for translational approaches, including the development of genome-editing strategies aimed at mitigating the impact of invasive species and their associated pathogens. This work marks a critical step toward unraveling the complex interplay between genetics, ecology, and evolution in biological invasions.
SN - 2410-3888
ER -