Molecular Phylogenetics of Invasive Polychaete Species

Molecular phylogenetics has transformed our understanding of invasive polychaete worms by revealing hidden lineages, clarifying taxonomic ambiguities and tracing routes of introduction. By comparing DNA sequences—most commonly mitochondrial markers such as cytochrome c oxidase subunit I (COI) and selected nuclear loci—researchers reconstruct evolutionary relationships among both native and introduced populations. This approach has uncovered cryptic species complexes within morphologically similar taxa, pinpointed multiple invasion events and identified vectors such as shipping corridors and canal systems. Phylogenetic trees calibrated with molecular clock estimates further enable historical reconstructions of colonisation pathways, offering insight into the timing of incursions. Integrative studies that combine genetics, morphology and biogeography now inform management strategies, including early detection, risk assessment and targeted eradication, thereby addressing both biodiversity conservation and the mitigation of ecosystem impacts driven by invasive polychaetes.

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Molecular Phylogenetics of Invasive Polychaete Species publication trend

The graph below shows the total number of articles in molecular phylogenetics of invasive polychaete species across all publications each year (not limited to Nature Index journals).

Technical terms

Mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA): Genetic material found in mitochondria, often used in phylogenetic studies due to its high mutation rate and maternal inheritance.

Cytochrome c oxidase subunit I (COI): A mitochondrial gene widely employed as a DNA barcode for species identification and delimitation.

Haplotype: A combination of alleles or sequence variants at multiple loci that are inherited together, used in population genetics to track lineage relationships.

K2P distance: Kimura two-parameter model of sequence evolution, a metric calculating genetic divergence by accounting for transition and transversion rates.

Cryptic species: Distinct species that are morphologically similar or identical but genetically divergent, often revealed through molecular analysis.

Integrative taxonomy: An approach combining multiple lines of evidence—molecular, morphological and ecological—to delimit species and clarify their relationships.

References

1. Clarifying the taxonomic status of the alien species Branchiomma bairdi and Branchiomma boholense (Annelida: Sabellidae) using molecular and morphological evidence. PLOS ONE (2018).
2. The elephant in the room: first record of invasive gregarious species of serpulids (calcareous tube annelids) in Majorca (western Mediterranean). Scientia Marina (2021).
3. Molecular phylogenetic assessment of Spirobranchus kraussii-complex (Annelida: Serpulidae) from the Japanese Archipelago. PeerJ (2021).