Genetic variability and parasitism in one of the most successful fish invader across in Europe

The project aims to gain a greater understanding of species spreading and its association to parasite load across the non-native range using one of the most successful freshwater fish invaders in Europe, the pumpkinseed Lepomis gibbosus (Centrarchidae), as a model species. Using molecular data, reconstruction of pumpkinseed invasion history will be performed and main genetic lineages determined. Genetic variability, as well as parasite diversity, will be compared between native and non-native populations, and relation between both genetic and parasite diversity, accounting for variation along biogeographical gradient. Pumpkinseed life-history traits used for estimation of invasive potential for non-native populations will be linked with pumpkinseed genetic variability, parasite load and environmental conditions.