Climate change as a possible driver of invasion and differential in HSP70 expression in two genetically distinct populations of the invasive killer shrimp, Dikerogammarus villosus

Hupało K, Riss HW., Grabowsk, M, Thiel J., Bącela-Spychalska K, Meyer EI

Abstract

Global climate change is known to affectphysiological processes in charge of cellular stressresponse. That often results in forcing many organismsto shift their biogeographic distribution ranges. It alsoholds true for euryoecious and highly invasive specieslike the killer shrimp,Dikerogammarus villosus.Inthis study we compare the level of response to thermalstress in two genetically diversified populations of theamphipodD. villosuson the cellular level, namelyHSP70 expression. The results show clear differencein HSP70 expression, that can be a direct consequenceof the different climatic conditions both populationsfaced along their invasion routes. We conclude that theeastern population ofD. villosusis more sensitive tothermal stress than the western population, hence its invasion potential may be lower than that of the latter.Considering the thermal tolerance of both populationsand global warming, we can make some predictionsabout further spread ofD. villosus, including thepossibility of an emergence of the super-invader thatmay arise after cross-breeding of both populations,imposing even larger threat to the freshwaterecosystems