Format: ORAL

Guadalupe Andraca-Gómez; Juan Fornoni

Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México; Mexico City. México

Human activities such as transport, trade and biological control practices have led to the movement of different species, beyond their native distribution regions. Cactorum cactorum is a moth of Argentine origin, which feeds on plants of the genus Opuntia and was introduced for control. After its introduction in the Caribbean, it is considered an invasive species since it has spread to several Islands of the Caribbean, Mexico and the United States. Given the ecological and economic implications that its expansion implies, it is important to know the factors that favor and limit their dispersion. For this purpose, we asked, which environmental factors are correlated with the gene flow and population structure in the native and invaded area? In the invaded area it is observed that trade and hurricanes have promoted gene flow. On the other hand, factors such as seasonality and soil types affect the genetic structure in the native area of C. cactorum. The results show a change in the evolutionary processes affecting native and introduced populations to the extent that the incidence of hurricanes in the Atlantic and the Caribbean promote the expansion and re -entry in Mexico. Given high diversity of Opuntia in Mexico that can constitute potential host plants for C. cactorum, it is relevant the ongoing genetic and ecological monitoring