The alien's identity: consequences of taxonomic status for the international bumblebee trade regulations. (March 2016) - Lecocq, Thomas
Abstract: The species international trade leads to multiple non-native invasions. Besides species invasions, commercial exchanges may also contribute to translocation between closely related taxa or allopatric populations. Consequently, preserving endemic taxa and specificity of local populations require to regulate commercial translocations of species or populations. To be efficient such regulation needs a resolved taxonomy and a thorough analysis of the population structure of native taxa/populations. To provide guidelines for an efficient regulation of the trade of Bombus terrestris within its natural range, we analyzed its taxonomy and its population structure using an integrative taxonomic approach. Our results show that B. terrestris translocations involve two species, three subspecies, and several populations with weak differentiation. These different levels of differentiation imply specific and appropriate regulations of translocations with different levels of prioritization. We ultimately assess the relevance of current policies and propose potentially efficient regulations for policy-makers. Such integrative taxonomic approach should be used in other traded polytypic species. Highlights: The international trade fosters non-native taxon invasions. Several commonly traded species are taxon complexes. Preserving endemic taxa and differentiated populations require trade regulation. Such regulations need a resolved taxonomy and population structure. Integrative taxonomy provides guidelines for regulation of population importations.